Newbie from Western Canada

[shmoky]

Hello All,
I picked up a 1980 Spider a week ago and love it so far. Have a couple of issues and a thousand questions. Will post/ask questions soon. LOL
Here's what she looks like.





shmoky

[courtenay]

Very nice Shmoky. You will find lots of helpful people here. Where 'bouts in Western Canada are you? There's a few of us here from the left Coast - always nice to see another spider out our way!

[shmoky]

I'm in Northern B.C. in a little town called Chetwynd. (3 hrs north of Prince George)
I see you have the same car as mine. Will have questions for you later. lol

shmoky

[RRoller123]

Welcome aboard! You will find plenty of knowledgeable and friendly people here.

Here is a link to a map of Spider owner’s locations. Many forum members have listed their locations.

https://www.zeemaps.com/map?group=191825

Pete

[narfire]

Hi shmoky.
This forum is a terrific place for answers to questions that come up time to time.
Nice car, I know it if you bought it from Kelowna area. Does it have a little decal "Heat" on the left rear just above the lights?
If so , I remember it does drive nice. Cracked firewall was repaired as was a blown head gasket.
Evan Saugstad still the mayor there? I was at BCIT with him.
Have fun.
Chris

[shmoky]

Yes that is this car Narfire. Thanks for the info. We have a different mayor now. The heat decal has been removed. lol

shmoky

[joelittel]

Very very cool..... but what's going on with your mirrors? I'd say that if you keep your bumpers the way they are get another black mirror to match the drivers side. But if you go bumperless or retrofit the blade bumpers get another chrome mirror to match your passenger side.

I have an older set of "California" mirrors with some minor damage if you're interested in a set of black mirrors. The damage being that someone glued a screw in place so the height is no longer adjustable. The mirrors look really cool but are not as useful as a modern, larger size mirror.

[joelittel]

Brad has posted a tremendous amount of free information here http://fiat.artigue.com/2016/05/25/guides/ which helped me get my car setup the way I wanted it.

I hope it does the same for you/

[RRoller123]

+1 excellent info resource

[shmoky]

Thanx for the info and suggestions. Love this site. Only been a member for 1 day and lots of help already.

Joe: yah the passenger mirror is fubared. I don't know what the California mirrors look like. Please post pics.

Brad's site is VERY interesting. Will have to print out the wiring diagrams.

Narfire: So you know this car! Anything else I should know? lol Pm me if necessary.

shmoky

[narfire]

So you know this car! Anything else I should know?

Not really. I owned it for a bit (couple of weeks perhaps). A save from a lawyer in Vancouver.
I glass beaded a set of wheels I had and installed. Fire wall at the clutch hole was cracked so clutch did not work. Fixed and new clutch cable. Head had a blown head gasket so pulled the head and got that sorted. The door sagged a bit so fixed that but if I remember the welding was not the greatest.
The car was a delight to drive. The stock suspension and 185 tires were so much easier to turn at slower speeds than my 205/15's
A neighbour said I should swap the upgraded parts from mine and install in this one (yours). Pretty much rust free if I remember as well.


I might have a few bits and pieces if required.
Chris

[shmoky]

Wow. What a treat to get info from a previous owner. I agree those 185's would turn way better than the 205's. How was the ride/handling with the 15" tires though? Except for the easier turning was the change worth it? Thanks again for the info.

I LOVE what you did on YOUR car with the front bumper. That looks GREAT!!!! Where can I get info on how that is done?

shmoky

[joelittel]

Shmoky, here's a post that discusses the same mirrors.

http://www.fiatspider.com/f15/viewtopic.php?t=7437

I'm not trying to push them on you. I just noticed that you might be looking for some mirrors sooner than later and I'm 100% these mirrors will not be going back on to my car because my wife and I decided we both like a bigger mirror.