Finally. Wanted a Spider..more details!

[wizard124]

I got all the parts back on to the cowl. I removed the linkage and motor about 18 months ago. I was able to re-vive the motor but left things laying separately, knowing I would paint the car.

The electrical cover was deteriorated beyond repair. Siliconed the electrical connections.


Cleaned the linkage and lubed the joints and pivot posts. Replaced the spray nozzles. Painted the posts' housings. Painted the cowl grates.



Tomorrow, ill tackle re-installing the engine and transmission

[wizard124]

I stuck to my schedule and dropped the engine and transmission in Friday
More like a shove, wiggle, lift, pry, lower, pull to get it positioned. Minimal time to work on it yesterday,,,,,,,running by mid week!

[wizard124]

So, I finally got the car running well! I discussed my woes on a different thread. I had changed my timing belt and thought my woes were related to that job. After exhausting about all other possible causes, I swapped out the AFM and fixed the stalling/missing I was experiencing.

Taking it on the road, I am very pleased. Great performance (better than I remember) and a clean shifting re-built transmission. I was so frustrated but this proves perseverence for us hobbyists pays dividends in the long run.

Time to move on to replacing exterior components, the interior, and cosmetics.

[wizard124]

With the engine performing well, I took some steps towards getting the car put back together.

Pulled the coolant T to replace the timing belt cover:


I re-lined the hood liner. Snapped it back into place. Set the hood and spring:

[wizard124]

I have maybe 75 miles on the car now, since getting the car's engine running well. The transmission is shifting like a dream, syncros in every gear. I have no drips or indications of impending problems; taking more steps to get the exterior back together.

It has been about 10 weeks since I got the car back with new paint. This week the paint gets polished and buffed. I have left door handles, emblems and trim off so that these items aren't in their way when they do their final detailing.

I decided to push in the bumpers. Drilling out the shock mounts turned out to be a really easy mod, especially since I already have the bumpers off. I drilled a hole from the bottom, up into the outer casing about an inch back from the lip. As others have suggested, use a piece of cardboard as a shield when the external gas pressure is released. I hit each mount with a hammer through a short 2x4 block. I still had oil in 3 of the 4 mounts. When the outer tubes are pushed in as desired (I went to the stops), I drilled a new hole through the inner tube using the first hole as a guide. I tapped each hole 5mm x .8 and installed a set screw. Easy

[wizard124]

I picked up the car from the body shop where it was rubbed out and polished. I took the time to paint the bumper mounts black before remounting the bumpers. All rubber pads, front turn signal cases, and plastic trim was also painted. I used Rustoleum Black Trim and Bumper paint on the bumper parts. Installed new Fiat emblems on the hood and trunk for added bling

Some time ago, I stripped the black off the front grill. Painted the 2 pieces a metallic silver with a clear coat.

[wizard124]

I was away on a nice long vacation with the family
This took me away from the Spider but gave me time to review others' posts and think about the steps I need to take to get my interior together.
ClarktheShark posted this thread about installing Corbeau seats: http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=27610
His post pushed me off the fence. I have Corbeau seats on order along with some matching material to have the rear seats upholstered to match the front seats, and to do the door cards.

For now, I am back to the grind of removing the floorboard tar paper. The worst task I have encountered Good news is my floors are in very good shape with minimal surface rust. Por 15 and lay in some HushMat and I can start putting the interior together.

[wizard124]

After much effort, I cleaned the tar paper off the floor. Had a few areas of rust, but only one a that seemed a bit thin.


I layed in some fiberglass mat on the driver's side. This set up last night.


Today, I hit it with 2 coats of POR15. Ready to start installing the HushMat tomorrow

[wizard124]

Laid in the HushMat. It comes in 12x23 inch sheets. I found just a few places where a full sheet can be placed easily. Cutting it to small pieces worked best in most places. Lots of overlapping is inevitable (it takes quite a lot of time anyway without cutting exactly!), reminded me or paper mache class in grade school art class. Who would have thought that would ever prove useful I used the handle and blade of a putty knife to press the mat to the chassis, no need to buy a roller tool.

I bought the big package of HushMat; #10500. This is 30 sheets and 58 square feet. I used it in the under wiper motor area, along the sides behind the dash, behind the door kicks compartments, tranny tunnel, entire floor boards, and rear seat area up to the seam that runs through the middle or the forward trunk panel. I have just 3 sheets remaining that I plan to use on the door panels.

I bought 6 linear feet of Reflectix insulating mat at a hardware store to line the tunnel and passenger feet area. I will re-use the cut closed cell foam pad over the Cat area of the passenger floor.

[wizard124]

I used aluminum tape to hold down the Reflectix. The tape sticks to the HushMat and Por15 really well but not so well to the Reflectix mylar; I had to use more layers to get it to hold.

I went by my local Home Depot and hardware stores (no Lowes in the area) but couldn't find any suitable carpet material. However, at a local carpet retailer, I came across Vitality Carpet Runner. This is indoor/outdoor rubber backed carpet that is thin and easy to cut and bend and a variety of colors. I had decided to re-do my interior in Tan so I selected a light brownish color called Mountain Granite. The roll is 27 in wide, $4 a foot and I ended up buying 26 feet. I used my old carpet pieces as a pattern but cut the new ones a bit larger over all. The floor pieces run the full length from the fire wall to the rear seat well. Using carpet tape and a few strategic self drilling screws I got it cut and installed.

I will admit this interior work is a first for me but It takes a lot of time and effort



Installed my Corbeau seats (a different thread) and went for some drives. The HushMat (not saying it is better then other products) makes a tremendous difference. I don't hear any transmission noises, the road noises are subdued, no heat issues from the tunnel. Seems that the white noises are quieted and the lovely sounds of the twin cam and exhaust purr are more distinct, not louder just more isolated

[btoran]

wow. lots of progress. looking real good.

[wizard124]

I took a hard look at my convertible top today. Washed it while I had it still removed from the car. I took it to a local shop so some stitching could be repaired. The outer vinyl is in great shape but he informed me that the inner fabric backing is rotted and no good, bummer He was rubbing the fabric off with his thumb while he explained the fabric is what gives the vinyl its strength. Add a new top to the list.

At the shop I ran into a friend (restoring an E type Jag). Both he and the interior guy raved complements on the paint job I had done this past year They pumped me up! New top???? Heck yes.......why slow down now

[Exit98]

you do great work. Car looks fantastic.

[wizard124]

Thanks for kudos!

[wizard124]

New top. Black StayFast cloth from topsonline.com