PULLED THE TRIGGER/PHOTOS ADDED

[georgeramos]

Today i purchased the 71 Spider that i discussed in my original post. The mechanic said the body/frame was solid and there was minimal body filler here & there. His initial impression was that it drove quite well but upon his inspection of various areas he began recalling all the Spiders he'd worked on and he said more than once that they were all pieces of crap...

i bought it anyhow.

the BIG ISSUE though was the transmission whose sounds he say indicate imminent issues. that will keep me up for a few nights.
So my plan is to keep it garaged and work on small issues (fuel leak upon driving then shutting off the car, not happening while sitting at idle) could this be a fuel return line issue? Reverse light not working. Also i plan to do the brown wire fix, swap out bulbs for LED's and not much more until i get a summers worth of driving in. How much should i worry about the tranny? It sounded like a "whirring" noise while in neutral. Once engaged it wasnt too bad and with the clutch engaged it was totally quiet. The seller said it was "growling" since he's been driving it (3 yrs or so) and hasnt gotten any worse which is exactly what a seller would say right? Of course i am suffering from buyers remorse as the mechanic said I shouldnt do it etc...

But the Forum is a place to learn and to encourage each other to keep these fine cars on the road right?! moral support needed...DROVE IT HOME ON SUNDAY. TRANNY GROWL BE DAMNED! SPIDERS RULE!

MY BEAUTIES...


Just before launch. 20 mile ride home in light rain. AWESOME!


thanks

George Ramos
'71 Spider!!

[courtenay]

George - You have a Spider - there can be NO remorse! Frustration sometimes, but remorse, never!
Have fun!

[Exit98]

George,

Stop worrying. A 71 is almost the very best year. There's nothing mechanical that can't get fixed, by you, by other Fiat buddies, or by a professional.

Your transmission noise, heck I'm sure no mechanic, but to me it sounds like the clutch throwout bearing. In neutral at idle with the clutch out you hear a wherring noise. Put the clutch in, it goes away, is that it?

So to fix it you've got to drop the transmission and replace the bearing, and of course while you are in there you'll replace the clutch too. And then some of the guys say you might as well lighten the flywheel while you are at it.

Then there's the rubber donut on the front of the driveshaft if the old one's looking rough.

But so what, all of us will have to do the same job sooner or later if we keep our Spiders long enough. The car's 40+ years old. It's all part of the journey.

Good luck, and post some pictures your baby.

[4uall]

congrats! when i bought mine people would joke with me that FIAT stood for Fix It Again Tony. Well my name is Jay, and I love working with my Fiat! I wouldn't have it any other way.

[Kent124]

congrats! when i bought mine people would joke with me that FIAT stood for Fix It Again Tony.

Those people were just jealous having never ridden in let alone owned a Fiat.

[spidernut]

Sounds like a throw out bearing to me too. Congratulations on your purchase. I love my Spider and have been very happy with the reliability. These cars are easy to work on compared to newer cars. Take your time, do repairs right and you'll be happy too.

[So Cal Mark]

that tranny noise is the opposite of release bearing noise. It either has to be a bearing on the counter shaft or the bearing between the input and output shafts. FIll it with fluid and drive it, the seller is most likely telling the truth about the noise being there for 3 yrs

[124JOE]

ok now you want to retourqe the head to spects the intake and carb base all need to be at tourqe
this WILL help

[SpyderNoobe]

I am relatively new to the forum as I have been lurking for several weeks.

Just as Jay pulled the trigger, I am getting ready to as I have an eye on several of the spiders from various years, 75-79.

My question to the forum is, are there any years that this car was manufactured one would want to avoid? Likewise, are there any years that were built that seem to have less problems?

Thanks in advance

Rick
Cle Elum WA

[rlux4]

Hi Rick,
There really are no years that are any more problematic than others, it's more a matter of horsepower. The closer you get to 79-80 the more smog crap was added. I don't know what you have up there in God's country for inspections, but if you can strip that stuff then the only difference will be the engine and the hood. 79 was the year they went to the 1995 cc and they called them the Spider 2000. The years previous that you're considering were the 1800 engine. Also, when the changed to the 2 litre the hood got the bigger bumps. Have you considered a late 80 to 82? These are fuel injected and only have a cat for smog. Better horsepower and no carb isssues. I'm biased though, I love having FI.
Good luck in you search.
So I don't get called on it: late 80 isn't entirely correct, whether that year had FI or carbs depended on which state it was destined for import into.
Ron

[SpyderNoobe]

Thanks for the reply -

I am blessed to be in a rural area where there is no smog testing

It seems the cars I have seen over the last several months are mostly pre-79. I took a gander at a 78 last night in Seattle that was pretty good save for a little rust on the driver side front wheel well and the obligatory worn driver's seat leather.

Rick

[BEEK]

in 1979 fiat did a makeover of the spider, they refined the car, suspension and cosmetically, the car rides a bit softer, it feels a bit more tame than the earlier cars. The smog laden engine was a good effort, remove all the smog crap (as long as you can) and the carbed 79-80 spiders are a great car. I agree with finding an efi car, those are the best for a daily driver. I have owned all from 69-84, I have driven an 85.5 but never owned one. I currently drive a 78, because it’s what I have that runs. My next project is a 73 because in partial for early chrome bumper cars. But that’s me. There is no real bad choice, except one that has structural rust, check the shock towers in the front, look at what’s under the rocker panels. Floorboards are relatively easy to replace. You should not worry about small to medium holes there. But if the floor pan is rusty check out the whole car good. I have found great cars with totally rotten floors, but usually that is an indicator of the rest of the chassis.

[katsi]

Welcome to the club. So glad you decided to join us. In time, you will find that you have the ability to do more mechanically than you ever expected. Have fun, enjoy and don't be afraid to make a mistake. It's part of the fun of having one of these cars. TRUE, it's the frustrating part, but a part none the less. Lets see some pictures of your beauty.

You should have seen what I did with my first spider. Oh well, she made for a wonderfull stock of spare parts for my second one.

[georgeramos]

124 Joe, can you clarify the procedures you mentioned and what they will help with/change?

Thanks

George

[124JOE]

over time and vibrations bolts lossen gaskets become mis formed
when you go over all the intake IE carb base,intake,head.--any leaks throw off your air fuel mix and it runs crappy
you reseal any leaks.USE a tourqe wrench and get the spects

doing this will fimlilarize you with your car
and build your confidence to do work on your own