My 1967 Fiat 124 Spider Restoration Journey

This is the place to discuss restoration problems, post questions or projects-complete or partial.
pwilliam
Posts: 174
Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2012 4:30 pm
Your car is a: 1972 124 Sport Spider

Re: My 1967 Fiat 124 Spider Restoration Journey

Postby pwilliam » Tue Sep 20, 2016 3:42 pm

is that the original dash or a reproduction? The wood consoles look great, by the way!

Mick124
Posts: 199
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2011 3:08 am
Your car is a: 1967 Fiat 124 Spider

Re: My 1967 Fiat 124 Spider Restoration Journey

Postby Mick124 » Wed Sep 21, 2016 1:48 am

Dash board was purchased from Autoricambi (Soft Dashboard). I had to send it away to get professionally recovered as the quality and finish of the soft dashboards was ordinary in my case (casting marks, scratches, etc).

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If I had to do it again, I would source an original and have it recovered instead of buying reproduction. - Just my opinion though... :D

pwilliam
Posts: 174
Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2012 4:30 pm
Your car is a: 1972 124 Sport Spider

Re: My 1967 Fiat 124 Spider Restoration Journey

Postby pwilliam » Thu Sep 22, 2016 9:24 pm

Thanks for the info! I've seen the casting marks too so it got me wondering

Sambo42
Posts: 155
Joined: Fri Apr 09, 2010 12:00 am
Your car is a: 1971 Fiat Spider

Re: My 1967 Fiat 124 Spider Restoration Journey

Postby Sambo42 » Sun Sep 25, 2016 7:12 pm

Mick124 wrote:Tank in
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Rubber bump stops in.. These were painful to get in...

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All new suspension being fitted
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Mick it's looking beautiful. I had to ask though - after all the trouble I'm having compressing the front springs with the engine out - how did you get them back in? Did you use a particular compressor? Feeling very much in awe.

Sambo

Mick124
Posts: 199
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2011 3:08 am
Your car is a: 1967 Fiat 124 Spider

Re: My 1967 Fiat 124 Spider Restoration Journey

Postby Mick124 » Sun Sep 25, 2016 8:05 pm

We tried everything. We ended up compressing them on the bench using a conventional spring compressor, then used wire (medium gauge) wrapped around (a few times) the springs to hold them compressed.

There has to be another way as I thought this was too dangerous. In the end, it worked. Glad that it is finally done

I am sure someone else would know a better more safer way. You may be able to use ratchet straps instead of wire??

djape1977
Posts: 985
Joined: Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:08 pm
Your car is a: 1970 fiat 124bc
Location: Belgrade, Serbia, eastern Europe

Re: My 1967 Fiat 124 Spider Restoration Journey

Postby djape1977 » Tue Sep 27, 2016 3:41 am

there is a special tool for compressing front springs on 124. i have it in stock.
90$ + shipping

Sambo42
Posts: 155
Joined: Fri Apr 09, 2010 12:00 am
Your car is a: 1971 Fiat Spider

Re: My 1967 Fiat 124 Spider Restoration Journey

Postby Sambo42 » Tue Sep 27, 2016 8:34 am

Mick124 wrote:We tried everything. We ended up compressing them on the bench using a conventional spring compressor, then used wire (medium gauge) wrapped around (a few times) the springs to hold them compressed.

There has to be another way as I thought this was too dangerous. In the end, it worked. Glad that it is finally done

I am sure someone else would know a better more safer way. You may be able to use ratchet straps instead of wire??


I'm kind of relieved to find I'm not missing something. I bought a special Mercedes spring compressor thinking that would make things easier but no joy with that either so I'm about to resort to the same trick using tiedown straps.

Mick124
Posts: 199
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2011 3:08 am
Your car is a: 1967 Fiat 124 Spider

Re: My 1967 Fiat 124 Spider Restoration Journey

Postby Mick124 » Tue Sep 27, 2016 11:45 pm

Be careful and good luck

Sambo42
Posts: 155
Joined: Fri Apr 09, 2010 12:00 am
Your car is a: 1971 Fiat Spider

Re: My 1967 Fiat 124 Spider Restoration Journey

Postby Sambo42 » Mon Oct 03, 2016 7:33 pm

Cheers - the rope trick seemed to work...

Mick124
Posts: 199
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2011 3:08 am
Your car is a: 1967 Fiat 124 Spider

Re: My 1967 Fiat 124 Spider Restoration Journey

Postby Mick124 » Mon Oct 03, 2016 9:58 pm

Engine and running gear all in - minus cosmetic parts and tweaking.

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Now she is back at the panel shop to get ready for final paint.

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Mick124
Posts: 199
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2011 3:08 am
Your car is a: 1967 Fiat 124 Spider

Re: My 1967 Fiat 124 Spider Restoration Journey

Postby Mick124 » Tue Oct 11, 2016 5:27 pm

Christmas has come early.

Stainless and chrome all refinished.

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Gauges were check and restored. After so many years, I did not want to install and then have Gauges not work properly.

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Mick124
Posts: 199
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2011 3:08 am
Your car is a: 1967 Fiat 124 Spider

Re: My 1967 Fiat 124 Spider Restoration Journey

Postby Mick124 » Sun Oct 16, 2016 6:14 am

Completed the veneer this weekend. Was a bit concerned as I have never done this before.

Turned out to be quite enjoyable and not difficult after all.

Pretty pleased with the end product. Next step the clear.

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RRoller123
Patron 2020
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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: My 1967 Fiat 124 Spider Restoration Journey

Postby RRoller123 » Sun Oct 16, 2016 9:30 am

Nice work!
'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

DRUMMOND
Patron 2018
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Posts: 443
Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2011 11:11 pm
Your car is a: Fiat Spyder 2000 1980 Pininfarina

Re: My 1967 Fiat 124 Spider Restoration Journey

Postby DRUMMOND » Sun Oct 16, 2016 7:44 pm

Nice work looks great. make sure you use a marine grade clear!

pwilliam
Posts: 174
Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2012 4:30 pm
Your car is a: 1972 124 Sport Spider

Re: My 1967 Fiat 124 Spider Restoration Journey

Postby pwilliam » Mon Oct 17, 2016 5:39 pm

Are you satisfied with the fitment of the original panels in the new dash? I found the fiberglass dash geometry to be a bit off from the panels so I shaped them to the new dash. Do I see toggles where the amber lights go? And if you don't mind my asking, how much does it cost to re cover the dash?


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