Home from Storage Challenges Ahead

[Funcar]

With plenty of enthusiasm, joy and happiness I had the Spider flat bedded out of storage home. I had not been able to work on my car while in storage. I had some apprehension but mostly anticipation of finally have owned the car for 2 years to get “Giorgio” certified; plated and insured after 25 years off the road!

[img][IMG]http://i939.photobucket.com/albums/ad233/glentsch1/Fiat20Spider20Home20from20storage20003_zpsg28cpxd0.jpg[/img][/img]

It started up immediately although sounded rough. Shut it down to do a walk around and plan what needed to be done. The top had been torn while it was in storage. Perhaps the owner of the 67 Chevelle muscle car who was working on his interior had used my car as a table. Sent pictures to the local convertible top repair company and they advised me it was beyond repair. Shit happens! Ok there is no power to the rear lights so I will start there.
Get into the car to back it into the garage and it won’t start. The emergency brake won’t hold the car on my sloped driveway so I roll out to the street. Check connections to the ignition switch and all the fuses. Notice fuel pump isn’t coming on. Access the fuel pump and hook it up to a spare battery. Fuel pump comes to life so I jump in to back up off the street into the garage. I cannot get the car in reverse. Drive the car around the block and park front first into the garage.
I am looking forward to investigating and fixing these new challenges as well as all the others. Get hit with the realization that this could be more expensive than I had budgeted so I got in my car and drove to the golf club to pay my membership so I wouldn't get tempted to divert that allocation. Drove home with future visions of driving “Giorgio” to the golf club top down and clubs in the back.
Where to start…will be tapping the fantastic knowledge base on this form on the appropriate threads.

[fredguaz]

Hi Funcar,
I would start with yourself. What is your objective? Do you want to drive asap to the golf course with minimum effort or do you look forward to the long, sometimes frustrating journey of wrenching and problem solving that is in store? I think it's safe to say that most of the successful restorers on this site enjoy the challenge of wrenching about as much as driving these machines. I've owned my spider for almost two years and still working on floor pans. Very slow progress but I accept it as a long term project, for time and money reasons. How is the rust status? Have you pulled interior carpet and checked floor pans, shock towers and suspension hard points to see what you really have? The rust issues on these cars are mostly hidden. That being done, I would start with getting the car running. Get intimate with the search function on this board and figure out what is going on.
Hope this helps. Good Luck!

[Funcar]

Thanks Fredguaz. My objective is to drive asap. I read about many members who refer to their cars as rolling restorations.

Once I have it roadworthy I will select areas to focus on like new top; dash, carpeting, suspension etc. I have done all the brakes; radiator; plugs; coil; distributor; points; new fuel tank; fuel sender; fuel pump etc.

I am very fortunate to have found a rust free car here in Ontario Canada! I have had it up on a hoist to inspect for rust as well as needed to pull out the seats and carpeting as well as the felt to dry them out after a particularly rainy couple of days and found no rust in the floor plans.

I do find the search feature a little cumbersome however recognize it as a great resource. One of my biggest sources of curiosity stems from the fact that my car is a combination of what I believe is a 72 and 75 or 76 Fiat Spider 124.

[4uall]

Here is a little list I came across a while back

http://www.zoubiando.com/57-things-to-d ... -fiat.html

[TX82FIAT]

Was the car off the road for the two years that you have had it or has it been off the road for 25. May be a big difference sorting through the fuel/fuel delivery as well as the electrical systems. The fact that it started for you is a really good sign. If body is in good shape as Fredguaz points out, and you can get the engine running on its own with fresh fluids you are at a great starting point. safety first, flush brake lines if the brakes are working and be careful to use high quality flare wrenches (M10). Apply penetrating oil and let sit for a while before trying to take the brake lines off. This forum is a great source of info. Sounds like your off to a great start.

[azruss]

just double checking, Glen. You know the shift lever has to be pulled up ( or pushed down depending on the model) to get it into reverse. As far as your taillights. check to make sure your grounds are against bare metal and don't have a coat of paint underneath. Glad to hear the car got home.

[Funcar]

Thanks for the input. The list has given me a starting place. Russ I purchased some star washers and will use the dremel to reground everything. Pretty embarrassed about the reverse issue...I had been pushing down instead of pulling up.
Will end this thread and go to appropriate headings as needed.

[4uall]

This pic was taken the night I bought Fiona. What you don't see is the sign of relief that I got her home Immediately after purchase, the wife and our little Monkey jumped in Fiona and went for a little cruise in the neighborhood, the wind in our hair, tunes on. approving nods and "nice car" from all around until.........................the cul de sac Some cars were blocking the road so I just put her in reverse annnnnnnnnnnnd nothing OMG proceeded to calmly turn the wheels and have both my wife and son ask people to move their cars so I could get by (super embarrassing ) Got home and called the guy who just sold me the car and laughing he said " you need to push down" Needless to say Day 1 Fiona 1 Jay 0 LMFAO!

Gald to hear it worked out for you. Here if you need us

PS a great video on grounds and electrical

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YxW6bc_gk8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgwR9sYN5f0

[btoran]

where to start? .... while driving is important, so is putting. i'd work on both aspects of your game. what a cool car to tote clubs around in!

i play ice hockey and can just fit all my goalie gear in our piccolo ferrari (as the wife likes to call our spider). in fact, hauling my gear was one of the requirements before i jumped into getting a small convertible.

don't stress getting the car road-worthy, just take it one problem at a time and enjoy open air cruising as you take caer of the rest.