New 75 1800 owner- soon!

mctaco · Post by **mctaco** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 2:13 pm

I am picking up a 75 Spider 1800 this evening- my first! Like most first-time owners, I'm sure I have a million questions that will be obvious to more experienced owners.

The body is in very good shape. It was yellow originally but about 5 years ago it was repainted red. No major rust anywhere on the undercarriage, wheels, or engine bay. Engine, tranny, and brakes all work well. Lights and electrical also seems to be working correctly.

There is a rip in the plastic window for the top. I have been looking around at different websites for a replacement- are the vinyl tops from Vick's good quality? Also, is there anything special I need to know to replace it myself?

There is some slight engine sputtering at low speed that I believe is due to the air-fuel mix. I'm going to investigate this first when I get it home.

The fun part of this car (aside from driving it, of course!) is going to be working on it myself to increase performance. I've never had a dedicated "project car" like this, so I suppose I'll learn a lot and feel good that I am doing all the work myself.

I'm in Minnesota, if there are other owners in town give a holler!

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 3:23 pm

Congrats and welcome to the community. Your car has points-type ignition. I'd check the point gap before tweaking the carb

mctaco · Post by **mctaco** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 4:19 pm

Are there any good instructions on how to do this? Do I need a dwell meter?

mbouse · Post by **mbouse** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 10:48 am

The A#1 thing about your car is the lack of sophistication that prohibits the average person with average wrenching skills from working on them.

I love mine for that very reason! I, not someone else, can do almost everything necessary to restore and improve it.

Welcome to the great hobby of Fiat-ing!

Vick's has a great vinyl top. Do not think of replacing yours without replacing the side cables as well. Get to know your way around Chris Obert's site and download his excellent step by step instructions on how to perform this replacement. Memory serves me to say that the site is http://www.fiatplus.com Hopefully you have a clean, dry, and warm workspace and some patience. I was able to do all but the very last step of my replacement by myself. Only the step that required me to be inside and outside at the same time was too difficult for a solo effort.

Sorry about your luck living in Minnesota. There is nothing the rest of us can do to help you out of that particular situation. It is not a Fiat issue.

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 11:15 am

a dwell meter would be ideal, but if you don't have one you can use the feeler gauge method. If the points are pitted though, it's nearly impossible to set them with a feeler gauge. If they are pitted or worn at an angle, best to replace them. Get a spare set, keep them in the glove box and make it a yearly maintenance task

mctaco · Post by **mctaco** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 11:55 am

mbouse wrote: Sorry about your luck living in Minnesota. There is nothing the rest of us can do to help you out of that particular situation. It is not a Fiat issue.

Heh, I see you are in Michigan, so you can sympathize with my pain. Long winters are not conducive to Fiat fun!

a dwell meter would be ideal, but if you don't have one you can use the feeler gauge method. If the points are pitted though, it's nearly impossible to set them with a feeler gauge. If they are pitted or worn at an angle, best to replace them. Get a spare set, keep them in the glove box and make it a yearly maintenance task

Thanks, I'll try it this way first. I'm thinking that perhaps I should just replace it with a Crane electronic ignition.

mbouse · Post by **mbouse** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 12:38 pm

yeah, but i dont have far to drive for FFO this year