Another New Fiat Owner in Mass.

[kd1wo]

Hi All,
Just acquired a 1979 Fiat Pininfarina that I've been tracking for several years. It's a "garage find" and a 1 owner car with only 26k miles. It's been sitting since 1988 when the previous owner's kid had an encounter with a curb and damaged the oil pan.
I haven't dropped the pan as of yet.... still taking an inventory of the obvious things to fix; seals, weather stripping, brakes and all that.
The goal is to make it a sunshine weekend driver and enjoy retirement with it.
Hope to get to know all of you and to tap into the knowledge that is here.

[rlux4]

Hello from the left coast! Welcome aboard.
You may already be aware, but you'll need to check the oil pump pick up tube for breakage. It comes down to the bottom of the oil pan and breaks off at the shaft in almost every case of dented oil pans. My wife did it to my '79 Spider on our wedding day back in 1980. Luckily she had the presence of mind to add oil and filled it to the point where the broken end of the pick up tube was submerged.
We would like to see your car, let us know if you need advice on posting pictures.
You'll get a lot of help from the members here, should you need it.
Ron

[msrmd]

Sounds like you made a great find. Hope you will enjoy the restoration process. Be careful though, I started out wanting with a fix-er-uper weekend driver, and am now have a second that I am ground-up restoring. These little cars can be quite seductive.

Welcome

[kristoj]

Welcome! You picked the right car for a weekend fun car. These cars are easy to work on and make quite reliable drivers once you get them sorted. You'll have to post some pictures for us before you start tearing it apart. You'll get lots of good advice here, and in no time at all, you'll be an expert giving advice to other new owners.

[mbouse]

welcome to the site. Don't forget that even though it has only 26,000 miles... it also has 29 years on the clock. serious time for some safety item checks:
brakes, no sense going if you cannot stop.
guibo - just replace it now
timing belt - just replace it now

[kd1wo]

welcome to the site. Don't forget that even though it has only 26,000 miles... it also has 29 years on the clock. serious time for some safety item checks:
brakes, no sense going if you cannot stop.
guibo - just replace it now
timing belt - just replace it now

guibo ???? Is that like a frammis valve??

Thanks for the other advice. Currently the car is up on blocks, all wheels off, all brakes apart, timing cover off and a engine hoist attached to the motor.
Tomorrow continues the disassembly, taking many photos.

-Ed

[rlux4]

The guibo is a nickname for the flex disc found at the connection of the drive line to the tranny. When they break they can cause major damage to the drive train tunnel and anything around it.
The frammis valve isn't used on these great dual overhead cam engines.
Ron

[kd1wo]

Thanks Ron for the explanation.

For a bit there I thought that it (guibo)may equate to a bucket of "prop wash".

I guess my OHV days are showing.......

-Ed

[kd1wo]

Finally have some pics to share of my ride.
They are at http://www.flickr.com/photos/ed_projects/?saved=1

Next Project a 1987 Bertone X1/9. !!

[Exit98]

Hi Ed,

Thanks for the parts. They have all be installed and are looking good.

For others here, Ed's been parting out a 76 124. He is a pleasure to do business with.

Ed, the ride looks great, love the color. WIth so few miles how come you are doing the motor?

So I was looking at the pictures of the interior. What's that fuzzy tan fungus growing all over your seats?

[kd1wo]

Doug,
The fuzzy fungus is sheepskin seat covers. Remember, they were very trendy in the 70's to the 80's.
I had to do the engine as it was oil starved.; previous owner's kid ran it aground and snapped the oil pump pickup.
Hey, I got it and now it's all mine new engine bearings and all.

[markpink]

Hey Welcome.

I am in Nashua NH and I have a restored 77 and a "driving me crazy 75" in progress. When I saw Mass, i was hoping you might be closer to NH ,but you are at least a two hour ride from me. If you were closer, I would offer to help. Do you know about the Fun Import Auto and Toys or FIAT Fun that is just north of Hartford in Vernon CT. Danny and his place is less then a hours drive from you and he has a huge warehouse of Fiat parts and lots of Free advice. Danny and the CT Fiat people run a series of events every year. I highly recommend him and he is local to you. http://www.funimported.com

Again Welcome. And I may see you at some of the CT events.


Mark from NH