stock vs few upgrades

[narfire]

I have the two fiats at home for the moment (wife's away) Thought I'd post a couple of pics if anyone is thinking of some cosmetic/performance upgrades. The car with the bumpers I picked up a couple of months ago for $2000.00 but needed a head gasket,door hinge fix and the clutch/firewall fix. Did that and is a delight to drive as a stock car other than the 1800 head I put on while changing the head gasket.
I have 15 wheels and IAP springs on the other car with one coil chopped in the rear and KYB shocks. Bumper car is 13 inch and stock springs.
For what its worth

and another

[courtenay]

Chris - I'm jealous!! Both cars look great! Does your wife drive one?
Bruce

[surfingfreeman]

nice stable chris!
Mike

[azygoustoyou]

Hey Chris,
Which one do you like better?

[narfire]

Brady.. I find myself driving the bumper car more often. It has stock springs and is very nice to drive. The stock exhaust is quiet so I can hear CBC radio better. Easier to turn and I turned the steering box screw in one turn and that seemed to take up the play in the wheel. I don't feel the bumps as much as well. I have put a 1800 head on the bumper car so there might be a bit better performance,but I can't really tell.
HOWEVER , if I want to drive like it was stolen (Mikes line thnx) the other one because of the better handling and performance upgrades (more to come there as well)
I have a 72 in the body shop and was hoping to have that up and running several monthe ago,so perhaps I'll have a carb'd car to compare as well in the spring.
Ah.. I love em all

[mdrburchette]

Both are very nice! I find that every one of my Fiats have a character all their own. I love them all for their different personalities.

[perthling]

I agree with Denise - all my Coupes have had very different characters but all enjoyable one way or the other.

I've only ever had one Spider so can't compare - but it drives differently to all the Coupes due to being fitted with the low compression US spec engine.

And the wagon - well hopefully I can compare it to the others in the next couple of weeks once I finish the hasty rust repairs and drive it to the tyre shop for new rubber and a wheel alignment!

[Fiat88]

What years are they? Their both beautiful! The bumperless one really has the performance look I like, though.

Were those chrome/or stainless steel moldings along the fender factory,dealer, or aftermarket installed on the bumper one? I've seen a few spiders with those.

[narfire]

They are both 80 Fi's. The bumperless one does go faster faster,needed on the road home to get by the wankers trying to decide what winery to goto.
My wife likes the look of the bumper car better,I think it is the plastic stick- on chrome strips. I'm not sure but I think they were dealer accessories.
I was thinking of getting a few of these cars and having a rental pool for the touristas that flock here in the summer,but repair would become a job not a hobby and also concerned about drivers taking the car out on a wine tasting tours and cracking the car up... insurance becomes invalid then.

[Italchic]

How do you get to the steering box and how do you turn the screw to take out the play in the wheel?

[124ADDHE]

I love everything about the bumberless one, beautiful car! Good work.

Italchic, that adjustment is on the steering box where the steering wheel shaft enters and the power is distributed to the wheels, if you have lots of steering wheel play and its not your tie-rod ends, then you can loosen a nut and adjust an inner bolt with a flat-blade screwdriver, turning in and then re-locking with the nut - you should have wheels off ground, steering wheel centered and test by turning wheel lock-lock to test for binding as you can ruin your steering box if you are too ham-fisted. Might as well check the oil levels whilst in there.

[Divers]

Can you post a closeup picture of your bumperette/light setup?

Robert

[narfire]

Sure Robert.



the light came from a Honda motorcycle dealer here in town and had a friend make a bit of an extension for it.
Works well to date
Chris

[124JOE]

get some new cams for the bumpercar

[Divers]

Thanks for the picture!!!!