Well I’ve been reading this forum off and on for about 8 months now, so I suppose it’s about time to introduce myself. I’ve enjoyed reading the posts, not only because they were helpful, but I also just like reading about the different issues others are having. Maybe it makes me feel better about the problems I have!!
I bought my Spider last August for $600 knowing that it needed some work, despite my limited mechanical background. The project has turned into my stress-relief, and I’ve put a good number of hours getting her ready for the road, hopefully in time for some touring this spring/summer. The car didn’t move when I bought it, but the engine ran and sounded alright, so I towed her home, popped in a new clutch and associated hardware, trans fluid and support, shifter hardware, driveshaft support, u-joints, and donut, then drove up and down the alley behind my house about 400 times, much to the neighbors chagrin. Then I spent 2 solid months tracing wires around and getting all the lights to work. I cleaned and treated the gas tank, replaced some rotting fuel lines, put in a new alternator/battery/volt regulator/coil (just couldn’t figure out which one it was!!), timing belt, etc, and hey what do you know she’s just about ready for the road.
My last project before registering is brakes, which were not quite doing their job before I started taking them apart. I'm hoping that some new calipers and a master cylinder will do the trick. I am also armed with the knowledge that I have gained from recently hanging out with the helpful members of the DC Fiat Club!
I'm going to try and post some pictures from when I got her into the driveway for the first time last year. Not quite ready for the red carpet, but hey I’ve just enjoyed getting to the point where I can cruise up and down the back alley.
Hello from DC
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rlux4
- Patron 2022
- Posts: 4211
- Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:32 pm
- Your car is a: 1982 2000 Spider
- Location: Granite Falls, Wa
Re: Hello from DC
Welcome to an east coast friend. Hope things are well in the nation's capital. Sounds like you're doing well starting from a $600 investment. Good for you!
Looking forward to seeing it.
Ron
Looking forward to seeing it.
Ron
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So Cal Mark
Re: Hello from DC
welcome, for someone with limited mechanical knowledge it sounds like you've done alright.
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trippbannister
Re: Hello from DC
I just created an account on photobucket.
http://s290.photobucket.com/albums/ll27 ... CN2461.jpg
Hope this works!
http://s290.photobucket.com/albums/ll27 ... CN2461.jpg
Hope this works!
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So Cal Mark
Re: Hello from DC
cool! it looks like you're flying under the radar with everything blacked out
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mdrburchette
- Posts: 5754
- Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2006 5:49 am
- Your car is a: 1972 Fiat 124 Sport
- Location: Winston-Salem, NC
Re: Hello from DC
Nice car for $600, Tripp. And an early model to boot! You're in good hands with the DCfiat crowd.
1972 124 Spider (Don)
1971 124 Spider (Juan)
1986 Bertone X19 (Blue)
1978 124 Spider Lemons racer
1974 X19 SCCA racer (Paul)
2012 500 Prima Edizione #19 (Mini Rossa)
Ever changing count of parts cars....It's a disease!
1971 124 Spider (Juan)
1986 Bertone X19 (Blue)
1978 124 Spider Lemons racer
1974 X19 SCCA racer (Paul)
2012 500 Prima Edizione #19 (Mini Rossa)
Ever changing count of parts cars....It's a disease!
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mbouse
Re: Hello from DC
wowzers.... great job getting it on the road. Yes! get good brakes before you really get out and drive it, always good to be safe.
thanks for the pictures, welcome to the site.
thanks for the pictures, welcome to the site.
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leeputmanjr
Re: Hello from DC
$600.00???
AWESOME! Nice find!
I see the windshield has Virginia Safety Inspection & Taxation stickers? And a Military base sticker, too. Perhaps the car was imported from somewhere less rust prone?
If it has not run in a while, check the shock towers, check the under-pedal area, and check the frame rails on the unibody. Hope for no rust holes, and make sure the frame rails and jacking points haven't weakened and deformed. Mice like to nest in the main vent under the cowling, and then rain water will be held, and rust will become visible in the corner of the driver's footwell against the frame rail.
Trust me...I lost a Spider to that mistake!
Looking at the early bumpers, smooth hood, the nice grill, and your dash...I'm guessing a '71? That should be a 1608 engine - NICE score!
Right up the road in Baltimore is a shop run by the Difattia Borthers (which I'm sure I just horribly mispelled), but they do all Italian cars, including Fiats. Good source for parts, advice, and fixes in case you run into a wall.
By the way, if I remember correctly, a Virginia antique tag is $10 PERMANENT registration, exempts you from taxation, and (maybe?) even safty inspections. I know when I lived in Arlington, I never got safty inspected, never got pulled over. I hated stickers on my windshield!
Should be a GREAT time of year to enjoy the GW parkway...
-Lee
AWESOME! Nice find!
I see the windshield has Virginia Safety Inspection & Taxation stickers? And a Military base sticker, too. Perhaps the car was imported from somewhere less rust prone?
If it has not run in a while, check the shock towers, check the under-pedal area, and check the frame rails on the unibody. Hope for no rust holes, and make sure the frame rails and jacking points haven't weakened and deformed. Mice like to nest in the main vent under the cowling, and then rain water will be held, and rust will become visible in the corner of the driver's footwell against the frame rail.
Trust me...I lost a Spider to that mistake!
Looking at the early bumpers, smooth hood, the nice grill, and your dash...I'm guessing a '71? That should be a 1608 engine - NICE score!
Right up the road in Baltimore is a shop run by the Difattia Borthers (which I'm sure I just horribly mispelled), but they do all Italian cars, including Fiats. Good source for parts, advice, and fixes in case you run into a wall.
By the way, if I remember correctly, a Virginia antique tag is $10 PERMANENT registration, exempts you from taxation, and (maybe?) even safty inspections. I know when I lived in Arlington, I never got safty inspected, never got pulled over. I hated stickers on my windshield!
Should be a GREAT time of year to enjoy the GW parkway...
-Lee
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Gunsmith
Re: Hello from DC
Nice find! You do know it is illegal to drive that on East coast roads in the winter right? That car looks pretty clean for that price range. Most Fiats for $600 are parts cars and maybe have $600 worth of parts on them. You have done well. I kind of like the blacked out bumpers too. Are you going to repaint the car or try to bring it back to original and recrome the bumpers or just get it driveable and leave it at that?
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trippbannister
Re: Hello from DC
thanks for the props, guys.
yes, it was a virginia car until i bought it and brought it to my house in dc. i don't know anyone that has a va address well enough to register it there, but i'll keep that in mind if i have problems in dc. right now, i have 45 day temp tags, so i've just been cruising around town getting used to the kinks. i'll end up bringing it in for inspection this week. i'm ready for rejection, but i think it will be entertaining nonetheless.
as far as rust -- there are a few area i'm concerned about. i bought the car because i needed a distraction last year. i was not very well educated. after doing some more research, i though, hmm, maybe i should check out those rust-prone places on mine. i knew there was some rot underneath, and this was confirmed upon closer inspection. i will post pictures when i get a chance, but i'm a little embarrassed at how bad it is, especially after poking with a screwdriver for a while.
however, it does seem like all of the rot is along the bottom, at the strip just behind the lowest painted part. although this strip is actually completely gone in some areas, the structural members behind/to the side seem ok.
the shock towers look to have been repaired at one time. there is a hole on each side. i'll get some pictures of this as well.
there is nothing that i can see around the pedals/firewall that is worrisome. everything is solid.
the point here is to drive it (somewhat safely, of course) for as long as i can. it's a $600 car, and i'm more about mechanics, not visuals. i've put some hours in so far. i'm happy to enjoy it for now.
yes, it was a virginia car until i bought it and brought it to my house in dc. i don't know anyone that has a va address well enough to register it there, but i'll keep that in mind if i have problems in dc. right now, i have 45 day temp tags, so i've just been cruising around town getting used to the kinks. i'll end up bringing it in for inspection this week. i'm ready for rejection, but i think it will be entertaining nonetheless.
as far as rust -- there are a few area i'm concerned about. i bought the car because i needed a distraction last year. i was not very well educated. after doing some more research, i though, hmm, maybe i should check out those rust-prone places on mine. i knew there was some rot underneath, and this was confirmed upon closer inspection. i will post pictures when i get a chance, but i'm a little embarrassed at how bad it is, especially after poking with a screwdriver for a while.
however, it does seem like all of the rot is along the bottom, at the strip just behind the lowest painted part. although this strip is actually completely gone in some areas, the structural members behind/to the side seem ok.
the shock towers look to have been repaired at one time. there is a hole on each side. i'll get some pictures of this as well.
there is nothing that i can see around the pedals/firewall that is worrisome. everything is solid.
the point here is to drive it (somewhat safely, of course) for as long as i can. it's a $600 car, and i'm more about mechanics, not visuals. i've put some hours in so far. i'm happy to enjoy it for now.