Timing belt time in Connecticut

General chat about the car goes in here.
Fiatcatapult
Posts: 36
Joined: Sun May 07, 2017 5:06 pm
Your car is a: 1982 Fiat 124 Spider

Timing belt time in Connecticut

Postby Fiatcatapult » Thu May 25, 2017 7:10 pm

I recently purchased a hot red spider and the previous owner indicated that he did the timing belt, about 5000 miles ago, I am not going to take any chances... i want to change the belt, tensioner, water pump and thermostat.

Where can I find a write up on doing the timing belt job on a 1982 Fuel injected spider?

The next best thing would be if a local member who has done this job before assist me.

spider2081
Patron 2024
Patron 2024
Posts: 2967
Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:45 pm
Your car is a: 1981 Spider 2000
Location: Wallingford,CT
Contact:

Re: Timing belt time in Connecticut

Postby spider2081 » Fri May 26, 2017 9:45 am

I know he is real busy but you might consider calling Danny at Fun Imports Auto and Toy's 203 871 1990 he has done many timing belt changes and is reasonable with his pricing.

I would suggest you purchase a repair manual before attempting to change the timing belt so you have a good reference on the process and the amount of work it entails. Removing the crankshaft nut can be a real challenge.

User avatar
RRoller123
Patron 2020
Patron 2020
Posts: 8179
Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:04 pm
Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: Timing belt time in Connecticut

Postby RRoller123 » Fri May 26, 2017 7:48 pm

This might help.

Image
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle

zachmac
Posts: 1278
Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2008 9:20 am
Your car is a: 1978 Spider [1979 2 ltr engine]
Location: Aiken, SC

Re: Timing belt time in Connecticut

Postby zachmac » Sat May 27, 2017 8:26 am

spider2081 wrote:Removing the crankshaft nut can be a real challenge.


Removing the crank pulley and water pump pulley are only required IF the original sheet metal timing belt covers are still installed. For about 90% of all running Fiats it is not for this very reason. If it is I suggest doing what 90% of all owners have done and do not reinstall the sheet metal guard on reassembly. That way when you change the belt the next time the water pump and crank pulleys don't have to be removed.

Also consider cutting the outer plastic guard in half )lots of related threads here) to allow you to do change out without having to remove the tee housing in the future. You still have to remove the radiator hoses from the T but it prevents the common problem of stripped T connection bolts and leaking gaskets there.

If the original poster wants to send me an off forum email I'll happily send you a scan of the three pages from the factory manual for the timing belt R&R.

Also, if you use the instructions posted above (they are fine) check the crank nut torque spec. My factory manual says 181 ft-lbs, not 87 ft-lbs but is may be different for the 2000 versus earlier cars?
Jeff Klein, Aiken, SC
1980 FI Spider, Veridian with Tan (sold about a year ago), in the market for another project
1989 Spider, sold
2008 Mercedes SL65
2008 S600 Mercedes V12

samakijoe
Posts: 132
Joined: Wed Mar 15, 2017 9:56 pm
Your car is a: 1975 Fiat 124
Location: Original Washington (1776) NC

Re: Timing belt time in Connecticut

Postby samakijoe » Sat May 27, 2017 11:14 am

" Removing the crankshaft nut can be a real challenge."

Not really, all you have to do is put the 38mm socket on your breaker bar. Install socket, turn engine until the end of the breaker bar is on the floor. Kick the starter, nut is off. Be sure to place the breaker bar on the driver side of the engine. If you put it on the passenger side you can expect a supprise and maybe some sheet metal damage.

To retorque the nut, remove #1 and #4 plug. Feed some 1/4" or some such size rope into the plug hole (Hopefully, the same amount to each) . Oh yes, you need to keep the end of the rope out of the hole. :wink: Turn the engine until the rope stops the piston from going up. This locks up the crank. Retorque the nut. Back up the engine enough to remove the rope.
SAMAKIJOE
AKA GRANDPA GRUMPYPANTS

Fiatcatapult
Posts: 36
Joined: Sun May 07, 2017 5:06 pm
Your car is a: 1982 Fiat 124 Spider

Re: Timing belt time in Connecticut

Postby Fiatcatapult » Sat May 27, 2017 5:53 pm

I appreciate your advice.

ZacMac, Yes i would like to receive the 3 pages referencing the timing belt replacement. I have sent you an email via this forum.

Thank you

Smakiejoe,

That is an ingenious way of removing the 35mm nut, i'll try it if mine has to come off, hopefully the nut isn't on so tight that it catapults the spider in the next bay and onto my wife's car..

: )

Thank you

Fiatcatapult
Posts: 36
Joined: Sun May 07, 2017 5:06 pm
Your car is a: 1982 Fiat 124 Spider

Re: Timing belt time in Connecticut

Postby Fiatcatapult » Sat May 27, 2017 6:12 pm

Thanks RRoller123,

Excellent, easy to follow illustrated timing belt instructional write up. I've saved it.

zachmac
Posts: 1278
Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2008 9:20 am
Your car is a: 1978 Spider [1979 2 ltr engine]
Location: Aiken, SC

Re: Timing belt time in Connecticut

Postby zachmac » Sun May 28, 2017 8:04 am

Email with scan of manual sent. Good wrenching and keep us posted.
Jeff Klein, Aiken, SC
1980 FI Spider, Veridian with Tan (sold about a year ago), in the market for another project
1989 Spider, sold
2008 Mercedes SL65
2008 S600 Mercedes V12

85redpini
Patron 2018
Patron 2018
Posts: 83
Joined: Sat Nov 03, 2012 12:51 pm
Your car is a: 1985 pininfarina spider

Re: Timing belt time in Connecticut

Postby 85redpini » Mon May 29, 2017 6:14 pm

RRoller123 wrote:This might help.

Image

we had the two sided one and can't find it. can you put both sides up on the site?

User avatar
RRoller123
Patron 2020
Patron 2020
Posts: 8179
Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:04 pm
Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: Timing belt time in Connecticut

Postby RRoller123 » Tue May 30, 2017 6:40 am

?? I don't understand what you mean. This is the only scan that I have.
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle

Spider951
Patron 2020
Patron 2020
Posts: 131
Joined: Mon May 29, 2017 8:44 am
Your car is a: 1981 Spider 2000
Location: Tuscaloosa, AL

Re: Timing belt time in Connecticut

Postby Spider951 » Thu Jun 01, 2017 10:19 am

I recently replaced the timing belt on '81 Spider. Biggest issues were keeping the flywheel from moving when removing big front-end nut and while fitting new belt over cams, tensioner, etc. Maybe I missed something in the repair manuals about how to keep flywheel from moving (e-brake and transmission in gear only prevented major movement), but I made (DIY) a steel bracket with holes to bolt on (in place of flywheel cover) and included slots to fit end of screwdrivers (or small steel bars) between flywheel teeth. I can send a photo of this homemade gizmo if you like. Worked great - zero movement of flywheel.
Steve

Fiatcatapult
Posts: 36
Joined: Sun May 07, 2017 5:06 pm
Your car is a: 1982 Fiat 124 Spider

Re: Timing belt time in Connecticut

Postby Fiatcatapult » Thu Jun 01, 2017 10:09 pm

Steve,
please do, i'd appreciate it.

Spider951
Patron 2020
Patron 2020
Posts: 131
Joined: Mon May 29, 2017 8:44 am
Your car is a: 1981 Spider 2000
Location: Tuscaloosa, AL

Re: Timing belt time in Connecticut

Postby Spider951 » Sat Jun 03, 2017 5:56 pm

Image


See if this works. Steve

Spider951
Patron 2020
Patron 2020
Posts: 131
Joined: Mon May 29, 2017 8:44 am
Your car is a: 1981 Spider 2000
Location: Tuscaloosa, AL

Re: Timing belt time in Connecticut

Postby Spider951 » Sat Jun 03, 2017 6:43 pm

Image

User avatar
DaveT
Posts: 52
Joined: Sat Mar 15, 2008 9:24 am
Your car is a: 1978 Spider
Location: Warwick, Rhode Island

Re: Timing belt time in Connecticut

Postby DaveT » Sun Jun 04, 2017 7:15 pm

I did this when i first got mine ('78). I had visited this site and the Mirafiori site and just cut and pasted all the various post into a simple Word docs and created a repair manual/binder. It really wasn't that difficult - I'd never done anything that involved before and she started right up! Did water pump at the same time. Just read and re-read all the how-to's a couple of times and then take your time.
Dave T
Warwick, RI
'78 Black Spider


Return to “Fiat Spider Related”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 52 guests