New from PA

[lamons]

Greetings, I am the original owner of a 1980 Spider 2000. It's been a great car and it's still in pretty good shape. I found this site while searching for tips on how to repair it.

Steve LaMon
Newtown Square, PA

[rlux4]

Welcome Steve. Wow, the original owner. Is your 80 carb'd or FI? If you lived where you are now back then, I'm guessing carb'd, Tell us about it, have you left it original, and show us pictures please.
Ron

[lamons]

It has a carburetor. I it is original, with 50K miles on it. Been in the garage most of the time and out of the snow, so rust is not an issue yet. It had one small dent in the passenger side rear fender that I repaired and spray painted, but that is the only issue with the body. It was in the garage taking up space, so my son and I got it back on the road last year and he has been driving it. Right now it is up on jacks. A dented oil pan led to a failed oil pump. I replaced the pump and the timing belt while I was in there. Got it running, but it lacks power and still has an engine noise. I'm hoping it's not a valve or a piston. It's cold right now, so I have plenty of time to work on it before the weather gets nice.

[mbouse]

Hey, Steve.

You live only 23 minutes away from FIAT FREAK OUT #26 !! That is August 14-16, 2009... Are you familiar with FIAT LANCIA UNLIMITED? If not, take a look here: http://www.flu.org

Or, send me an email at mbouse@chartermi.net

I've owned my '80 carbureted Spider for 14 years, and have loved nearly every minute of it. Send us some pictures of yours.

Oh, and welcome to the site.

[emosfiat]

Welcome Steve. I also have an 80 with a dented oil pan, however no damage to the internal parts. I am wondering if this is a design flaw problem and if anyone has come up with an idea of putting a skid plate at the front of the oil pan? Just a thought. I am checking into it before I have the same problem. Good luck, Emo.

[mdrburchette]

I believe IAP sells a skid plate for the 2L since the oil pan sits lower than on other engines:

[kristoj]

Steve,

Welcome to the forum. Interesting how the internet has changed things since you bought your Fiat new. You have access to a wealth of information through this forum that would never have been possible in 1980. Take Mike up on his suggestion and check out FLU.

[SpiderHead]

Welcome Steve!

Steve,

Welcome to the forum. Interesting how the internet has changed things since you bought your Fiat new. You have access to a wealth of information through this forum that would never have been possible in 1980. Take Mike up on his suggestion and check out FLU.

AND heed his advice on the skid plate.

I want one too! do they sell them for earlier model cars? If so, I'm buying one!

-Ryan

[mbouse]

i have one of those oil pan guards installed on my '80. i can absolutely assure you that it is worth the investment. at least once per year i hear that gut-wrenching sound as it scrapes the pavement of a driveway too high, saving that oil pan once again.

i've not tried it,but i believe it will mount to earlier models just fine.

it does have one drawback. with the oil pan guard installed, the oil filter in the stock position becomes difficult to replace, as the guard becomes one more item to remove in order to perform a simple oil change.

[mdrburchette]

You might want to call IAP to see why, but it stated it was not available for my 72. If you're lucky, it may be due to having to remove the belly pan that nobody reinstalls any more.

[mbouse]

i have my stock belly pan AND the oil pan guard installed on my '80... along with a chin spoiler.

wowzers... talk about a trip getting to the oil filter!!

which is why i ended up installing a remote oil filter kit.

i bet it has something to do with the front mount locations. i think i would prefer the style shown in the above picture. it is completely different from mine... though my front mounts involve the sub frame, and not the front valence.

[ventura ace]

i have my stock belly pan AND the oil pan guard installed on my '80... along with a chin spoiler.

wowzers... talk about a trip getting to the oil filter!!

which is why i ended up installing a remote oil filter kit.

Or . . . a tip I learned from somebody last year: Change out the oil filter from above. Put plastic garbage bag underneath and around the filter. Loosen filter. Spin it off. The oil and filter is caught in the bag. Lift it out. Put the new filter in from above.

Welcome, Steve! You are one of a rare few original owners. Congrats!

Alvon