New member in north mississippi

jj9078 · Post by **jj9078** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 8:53 pm

Hey guys. My name is jon and I live in north MS right near memphis TN. I just got my first fiat spider. It is a 1972. I havent been around any other fiat owners so I dont know how this crowd will take to the idea but a v8 engine swap is going to be going in the car. My neighbor and I have done a 5.0 swap in a 1986 rx7 and were in the process of doing a chevy 350 stroked to a 383 in a 1985 rx7. I know most rx7 guys are purists and hate the idea of putting a v8 in one of the cars and were never happy about the idea. I hope everyone in the fiat crowd is a little more understanding. I have got a lot of work ahead of me! I am use to doing fab work so that should make the job go a little easier and have many friends in the area that work on cars. Current plan is to cut the firewall and move it back 3", cut the tranny tunnel and weld a new one around a ford c4, install a narrowed ford 8.8 rearend with a four link setup, and get rid of the current steering setup and switched over to a rack and pinion setup. The car needs some body work and rust repair done also. The floor pans need to be cut and new metal welded in along with a new bottom in the trunk. I have got the car pretty much stripped at this point and am to the point where I am about to start cutting and welding. I will try and keep everyone updated on the progress.

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 9:45 pm

good luck with it. Are you using the stock front x-member? Nice wheels, will they be retained?

jj9078 · Post by **jj9078** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 11:01 pm

No the stock front crossmember wont be used. Everything is going to be completely fabricated from scratch. The frame is also going to be beefed up a good bit. As for the wheels, they are panasport racing wheels, and for the time being they will be kept on the car. I may sell them later down the line when I get the new rear in the car though.

Mark_vaughn · Post by **Mark_vaughn** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 11:07 pm

Good luck with the car. I like keeping things fairly original, but I also dream of small block V8 power.

If you have any Fiat parts that you don't need let everyone know, may help someone out and put some cash in your pocket.

TVST*R · Post by **TVST*R** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 11:28 pm

Finally...Something interesting on this old farts forum

...
Hell yeah....Keep the pics coming. Do it for "The King" baby momma.

What will the paint scheme be...Cobra White Stripe?

Cool
T

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 12:12 am

old farts? Hey, I'm not in AARP yet!

TVST*R · Post by **TVST*R** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 1:45 am

I should have said "old FiA(R)T's"

mdrburchette · Post by **mdrburchette** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 5:22 am

Hah! I used to call mine the ole' Fart until I got two. Now their names are Don and Juan, since they keep me busy when my husband's out of town....that doesn't sound good, does it?

Good luck with your V8 conversion!

mbouse · Post by **mbouse** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 4:28 pm

Take a look at this '77 Spider with a Chevy V-8

http://gallery.italiancarclub.com/michf ... 7.JPG.html

i'd say that you are in for lots of fun if you can make it happen. i personally talked to the owner of the above, and was amazed at all the work he put into this series of major modifications.

my next resto project is a '69 Spitfire (4 cyl frame) with a in-line 6 cyl engine stuffed in the engine bay (under the bonnet, they say). from what i hear, i am in for a ride.....