My 79 Update..

Maintenance advice to keep your Spider in shape.
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garion
Posts: 508
Joined: Tue Sep 18, 2012 10:20 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Fiat 124 Spider
Location: Phoenix, AZ

My 79 Update..

Post by garion »

Its been a while for me, since work has been really busy. The good news is that my project has gone limited availability, and hitting general availability in a couple weeks, and it all went smoothly. Its been a year and a half on this project, and to have it roll out smoothly is a small miracle. Especially when its a project for a network company's network infrastructure (We're re-implementing DNS systems, long story)..

Anyways, this is the first weekend in a while I've had to work on the Fiat..

Step 1: Replace the fuel pump! It looks like I am getting gas into the crankcase, and I'm not FI, but carbed.. With the research I did on the form, the likely culprit is the ethanol degrading the fuel pump, so that leaks into the crankcase.. So thats done.
Step 2: Duh, oil change. Don't want that gas in the crankcase.
Step 3: Replace the guibo.. Got that done, but it looks like my driveline bearing needs replacing soon.. I have the parts, but I don't have a press.. Any Phoenix area person able to do that, along with the universals? Or should I find a driveline shop (recommendations?) I'll take out the driveline, so people don't have to drive to my place (1/2 way to Tucson it seems..)

Tomorrow's plan, subject to change:
1. Make an exhaust gaskets. When i installed the new exhaust last year, I neglected to buy gaskets, so I'm missing those. Its not loud, but I want to seal it up. The normal places don't seem to have the gaskets in stock, so I bought some material (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BW ... ge_o07_s01).
2. Install other misc exhaust parts, new springs for the cat, muffler, etc.
3. Re-torque my control arms. My suspension is stiff.. VERY stiff. I wonder if I over torqued things last year. Or I went the wrong way with the adjustment on the koni's. Or something.

Maybe when I'm done, I might actually get a chance to drive the thing!
--John
1978 Fiat 124 Spider (for sale soon)
1979 Fiat 124 Spider
2007 Audi A4
Blog: http://www.technobabelfish.com
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