Hey Y'all

[ajheinrich59]

Hey Y'all:

My wife, Cara, and I just registered today. We're about to purchase our Fiat 2000 Spider this weekend and we're pretty excited.

Cara will be the primary driver. This has been a dream of hers since she was a teenager. She's been on a test drive (as a passenger - the present owner drove) and her ear-to-ear smile at the end of it sealed the deal. We're waiting for a few items to be repaired, then Cara will take the wheel on a final test drive, and we'll be working thru a final "check-list" of inspection items before we hand them the cheque.

We're pretty certain its a bargain. But, thought we'd ask your thoughts. Its a 79 2000 Spider, but the fuel injection has been replaced with a carburetor. It runs great, and there doesn't appear to be any serious rust issues. Our check list instructs us to look at key locations (shock towers, floor boards under seats, near clutch etc. and the transmission is solid and shifts easily, no jumping out of gear. All electric functions and lighting work. The seats could use reupholstering, but are useable. Top was replaced a few thousand miles ago and does not have any apparent leaks.

We're paying $5000, which seems a middle of the road price for our area (VA), considering its condition.

Any thoughts?

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Sounds like a nice car, although I can't offer much advice in terms of pricing for the later years (and across the country from me). I have "only" had one Fiat 2000 over the years with fuel injection, and it seemed to work well enough at the time. Most of my Fiat experience is with carburetors, and there's plenty of folks on this forum who likely know far, far more than I do.

One question: Do you have to pass a smog check where you are? If so, the lack of the original fuel injection setup might present an issue.

-Bryan

[ronarthur]

The 79’s never came with fuel injection. 1980 was the transition year with some having a carb and some having fuel injection. 1981 was the first year of all fuel injection.

[Nanonevol]

Welcome! How about some photos?
Take a look at Brad Artigues file on Fiat 124. Lots of good carb info.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5eecl ... Q3TGc/view
Yours should have a 28/32 ADHA and lots of smog parts that you don't need. Unless in VA you do need them to pass inspection.

[RRoller123]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that '79 was FI in California, and '80 transitioned the rest of the country to FI.

[scrapironchef]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that '79 was FI in California, and '80 transitioned the rest of the country to FI.

My California 79 is carbed as are most I've seen.

Larry N

[RRoller123]

Mid to late year introduction of FI in CA, I remember reading here years ago, from the "historians" of the brand. But I have no personal experience with it in CA. My 79 X1/9 was carbed here in NH/MA.

[chrisg]

Congratulations. I hope the car provides many years of great fun & memories! Don't be disappointed if you find a few annoying surprises with it. It can happen.

To the FI/carb question: all '79s (model year, not production year) would be carbed, '80 would be mixed FI/carb (I believe FI for the CA market) & '81-up are FI

And, an unsolicited piece of reconstruction advice for any new carbed Spi2K owner....These cars came with an absolutely horrible carburetor & emissions system where the twin cam is nearly strangled with a highly restrictive intake/carb & exhaust. These cars can rather easily be brought to life by adding a single plane intake manifold ('74-'78 I think) and a 32/36DFxV or 34ADF or 34DMSA carburetor & replacing the 4-1 exhaust manifold with a 4-2-1 factory manifold from an earlier (or later?) car. Alternatively, you could use an exhaust header (may be more $$ and may have a few heat issues you'd want to deal with). If you're feeling adventurous (and, in truth, it's not really THAT adventurous), remove the 2L head & replace it with a nice, fresh 1.8 head which takes the combustion chamber down in size for a slight increase in compression from the US stock 8:1. Maybe all that's been done, or some version of it (HC pistons instead of a head swap, for instance), but this is not really exotic stuff.....rather it brings the car closer to it's original engine spec and is nicer to drive all around.

most of all -have fun!

[bobplyler]

These cars can rather easily be brought to life by adding a single plane intake manifold ('74-'78 I think) and a 32/36DFxV or 34ADF or 34DMSA carburetor & replacing the 4-1 exhaust manifold with a 4-2-1 factory manifold from an earlier (or later?) car.

The 79 came with a 4-2-1 exhaust.

[chrisg]

I think some did & some didnt. My hope is that everyone's 124 is one that did!

[JohnMc]

It was my understanding that 1980 was the first year of FI in California. I had one and it was pretty fast and reliable.