New Spider guy from Tampa Bay Area

[pondf16]

New owner of a nice red '78 spider in Tampa Bay area. Overall in real good shape. I can tell previous owner took care of it as my nephew and I will do. Best of all It has absolutely no rust!

1. anybody have an issue with driver side door with play in it? Solutions?
2. anybody have experience with roll bar installation?
3. some lights do work, others don't, and others work when they shouldn't. I hope it is just bulbs, but when I find out it is not just bulbs is there logical trouble shooting steps others have learned?

Thanks already!
Tom

[wachuko]

New owner of a nice red '78 spider in Tampa Bay area. Overall in real good shape. I can tell previous owner took care of it as my nephew and I will do. Best of all It has absolutely no rust!

1. anybody have an issue with driver side door with play in it? Solutions?
2. anybody have experience with roll bar installation?
3. some lights do work, others don't, and others work when they shouldn't. I hope it is just bulbs, but when I find out it is not just bulbs is there logical trouble shooting steps others have learned?

Thanks already!
Tom

Welcome to the forum Tom!

Was this the one owner car out of Palm Beach? Would love to see photos!

[rlux4]

Welcome to the forum pondf16.
If this is your first Spider, you're going to find this hard to believe, but sometimes we find that there have been previous owners (POs) who messed with things they knew nothing about and left a problem or two for future owners. I know, hard to believe.
The first thing you'll need to check is that you have good grounds in all locations. Keep in mind that the Italian engineers did thier electrical differently than Detroit. For instance, a lot of the circuits have the fuse after the draw, so tracing a short can be trying.
Yours is a 78, so I'm not sure it's the same as 79 and up, but in these a bad hazard switch will cause havoc on outside lights. A lot of these ciruits go through it.
Check around your door hinges, you may have the dreaded cracked hinge. Mbouse (Mike) did a very good tutorial on the fix for this which we can lead you to if yours is cracked.
Let us see pics of your new car!
Ron

[mbouse]

wa-wa... WHAT? did someone call my name? Experience? yessir, three bags full of experience. Ron is absolutely correct that what appears to be pristine, frequently turns out not. however, and at the same time... the wiring ages and things go bad as a result. try this:
1. disconnect negative battery terminal
2. remove and destroy all fuses
3. using 00 steel wool, clean all fuse connections at the fuse panel.

if you forgot step #1, you will discover in step #3 just how fast steel will burn.

4. squeeze the fuse terminals tighter with your fingertips.
5. using your wiring diagram, install new fuses of the correct amperage to each of the 10 locations.
6. connect the negative battery terminal
7. test both sides of each fuse with a volt meter.

here is a helpful hint concerning the fuse box:
http://flumichigan.italiancarclub.com/T ... legend.pdf

Ron is a great resource for all of us here. he is correct that i wrote a handy guide for the door hinge issue:
http://flumichigan.italiancarclub.com/T ... repair.pdf

please note that your issue may be as simple as adjusting the hinges and replacing the locator lug at the bottom corner of the door.

i also have a tutorial on installing a roll bar, but i don't have a copy of that on-line. you'll need to send me an email to the address appearing in my signature and i will be happy to forward a copy of that article as well.

by the way, welcome to the site. It was my Uncle that inspired me into antique auto restoration.. I am really very happy to hear that others are as lucky as your nephew.

[katsi]

Welcome. A lot of good advice so far. Do what has been suggested - grounds and fuses are a pain in the rear untill they are sorted out. You will find that the more you work on her, the less fickle she becomes. And, to have a rust free specimine, what a bonus. You have got to send pictures. Just don't go looking for rust, you will most likely find just how rusted your rust free project is. They tend to have a lot of rust under the rust protective coatings. Well, IMHO anyway. So, jump on in, the water's fine.

[pondf16]

All, Thanks for the useful info so far. I bought the Spider about a week ago right before I left the country. I will return in another 10 days and will post pix.

Wachuco--as far as I know, my Spider has been in the Tampa Bay area for a while. The 2nd prior owner was an elderly gentleman in not too good health--but he did take care of it.

Rlux4 and mbouse and katsi, thanks for the great info. The electrical stuff intimidates me a little, but I am looking forward to making it near perfect when I return from overseas with the help you have provided already.

Thanks again,
Tom
pondf16@flightline.com

[mbouse]

Tom,

the electricals are fairly straightforward. most important thing to consider is clean contact points that are solidly and firmly attached. most electrical issues will be erradicated by cleaning and tightening those contact points. easy-peasy

[Tersta]

Welcome. A lot of good advice so far. Do what has been suggested - grounds and fuses are a pain in the rear untill they are sorted out. You will find that the more you work on her, the less fickle she becomes. And, to have a rust free specimine, what a bonus. You have got to send pictures. Just don't go looking for rust, you will most likely find just how rusted your rust free project is. They tend to have a lot of rust under the rust protective coatings. Well, IMHO anyway. So, jump on in, the water's fine.

I thought that mine was rust free as well, however I found rust when I pulled the carpet out. Good luck and welcome.
Tersta

[pondf16]

Well Tersta, you were right. I looked under the florr carpet before I bought, and found no rust. After I bought it, I gave the floor pans a better look and was shoacked at the rust. I found rust holes the size of grapefruits in my floor pan. Now I am looking for some floor pans......
TOM
'78 Spider
'77 Land Cruiser
3 others

[carl55]

Hi Tom
Welcome. I going to venture a guess that you fly or did fly a f16.

Carl

[pondf16]

Carl,

You are intuitive and correct. I vacationed for a few weeks at 29 Palms years ago…..much sun, fun and warmth there. Sunshine Peak was my favorite….

Sorry about the spelling above, I was rather tired….

Now for the important stuff, does anyone have experience with buying and installing floor pans? I found some online at International Auto Parts for $235 and at Wolf Steel Restorations for $120. Are the products equal? Any gotchyas about this? I have done the cleaning and dirty work prep for the pan installation. I will let a body shop install them.

Tom

[carl55]

Tom
Do a search. Lots of people replace floor pans. There are other options. You should also post your questions in the area most closely related. I say this because some people only follow certain theards.

Carl