Overly stiff suspension

[Eastlight]

Just got my car out of the shop. Let my mechanic install new cam pulleys, tensioner bearing, seals, etc., because he did it in 3-hours from drop-off to pick-up as he has done for my other past cars. Why would anyone make a cam pulley (driver side - intake?) out of plastic (phenolic)? The new pulleys are both metal.
Had front calipers and brake hoses installed while he had the car and I had installed a brake booster/servo so he bled all the brakes. Engine no longer sounds like a squirrel cage under the hood.
Anyway, the suspension feels excessively stiff. Thought maybe it was something to do with the brake compensator but discovered I do not have one on my '80 Spider. I like not having some things like the timing belt shroud and pollution controls.
Car runs great, brakes work like I imagine they did when the car was new but on the crappy NJ local roads, with repairs on top of repairs, it feels like I'm sitting on the axle. It feels as though there is not enough "give" in the rear when I hit a bump. I am looking to soften the ride just a little. Can that be done? How?

[wikkid]

What shocks do you have?
Do you have performance springs, that maybe you could swap with someone for stock?

[djape1977]

some fiat twincams cam pulleys were originally made out of plastic. my ex 1975 fiat 132 1800 had those. guess it was cheaper way of doing it but again, it does reduce weight of the moving parts of the engine.

removing the cam cover is a bit iffy. various items have a nasty habbit of getting in between belt and pulleys when cover is off.

[kmead]

I don't know the history of you car and your ownership. It is possible one of your rear shocks is frozen which means it is locking the suspension movement and not absorbing any of the shock so to speak. Alternatively you may have gas shocks or sport shocks installed either of which can contribute to a rough ride. Do you have a rear anti sway bar? If so they can make the ride much worse on road defects that affect only one wheel.

Another possibility is that you have lowering sport springs which reduce wheel travel and increase the spring rate and may be affecting your ride quality.

Another choice might be to raise gas taxes to fix the roads properly in your state. We are no better off here in MI but its at least tolerable.

Hope that helps

Karl

[So Cal Mark]

if your car has been sitting for some time it's not uncommon to see the oem shocks seized

[Razooli]

About a month after buying my Spider, I had to have the muffler replaced. Drove it out of the shop and the ride was just as you describe. When they put the car on the lift to do the work, the shocks were extended and they seized just like Mark said.

[Eastlight]

Thank you for your great advise Fiat brothers.

I will check the struts/shocks as the car was on a lift for about four days awaiting parts.

I like the gas tax hike idea, except NJ residents already pay some of the highest takes in the country (property). Definitely the highest car insurance rates - but that is only because people around here drive like tards. Pennsylvania and Delaware are even worse. "You bought turn signals with that %*#$!@ car - might as well use them!"
Was sitting in the trunk yesterday and the car settled seeming about an inch or two when I sat in it. Seemed normal. Ride seems to have softened somewhat after driving a few days.

Don't have a rear torsion, anti-sway, whatever you call that bar.

I'm learning but:

I wouldn't know how to check for a seized shock.

Wouldn't know how to differentiate from different type springs. The car sits high enough all the way around. Has performance headers and exhaust, 34-36 Weber Carb and performance intake manifold. I just disconected the dealer-installed air conditioner drive belt since I do not use it (in a convertible?) and the fittings need updating anyway.

History is, I bought it (stole it) from a young man in the next town who was expecting his first child and needed money. I found an old Bayless catalog in the glove box from when the company was located in Georgia. The catalog has an invoice inside, which is for sending the catalog (no charge), which is addressed to a realty company in Oregon. How the car got from Oregon to New Joisey is unknown but people took good care of the car. That is all I know. I suspect my early '80 Spider was internally and mechanically restored. There is a label on the door that says the car was manufactured in September of 1979, which makes sense.
No one in S. Jersey says "Joisey"

[NJFIAT1981]

NOBODY born in New Jersey talks like that. Only escaped New Yorkers speak that way. Sorry but it's true.

[BEEK]

thru the years working on fiats, oem shocks failed when extended on a lift. i have had it happen to me many times. they just seaze up.