My first Fiat
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apexwc
My first Fiat
Just bought my first Fiat, a '78 124 Spider. I see some old bondo work on the left fender but the rest of the car looks pretty good. It was originally green but has been painted black. The exhaust is shot and the steering has some serious issues but I still can't help driving it before I tear into it to see what the problems are.
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Spiddy
Re: My first Fiat
good luck with the work.
Are you aiming at a total restoration or a "happy driver" resto?
Are you aiming at a total restoration or a "happy driver" resto?
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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: My first Fiat
Welcome to the forum. If your serious steering issues are ball joints, be careful, be very careful, a tire may end up laying parallel to the ground if a bottom one fails (see here: http://www.mirafiori.com/~thad/balljoints/bj.html to see an example). To check the condition of your ball joints, support the front of the car and grab the top and bottom of a tire, watch the joints as you push/pull the tire.Grab the sides same way to check tie rods.
This is definately a case of better safe than sorry.
Let us know how it's going.
Good luck,
Ron
This is definately a case of better safe than sorry.
Let us know how it's going.
Good luck,
Ron
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mbouse
Re: My first Fiat
rolling restorations are great...as long as they are safe. Please LOOK at the steering issues to be sure you are safe as you drive.
welcome to the site.
welcome to the site.
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chrisg
- Posts: 746
- Joined: Sun Jun 04, 2006 7:30 am
- Your car is a: 1971 FIAT
Re: My first Fiat
congrats & welcome. I'll second the post that says to check out the suspsension asap. in reality, it's pretty simple (can I say "crude" here?) stuff to rebuild and not terribly expensive all things considered. if you upgrade to sport springs or something in the future, you can change springs...but otherwise, I'd say to get that stuff right as early in the process as possible...even if you've got a 90 degree elbow & cherry bomb exhaust out the side for a while! Enjoy it! Watch out, the cars are highly addictive 
Chris Granju
Knoxville, TN
'71 FIAT 124BS (pretty), '72 FIAT 124BC,'76 FIAT 128 Wagon(ratbeast), '85 Bertone X 1/9, '70 124BC (project), 79 X1/9 (hot rod in rehab), '73 124BS (2L, mean), '74 124 Special TC, '73 124CS, '73 124 Familiare
Knoxville, TN
'71 FIAT 124BS (pretty), '72 FIAT 124BC,'76 FIAT 128 Wagon(ratbeast), '85 Bertone X 1/9, '70 124BC (project), 79 X1/9 (hot rod in rehab), '73 124BS (2L, mean), '74 124 Special TC, '73 124CS, '73 124 Familiare
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TulsaSpider
- Posts: 1547
- Joined: Tue Apr 29, 2008 7:33 pm
- Your car is a: 1978 Spyder 124 2L
- Location: Tulsa, Ok
Re: My first Fiat
Greetings and welcome! I just got my first 124 a bout a month ago and it's a black one that used to be blue! The guys on here are awesome! This is a great resource! I have tacked a few things myself already.
Good luck!
Clark
Good luck!
Clark
1978 Spyder 1800 make that 2L! Finally making real progress!
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apexwc
Re: My first Fiat
Thanks for all the responses. I plan on rebuilding the front suspension and steering, all of the bushings and boots are shot anyway so it won't hurt just to replace everything.