New Member in Burbank CA

[BurbankJalopy]

Hello everyone. I searched this excellent forum for a while to learn what to look for before I bought a Spider. I ended up getting an '81 Spider (LE 50th Anniversary Edition #914) in a nasty faded gold color. I paid 500$ for it as it needs work. The rubber flex disc failed and broke up the trans, ripped some holes in the floor, and broke the trailing arm, etc. I felt a little guilty because on the same day paid $500 for the car, I paid another $130 for a used trans w/driveshaft on the way home from picking up the car. It's not by any means a 'nice' car, but it turns out it's a one owner car. It has the most awkward AC system I've ever seen under the dash, and a bunch of custom wiring and switches (like 3 different switches/keys required to start the car...I feel like I'm arming a nuclear bomb every time I fire it up!) My daily drivers are newer japanese (albeit more US than domestic manufacturers') cars and so when I drive the Spider I seek out something old and loose that needs replacing. These things are definately an addiction. There is absolutely no rust on the car, it apparently was undercoated at the dealer, then it leaked so much fluid it has a lifetime rust prevention coating. I've really enjoyed it so far and every weekend I look forward to driving it and tinkering afterward. I've got some really cool pictures to show why a person should replace the flex disc. You can view the aftermath here...and there are several to view if you use the right/left arrows. http://adamandcourtneysphotos.shutterfly.com/2984 I'll add some more pictures of the car later on.

[kilrwail]

Hey, welcome to the forum. Those are excellent, if scary, pictures. I can see it now. All those who haven't replaced their "guibo" (flex disk) are running to their parts suppliers! Can we see the rest of the car, please?

[rlux4]

Welcome to the forum. We here in southern California are starting a SoCal chapter of FLU (Fiat/Lancia Unlimited), web site here: http://www.flu.org/
We get together pretty frequently for group drives, BBQs, and swapping lies. Watch the "Fiat Spider Events" forum and be sure to join us, we'd love to meet you and check out you LE.
Your pics demonstrate why "check the flex disc" is one of the first things new owners are told to do when they ask what to look at replacing when they first get their Spider. That and the timing belt. (If you don't know when yours was replaced, replace it).
Ron

[mbouse]

we don't leak... we are self oilers.

welcome

[racerx]

wow! that is some pretty incredible damage one of those things can do. thanks for the very visual maintenance lesson. and i'd love to see some full car pics too.

[BurbankJalopy]

Hi
I've added some rough photos of the car. More interestingly though, read my maiden voyage story below......It looks good in these shots but the paint is pretty oxidized, and both front seats pretty worn. Otherwise it's a nice looking car. I included in the photos the special edition plate that the prior owner had saved for me in the glove box. The greasy pictures are underneath the car showing the damage from a failed flex disk, which happened prior to my owning it but I repaired. I felt gutsy enough to take it on a long maiden voyage so I drove the car to Mount WIlson, CA this past Sunday. At the top of the mountain there was a young lady having her pictures taken by a friend, and she actually wanted to pose with my spider for pictures. And, I swear, she even said that she'd like to do a topless photo across the hood of the car. She kept calling the car a 'foxy car'. I think that she was really flirting with me and not all that impressed with the car. I got shy and skidaddled out of there before she could come close enough to see the car up close and change her mind about wanting photos with it. Whatever her motivation, it made for a memorable maiden voyage and a lot of grinning on the way back down the mountain. I even passed a restored X19 racer on the way down. To see some pictures of the car go here: http://adamandcourtneysphotos.shutterfly.com/2971

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[rlux4]

You went up there topless, she probably thought "Hey, you started it".
I'm guessing you're married to Courtney. If so, you can count on us: mums the word to Courtney.
Thanks for the pics. You got a killer deal.
Ron

[pope]

Just get some polishing compound and go over the painted finish and bring it back to its past glory. A couple of hours on a Saturday morning. That way it will look good until you decide to change the color. Who knows, once the paint is smooth again, you may get to love the color.

I hope my MOM didnt scare you! She's just friendly.

[kristoj]

Nice find! You've got a very special model. As a limited edition, I would try to keep it stock, including the color. But that's just me. I am insane about keeping cars the way they left the factory. Welcome to the forum.