My 1978 Spider progressive restoration

This is the place to discuss restoration problems, post questions or projects-complete or partial.
vandor
Posts: 3996
Joined: Sat May 23, 2009 1:23 pm
Your car is a: 1971 124 Spider
Location: Texas, USA

Re: My 1978 Spider progressive restoration

Postby vandor » Thu Jan 28, 2016 10:46 pm

> Does the top frame need to be removed?

Yes, as I believe it sandwiches between the top frame and the body.
Csaba
'71 124 Spider, much modified
'17 124 Abarth, silver
http://italiancarclub.com/csaba/
Co-owner of the best dang Fiat parts place in town

DieselSpider
Posts: 2130
Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2014 10:21 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider with Isuzu Turbo Diesel

Re: My 1978 Spider progressive restoration

Postby DieselSpider » Thu Jan 28, 2016 11:39 pm

So nice and open. On mine its also sandwiched between the wheel well and the rear mounts of the roll bar with 4 bolts going through to the outside.

Frankd1
Posts: 135
Joined: Tue Sep 15, 2015 4:13 pm
Your car is a: 1978 Spider
Location: Southwestern Ontario, Canada

Re: My 1978 Spider progressive restoration

Postby Frankd1 » Tue Feb 02, 2016 5:41 pm

Hmmmm...I'll take a closer look. If the top frame needs to come off can that be done with the canvas still attached?

On a different note, I'm still considering pulling the metal fuel lines and replacing them.
For the carbureted cars what type of lines should I be looking at as far as what they are made of? Eg copper or steel. What are the size of the two lines?

AriK
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Joined: Sat Apr 02, 2011 7:58 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Fiat Spider
Location: Montreal Canada

Re: My 1978 Spider progressive restoration

Postby AriK » Tue Feb 02, 2016 7:15 pm

5/16 and 1/4. I used steel. Lots of fun bending them around the frame rail and over the axle.

Frankd1
Posts: 135
Joined: Tue Sep 15, 2015 4:13 pm
Your car is a: 1978 Spider
Location: Southwestern Ontario, Canada

Re: My 1978 Spider progressive restoration

Postby Frankd1 » Tue Feb 02, 2016 8:25 pm

Thanks Ari.

Was it 5/16" and 1/4" O.D coated brake line that you used?

I'm guessing this bender would work?

http://m.harborfreight.com/tubing-bender-3755.html

If I do replace the hard lines it may only be the portion that runs through the cabin and into the firewall. I will have a closer look at the section over the axle - I think those are fine though

danloch
Posts: 7
Joined: Wed May 15, 2013 8:20 am
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat Spider

Re: My 1978 Spider progressive restoration

Postby danloch » Tue Feb 02, 2016 10:08 pm

Hello,
Nice car!!
I notice you have seats from a newer spider.
Do you know if you can interchange seats from a newer spider into a 1978?
Thanks all
Dan

AriK
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Joined: Sat Apr 02, 2011 7:58 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Fiat Spider
Location: Montreal Canada

Re: My 1978 Spider progressive restoration

Postby AriK » Wed Feb 03, 2016 9:47 am

Yes they are OD. My steel lines came with a coating of polyvinyl fluoride for rust protection. Your bender is similar to what i used. The line you are working on is straight forward. The one around the axle has twists in all sorts of directions. Don't forget to measure what you are replacing and flare the ends.

Frankd1
Posts: 135
Joined: Tue Sep 15, 2015 4:13 pm
Your car is a: 1978 Spider
Location: Southwestern Ontario, Canada

Re: My 1978 Spider progressive restoration

Postby Frankd1 » Wed Feb 03, 2016 7:48 pm

Thanks. Do you remember off hand where you got your lines from?
As for the flare where the rubber hose slips over, is it just a brake line type flare?

AriK
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Joined: Sat Apr 02, 2011 7:58 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Fiat Spider
Location: Montreal Canada

Re: My 1978 Spider progressive restoration

Postby AriK » Wed Feb 03, 2016 8:23 pm

Any auto parts store.
Try to choose a flare which will accept a fuel hose easily, not sure of the names of the different kinds of flares. I made the mistake of using a flare that had an edge that made it difficult to wear a hose over it even if i coated it with dishwashing liquid (don't coat it with oil). How to explain... a smooth bubble flare is better than a restrictive edge.

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

Re: My 1978 Spider progressive restoration

Postby klweimer » Thu Feb 04, 2016 8:24 am

Another option instead of trying to re-flare steel brake lines is to use adapters to go from the brake flare fitting to a standard hose barb style. I used Edelmann 824550 adapters on both ends of standard 5/16" brake lines. Edelmann 824450 adapters will work with 1/4" steel lines. Make sure you use high pressure fuel injection hose (should be marked as such) on any hoses from the fuel pump to the fuel rail itself.
Kirk

AriK
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Posts: 1148
Joined: Sat Apr 02, 2011 7:58 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Fiat Spider
Location: Montreal Canada

Re: My 1978 Spider progressive restoration

Postby AriK » Thu Feb 04, 2016 9:33 am

Chances are that you need a custom length. If you need to cut the line you cannot use the adapters, no? Great idea though in a perfect world.
Last edited by AriK on Thu Feb 04, 2016 7:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Frankd1
Posts: 135
Joined: Tue Sep 15, 2015 4:13 pm
Your car is a: 1978 Spider
Location: Southwestern Ontario, Canada

Re: My 1978 Spider progressive restoration

Postby Frankd1 » Thu Feb 04, 2016 11:27 am

Thanks, I'll look into more information on the adapters. klweimer, do you by chance have any photos of what you did regarding the adapters?

Ari, as far as the flared end goes I think you can use a bubble flare or a double flare if I'm not mistaken? I believe a single flare is prone to cracking at its edges and is too sharp for the rubber hose to fit over...like you said, I think a bubble flare would be easiest for the hose to pass over.

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

Re: My 1978 Spider progressive restoration

Postby klweimer » Sun Feb 07, 2016 10:33 am

Frankd1,
Sorry for the slow response to your request for pictures, I had to go take a couple. This is what the adapters look like on the brake lines. I gave up a long time ago trying to make bubble flares or any other brake line flare that I would trust my life to, Just putting a single flare on the end of a tube could eventually cut though your gas hose, not a good idea.

[img][IMG]http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s665/kweimer303/4d561ab9-5ba5-4430-b67b-cf376d46d3c5_zps1imvyyli.jpg[/img]/img]

[img][IMG]http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s665/kweimer303/8bdc43e1-34e4-452b-aee9-8b88a456b86a_zpsz04yg0qs.jpg[/img]/img]

[img][IMG]http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s665/kweimer303/e03c2cea-cce7-4b0a-9161-be01fbfc17cf_zpsupwfvabd.jpg[/img]/img]

Kirk

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

Re: My 1978 Spider progressive restoration

Postby klweimer » Sun Feb 07, 2016 10:38 am

Once more with feeling...

Image

Image

Image

Frankd1
Posts: 135
Joined: Tue Sep 15, 2015 4:13 pm
Your car is a: 1978 Spider
Location: Southwestern Ontario, Canada

Re: My 1978 Spider progressive restoration

Postby Frankd1 » Sun Feb 07, 2016 9:40 pm

Now that is slick! Thanks for the photos!


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