2nd FIAT - 8 years off

[TX82FIAT]

Folks, I have used this site over the last three weeks and thought I should join based on the information obtained being truly priceless. Modified a cold air intake for a heat shield. Cleaned ground wires and have electrical system 95% functioning... gremlins. Used jack stands on the axel to blead the brakes, some basic maintenanceand....and on....

I sold an 83 FIAT on E-bay six years ago that I restored. Mistake! Once the car was in proper condition it gave me no issues at all for over five years. That seems to dismiss the "fix it again tony" crowd. As much as these cars have hic-ups, they overcompensate with personality. So, I had to pick another one up and I am working through the hicups on this one. Not a mechanic, I'm an accountant. But I do find these vehicles within the relm of my abilities unless it is a major item like installig a transmission or dropping a new engine in. suppose i could learn to do that as well if needed. Two of my sons are in this with me.

My six year old looked at the window crankers and said "what are they". The 13 year old and I laughed for about 10 minutes and then got back to cleaning the engine bay of 28 years work of oil and dirt. Exicted there is a group out here to reach out too!

[TulsaSpider]

Funny! Good luck and welcome! You are at the right place!

[mdrburchette]

If you've been reading on the forum, you know pics are in order. The story of your six year old reminded me of on with my own kids. I have a rotary phone in the basement of the shop. One of my daughters wanted to call their grandmother so I told them to use that phone. She looked and me and said "How do you work it?" They also thought records were just large cd's.

[TX82FIAT]

I'll post some pics this weekend. The engine bay is a mess. I've been wiping it down but think stripping and painting may be the only cure.

[mdrburchette]

You'd be surprised what Greased Lightening and a putty knife can do.

[jimincalif]

If you've been reading on the forum, you know pics are in order. The story of your six year old reminded me of on with my own kids. I have a rotary phone in the basement of the shop. One of my daughters wanted to call their grandmother so I told them to use that phone. She looked and me and said "How do you work it?" They also thought records were just large cd's.

Welcome.

Reminds me of a high school kid we had working at the office a few years ago when we still used a typewriter to occasionally fill in something where only a hardcopy form was available. Someone told him to use the typewriter and showed him where it was. He looked at it and said "what is this?" and "how does it work?" He had never seen one. Made me feel old.

[rlux4]

Hi Tx, welcome to the forum. You did better than me, it took me 26 years to get my second Spider. The rest of your story sounds familiar also. My 82 has given me 3-1/2 years of trouble free enjoyment after some initial FI problems were solved. I did have one issue on a trip from SoCal up to Oregon but it was a leaky gasket on the heater pipe connection at the water pump that caused coolant loss and over heating, but that's not particular to Fiat so I don't count it.
Looking forward to seeing your car.
Ron