Finally something to show

This is the place to discuss restoration problems, post questions or projects-complete or partial.
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njoconnor
Posts: 614
Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2012 7:06 pm
Your car is a: 1972 124 Spider

Re: Finally something to show

Post by njoconnor »

Looking good, Steve! I like the color scheme, and Alan's wood work is gonna be awesome! ++ on the EZ Cool as well!

Neil
Neil O'Connor
Madison, WI
72 FIAT 124 Spider
12 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Summit
14 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn Eco-Diesel
ex-71 FIAT 124 Coupe
and a host of Audi's, Saabs, VW's, MOPAR's, Fords, and a Bimmer....
juvius
Posts: 1090
Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2013 11:57 pm
Your car is a: 79 spider
Location: Plymouth, OH

Re: Finally something to show

Post by juvius »

thanks neil...

i got the brake lines installed today..... it was kind of a pain in the butt... i bought the precut copper kit from vas. those pieces are precut for a later car without the brake failure switch and for the rear brake compensator. I'm not using the brake compensator, so i ran the line from the master cylinder to the rubber hose that is attached to the brake line T. I had to cut that line down and i had a hard time getting the bubble flare right. i think i finally got it, i'll know if it leaks or not when i put fluid in and bleed the brakes.

for the front, i was going to use the brake failure switch and decided not to because that would require cutting and flaring lines again and also there wasn't a spot in the engine bay for it and i wasn't about to start drilling new holes in my engine bay..

tomorrow, i will mount the reservoir and bleed the brakes. let's keep our fingers crossed that there are no leaks anywhere...

one thing i did notice about vicks premade lines is that all the lines were the right length, but the front driver's line could have been an inch or two longer. it was real close to being too short and i wanted a nice uniform looking set of bends on the lines coming from the master cylinder, but wasn't able to because of the length....
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SoFlaFiat

Re: Finally something to show

Post by SoFlaFiat »

Once again, when do you sleep?
Fingers crossed for ya today when you go to bleed them!
juvius
Posts: 1090
Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2013 11:57 pm
Your car is a: 79 spider
Location: Plymouth, OH

Re: Finally something to show

Post by juvius »

SoFlaFiat wrote:Once again, when do you sleep?
Fingers crossed for ya today when you go to bleed them!
Didn't get to do anything on the car today... I will get on it tomorrow
juvius
Posts: 1090
Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2013 11:57 pm
Your car is a: 79 spider
Location: Plymouth, OH

Re: Finally something to show

Post by juvius »

This really shows me how far i've gone and how far gone i am

i was looking through my pictures this morning and i ran across a couple pictures that made me cringe. If i were ever to walk into my garage and see this again, I wouldn't hesitate to cut it up and wash my hands of it.. never again... can you believe my car looked like this before i got started:
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lol.. even after i spent countless hours on it:
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AriK
Patron 2018
Patron 2018
Posts: 1148
Joined: Sat Apr 02, 2011 7:58 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Fiat Spider
Location: Montreal Canada

Re: Finally something to show

Post by AriK »

I could only partly imagine your level of satisfaction. Congratulations that's countless hours! Hope you get to start enjoying it soon!
juvius
Posts: 1090
Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2013 11:57 pm
Your car is a: 79 spider
Location: Plymouth, OH

Re: Finally something to show

Post by juvius »

AriK wrote:I could only partly imagine your level of satisfaction. Congratulations that's countless hours! Hope you get to start enjoying it soon!
thanks Arik... it stopped being satisfying a while ago.. now it's just something i want to get done.... it was real fun at first, but then it wore off. now i just want to drive it and tinker with it when necessary....

i have been a fiat owner for a year and a half and i've only gotten to drive one for three weeks.... i haven't even been able to sit in this one yet... lol
donerehart
Posts: 344
Joined: Fri May 14, 2010 9:29 pm
Your car is a: 1976 spider

Re: Finally something to show

Post by donerehart »

Persevere Steve! Thanks for allowing us to follow the whole project! Your day will come and you will be really proud of all the effort! It looks great! :lol:
76 Spider
St. Louis, MO
AriK
Patron 2018
Patron 2018
Posts: 1148
Joined: Sat Apr 02, 2011 7:58 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Fiat Spider
Location: Montreal Canada

Re: Finally something to show

Post by AriK »

donerehart wrote:Persevere Steve! Thanks for allowing us to follow the whole project! Your day will come and you will be really proud of all the effort! It looks great! :lol:
+1 on that!
SoFlaFiat

Re: Finally something to show

Post by SoFlaFiat »

+2 Steve!!
You've come a long way! Home stretch!!
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Texsardo
Posts: 216
Joined: Fri May 09, 2014 1:15 am
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat Spider Convertible 1800
Location: Post Falls, Idaho
Contact:

Re: Finally something to show

Post by Texsardo »

Thanks for the link to your project here. I binge read all. And again thanks for the help in getting my parts wanted list shortened. Is this the final or are you putting up photos of finished project. WHAT YOU SENT JUST FINISHED HERE.
Awesome work, great customizing. If I saw it on the street, my brain would shudder trying to figure out the heck it is. Looks like a shark/spider combo. Very inspiring as I am just trying to restore what I can. I am just having too much fun cruising around. My engine runs great, very little rust, insides look good. Now if my tranny just had a first gear. Just won't go into first so I am using it like a four speed. If I had the tools and equipment to change it out, I would because one member has 2 for sale for $150.00 + s/h. I am almost tempted to buy one, let it sit around until I find a shop where someone familiar with Fiats could change it out and maybe new clutch at same time. Anyway, you have become a Master Technician level 6 Fiat ( I don't care how long it takes to achieve perfection) owner.
Texsardo
PS why don't you just email a photo of the finished product so I can cry with envy while I calm myself with a Espresso or Machiatto coffee. I am a Italian Coffee fanatic with machine and imported Danesi or Lavassa coffee. Can't stand American coffee.
juvius
Posts: 1090
Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2013 11:57 pm
Your car is a: 79 spider
Location: Plymouth, OH

Re: Finally something to show

Post by juvius »

after trying to bleed the brakes for most of the day, i gave up. i started thinking it might be a bad master cylinder. I checked out in the shed and found a had a relatively new one that i put on the 70 a few weeks before i found the rust that condemned it. I was right, the piston was stuck all the way in when i pulled it off. Problem solved, the brakes are now bled... i broke one of my calipers trying to rotate the part that the e brake cable runs through because it was stuck crooked. when i use a little force it popped of. a little delay, but kelly fisk here in ohio had one so shipping won't take long at all...

while i am waiting on the brake caliper, today, i put the other vent window in the passenger door, install all the rollers and install my new window regulator. i found that a new window regulator is a little challenging compared to install a used one with the cables broken in...

tomorrow, i'm going to put the hood on, then figure out what to take car of next. i'd like to start putting the engine and transmission in but i'm waiting on the lightened flywheel to get from the machine shop to csaba then to me....

after that much is done, i'm going to put the wheels on it and take it to the paint guy to touch up a few spots and buff it out. i'd put the top and interior in, but i'm afraid of overspray. not to mention i think the paint guy is half blind as indicated by some of the shit he left in the paint work...

so some progress made, not much and definitely not picture worthy...
SoFlaFiat

Re: Finally something to show

Post by SoFlaFiat »

One bit of advise...
Bolt the engine and trans up and put it in from the bottom!! Costs nothing!! :lol:
fiat218
Posts: 5745
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 5:06 pm
Your car is a: 1969 124 AS spider

Re: Finally something to show

Post by fiat218 »

juvius wrote:after trying to bleed the brakes for most of the day, i gave up. i started thinking it might be a bad master cylinder. I checked out in the shed and found a had a relatively new one that i put on the 70 a few weeks before i found the rust that condemned it. I was right, the piston was stuck all the way in when i pulled it off. Problem solved, the brakes are now bled... i broke one of my calipers trying to rotate the part that the e brake cable runs through because it was stuck crooked. when i use a little force it popped of. a little delay, but kelly fisk here in ohio had one so shipping won't take long at all...

while i am waiting on the brake caliper, today, i put the other vent window in the passenger door, install all the rollers and install my new window regulator. i found that a new window regulator is a little challenging compared to install a used one with the cables broken in...

tomorrow, i'm going to put the hood on, then figure out what to take car of next. i'd like to start putting the engine and transmission in but i'm waiting on the lightened flywheel to get from the machine shop to csaba then to me....

after that much is done, i'm going to put the wheels on it and take it to the paint guy to touch up a few spots and buff it out. i'd put the top and interior in, but i'm afraid of overspray. not to mention i think the paint guy is half blind as indicated by some of the shit he left in the paint work...

so some progress made, not much and definitely not picture worthy...
You are doing great, . Your doing more then I would do ,lol
Jim
East Grand Forks MN
1970 Fiat Spider BS1 ( FOR SALE
1969 124 AS Spider
2017 Abrath
2018 Alfa Romeo 4c Spider
juvius
Posts: 1090
Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2013 11:57 pm
Your car is a: 79 spider
Location: Plymouth, OH

Re: Finally something to show

Post by juvius »

with the new brake lines and fuel line installed, it was finally time to get it off that paint cart. put the wheels on and i'm loving it.
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