Let me run my mouth a minute.....

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Jrscobra
Posts: 68
Joined: Sun Mar 05, 2017 1:14 pm
Your car is a: 1972 Fiat Spider 124

Let me run my mouth a minute.....

Postby Jrscobra » Tue Jun 27, 2017 6:07 pm

Ive owned the 72 Spider for a few months now, and for the first part of ownership, it has sat quietly in the garage not saying a thing.
I started reading about the Spider and talking on a few sites about it, and then I find out the 72 is a pretty nice year to own. Chrome Bumpers and all seem to be the big thing as well as emissions issues don't exist sorta...

So, I finally get the cash to start working on the car. This is my first foreign restoration. I've always worked with Mustangs for the most part and enjoyed it.

Now, having never driven this car, having never owned a car like this, I cannot wait to get in this thing and start driving it. New fuel system, new brake system going in now, and this winter it'll get the top and paint.

Its been really nice getting out there and playing with this old car and I cant wait to share the finished product with you guys when she's ready for viewing..

Now, it wont be perfect, but it will be a driver. Next year, after the winter storage, we'll turn this car into something that will turn heads ( hopefully) externally. Within two to three years, we hope to have a new engine transplant (Ecoboost 2.3 from a Mustang) and then really freak out some people at stop lights, but now Im getting ahead of myself.

Just wanted to thank you guys all for the information and tips. Its getting there and Im as giddy as a school girl!~

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: Let me run my mouth a minute.....

Postby zachmac » Tue Jun 27, 2017 7:07 pm

Hopefully you'll change your mind on the eco boost once you drive the Lampredi twin cam. No it won't come anywhere close to the eco boost power but that isn't the point. It is just a sweet revving vintage piece of art. Please promise to get the stock engine running well and drive it as a Fiat first. :D
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

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spiderdan
Patron 2018
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Posts: 831
Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2013 9:30 am
Your car is a: 1968 124 Sport Spider
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Re: Let me run my mouth a minute.....

Postby spiderdan » Wed Jun 28, 2017 7:16 am

Jrscobra wrote:we hope to have a new engine transplant (Ecoboost 2.3 from a Mustang)
:cry:
zachmac wrote:drive it as a Fiat first.
ditto
Dan
1968 124 Sport Spider
"Angelina"
2015 Toyota Camry XSE (hers)
2016 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Unlimited (cottage toy)
http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/68spi ... t%20Spider
http://www.youtube.com/user/Coontache/videos

klweimer
Posts: 550
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2012 7:45 am
Your car is a: 1982 Spider 2000
Location: Arvada, Colorado

Re: Let me run my mouth a minute.....

Postby klweimer » Wed Jun 28, 2017 8:11 am

Jrscobra,

I agree completely that there is a simple beauty to the engineering that went into these vehicles 30-40 years ago. While I enjoy working on my spider and putting my stamp on the car in terms of restoration, what I really love is just tooling around and driving this classic.

As for engine swaps and other mods, I say go for it! Post pictures, tell us what worked and what didn't. Who knows where you and your car finally end up? Probably somewhere different than when you started. :-)

Kirk

Jrscobra
Posts: 68
Joined: Sun Mar 05, 2017 1:14 pm
Your car is a: 1972 Fiat Spider 124

Re: Let me run my mouth a minute.....

Postby Jrscobra » Wed Jun 28, 2017 8:02 pm

Jeez. Now I'm thinking I should keep it stick under the hood. I'll have to ponder. I am going to drive it as is for at least a year and make sure it's all good. You've made me rethink it, a bit.

baltobernie
Patron 2020
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Posts: 3466
Joined: Sun Nov 25, 2007 6:00 pm
Your car is a: 1973 Spider [sold]
Location: Baltimore, MD

Re: Let me run my mouth a minute.....

Postby baltobernie » Wed Jun 28, 2017 8:14 pm

+1 on the Fiat engine. Maybe warmed over a bit to 120-130 HP, which will enable you to keep up with modern traffic.

You'd need to swap the entire Ford drivetrain if you went with the 310 HP Ecoboost. Massive improvements in braking, suspension, cooling, and more would be required. The Spider unibody is very stout, but probably not good for 3x the OE power. There are a couple of fellows on this site with V6 and V8 Spiders, and they can chime in with the cost, time and results of those swaps. The fact that there are hundreds of enthusiasts on this site, and only two or three with swapped engines, that should tell you something.

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lglade
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Posts: 327
Joined: Sat Dec 07, 2013 7:05 am
Your car is a: 1984 Pininfarina
Location: Mukilteo, WA

Re: Let me run my mouth a minute.....

Postby lglade » Thu Jun 29, 2017 12:51 am

If you want to tinker, invent, and tweak, I'd say have a good time and go for it. But if your goal was just to have a sleeper convertible (similar to a Shelby Cobra), then the Miata is probably a much better platform with V8 kits on the market that would save you a lot of R&D time.

https://www.flyinmiata.com/

I have a Focus RS and love the power that's readily on tap, but my Spider brings me just as many smiles in its stock configuration.
Lloyd Glade- Mukilteo, WA
1984 Pininfarina Spider Azzurra
1962 Fiat 500D - wife's car
2015 Subaru Outback
2017 Ford Focus RS

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

Re: Let me run my mouth a minute.....

Postby RRoller123 » Thu Jun 29, 2017 6:47 am

I wish I had brought my camera...

There was a Miata at the Hyannis Car Show recently that had a Corvette engine installed in it. And No appearance changes from the exterior at all! Same hood, same everything, but the drive train obviously upgraded and a lot of tunnel and frame work done, etc. Amazing project. The fellow had not yet timed it at the drag strip.

There also was an old MG Midget that had what is apparently a not unpopular conversion to replace the stock head with one from a K1200 BMW bike. The owner stated that it got the HP up into the hundred+, and that he installed the BMW bike FI system that comes along with it. That was quite something.
'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

weengra
Posts: 37
Joined: Mon Feb 24, 2014 5:59 pm
Your car is a: 82 Spider 2000 + 76 128 Sedan

Re: Let me run my mouth a minute.....

Postby weengra » Thu Jun 29, 2017 9:35 am

Craigslist and ebay occasionally pop up with the sad results of Spider engine transplant experiments, selling for pennies on the dollar. If you are hell bent and determined, sell the 1972 with the sweet, high revving 1600 twin cam to someone who wants a FIAT and get ahold of a late 70s model to chop on.
Bill Barker
Madison, Wisconsin
1982 Spider 2000
1976 128 Sedan

familyman
Posts: 24
Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2013 8:24 pm
Your car is a: 80 Spider

Re: Let me run my mouth a minute.....

Postby familyman » Thu Jul 06, 2017 10:54 am

weengra wrote:Craigslist and ebay occasionally pop up with the sad results of Spider engine transplant experiments, selling for pennies on the dollar. If you are hell bent and determined, sell the 1972 with the sweet, high revving 1600 twin cam to someone who wants a FIAT and get ahold of a late 70s model to chop on.


Agreed! Don't chop up a 72! They are very hard to find rust free. My first Spider was a 71 and I loved the square-bore 1608 engine. If you want to cut one up, get a 79 which was the most popular model year.

Jrscobra
Posts: 68
Joined: Sun Mar 05, 2017 1:14 pm
Your car is a: 1972 Fiat Spider 124

Re: Let me run my mouth a minute.....

Postby Jrscobra » Thu Jul 06, 2017 4:33 pm

Well, after reading the posts here and reviewing some info again.... I've decided to leave the 72 alone as far as the power plant goes.

When this car is done, I'll pursue another car for a "sleeper" instead of the Fiat.

Thanks for the responses.

Jaime


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