Hi, I'm Topless!

[Topless]

Hi guys, just picked up my first Spider this weekend. It's a 1979. It looks like a fun car, and I have some work ahead of me. After a cursory glance, here is my starter list of what needs to be fixed:

- Most items on the dash don't work: zero turn signals or indicators, spedometer, temperature gauge, and emergency lights (switch depresses fine and lights up, rear right tail hazard light comes on only).
- Carborator is leaking gas. Need to rebuild or replace it.
- Tires are shot. Tread worn completely away in places, cracked along exterior sides.
- Front passenger wheel is ever so slightly loose when car is lifted, can wiggle it maybe a half inch.
- Driver door hangs a half inch low from the body; it jumps up a half inch when door shuts, in order to clasp. Hinges don't seem loose, however.
- Basic body dings and car is heavily keyed.
- Missing front and rear bumpers, which I have in mind to install maybe in a couple years. Car came with brackets for mounting bumpers which bolt to the frame and which wear heavy surface rust.
- Lubricating the locks so I can actually get the key in!
- Windows are hard to roll up.
- Replace cracked & heavily vibrating rear view mirror.
- Replace driver's side view mirror which has flaked off around edges.
- Vinyl passenger seat is torn in a couple of places.
- Cover's plastic rear window is completely detached from fabric at the sides.
- Move my cassette tape collection into the cab!

I paid 3k for it. My mechanic friends tell me I overpaid, and I agree I could have gotten a number of other vehicles in similar condition for 1k or less, but spiders seem to be selling at a premium in the ads I've seen. Anyway I thought it was fair all elements considered, and it's a color I like! (avorio safari 265)

The car drove smoothly on the way home from purchasing it, even though it is now not turning over at all despite the battery testing like new this morning at my local auto parts store. If I can figure out how to get it running again I'll have to quickly get it up to my state's safety inspection standards, which means figure out those turn signals. I've browsed forum posts here for tips. For now I think I'll run a test light to the starter and ignition… assuming I can figure out what these things do and where they are! This is a first project car, and I know NOTHING about cars, so I expect a steep learning curve and to be asking a lot of shameless, stupid questions.

Thank you for welcoming me. As a gift to the forum I'd like to share my 1979 owner's manual which I've scanned and uploaded here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/juwvu6fhgzv1m ... L.pdf?dl=0

[PaulC]

Paid about that for our 79 and with similar but different variety of problems.
Original seller said it would start with starting fluid but not run. Turned out to be a disconnected fuel pump line .
Instruments worked but dash was.shot so replaced it with the California version.
Redid interior, top, paint, etc,etc etc. You'll find more as you get into it (sigh)

[PaulC]

Be sure to check out https://www.mirafiori.com/forum/
They have an awesome library of Fiat material.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Hi Topless, congratulations on your new car! As for value, I won't go there as it depends on what you like. You have given us a lot to chew on in terms of recommendations, but the general order that I would approach things is:

#1 top priority Safety (gas leak, tires, front wheel loose)
#2 Mechanical (getting it to start reliably, or tuning in general, door locks)
#3 Electrical (lights, dash gauges, switches)
#4 Cosmetic (seats, dash, paint, trim, etc.)

Happy to walk you through any of these, so ask away!

-Bryan

[Topless]

Thanks, guys!

[Topless]

I noticed that the link I posted in my intro does not work due to it being abbreviated in the middle with a period of elipses. Here it is again, in full, but in two parts:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/juwvu6fhgzv1mmu/

1979_FIAT%20SPIDER%202000%20OWNER%27S%20MANUAL.pdf?dl=0