I was tucking a few wires up under the passenger side of the dash when I noticed the heat valve. I haven't had a heater because I figured it was stuck in the off position. I started to play with it a little and water started gushing out of the heater core. Now I pulled the center console, everything that was either not working or ugly got removed and I pulled the core and the entire housing out. I bypassed the core under the hood and taped the firewall holes off. Guess I'm out a heater for a while. Screw it, it was clogged with rust anyway and didn't work to begin with. I used to ride a motorcycle all the time, no big deal. But I think I'm going to notice that big hole blowing in from the cowl in the morning on the way to work. All the wires hanging down are stuffed in a pillow case and zip tied so it doesn't look so disastrous. I'm just going to make a nice custom console and carpet over the center tunnel. Gives me more elbow room with the console out anyway. I'm going for the rally car look on the outside, might as well go clean but primitive race-car like on the inside too. Simple is good. I'll most likely pull the back seat and put a roll bar in and a speaker box/amp set up. I might replace the core later, I like defrost.
Tallahassee...I also discovered a little pointer. Your blinkers don't work with the hazard switch removed, I guess that one stays in I think if I put the core back in I'm just going to set it 50/50 defrost/floor, put the fan switch up near the stereo area and just use a hose valve under the hood. I removed all the cables anyway. The weird little light wires that went to the lever controls...gone, brake lever light switch button...gone, ash tray ...gone. I like the console area cleared away, there's more room and also the one that was in there was a little trashed anyway. The courtesy light and lighter are history too. Simple is good. I like a car that's like working on a dirt bike, especially a toy like this thing. I got it to have fun, not slave to restore it. Anything needing replaced gets removed and/or done custom. I'm not into chasing esoteric parts.
Last edited by paintdudeluke on Mon Dec 30, 2013 9:33 pm, edited 2 times in total.
This morning on the way to work when I hit about 70 a ton of leaves started blowing in under the dash through the cowl vent all over the cab like a giant salad shooter. The guys behind me must have been like wtf? Leaves blowing out from the top like a cartoon for about half mile. It was ridicules.
Last edited by paintdudeluke on Thu Jan 02, 2014 11:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
When I first got my 77 I was racing home one day... Trying to beat the rain, unsuccessfully. I hit a fairly good sized puddle and the passengers carpet blew right out the missing back window
Not so much salad shooter but torpedo.
The hole in the floor was amazing!!!
Well, I decided after looking the core over that the heater should go back in, it was an easy fix. I plummed it in without a valve and left all the controls and console removed from the car. Decided to pull the seats, duraglass a few holes, pull all the mat out, and spray glue the entire floor pan and cover it with black speaker box felt (and leftover gray over the tunnel ). It went from a looking a bit worn out to looking to like a go cart, but its much cleaner overall. You can hear the drivetrain a lot more with the mats out too, it reminds me of a stock car. Most of the unneeded harness just unplugged so there're no wires slopping out. The leg & elbow room is improved too with the console gone. The heater Blasts now also and there are no controls really even needed. To go to defrost you just flip the bottom shut and it all comes out the top. I'll add the water bypass valve under the hood when it warms up this spring. Look. 4-5 hrs and less than $30- total for a sporty upgrade. Look at before compared to after.
Last edited by paintdudeluke on Fri Jan 03, 2014 7:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.
you will have to plug in the hazard switch, or wire a bypass so your turn signals will work, but nice work there
Automotive Service Technology Instructor (34 year Fiat mechanic)
75 spider , 6 Lancia Scorpions, 2018 Abarth Spider, 500X wifes, 500L 3 82 Zagatos. 82 spider 34k original miles, 83 pininfarina, 8 fiat spider parts cars
son has 78 spider
im sure you can find a center dash plastic from a 79-80 spider with a carb, the hazard switch mounts there, if you want to have it available to use,
Automotive Service Technology Instructor (34 year Fiat mechanic)
75 spider , 6 Lancia Scorpions, 2018 Abarth Spider, 500X wifes, 500L 3 82 Zagatos. 82 spider 34k original miles, 83 pininfarina, 8 fiat spider parts cars
son has 78 spider
it replaces the "exhaust gas sensor" idiot light thing
Automotive Service Technology Instructor (34 year Fiat mechanic)
75 spider , 6 Lancia Scorpions, 2018 Abarth Spider, 500X wifes, 500L 3 82 Zagatos. 82 spider 34k original miles, 83 pininfarina, 8 fiat spider parts cars
son has 78 spider