I'm glad to see the site is back up.
I had to change my username and couldn't think of anything else other than Magic Fiat, since that's how I've come to describe my car.
No matter what the problem it either fixes itself or I can just go to my local Lowe's and get the needed parts.
These little cars are a lot better than their reputation, that little engine (1.8 in this case) is apparently indestructable.
Mine has been monkeyed with a lot in the past and it still runs like a champ.
The car sat out for about 4 years with no top and no interior and it still didn't rust appreciably in the floors. Maybe about a 3" hole behind the driver's seat.
One of the self fixes came along when I was first running the car, the distributor leaked oil out of the dist body right onto the exhaust manifold. I ordered the seal but before I could work on it, the thing cleared itself up.
As long as I have the part handy I figure I'm ok!!
Recently it started blowing smoke, bad.
Got it home, cleaned the side of the engine with 409 to see where it was dripping and discovered the stud had worked out of the back of the exhaust manifold.
Until I could get the proper replacement I borrowed a screw from the 1970 top mechanism and ran it into the manifold with a phillips driver.
(I'm now keeping one in the tool kit for emergencies)
The starter was draggy when the car got hot, and since I had one in the trunk of the 1970 along with some other parts, I took a chance.
The new (used) starter ran strong when I hit it with a battery and the solenoid just about made it jump off the table.
A couple of evenings with a long extension and a u-joint and the old starter was out and the new one was in.
(by the way, I have read here about some of the starter ins and outs and still can't figure how you can get the starter out through the bottom. Fortunately I was able to unplug the oil pressure sender and the starter came out that way pretty easily.)
There's just been one good thing after another on this car and without doubt it is the easiest restoration I have ever attempted.
I have never tackled body work and painting before, and this little car worked with me all the way through it.
Here's a couple of before pics:
A couple of during pics:
and a couple of afters:
By the way, I couldn't find any decent wood for the dashboard center and the gear shift plate, so I just covered the old parts with woodgrain contact paper.
So far no one can tell. Shhhhh!
The best part? The money part.
I paid $500 for the car and figured it all up other than my time and I still haven't spent $2000.
You can't beat that with any kind of car!
