New Member Raleigh, NC

[natesky]

Hi all,

I'm getting my introduction into the Fiat realm with my recent purchase of a 1977 124 Spider. I found it while looking for a Alfa Spider, after looking at a few I decided the Fiat Spider has a more suitable style for my tastes (although I by far prefer the interior of the Alfa).

The car;

1) its amazingly rust free (I'm from Michigan, so I'm used to 2 year old modern cars looking far worse in terms of corrosion, let alone a car thats basically 70% unpainted).

2) its slow but getting better. Since buying it I've removed the smog pump (Its incredible fun owning a classic car that is so easy to work on btw), the front bumper and tuned the carb (we'll fiddled-with is probably a more apt description). Its probably got 25% more driving power now than when I bought it (guess), might have nearly a honest 85hp now.

3) paint is pretty clean and nice. quite a few chips on the chin though...think a dirt road was in its history (the windshield also has lots of very little pit marks in it). Anyway I need to find a clever way to fix that.. hopefully short of a full paint job. Was thinking of painting the hood black (Abarth-type), wife thinks that’s a less-than-clever idea. May just try doing a very good job of touch up w/color matched paint.

4) interior is average based on the spider's I looked at previously.. yeah its that bad . I'm looking to do some weekend autocross so I needed better seats anyway. I think I will end up replacing or recovering just about everything in the interior.

5) Top, the instructions for installing it are copies of a type written doc, so thats probably a clue as to its age... the rear window cracked a couple weeks after buying it. In the market for a tan top.



My car blog w/pics http://handbuilt-by-robots.blogspot.com

My other ‘special’ car is a Delorean which I adore. However I wanted something far more basic, with pedigree, open top, that even a clot like myself could fix and drive to work the next day and didn’t have to worry about putting miles on.

Anyway, I'll be posting updates as I go forward as well asking many questions. I haven't totally connected with the car yet, but hopefully over the next few months I can get there. It is probably just a matter of driving the Fiat in enough twisty bits with the top down to get a full appreciation.

-Nathan
1977 Fiat 124 Spider[/url]

[rlux4]

Welcome to the forum Nathan. I'm fairly new here also, but have already found a wealth of info and help from a great group of people.

[So Cal Mark]

welcome Nate
I'm sure you'll find many people here willing to give advice as you tackle the various issues.
If you don't have a maintenance history of the car I'd certainly look closely at the timing belt and flex joint before doing much driving

[natesky]

welcome Nate
I'm sure you'll find many people here willing to give advice as you tackle the various issues.
If you don't have a maintenance history of the car I'd certainly look closely at the timing belt and flex joint before doing much driving

Thank you.

First job I completed was the Timing Belt.

Flex joint? I'm assuming thats related to the driveshaft? Is that the rubber block on the front-portion of the driveshaft?

Here's my immediate remaining safety work items. Please let me know if I may be missing something.
1) Seats - the driver side frame is broken (one bolt was ripped out). I switched the passanger seat with the driver.
2) Control Arms - look 33 years old or so . The bushings are practicaly gone.
3) Ball Joints. two of them have cracked/almost missing boots. I have control arms w/ball joints that I ordered from IAP. Just need to bite the bullet and install them (not too hard to do at home I'm hoping)
4) tie rods are pretty poor looking (boots cracked beyond hope).

In terms of driving. I've put 200 miles on it in just a few weeks. I'm braver than smart. My work commute is only 15miles round trip on 'b' roads.

-Nathan

[mdrburchette]

Welcome Nathan! Looks like you found a good car, which isn't easy in NC either. I'm in the Winston-Salem area and if you're interested in getting together with other like minded vintage car owners, let me know. We have several gatherings throughout the year and would welcome you with open arms! I'm in the process of getting the Carolina FLU chapter up and running and would love to get together with someone from the middle of the state to set up a meeting/drive.

Denise Burchette

[So Cal Mark]

addressing worn front end pieces is an excellent idea. Look at the brake hoses also while you're under there

[mbouse]

Welcome to the forum, Nathan.

Replacing those worn ball joints and bushing while changing out the A-Arms is a time consuming, relatively simple and straight forward task. it was one of the first i recall addressing when i first bought my first Spider some 12-13 years ago.

of course, if you can go and cannot stop....you have more issues ahead of you than you plan for. be sure a thorough brake inspection is high on your priority list.

[natesky]

Welcome to the forum, Nathan.

Thanks!

I have to admit I did take the easy way out with the A arms. I bought them with bushings and ball joints already installed/pressed. Hopefully this will make it far easier for me. I have a pretty good collection of tools, but not much in the way of presses / pullers etc.

My brakes look pretty good. The rears are new (oddly only one side has new hoses though). The driver side front piston was getting stuck when I bought it. I would put the car in neutral and would only roll if the car was on a very steep hill.

I took the pads off and put a c-clamp on the piston and forced it back in. then pressed on the brake pedal to force it out again and repeated about 15-20 times. Now my wheel rolls 'almost' as free as the passenger side. The car sat for about 6months before I got it.

Thanks for the tips!

-Nathan

[natesky]

Welcome Nathan! Looks like you found a good car, which isn't easy in NC either. I'm in the Winston-Salem area and if you're interested in getting together with other like minded vintage car owners, let me know.

Thanks. perhaps something a NC event this spring could be fun. Blue Ridge tour or something. Let me know if you need any help exploring interest in a FLU club. I've seen a few Fiat Spider's in the parking lots at work here, although not so much lately. You can always tell who is new to convertibles when he is driving it with the top down in 50degree weather (thats me).

-Nathan

[mdrburchette]

Send me an email to spyderlady71 at yahoo dot com so I'll have your contact info, Nathan. We have the Moonshine rally in May that consists of a beautiful drive through the Blue Ridge mountains. There are over 100 cars that show up for this event and it's a lot of fun.
Help with contacting Raleigh/Durham Fiat owners and planning a meeting in your area would greatly help our cause. I believe that's where most of the Fiats live because I sure don't see them around here!

[mbouse]

I'd guess that one rear brake hose had started to leak.

be forwarned that you cannot use C-Clamps on those rear brake pistons. those pistons need to be screwed in, not pressed in.

Have fun with your new project!!

[So Cal Mark]

I'd make plans to rebuild BOTH front calipers if you have a sticky piston. Pistons stick due to both hard seals and varnish buildup or scuffing of the piston. Merely working it back and forth in the caliper won't remedy the situation. At some point, the piston will stick again causing a severe brake pull. Front calipers are cheap and easy to rebuild

[mbouse]

severe brake pull = diving for the curb.

been there, done that. not fun.

[TVST*R]

Wecome and enjoy!
Tom