Preparing for the worst

[spence]

Waiting on timing belt and condenser, setting timing this weekend. In the event the engine is indeed shot, where to get rebuilt? Midwest-124 or someone local? No one here seems to work on Fiats, weird, such a big city like Nashville. How hard is it to rebuild? I know a machine shop would be involved. What could I do myself?

[So Cal Mark]

before jumping to conclusions, I'd do a compression test first

[baltobernie]

With a shop manual, any machine shop can rebuild a Fiat twin cam motor. But it's a big decision on your part, as the cost of a rebuild (about $2k) is more than many Spiders are worth. Be a shame to put a new motor in a car that has other mechanical, electrical, appearance issues. I'll say it only makes sense if you're starting with a primo car, or one you plan on restoring completely. "Known good" salvage engines can be had for $700.

Regarding DIY, machine shops typically charge $200 to disassemble and reassemble, so there's not much savings there, and a lot you can screw up if you've never done this before.

Hope you can get it running with the parts you have on order. If not, it's time to sit down beside the car with a calculator, pencil, pad and some vendor catalogs. There are probably more abandoned vintage car projects out there (with a trunk full of receipts) than ones driving around.

[spence]

Mark, your right, and those are my intentions. I'm just preparing for the worst, as the topic said. I need this thing on the road ASAP.
Balto, good info. Did find one motor in Texas, other than that, not much luck, haven't looked lately. I do plan to restore the whole car. My way of thinking, if I rebuild, I know what's been done, no car note, I can figure out what's wrong with it etc.

I'm a glutton for old cars, and punishment.

PS: what vendors have catalogs? I use Mark, Bayliss thus far.

My workshop manual that came with the car starts at 75', some similarities, but still enough differences.

[mdrburchette]

Vick Autosports and International Auto Parts have catalogs. Check them out at:
http://www.vickauto.com/
http://www.international-auto.com

[seabeelt]

Spence, here is another vendor aka Bruce's: http://www.fiatparts.com/
and Chris Obert; http://www.fiatplus.com/.

What year is your car? I have an extra motor
email mndwilliamson@earthlink.net