1982 124 Spider
Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 8:25 pm
Being as my driving season is over I have started a rolling restoration of a driver not to be a show car, but just nice and dependable.
I bought this 1982 on E-bay at the begining of November with a large engine oil leak. I hauled it home and replaced the exhast cambox gasket and timing belt. That made it good enough for me to drive it a few hundred mile before the seasons end.
Yesterday I decided to replace the top as it had holes. The PO had a new top in the trunck that was there when he bought the car 5 years ago. I replaced the top, but I think it has shrunk from setting so long. It is on and is OK not good but OK.
I learned some in doing the first one. I may buy a nice top for it next year.
Today I started the front end rebuild. I removed the left side a-arms. Pressed out the bushings, cleaned, removed rust, and repainted the a-arms. I started pressing the bushing back in, but I need to make a spacer, before I press in the 2nd lower bushing, so I don't deform the a-arm. The work goes slower when you clean and paint everthing as you go. I need to get a media blaster for the rusted parts as it would be faster and do a better job. I am putting on KYB shocks as I am doing the other work. The shock that I took off was from the factory. I also cut one coil from the spring. I will cut a coil from the rear spring afther I get the front end together.
I have an 1981 that I am going to start on when I get the front end rebuild done on the 1982. The 81 needs driver floor pan replaced.
I bought this 1982 on E-bay at the begining of November with a large engine oil leak. I hauled it home and replaced the exhast cambox gasket and timing belt. That made it good enough for me to drive it a few hundred mile before the seasons end.
Yesterday I decided to replace the top as it had holes. The PO had a new top in the trunck that was there when he bought the car 5 years ago. I replaced the top, but I think it has shrunk from setting so long. It is on and is OK not good but OK.
I learned some in doing the first one. I may buy a nice top for it next year.
Today I started the front end rebuild. I removed the left side a-arms. Pressed out the bushings, cleaned, removed rust, and repainted the a-arms. I started pressing the bushing back in, but I need to make a spacer, before I press in the 2nd lower bushing, so I don't deform the a-arm. The work goes slower when you clean and paint everthing as you go. I need to get a media blaster for the rusted parts as it would be faster and do a better job. I am putting on KYB shocks as I am doing the other work. The shock that I took off was from the factory. I also cut one coil from the spring. I will cut a coil from the rear spring afther I get the front end together.
I have an 1981 that I am going to start on when I get the front end rebuild done on the 1982. The 81 needs driver floor pan replaced.