New member, new project: 79 Spider
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az79spider
New member, new project: 79 Spider
Hi all, I'm about to take ownership of a 1979 spider 2000 that hasn't run in five years. Probably a little crazy, but I've wanted one of these cars since high school. So I did it. I would love input on what to do first, etc. I've read alot of these topics but now that its real I'm ready to take on some new friends to throw me in the right direction ! (Or over a cliff) Hope to hear from some of you.....
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narfire
- Posts: 3959
- Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 2:14 am
- Your car is a: 1980 124 spider
- Location: Naramata B.C.
Re: New member, new project: 79 Spider
Phoenix eh... Welcome and I bet rust won't be an issue on the car if it has spent its life in the area.
If it hasn't run in 5 years I'd do a few things..
Fuel tank? drain, perhaps take the sender unit off and see what it looks like inside.
fuel filter of course with a tank of fresh fuel.
Timing belt and the rubber flex disk found right behind the trans on the drive line should be changed,then you know for sure the history. Plugs?
Pop the dist. cap off and see what the contacts are like then take the rotor off and have a close look at the wires comming into the dist. They get old and frayed and should be changed.
I'm not a carb guy but I wonder about the carb if the fuel has left it bunged up,perhaps if it dosn't start/run a re-build is in order.
If time and $$$ permit, some might suggest a few bolt on mods that could/would improve the performance of the 79. IE: 1800 head,single plane intake manifold and an upgraded carb..32 36 webber. I don't know what kind of exhaust was on the 79 but some spiders had the 4-1 exhaust and if you can source a 4-2-1 exhaust,I believe,reading Brad A's articles, an improvement in performance as well.
I hope some others would chime in but this is somewhere to start.
Oh-yea pics when you have the car please
If it hasn't run in 5 years I'd do a few things..
Fuel tank? drain, perhaps take the sender unit off and see what it looks like inside.
fuel filter of course with a tank of fresh fuel.
Timing belt and the rubber flex disk found right behind the trans on the drive line should be changed,then you know for sure the history. Plugs?
Pop the dist. cap off and see what the contacts are like then take the rotor off and have a close look at the wires comming into the dist. They get old and frayed and should be changed.
I'm not a carb guy but I wonder about the carb if the fuel has left it bunged up,perhaps if it dosn't start/run a re-build is in order.
If time and $$$ permit, some might suggest a few bolt on mods that could/would improve the performance of the 79. IE: 1800 head,single plane intake manifold and an upgraded carb..32 36 webber. I don't know what kind of exhaust was on the 79 but some spiders had the 4-1 exhaust and if you can source a 4-2-1 exhaust,I believe,reading Brad A's articles, an improvement in performance as well.
I hope some others would chime in but this is somewhere to start.
Oh-yea pics when you have the car please
80 FI spider
72 work in progress
2017 Golf R ( APR Stg. 1)
2018 F350 crew long box
72 work in progress
2017 Golf R ( APR Stg. 1)
2018 F350 crew long box
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az79spider
Re: New member, new project: 79 Spider
the 1800 head is a mod over the 1995cc head ? oh, and thank you for replying ! What do you mean about the rubber piece by the trans, do you mean between the engine and tranny? I take delivery (tow to my house) on sunday, so I will start with what you have written next week and will have plenty of questions. Just ordered a shop manual as well.