It's probably easier if I just go stand by a Miata....

Neil, if I ever get around to restoring a 21 window VW bus, we can talk drapes!! Otherwise, you are way ahead of most of us with your beautiful BLUE car!!

Andy? What the? How did you ever find that picture of me? I was sure I erased it from all Internet sources!! Damn Internet!!

Ok, so...

This evening, I finished buttoning up the passengers side front suspension



and got started on the drivers




Tomorrow I will finish up and get the thing on the ground for the first time since April 2012...

I will roll it out of the garage a bit just for laughs and pictures!!

Coming along great, I only hope mine looks as good!

If you get the bottom of your car looking 20% as good as the top you will have us all blown away!
Keep it up Pat! We miss the progress pictures!!

Just doing boring stuff, got the steering back in and trim pieces. Found out I should have taken a lot more disassembly pictures!!! I will update soon. Thanks for the kind words.

SoFlaFiat: Dude your car is a work of art!
When do see it complete?

Cheers!
Rob

Pat, the boring stuff has to get done too! Don't hesitate to ask for other people's photos! You know how we like to share! I'll gladly send as many pictures of the interior in my 71 as you like... Wait, never mind

A work of art? Wow Rob! Thanks!!
I do feel a sense of accomplishment for sure, especially since I did get it rolling on its own feet today! I can't explain how great it was to have it out of the garage for a thorough cleaning this afternoon.







See the big patch of unsanded body filler? Yep, that's where the freaking shelf came down on it. I'll get back to body work after I get it up and running...
I also managed to cobble a cheap muffler onto the 71 today so that I can take it down the street without totally pissing off the neighbors!! Still kinda loud but WHATEVER!!

Congrats on getting it rolling!! You really need to look into getting a clear lexan cover for the cams to show off the front of that engine!!

Or skip the belt cover and keep my hair short!
I'm thinking clear lexan hood insert like a ferrari!! Ha

Today I managed a cursory alignment, at least enough to get the tires to stop squealing when I roll the car back and forth.



Then I started back in the engine bay getting the cooling system installed including the temp sensors.



I will have to order some 90 degree elbows to get my oil cooler lines fitted, as the straight ones dump my lines right into the back of the rad.



All in all a good weekend as I roll the car back and forth just for the heck of it!!

Well now u know it rolls
Is that just a primer on the body?

What are you asking Jim? You don't like my paint skills?
Haha!! I'm leaving it like that so I don't freak when some kid whips the door open on the SUV next to me and bashes my door in!!
Ok, truthfully, I work in a very tight little garage and would have made a mess of my paint, errant shelves aside, if I had painted the car before sorting everything out. It will be glossy white when it's done. So, yes, but that's a thin coat of etching primer to keep the thing from rusting while I finish all the mechanicals.

SoFlaFiat wrote:What are you asking Jim? You don't like my paint skills?
Haha!! I'm leaving it like that so I don't freak when some kid whips the door open on the SUV next to me and bashes my door in!!
Ok, truthfully, I work in a very tight little garage and would have made a mess of my paint, errant shelves aside, if I had painted the car before sorting everything out. It will be glossy white when it's done. So, yes, but that's a thin coat of etching primer to keep the thing from rusting while I finish all the mechanicals.

I figure it was because of all the grease on the top fenders
So you have to take it all apart to paint now. Or what?

Nope, the underside, trunk and engine bay are painted. The only thing to remove is lights that I have popped in the get a visual.

Today I started sorting out an air box for the top of my carbs. I made a paper template and dropped the hood on to measure height at the front. I have about 2 1/2" to work with so I need different velocity stacks for sure. But, I pretty much knew that...



Then I laid up a "base plate" with some fiberglass and set the paper template in the resin.



Once it cures I can cut it out and set it on the carbs again. Right now, I think I will add a flange to the outside to pick up the intake tube and then make a top that is removable.
Plans change so we will see...

I have been following your project for quite a while and must say that I am impressed with the quality and thoroughness of your work.

This summer I have been working on installing 40 IDFs on the 2L 130 Strada Abarth engine in my 1974 Spider. Based on advice from several knowledgeable people on the internet I bought 2 new “Made in Spain” Webers. But the big challenge has been to find a suitable inlet manifold. First I got a cast aluminum manifold from Italy, but that placed the carbs way too close to each other. Then I got one from Mark Allison, which solved the problem with the carbs being too close. The carbs fit perfectly next to each other with no modifications necessary. But it placed the carbs so close to the cam towers that there was not enough room for the cold start devices. In addition, I was disappointed with the fit and quality.

But as far as I can see, you have found a solution that works, and I suppose that the 44IDF body is the same size as the 40IDF body. Which inlet manifold are you using? From the very clear and descriptive photos you have posted, it seems like the only modifications you have made to fit and link the carbs together, where the two throttle spindles meet, is to remove all washers and only install the linkage connecting the carbs. It also looks like the two nuts have been ground down to about half thickness. What is the distance between the two middle studs on your manifold? From the photos it looks like your manifold would give plenty space for my cold start devices. One thing that worries me a little though, is that it looks like the carbs are tilting away from the engine slightly. Wouldn’t that affect how the carbs work? Or is it an optical illusion?

How did your manifold fit the ports in the head? The ports in my head fit perfectly with the holes in the gasket and I would expect the ports in the manifold to do so too. Is that an unreasonable expectation?

I am also having a challenge with linkage. I have been planning on making it like Kendickson suggests here, http://www.kendickson.com/car/idf/idf/index.html, but there are several problems with that. Your car is a later version than mine so, as far as I know, your gas pedal is linked to the carbs with a cable that exits the firewall near the brake booster somewhere. Do you, or someone else on the forum know, if it would be a good idea to install the later version gas pedal in my car? How are you planning on doing your throttle linkage?

My car is in hibernation now, so I have lots of time to work on a good solution before spring. From your photos it looks like the weather in Florida is good enough to keep your Spiders on the road year round. Lucky you

I will answer the question about ports, the manifold leaves a lot to be desired, but is reparable. look at the manifold pictures i posted earlier in the thread, if they aren't there ill repost. you will have to port match the manifold, as well as match the carb bases to the manifold, all fairly easily done, just takes time.