Returning Member

[DUCeditor]

Hi all!

I've owned a 1977 124 Spider for over twenty years and had been an active member of this forum for some time before circumstances made me put the car and my forum participation on hold. Well the time has come to reactivate both.

I bought my spider in 1988 when I was living in Boston. It was a Florida car and as such had no salt exposure and resulting rust, but the insides had been baked to the point of being overdone.

I had the car repainted professionally in its original ivory color and redid the interior myself (new seat coverings, dash and console facades, and a real mahogany dash. The only major upgrade beyond that was a set of 14 inch Panasport wheels.

My wife and I drove that car every warm-weather weekend for 18 years but then, after having moved to the Monadnock area of New Hampshire, and, alas, away from our experienced FIAT mechanic, the car refused to start 3 summers ago and since then has sat in a garage with nothing more than an occasional turning over of the motor.

The car's battery finally failed (despite charging) and now to turn it over I use jumper cables. Turn over is now very slow - too slow to start even if gas and spark were correct.

With a desire to get the sweet machine back on the road (it is still beautiful!) I need to find a worthy mechanic in Southern New Hampshire. If anyone her can make a suggestion it'll be much appreciated!

-don

[ROOK1]

Welcome back. Can't help you on the mechanic question.

[mdrburchette]

Welcome back! How close is CT to NH? Danny's Fun Imports are there:
http://www.funimported.com/events_new.htm

[markpink]

Hi

Danny's is a large warehouse filled with every Fiat part in the universe and he gives free advice and he has owned more Fiats then probably anyone in the world. It is worth a trip to go there or to call him for advice. He will diagnose many problems right over the phone and then send you the parts you need.
He also does work on the cars. It's a two hour drive from me and a few hours probably from you as well.

I am in Nashua, about 40 miles from Peterborough NH. In Nashua there is Nashua Foreign Auto. I used to have my MG and Porsche serviced there, but I have not taken my Fiats there because I have generally done all my own work, except for Alignment.

I hear of a place in Londonderry NH http://www.veloceimports.com/ that works on Alphas for someone I know. I am sure they will work on a Fiat.

If you are willing to work on it yourself, I am willing to drive over and help you figure out whats wrong with it. I have a 1977 myself and it's a good scenic drive to Peterborough NH. I might be able to grab another Fiat owner for the trip. He and I are looking for other Fiat owners in NH to go on drives with, so we have a vested interested in getting your car up and running..


From your description of the problem, I think it is one of the following:

Starter problem. Good diag here : http://www.mirafiori.com/faq/content/st ... click.html
Brown wire problem. A common Fiat problem. See here: http://www.mirafiori.com/faq/content/bwfix/bwfix.htm
Ignition Switch. I had the car stop working a year ago. It suddenly didn't turn over and it was a fried ignition switch.

Thanks


Mark

[DUCeditor]

Wow Mark! What a response!!!

I know I will have to have professional work done but if I can get it running that will be much easier. So yes, I'd very much appreciate your coming by and giving me a hand.

This weekend I'm tied up with company from out of state, but lets find a mutually convenient time on a weekend soon. You can reach me via PM here on the forum and I'll do the same.

Thank you so much!

-don

[DUCeditor]

An Update...

My `77 still sits, just looking pretty, but (BIG but) I now have reason to believe she'll soon be back on the road. That is because I found a local shop willing and qualified to work on her. AVA, in Dublin NH.

Its funny that I did not think of these folks first off. How many times I've driven by the shop on my way home from Keene NH and admired the lovely old Euro cars sitting out front. Many 60s era BMWs (their specialty), but also several Alfas and even once or twice a pretty spider.

When I stopped by Alex, the proprietor, was working on an older BMW, but a quick look around also showed that he was in the midst of a full restoration of an Austin Healey 3000, working on an Alfa Spider, and several other lovely machines.

"Fiats don't scare me" he said as we went through the details of what I know needs to be done. (What surprised are in store I'll eventually no doubt learn) But if the check book allows it'll all be worth it.

[mdrburchette]

That's great news. Make sure you keep us up to date on what's going on.

[markpink]

Don,

I am sorry I couldn't do more in that rain storm, the day I drove out there. Hope your car is fixed soon.

Myself the job issues are taking up most of my time and I hope I still have a Fiat when your car is fixed.

Take care.

Mark

[DUCeditor]

Well, I've made an appointment for this Friday with the shop. I think I'll have them resolve the starting issue first, then when that is accomplished (hopefully with ease) order the pre-bushed A Arms and whatever is needed to resolve the sagging exhaust problem.

Can't wait to have her back on the road. Soon! Soon, please. Soon!

-don

[DUCeditor]

I got a progress report from Alex, the proprietor, brains and main muscle at AVA auto restoration, present home of my dear Spider

The great news is she's running again, and that that was accomplished relatively easily. A new coil (she had spark, but it was weak), and a changeover to a single points system. (The 1800s used a dual points system to reduce emissions at low rpm). She started smokey (No surprise there. She always did after sitting for one winter. This last sit had been for four.), but Alex says she sounds and runs well.

Next up on the lift to find why the brakes are weak, to sort out the problem of the sagging mid-pipe in the exhaust system, and to change her oil, etc.

If no serious (read:pricey) surprises are found I'll then give the go ahead to buy the front suspension parts she needs for safety and to pass inspection.

After that... Ahh! New Hampshire's wonderful back roads will beckon.

Soon please! Soon!

-don

PS - It bears noting that forum member and all around good guy markpink was right on the money when he named the coil as the culprit. I owe you a cold one Mark!

[DUCeditor]

A further progress report:

My low hanging exhaust issue has been fixed. Next comes the brakes, not something on my original to-do list but found to be necessary. Apparently between the many years of use (they were last worked on about 15 years ago) and several seasons of just sitting have rusted everything to the point where they cannot even be bled.

I'm awaiting a quote for that work. If I give the go head for that and the A-arms I could have the car back as early as next week.

Woohoo!!! Here's to hoping.

-don

[mdrburchette]

That's great! You can still salvage the best part of the driving season if you give the okay.

[DUCeditor]

Just spoke to Alex at AVA Restorations, got a quote, and gave him the go ahead to complete the work.

All inclusive this is what it will have taken to get the car back on the road:

Fix electrical issues with motor: New coil and change over to single point system. (Now said to sound and run great.)

Fix sagging exhaust center section. (Using hanger kit sold by International Auto)

Replace almost entire brake system, including master cylinder, calibers, rotors, etc.

Replace A-Arms with ball joints and bushings.

Replace timing belt (for safety sake)

New tires and alignment.

Most encouraging: Alex, after spending time with the car has pronounced it sound and solid.

I should be back on the road sometime next week!

WooHoo!

-don

[mdrburchette]

Awesome. Wish I wasn't too cheap to have someone else do the work. I think I'd rather enjoy calling someone to see how things are coming along.

[DUCeditor]

Its a money/time/skill/workspace equation.

If I had the time and a good workspace I'd have motivation to develop the skills necessary to do some of this work. But I've found that a job that takes an experienced mechanic with the right tools 2 or 3 hours can take me, with neither, many, many hours and leave me with 1) busted knuckles, and 2) sometimes questionable results. Easier and, in a way, its cheaper too to simply have that work done and done right by a pro.

I feel rather lucky to have been directed to Alex at AVA. Although his prime reputation is as a classic BMW guru he knows and apparently enjoys working on FIATS. A wonderful guy to deal with too. This I had been told and can now increasingly attest to myself.

When I bought the Spider (or actually, when my wife Jan bought it for me) back in `88 I took on all the interior work. I reupholstered the seats, repaired/replaced the dash cover and both consoles, and redesigned and fabricated a 2 piece mahogany dash to replace the three piece original (plus the wood portion of the console). That was satisfying and fun.

There is presently one open seam on the backrest of the driver's seat. I plan to remove that and, if possible, restitch it. That, and a good steam cleaning of the carpets, is largely what will remain to be done when I get the car back. Well, that and to make up a really good Italian-style picnic with ante-pasta, salad, cheeses and bread. Then off for our first day back roading her in more than a few years.

-don
Life is good. Live it!