How to make a pretty engine? :)

[seventil]

Hi everyone,

Just getting into the Fiat Spider scene, thinking about buying a 1981 (thread - http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=9104).

I'm trying to budget some things out for the long term... basically, as most would recommend, it's good to get everything mechanically sorted and well before worrying about perfecting the outside.

So, in the most basic of terms... (actually, a step by step guide would be wonderful), what does it take to go from something like this:



To something like THIS:



(Picture is from Spring Fever thread, kuhndg's ride)

Basically, I don't know where to start. Tear the whole thing out, clean and polish everything, replace stuff that looks bad? I'm afraid it won't start again.

Thanks in advance... I know it's a lot of work / time / money / blood and all that, just want to get a rough ballpark and if it's feasible!

[seventil]

Forgot to mention, will order most things online from spider-point.com (German based company).

Compared to US shops, about 15-30% more expensive. Best place I've found in the EU so far though.

[rlux4]

Here's the one that gets me drooling:

Kudos to John Kristo (kristoj) for this example of pride of ownership.
Ron

[ITA124]

Thought I'd post an image of my engine bay

[wachuko]

Wow, those engines make me... how should I say it...

Wait, I need a few minutes alone.

[azygoustoyou]

Okay Jaime,
You can come back out of the closet.

[ITA124]

Now that you have seen the front, I may as well how you the back end

[stefhahn]

Forgot to mention, will order most things online from spider-point.com (German based company).

Compared to US shops, about 15-30% more expensive. Best place I've found in the EU so far though.

ok, Spider-Point is not the worst place to buy but also not the best, if you want to buy from a german company.

Very good quality can be bought at http://www.axel-augustin.de (excellent parts, also used by him in his shop) and O&S (http://www.schiminsky.de/) - they also run a garage, very nice. Next is Del Priore, more expensive but they stock mostly OEM parts (replica parts are tagged) - see http://www.del-priore.com/xtcommerce/in ... anguage=en -- the next in quality is http://www.holtmann-niedergerke.de/ Holtmann&Niedergerke, a brillant shop, existant for 21 years now. Spider Point would be next but actually (being German, owning a Spider since 1991) I rarely order anything from them as the other vendors either have superior quality or better (cheaper) prices for the same stuff. If you are in doubt, ask me and I can help you. Actually there are several more vendors, but I hardly ordered from them - one exception: http://www.gb-motorentechnik.de - as I know Hansi (the owner) and he has excellent quality and rare performance parts.

ciao,
Stefan

[Jimb]

Forgot to mention, will order most things online from spider-point.com (German based company).

Compared to US shops, about 15-30% more expensive. Best place I've found in the EU so far though.

ok, Spider-Point is not the worst place to buy but also not the best, if you want to buy from a german company.

Very good quality can be bought at http://www.axel-augustin.de (excellent parts, also used by him in his shop) and O&S (http://www.schiminsky.de/) - they also run a garage, very nice. Next is Del Priore, more expensive but they stock mostly OEM parts (replica parts are tagged) - see http://www.del-priore.com/xtcommerce/in ... anguage=en -- the next in quality is http://www.holtmann-niedergerke.de/ Holtmann&Niedergerke, a brillant shop, existant for 21 years now. Spider Point would be next but actually (being German, owning a Spider since 1991) I rarely order anything from them as the other vendors either have superior quality or better (cheaper) prices for the same stuff. If you are in doubt, ask me and I can help you. Actually there are several more vendors, but I hardly ordered from them - one exception: http://www.gb-motorentechnik.de - as I know Hansi (the owner) and he has excellent quality and rare performance parts.

ciao,
Stefan

Have you ever tries G+B ?

Jim

[Jimb]

Hi everyone,

Just getting into the Fiat Spider scene, thinking about buying a 1981 (thread - http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=9104).

I'm trying to budget some things out for the long term... basically, as most would recommend, it's good to get everything mechanically sorted and well before worrying about perfecting the outside.

So, in the most basic of terms... (actually, a step by step guide would be wonderful), what does it take to go from something like this:


To something like THIS:

(Picture is from Spring Fever thread, kuhndg's ride)

Basically, I don't know where to start. Tear the whole thing out, clean and polish everything, replace stuff that looks bad? I'm afraid it won't start again.

Thanks in advance... I know it's a lot of work / time / money / blood and all that, just want to get a rough ballpark and if it's feasible!

We seem to have gotten sidetracked here from your original question.
A good way to start is to steamclean the engine bay. Whether you can do this or not you'll still end up witha lot of elbow grease. Using a product like Varsol or even paint thinner (mild) works great. Use a bristly paint brush. I then blow every off with a compressor as I go. And do all rubber and plastics with a good cleaner/protectant like 303.
Jim

[seventil]

Forgot to mention, will order most things online from spider-point.com (German based company).

Compared to US shops, about 15-30% more expensive. Best place I've found in the EU so far though.

ok, Spider-Point is not the worst place to buy but also not the best, if you want to buy from a german company.

Very good quality can be bought at http://www.axel-augustin.de (excellent parts, also used by him in his shop) and O&S (http://www.schiminsky.de/) - they also run a garage, very nice. Next is Del Priore, more expensive but they stock mostly OEM parts (replica parts are tagged) - see http://www.del-priore.com/xtcommerce/in ... anguage=en -- the next in quality is http://www.holtmann-niedergerke.de/ Holtmann&Niedergerke, a brillant shop, existant for 21 years now. Spider Point would be next but actually (being German, owning a Spider since 1991) I rarely order anything from them as the other vendors either have superior quality or better (cheaper) prices for the same stuff. If you are in doubt, ask me and I can help you. Actually there are several more vendors, but I hardly ordered from them - one exception: http://www.gb-motorentechnik.de - as I know Hansi (the owner) and he has excellent quality and rare performance parts.

ciao,
Stefan

Stefan, just wanted to say a big thank you for all the info here. Next time I'm in Stuttgart, I'll buy you a beer or three!

I don't necessarily want to buy from a German company, I've just found they are usually the cheapest to ship and best value for money (for anything, really). I suppose if there was a French company that did I could use them, but it's all the same to me.

Thanks again, I'll be in touch if I end up buying my '81!

[seventil]

We seem to have gotten sidetracked here from your original question.
A good way to start is to steamclean the engine bay. Whether you can do this or not you'll still end up witha lot of elbow grease. Using a product like Varsol or even paint thinner (mild) works great. Use a bristly paint brush. I then blow every off with a compressor as I go. And do all rubber and plastics with a good cleaner/protectant like 303.
Jim

Thanks for the tips, Jim. I need to track down the French equivalent of the products you mentioned (that's been the biggest thing for me, I'm so used to American stuff).

I was thinking about pressure washing at the start and just polishing up the top for now, once I make sure the mechanics are good, lift the engine out and treat and clean everything like you mentioned. Unfortunately I'm not equipped to lift it my place so I'll have to take to a garage that has a steam cleaner I suppose (most should I think).

Thanks again, I'm getting antsy to get my hands dirty!

[Redline]

Thought I'd post an image of my engine bay

Perfect! I'm not a big fan of overly-polished or painted engine parts, which is why I like yours. Very original. I like the brassy accents of some of the fasteners and caps against the bare alloy. The only embellishment I am considering for mine is a crackle finish on the air cleaner housing, but otherwise I am striving for exactly that look.

[stefhahn]

Have you ever tries G+B ?

Jim

That's http://www.gb-motorentechnik.de - I mentioned them above, yes I have their exhaust system for 10 years now in my Spider - awesome folks and parts but they have their prices....

And sorry, I didn't mean to hijack that thread, I just wanted to point out that there are more and probably even better possibilites to get good parts in GY, could save some money for tune up lube ;o)

So... on topic: I have the same approach as Jaime: do the small things right, fix, rebuild, clean them one by one and you'll end up with a nice engine bay. Re the plastic parts I use "armor all" cleaner and finish. All laqcuer parts in the engine bay get their fair amount of wax (for whatever reason I prefer Sonax).... all screws, nuts and hose clamps got replaced with stainless steel ones over time, it was a wonderful idea to buy a rather big set of standard parts... replacing fuel lines is also a good idea, especially as the fuel mixture did change to a more agressive one since the car was built. At a certain time I decided to have the radiator recored and painted. And and and.... there is always something to do

ciao,
Stefan

[Jimb]

Unless they are MUCH improved, I would avoid Amorall. It was once described to me as "like putting butter on your belly before lying out in the sun"
Armoral can actually degrade the rubber while making it look shiny.
Jim