Introduction Hi all from Southern Illinois

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Kjay
Posts: 23
Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2022 10:19 pm
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Spider

Introduction Hi all from Southern Illinois

Post by Kjay »

Thanks for welcoming me to the group. Recently purchased 1978 spider. I’m third owner, first owner had car serviced at a good garage. Second owner worked on it himself. Things I’m finding are a little scary. Lots of cut and taped off wires. I’m in the process of getting it to run. I’ll have lots of questions.
scrapironchef
Posts: 155
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2009 3:06 pm
Your car is a: 79 Spider
Location: Richmond, CA

Re: Introduction Hi all from Southern Illinois

Post by scrapironchef »

Head over to Mirafiori.com and sign up there too, you can download the schematics for your car from there that will make your life a lot easier.

What part of Southern Illinois?
rdv
Posts: 470
Joined: Sun Feb 12, 2006 8:34 am
Your car is a: 69 AS Spider
Location: Hamburg, Germany

Re: Introduction Hi all from Southern Illinois

Post by rdv »

Hi
and welcome! Any pics available to show your car? We are always interested in new cars here! :)

Is your car already listed in the worldwide Spider Register? Illinois got various CS1 (73-78) Spider, see here:
https://www.fiatspider.de/register?Fahr ... e=Illinois

Cheers Ralf
69 AS Spider
-------------------------------
the Worldwide Spider Register
Be part of it and register your car(s). Starting point here:
https://www.fiatspider.de/worldwide-spider-register
Kjay
Posts: 23
Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2022 10:19 pm
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Spider

Re: Introduction Hi all from Southern Illinois

Post by Kjay »

scrapironchef wrote:Head over to Mirafiori.com and sign up there too, you can download the schematics for your car from there that will make your life a lot easier.

What part of Southern Illinois?
Im in Carlyle Illinois, about 50 miles east on St.Louis Mo. I will check out Mirafiori.com. I believe the wiring will be the biggest issue with my fiat. Have several wires cut and taped under hood and dash. Switching to electric fuel pump today as crankcase full on gas. Yet no gas was getting to carburetor.
redcars
Patron 2020
Patron 2020
Posts: 487
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 9:36 pm
Your car is a: 1981 Spider 2000
Location: Collinsville, IL

Re: Introduction Hi all from Southern Illinois

Post by redcars »

I am close to you in Collinisville. If you want to cruise sometime let me know. I have a lot of parts from parts cars if you need something let me know.
1987 Lotus Super 7 clone
1981 Fiat Spider 2000 AT
1982 Fiat Spider 2000 5sd
1970 Fiat Coupe
scrapironchef
Posts: 155
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2009 3:06 pm
Your car is a: 79 Spider
Location: Richmond, CA

Re: Introduction Hi all from Southern Illinois

Post by scrapironchef »

Went to SIU for a few years so I know the area.

The wiring diagrams are helpful to identify what the cut wires used to go to.

When you put in the electric pump add the fancy relay that will cut it off when the engine stops, check out this discussion for an overly detailed discussion of the process -https://www.mirafiori.com/forum/viewtop ... 15&t=99678
Kjay
Posts: 23
Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2022 10:19 pm
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Spider

Re: Introduction Hi all from Southern Illinois

Post by Kjay »

redcars wrote:I am close to you in Collinisville. If you want to cruise sometime let me know. I have a lot of parts from parts cars if you need something let me know.
Thanks, have some work to do before I can cruise my spider. Know wipers don’t work sounds like motor trying. So a wiper motor maybe needed. Car doesn’t have Sun visors either. Console in bad shape. Think I’m going to repair it and cover with marine vinyl.
Kjay
Posts: 23
Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2022 10:19 pm
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Spider

Re: Introduction Hi all from Southern Illinois

Post by Kjay »

scrapironchef wrote:Head over to Mirafiori.com and sign up there too, you can download the schematics for your car from there that will make your life a lot easier.
Thanks
What part of Southern Illinois?
redcars
Patron 2020
Patron 2020
Posts: 487
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 9:36 pm
Your car is a: 1981 Spider 2000
Location: Collinsville, IL

Re: Introduction Hi all from Southern Illinois

Post by redcars »

For your wipers pull the cowling and unhook the linkage to make sure it is the motor and not shafts that the wipers fasten to. All the lubricant drys out and they become stiff or frozen up. There are many write ups on this.
1987 Lotus Super 7 clone
1981 Fiat Spider 2000 AT
1982 Fiat Spider 2000 5sd
1970 Fiat Coupe
Kjay
Posts: 23
Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2022 10:19 pm
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Spider

Re: Introduction Hi all from Southern Illinois

Post by Kjay »

redcars wrote:I am close to you in Collinisville. If you want to cruise sometime let me know. I have a lot of parts from parts cars if you need something let me know.
I finally got my fiat started. Idles pretty good and quiet. Then it knocks like hell above 2000 rpm. Checked timing belt all marks line up at TDC. So thinking it has a bad rod bearing. Any ideas on anything else to check before I pull the engine.
18Fiatsandcounting
Posts: 3798
Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2019 11:23 pm
Your car is a: 1969 and 1971 124 spiders
Location: San Francisco Bay Area

Re: Introduction Hi all from Southern Illinois

Post by 18Fiatsandcounting »

Kjay wrote:Checked timing belt all marks line up at TDC.
Including the pulley for the auxiliary shaft? On some engines if not timed right, the lobe on the auxiliary shaft for the mechanical fuel pump (even if replaced by an electric) can strike the #2 connecting rod.

With the engine at TDC and both cam pulleys lined up, the auxiliary shaft pulley should have its timing mark at about the 1 o'clock position as you view it from the front. Kinda lined up with the pivot bolt for the timing belt tensioner bracket (the pivot bolt that the spring rides on).

If that's not the issue, then yes, it could be something internal to the engine.

-Bryan
Kjay
Posts: 23
Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2022 10:19 pm
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Spider

Re: Introduction Hi all from Southern Illinois

Post by Kjay »

redcars wrote:I am close to you in Collinisville. If you want to cruise sometime let me know. I have a lot of parts from parts cars if you need something let me know.
Hi Redcar, found that my motor has a spun rod bearing. Wondering if you may have a good crankshaft. Mine will need ground. Number one rod journal scored. May need an oil pump as well. I’ll know more once I get engine pulled.
redcars
Patron 2020
Patron 2020
Posts: 487
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 9:36 pm
Your car is a: 1981 Spider 2000
Location: Collinsville, IL

Re: Introduction Hi all from Southern Illinois

Post by redcars »

I have a 78 1800 that the crankshaft looks good. I just started to look at my spare parts to see what is good. I have oil pumps also, don't know what shape their in.
1987 Lotus Super 7 clone
1981 Fiat Spider 2000 AT
1982 Fiat Spider 2000 5sd
1970 Fiat Coupe
Kjay
Posts: 23
Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2022 10:19 pm
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Spider

Re: Introduction Hi all from Southern Illinois

Post by Kjay »

redcars wrote:I have a 78 1800 that the crankshaft looks good. I just started to look at my spare parts to see what is good. I have oil pumps also, don't know what shape their in.
What you want for the crankshaft? Not sure if I need an oil pump, but my buy one to compare to the one I have. I pulled engine and trans yesterday. Will be next week before I dismantle the engine and how bad the damage is.
redcars
Patron 2020
Patron 2020
Posts: 487
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 9:36 pm
Your car is a: 1981 Spider 2000
Location: Collinsville, IL

Re: Introduction Hi all from Southern Illinois

Post by redcars »

50 for the crankshaft 25 for the oil pump.
1987 Lotus Super 7 clone
1981 Fiat Spider 2000 AT
1982 Fiat Spider 2000 5sd
1970 Fiat Coupe
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