New @ Central FL

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Sweetvinny66
Posts: 17
Joined: Thu Aug 10, 2017 11:29 am
Your car is a: 2003 accord honda

New @ Central FL

Postby Sweetvinny66 » Thu Sep 21, 2017 10:32 pm

Just picked up my, I guess I would say second Fiat Spider. The first one was a 82 pini I think around in 09, I traded my 02 Lancer Rallyart for. It needed tons of restoration so I sold it. Today I just drove my newly aquired 78 Spider. Drove it 100 miles back home with no issue. Ad stated it had a rebuilt motor, with new pistons, rods, cams, distributless ignition, etc. Also new clutch assembly and front and rear steering and suspension. Also its covered by a new top and sitting on kyb gas shocks and rotas wrapped in dunlops. It has some electrical issues but when i got her home, me and my dad started at it. First was the hood latch, which I broke the hood rod, so half of it stopped the hood from completely closing. Then was the fuel gauge, my dad sourced that the new fuel tank that was installed might not have had a ground so we grounded it. Next was the water temp gauge which the forums again heeded the way as we reseated the connection and allocated the electrical temperature controller. So during both those processes I unscrewed the the dash so I could fix them but it was unnecessary since thier wiring wasn't the curlprit there. But it fixed my turn signals. So all is well. Needing the carb tuned next then trying to figure out what all the dash intruments/buttons etc Im missing. This forum has already helped me on my way to restoring this beaut to the glory days. :mrgreen:
1978 Spider 1800

ORFORD2004
Posts: 1099
Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2010 9:48 pm
Your car is a: 1983 PININFARINA
Location: Sherbrooke, Qc, Canada

Re: New @ Central FL

Postby ORFORD2004 » Thu Sep 21, 2017 10:41 pm

You should have a emergency rod under the dash to open your hood on the left side.

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kilrwail
Posts: 1099
Joined: Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:49 am
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Sport Spider
Location: Perth, Ontario

Re: New @ Central FL

Postby kilrwail » Fri Sep 22, 2017 9:53 pm

Where are you in FL? I'll be near Sanford Jan thru Mar if you need a hand - I have a '78 as well.
_____________________________________________________________
Peter Brownhill

1978 Fiat 124 Sport Spider - original owner
1977 Porsche 911S - track car
2022 Ram 4 x 4 - hauler
PCA National Instructor and Motorsport Safety Foundation Level 2 Instructor

Sweetvinny66
Posts: 17
Joined: Thu Aug 10, 2017 11:29 am
Your car is a: 2003 accord honda

Re: New @ Central FL

Postby Sweetvinny66 » Sat Sep 23, 2017 12:47 am

ORFORD2004 wrote:You should have a emergency rod under the dash to open your hood on the left side.


So far no luck on the spare rod, im missing most of the interior and stuff except for the essentials. So the search goes on.
1978 Spider 1800

Sweetvinny66
Posts: 17
Joined: Thu Aug 10, 2017 11:29 am
Your car is a: 2003 accord honda

Re: New @ Central FL

Postby Sweetvinny66 » Sat Sep 23, 2017 12:59 am

kilrwail wrote:Where are you in FL? I'll be near Sanford Jan thru Mar if you need a hand - I have a '78 as well.


Im located in between Tampa and Orlando in Winter Haven. At the moment im debating on getting a new exhaust, since my dad concluded im running rich because they tune couldnt be done as the catalytic converter might be clogged. Then the exhaust pipping went from large diameter to a small then large again and then to the stock muffler causing even more back pressure. So im going to either cut it out and straight pipe it or get a vicks headers back exhaust, or maybe both in that order. Other than that my parking lights and tag light magnificently repaired its self, but ill track it down later since its functional. Oh ya my oil cap gasket was raw so we were going to replace it and my dad put the cap back on with no gasket, so I drove off and lost a qrt or two down the road. Good thing I hobbled it back home and we finished the seal, but my engine is a mess with oil in the valley and such. But im taking a day to do an eval of the things I need to get it fairly stock wise and better running order. So far craziness 70mph n going strong.
1978 Spider 1800

Sweetvinny66
Posts: 17
Joined: Thu Aug 10, 2017 11:29 am
Your car is a: 2003 accord honda

Re: New @ Central FL

Postby Sweetvinny66 » Sat Sep 23, 2017 1:27 am

Image

Image

Image
1978 Spider 1800

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kilrwail
Posts: 1099
Joined: Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:49 am
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Sport Spider
Location: Perth, Ontario

Re: New @ Central FL

Postby kilrwail » Sat Sep 23, 2017 8:51 am

Let me know if you guys get stumped by something after New Year's. You're only an hour away.
_____________________________________________________________
Peter Brownhill

1978 Fiat 124 Sport Spider - original owner
1977 Porsche 911S - track car
2022 Ram 4 x 4 - hauler
PCA National Instructor and Motorsport Safety Foundation Level 2 Instructor

BEEK
Posts: 1830
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 10:45 pm
Your car is a: 1975 Spider
Location: clermont fl

Re: New @ Central FL

Postby BEEK » Sat Sep 23, 2017 9:14 am

I am in the Clermont area. PM me and ill send you my number. I have 30+ years experience as a fiat mechanic. I am now teaching Auto shop in high school. Guess what, there are 2 spiders and 3 scorpions in the auto shop... I would be glad to assist if needed with anything. Did you buy the brown one on craigslist?
Automotive Service Technology Instructor (34 year Fiat mechanic)
75 spider
, 6 Lancia Scorpions, 2018 Abarth Spider, 500X wifes, 500L 3 82 Zagatos. 82 spider 34k original miles, 83 pininfarina, 8 fiat spider parts cars
son has 78 spider

Sweetvinny66
Posts: 17
Joined: Thu Aug 10, 2017 11:29 am
Your car is a: 2003 accord honda

Re: New @ Central FL

Postby Sweetvinny66 » Sat Sep 23, 2017 9:54 pm

kilrwail wrote:Let me know if you guys get stumped by something after New Year's. You're only an hour away.


Will do! Would like a ride out with some Fiats, it would be awesome.
1978 Spider 1800

Sweetvinny66
Posts: 17
Joined: Thu Aug 10, 2017 11:29 am
Your car is a: 2003 accord honda

Re: New @ Central FL

Postby Sweetvinny66 » Sat Sep 23, 2017 9:57 pm

BEEK wrote:I am in the Clermont area. PM me and ill send you my number. I have 30+ years experience as a fiat mechanic. I am now teaching Auto shop in high school. Guess what, there are 2 spiders and 3 scorpions in the auto shop... I would be glad to assist if needed with anything. Did you buy the brown one on craigslist?


Thats not far at all, and yes I drove down to Englewood for it. It was on cl for the longest and thought id check it out, then ended up buying it. It was an old resto mod but still in better shape than the others I was prospecting for a new commuter. So far ive put down 250-300ish miles since the 21st.
1978 Spider 1800

BEEK
Posts: 1830
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 10:45 pm
Your car is a: 1975 Spider
Location: clermont fl

Re: New @ Central FL

Postby BEEK » Sat Sep 23, 2017 10:52 pm

I thought it was a good deal. But i am currently into a scorpion restoration and also a 75 spider restoration, So i dont need another project.. my wife may kill me.... if she finds out...lol
Automotive Service Technology Instructor (34 year Fiat mechanic)
75 spider
, 6 Lancia Scorpions, 2018 Abarth Spider, 500X wifes, 500L 3 82 Zagatos. 82 spider 34k original miles, 83 pininfarina, 8 fiat spider parts cars
son has 78 spider

Sweetvinny66
Posts: 17
Joined: Thu Aug 10, 2017 11:29 am
Your car is a: 2003 accord honda

Re: New @ Central FL

Postby Sweetvinny66 » Sun Sep 24, 2017 10:21 am

BEEK wrote:I thought it was a good deal. But i am currently into a scorpion restoration and also a 75 spider restoration, So i dont need another project.. my wife may kill me.... if she finds out...lol


Haha, I understand that. So far this has been my favorite car to tinker on, pretty simple with nice lines.
Going to set the carb today, or atleast try to.
1978 Spider 1800

Sweetvinny66
Posts: 17
Joined: Thu Aug 10, 2017 11:29 am
Your car is a: 2003 accord honda

Re: New @ Central FL

Postby Sweetvinny66 » Sun Sep 24, 2017 8:35 pm

So I figured out I have the Weber 32/36 DFEV carburetor. And i turned in all the way in mix and idle jet and its still running rich. My idles at 1200-1400 and no room to compensate anymore. So anyone know what jets are needed to get a correct tune on the DFEV, so far its been going all over with the search button and I cant seem to find the ideal jets to go with, let alone where to start.
1978 Spider 1800


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