New Member

[mik]

I have owned my '69 124 Spider soft top for 40yrs. I drove it in the 70's and have driven it very little since then. It has 68000 original miles and is in very good condition. Always stored indoors, and have decided I need to get it back out on the road. I have some areas of rust to deal with, but mechanically sound. I wanted to become a member to hopefully have a forum to ask questions of other owners and pick up some good info.

[Nancy1340]

Welcome Mik. How about posting a photo?

Wow! 40 years. That's really something.

[kmead]

Sorry, we are very unwilling to answer questions here. Lots of Google It! or do a search responses from us...

Welcome and start firing away. Given how similar these cars are nearly every problem has come up in one permutation or another.

Look forward to seeing how the car looks.

[NJFIAT1981]

Hi Mik,
As they say " Your the man or Your the woman" which ever may apply. 40 years of ownership wow! You will have plenty of help here. Where are you located? My guess is there will be a forum member somewhere near you. Welcome aboard, George

[mdrburchette]

Welcome, Mik! Love to see pics of your 69. That was the first year model I owned back in the 70s. I love the early model Spiders. Any questions you have will most likely get answered right here on this forum. We've got a great bunch of folks here.

[mik]

I appreciate the encouragement, will post a pic at some point. I have replacement rocker panels and know they were originally bolted on. Someone has told me I need to have them welded on. Any thoughts? Also, it has been so long since I removed the panels, I can't remember how the chrome trim between bottom of door and panel is attached. Thanks

[mik]

Hey George, I live in Moorhead Minnesota across from the river from the infamous Fargo. Hard to say if there are too many of us in the tundra that own a soft top sports car. Thanks for asking.

[NJFIAT1981]

Hey Mik,
Someone has to lead the way! Consider yourself a trend setter

[baltobernie]

I have replacement rocker panels and know they were originally bolted on. Someone has told me I need to have them welded on. Any thoughts? Also, it has been so long since I removed the panels, I can't remember how the chrome trim between bottom of door and panel is attached. Thanks

Hello Mik, and Welcome. I thought all Spider rockers were welded? Anyway, the lower trim strip is held on by two sheet metal screws on the ends, and a couple more under the sill plate.

[mik]

I have taken a few pics of the '69 spider and will put the pics out there for opinions as to wether it is worth my time, hoping it is. Also, advice on replace metal where I have ground out the rust or is it possible to fill rather than replace metal. There are some areas on passenger side steel panel behind rocker panel that has some surface rust, the drivers side has a more severe case that I would appreciate advice on. Tires and wheels will be replaced, but no knowledge of what is adaptable or available to me. Engine is sound, does have a minor oil leak, will replace head gasket. Also any other areas that I need to look at before I start the process of restoration. I have removed the back seat and there is no rust. Trunk area no rust. Have not pulled up pad under carpet to check floor panels in front, the pad is in perfect shape, no signs of deterioration. Is there a best and speedy way to get the pics posted. I appreciate any comments, thanks.

[rlux4]

HI Mik,
There isn't really a speedy way to post pics. The fastest for the poster would be to insert a link to them, but it wouldn't be as convenient for the readers. To post the actual pics is a multi step process; upload to a picture sharing site, make sure the size is not too large (in the neighborhood of 600X400) and then copy the image code from the photo sharing site and insert the code in your message back here. It's a little quicker if you have a couple of browsers open, one for the forum and the other for the photo sharing site. Here's a very good tutorial on the process:
http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... res#p37831
I am always blown away when I hear about you guys who are able to keep your car so long. I had one when I got married almost 30 years ago, but let my wife talk me out of keeping such an "impractical" car. Took me 26 years to talk her into letting me get another.
Ron

[mik]

Thanks for the info Ron. My wife has always wondered why I have continued to take up space in our garage with this vehicle. I am so glad I hung in there. I hope anyone who sees the pics will agree that it is worth bringing back to the condition it should have been all these years.

[mik]

I am giving the download of pics a try. Bare with me. Please give me feedback on worthwhile restoration or not. thanks
http://s874.photobucket.com/home/mholm44/index

[rlux4]

No question about it. It's not as bad as others that we've seen resurrected.
IF you're doing most of the work yourself it may even be affordable. What a pity it would be to let it go, considering the history it has with you.
There are plenty of threads with other owner's restoration processes. RacyDave did an amazing job on a 79, htchevyii (Trey) has a beautiful 82 he did. azygoustoyou (Brady) has had a major one going on. There are others of course, but these three come to mind right off.
Keep us posted.
Ron