Western KY Fiat Spider

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JDOliver

Western KY Fiat Spider

Post by JDOliver »

My name is John, I've had my car a 1980 spider 2000 carb version since early 2001. It had been shelved due to someones inability to find a leaky brake hose. It had been sitting covered for 6 years when I bought it from a friend who picked it up from the original owner. He had just drug it home and never attempted any work on it and it sat out for a year. It only had 60,000 miles on it. It only took 45 minutes to get it running again because all it needed parts wise new rubber all around. The leaky brake was one of the short front hoses. Once I put gas in it she ran like a top. I was very impressed.

I paid $600 dollars for it and that's about what it was worth I thought. The usual rust spots are there, but in the first attempt at fixing it up I cleaned them up and covered them over. 5 years later its time to do it right. This year I will be pulling doors and cutting floors as time allows. I have primarily been concerned with mechanics the last few years and having a reliable car for fun. I converted it to Fuel injection with some Fiat, Chevy, Ford, Saab parts and Megasquirt n EDIS. My original plan was to transition to turbo but I have decided against it for now. The turbo does not lend itself to what I am planning on doing for the next year with it. I ran this for a few years reliably but pulled it off this fall and went back to carb while I work on an engine for autocross next year. I am turning it into primarily a race car this year and will be changing interior and seats as time allows. My plan is to go very Abarth style with it as much as possible. There is a rusted out 131 I am trying to get the transmission from to retrofit for strength purposes. Here are a few pics. It was a little dirty for the engine pics but I don't have any others. Have a good one. John.
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rlux4
Patron 2022
Patron 2022
Posts: 4211
Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:32 pm
Your car is a: 1982 2000 Spider
Location: Granite Falls, Wa

Re: Western KY Fiat Spider

Post by rlux4 »

Hi John. Welcome to the forum. Interesting story you have going there. I don't know if anyone else got images of your pictures, but I'm only showing a box that says "image". Did you upload them first to a photo sharing site and then copy them to paste back here?
Anyway, I'm anxious to see your car.
Good luck on your mods.
Ron
Ron Luxmore
rlux2n2@gmail.com
'82 2000 Spider: after 26 years between Spiders.
pope

Re: Western KY Fiat Spider

Post by pope »

I see your pics perfectly and I saw them at 10:05 perfectly, Ron, you may have logged on when there was some sort of glitch.
mbouse

Re: Western KY Fiat Spider

Post by mbouse »

well, hi and welcome.

i am really confused, which happens often. are we looking at two different vehicles, or some before and after pictures?

unless there is some issue with the Spider tranny, it might be more work than it is worth to pull the tranny and retro fit in the 131 tranny. most of us have no problem with the strength of the stock transmission
fiatsaver

Re: Western KY Fiat Spider

Post by fiatsaver »

Welcome fellow Kentuckian.
I have received a lot of helpful advice from fiatspider.com.I would reccommend creating a short cut on your desk top :D
Welcome
Ray
rlux4
Patron 2022
Patron 2022
Posts: 4211
Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:32 pm
Your car is a: 1982 2000 Spider
Location: Granite Falls, Wa

Re: Western KY Fiat Spider

Post by rlux4 »

You're right Pope, I'm at my brothers house this week and he had a momentary problem with the sattelite signal. I see the car now. Hey! A red Spider! How cool is that?
John, what is the brass "T" for in front of the "T" on the head?
Ron
Ron Luxmore
rlux2n2@gmail.com
'82 2000 Spider: after 26 years between Spiders.
JDOliver

Re: Western KY Fiat Spider

Post by JDOliver »

You may have tried to look when I was reducing the images to fit on the forum.
The pictures are all of the same car. The first ones are the day I brought it home. I have lots of other including the green mold that was growing on the door panels and carpet.

The brass T is for a chevy temperature sender that send signals to the fuel injection.
Here is a link to some others.
http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z269 ... iver/Fiat/
http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z269 ... A/7-28-08/
mdrburchette
Posts: 5754
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2006 5:49 am
Your car is a: 1972 Fiat 124 Sport
Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Re: Western KY Fiat Spider

Post by mdrburchette »

Did you use elbow grease to bring the car back or has it been resprayed? it sure is a vast improvement from when you brought it home! It looks like you autocrossed it. How did it handle?
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!
racydave

Re: Western KY Fiat Spider

Post by racydave »

Howdy neighbor! I lived in Paducah for about a year back in the early 80's. Beautiful place! Great spot for a sports car. Used to ride my motorcycle to the lakes. I run the Mega-Jolt on my stock carbd 79 with a 36 ADL. Welcome!
JDOliver

Re: Western KY Fiat Spider

Post by JDOliver »

Paducah is a great place to live and has gotten better in 12 years I have been here.
Our WKYSCCA region that we started last year is under the Southern Indiana Region.
The Fiat did well even with the open rear end but did have a bit of roll but my chopped springs helped.
I did manage to beat a few Miatas with it and the car got me there and back which is about a 90 mile trip.
I was very happy with it.

I has been resprayed. Most of the pictures don't do is justice because it shines like new.
I used NAPA Martin-Seynor? Flash Red because it was premixed and inexpensive. It has been a fantastic paint. Very durable. It was recommended by a friend that races dirt track for that reason. It is a single stage paint which cut down on work also. I would not have to redo any of it this year if I had fixed the rust properly but I didn't have the facilities then.
Gunsmith

Re: Western KY Fiat Spider

Post by Gunsmith »

Hey JD welcome!

I had a farm in New Concord outside of Murray for a few years, beautiful country! Have you run on hwy 280 yet?
JDOliver

Re: Western KY Fiat Spider

Post by JDOliver »

I have not been on it for that reason, but looking at it on the map I should. If the rally I am working on went down in that direction I would include it. Next time I will.
kristoj
Posts: 909
Joined: Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:26 am
Your car is a: 1982 Fiat Spider 2000 Turbo
Location: Ohio

Re: Western KY Fiat Spider

Post by kristoj »

Welcome to the forum! Your car looks great -- nice stance!
John
'82 Fiat Spider Turbo
'56 Abarth 750 GT Corsa MM
'59 Lancia Appia GTE Zagato
'62 Lancia Flaminia 2.5 3C Convertible
'68 Lancia Fulvia Sport Zagato
'70 Moretti Sportiva S2
'12 Abarth 500
'59 MV Agusta 250 Raid


Pictures of my baby!
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