So hard to find a good and trustworthy FIAT mechanic?

[turbodave]

Hey everyone! I should have checked the Internet a long time ago for a forum like this, but it just dawned on me. So far I'm liking this Board, esp. the cool pics of people's cars during Socials/car events.

I've had my Fiat Spider w/ Turbo for 4 years. I bought it from a retired lady out in the Palm Springs desert. Hence, no rust and the car ran pretty smooth for her drive from Palm Springs to Riverside, where we met for the purchase. Needlesstosay, I fell in love with this car.

I was considering getting an old Triumph Spitfire or the Fiat Spider. Since I have little mechanical skills, I thought getting a newer car rather than a project car was the way to go.

Drove my baby for about 6 months and then the oil leak got progressively worst, car started to overheat, and idle wouldn't hold. Found a local mechanic who claims to be an Italian master, but he was just sucking me dry and I still didn't get an operable car.

Cut my losses and garaged my car for 2 years before I stumbled across another mechanic who fixed my daily driver. He seemed trustworthy so I told him about my little fun-car. (My original intention was to buy a car with a carburated engine because I thought that most old-school mechanic would be able to tinker with it...and that I might be able to do the same some day when I had more time.)

Sure enough, this old master liked working on interesting cars. Although it took him 2 weeks and calling all over the place to get the parts, he had my car up and running and purring like a kitty. To think that I almost threw in the towel... but he said that the engine was still very strong, and that I can still get many years of fun out of it.

He still wanted to check out my handbrakes but he let me take it for a test drive over the weekend.... what a blast! I don't know if it's the placebo effect or if my turbo really makes a difference, but I feel like when I accelerate quickly and my turbo meter hits the turbo rpm range, I get an extra surge/kick like I've just engaged the "warp engine". lol

Anyhow, I'm glad to have found this forum. I'm supposed to get my car back this weekend. Got my sun cap, my big-rimmed sunglasses, and a throw-over long sleeved shirt ready, and am gonna take it along the coast for a nice weekend drive along the backside of Palos Verdes and then down to OC.

[rlux4]

Greetings Dave. Glad to hear you've got your car back up and on the road, and that you've found this great site. What year is your car?
You're right in the middle of a great group of Spider folks, the So Cal chapter of FLU (Fiat/Lancia Unlimited) is forming and we have a very active bunch around you. Check out the club here: http://www.flu.org/
Post up some pictures of your car when you get a chance, we'd love to see it.
Ron

[mbouse]

I was considering getting an old Triumph Spitfire or the Fiat Spider.

the two best days in a British car owners life:
1. the day he buys his car
2. the day he sells his car

i just found out that my Spitwad project car is again up for sale. the seller claims not enough time to work on the car..and I smile, no... i GRIN! he hasn't even had the thing for a year. i at least gave the thing two and a half years.

welcome to the site Dave. so glad that you could join us. i hope you can post some picture of your new beauty soon.

[turbodave]

Thanks for sharing the funny story about the spitfire/wad. lol. (I guess I made the right call going with a newer "older" car.

What really got to me about the Spitfire was the older models with the all chrome bumpers and grill. That's the one thing about the Spider that I would love to change... from black bumpers to all chrome bumper and even front grill if that's possible. (If anyone has replaced their black bumpers with all chrome ones, please post a pic. I'd love to see how it turned out.)

However, I figure before I even contemplate replacing my bumbers and grill, I better make sure that I can get the car running reliably again.

Thanks for the welcome guys! I enjoy reading about other people's project.

[kristoj]

Welcome to the site. I assume you car is an '81 or '82 if it is a turbo model. They are actually very reliable cars once you get them tuned. I have refurbished virtually all of the usual perishable parts on mine over the past two years, including a turbo rebuild. So if you have any questions specific to the turbo model, let me know.