New Member from Alabama

[jmsemmett]

Hello to my new friends!
James Emmett Brady here from Alabama, USA. I just acquired my 1979 124 Spider from a friend who had it for over two years and had only driven it twice. As many of you around the states have experienced it has been COOOLLLLLDDD! But, I can't keep the top up. The rear window actually cracked, split should I say, the other day it was sooo cold.

I was on the way to work a few days before that and the rotor button screw became loose, the button shattered into 100 pieces inside the cap thereby busting the cap in 3 pieces. 2 days later when Advanced Auto Parts received the parts along with the new rotors, calipers, and shoes I had ordered my trusty mechanic put her back together.

When I picked her up a day later, he said the wheel studs need replacing. They only had about three threads holding each lug from years of cranking them on.

By the way, did I mention I was in a fender bender the first week I had her??? Yep, While one of the seasonal torrential downpours were coating HWY 98 another seasonal annoyance, a Michigan senior vacationer, decided to come to an ABRUPT stop in the middle of HWY 98 to make a turn that would have been better accomplished by using the TURNING LANE the ALDOT had so graciously provided for that endeavor. I chose the median instead of their back seat and quickly found that the soaking sod was truly as slick as owl sh!*^& and must have set a record for long distance sliding all the while watching the bumper of a Ford Focus, who did use the turning lane, get closer. Thank G*d or maybe Ford Engineers that the Focus' bumper was more forgiving than the front fender of the Spider. OUCH No worries, I have Progressive and they PAID.

NOW yesterday on the way home from work there is a THUMPING under my seat off the starting line, from the red light I mean. I know, I know, the drive shaft you say, zerk, no zerk, u joints, alignment marks, bearings... and after reading your posts, I WILL ORDER THAT MANUAL on Friday AFTER I get paid.

So load me up with the input on correcting the drive shaft issue, if you please.
And by the way, nice to meet you all.
JmsEmmett

[mdrburchette]

Welcome to the forum. Wow, what an introduction! If you've got that bad of luck we may have to take the Spider away from you. I'm glad nobody was injured in your slide. That could've been bad. As for the driveshaft, I wouldn't drive the car until you made sure the rubber donut at the end of the driveshaft isn't coming apart. That would be bad and could also be very dangerous.

[mbouse]

i totally agree with Denise. it sounds like your guibo (rubber donut, flex disk) is falling apart in chunks. park it until that part is replaced.

cap and rotor shattered? yeah, been there done that. try some lock-tite on the screw threads next time.

and... not all us Michiganders drive like that idiot. however, i am happy to hear that some of them actually leave the state sometimes; seems like they never do that. Sorry to hear this bloke interrupted your day.

welcome to the site. please post pictures when you can.

[baltobernie]

Hello Jimmy B, and welcome!

Off to a bit of a rocky (or should I say, muddy) start, aren't we?
No matter, she'll warm up after you talk nice and buy her a few baubles. Donuts are a good start. And to speak her language, you'll need that book, where All Will Be Revealed. For example, Spiders have wheel bolts, not studs, unless somebody has been messin' with her. And those bolts are torqued to about half the force your mechanic usually uses. Put that air wrench away, Bubba!

[ga.spyder]

Hey James..welcome to the forum.Ilive up in the N.E, corner of Ga.,what part of Bama are you in? We love to see pix of your car.And...I wont hold it against you that the Tide rolled all over the beloved Gators!
Craig

[rlux4]

Welcome to the forum James. It sounds like you're off to a rocky start in your relationship with your car! But hang in there, it's probably due to sitting too long, and once you get her sorted out and used regularly she'll be a lot less moody.
Good luck,
Ron