1978 Restoration

This is the place to discuss restoration problems, post questions or projects-complete or partial.
mohle
Posts: 58
Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2016 12:31 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider

1978 Restoration

Postby mohle » Mon Feb 08, 2016 8:50 am

Well, my honey let me have my midlife crisis and buy a 1978 Fiat Spider. Picked her up out of a farmers field, covered in 1/2" of bondo on the entire body. Let's see what's below. Giving myself 2 years to get her on the road.

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1978 Fiat Spider 1800
2010 F350 6.4 Lariat 4x4
2012 Gulfstream 35qbh
2006 Smart Fortwo Convertible
2000 VW Beetle
1990 Saab 900 Turbo
1992 Saab 900 Turbo Convertible
2015 Jeep Wrangler Willys Unlimited
2014 Bayliner 175

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: 1978 Restoration

Postby RRoller123 » Mon Feb 08, 2016 1:47 pm

Fantastic! Welcome! There are lots of friendly and helpful people here.

Pete
'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

mohle
Posts: 58
Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2016 12:31 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider

Re: 1978 Restoration

Postby mohle » Mon Feb 08, 2016 4:15 pm

Thanks Pete.

I'll keep everyone updated. Started to strip her down. Hoping to pull the engine by the end of the week and then start on the body. Just reading some of the other threads has already been very helpful.
1978 Fiat Spider 1800
2010 F350 6.4 Lariat 4x4
2012 Gulfstream 35qbh
2006 Smart Fortwo Convertible
2000 VW Beetle
1990 Saab 900 Turbo
1992 Saab 900 Turbo Convertible
2015 Jeep Wrangler Willys Unlimited
2014 Bayliner 175

mohle
Posts: 58
Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2016 12:31 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider

Re: 1978 Restoration

Postby mohle » Tue Feb 09, 2016 11:53 pm

So here are the last few days of disassembly. The hidden starter bolt was a real pain in the a@#. The previous owner seemed to love Bondo. Found some 1/2" thick.

Image

Image

We had a little guest at some point

Image

Image
1978 Fiat Spider 1800
2010 F350 6.4 Lariat 4x4
2012 Gulfstream 35qbh
2006 Smart Fortwo Convertible
2000 VW Beetle
1990 Saab 900 Turbo
1992 Saab 900 Turbo Convertible
2015 Jeep Wrangler Willys Unlimited
2014 Bayliner 175

C130Gunship0514
Posts: 24
Joined: Tue Nov 24, 2015 9:09 pm
Your car is a: 1978 Spider

Re: 1978 Restoration

Postby C130Gunship0514 » Sat Feb 13, 2016 9:14 am

Congrats on the car! Looking forward to watching a fellow '78 owner restore their car as well. Remember to have fun and take your time!
1978 124 Spider
2013 Fiat 500
2014 Fiat 500L

Former loves:
AC-130 Gunship (USAF AFSOC Veteran)
1974 Alfa Romeo GTV
1978 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce
1981 Alfa Romeo GTV-6
1987 Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio
1988 Alfa Romeo Milano 3.0
1961 Morris Mini

Warren
Posts: 132
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2006 1:25 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Fiat Spider

Re: 1978 Restoration

Postby Warren » Sat Feb 13, 2016 6:43 pm

You may want to purchase an Eastwood stud welder dent remover. My 1979 also had 1/2" thick Bondo on the fender tops and the stud welder worked wonders in pulling out the dents. I now have only a normal very thin layer when I had it repainted.
Warren
Sylacauga Alabama
1979 Fiat Spider Automatic
1991 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce
1974 Dodge Dart Sport Hang 10 (in restoration)
Multiple other cars, trucks, and boats

mohle
Posts: 58
Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2016 12:31 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider

Re: 1978 Restoration

Postby mohle » Sat Feb 13, 2016 8:03 pm

You may want to purchase an Eastwood stud welder dent remover. My 1979 also had 1/2" thick Bondo on the fender tops and the stud welder worked wonders in pulling out the dents. I now have only a normal very thin layer when I had it repainted.


Thanks Warren. My shop tool inventory is growing by the second.
The metal under the Bondo is actually very straight, except for the rust spots of course. The previous owner had done some repairs, but instead of cutting the bad parts out, he simply welded pieces overtop. So then to get the look right he had to bondo over the entire body. There is literally 1/2" thick bondo over some sections with beautiful metal underneath. I will need what appears to be the usual - rocker/sill, shock mount, etc...

Anybody know of a good place for panels in Canada?
1978 Fiat Spider 1800
2010 F350 6.4 Lariat 4x4
2012 Gulfstream 35qbh
2006 Smart Fortwo Convertible
2000 VW Beetle
1990 Saab 900 Turbo
1992 Saab 900 Turbo Convertible
2015 Jeep Wrangler Willys Unlimited
2014 Bayliner 175

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

Re: 1978 Restoration

Postby Frankd1 » Wed Feb 17, 2016 8:47 pm

Welcome!

Wolf steel restorations, they are in Quebec and have a body panels. Their stuff is supposed to be good too

mohle
Posts: 58
Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2016 12:31 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider

Re: 1978 Restoration

Postby mohle » Fri Feb 19, 2016 12:16 am

Thanks Frankd1
1978 Fiat Spider 1800
2010 F350 6.4 Lariat 4x4
2012 Gulfstream 35qbh
2006 Smart Fortwo Convertible
2000 VW Beetle
1990 Saab 900 Turbo
1992 Saab 900 Turbo Convertible
2015 Jeep Wrangler Willys Unlimited
2014 Bayliner 175

mohle
Posts: 58
Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2016 12:31 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider

Re: 1978 Restoration

Postby mohle » Fri Feb 19, 2016 12:26 am

Image

Looks like I have some shock mounts in my future
1978 Fiat Spider 1800
2010 F350 6.4 Lariat 4x4
2012 Gulfstream 35qbh
2006 Smart Fortwo Convertible
2000 VW Beetle
1990 Saab 900 Turbo
1992 Saab 900 Turbo Convertible
2015 Jeep Wrangler Willys Unlimited
2014 Bayliner 175

mohle
Posts: 58
Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2016 12:31 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider

Re: 1978 Restoration

Postby mohle » Sat Feb 20, 2016 9:53 am

What exactly are these? Only one was hooked up when I got the car. I tried finding them on some of the parts supplier sites, but no luck.

Image
1978 Fiat Spider 1800
2010 F350 6.4 Lariat 4x4
2012 Gulfstream 35qbh
2006 Smart Fortwo Convertible
2000 VW Beetle
1990 Saab 900 Turbo
1992 Saab 900 Turbo Convertible
2015 Jeep Wrangler Willys Unlimited
2014 Bayliner 175

mohle
Posts: 58
Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2016 12:31 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider

Re: 1978 Restoration

Postby mohle » Wed Feb 24, 2016 11:57 am

Got her disassembled. Now comes the fun part.

Image

Image
1978 Fiat Spider 1800
2010 F350 6.4 Lariat 4x4
2012 Gulfstream 35qbh
2006 Smart Fortwo Convertible
2000 VW Beetle
1990 Saab 900 Turbo
1992 Saab 900 Turbo Convertible
2015 Jeep Wrangler Willys Unlimited
2014 Bayliner 175

User avatar
124JOE
Posts: 3141
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2011 7:11 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 fiat spider sport 1800
Location: SO. WI

Re: 1978 Restoration

Postby 124JOE » Sun Feb 28, 2016 6:57 am

those are old emision parts not needed any more. i unpluged mine and hid the wires
when you do everything correct people arent sure youve done anything at all (futurama)
ul1joe@yahoo.com 124joe@gmail.com

mohle
Posts: 58
Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2016 12:31 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider

Re: 1978 Restoration

Postby mohle » Sun Feb 28, 2016 6:51 pm

Thanks 124Joe. They really didn't look important.
1978 Fiat Spider 1800
2010 F350 6.4 Lariat 4x4
2012 Gulfstream 35qbh
2006 Smart Fortwo Convertible
2000 VW Beetle
1990 Saab 900 Turbo
1992 Saab 900 Turbo Convertible
2015 Jeep Wrangler Willys Unlimited
2014 Bayliner 175

mohle
Posts: 58
Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2016 12:31 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider

Re: 1978 Restoration

Postby mohle » Sat Mar 12, 2016 5:57 pm

Well, got the first shock tower out. New ones had already arrived from Autoricambi. Have some more parts on order from Vick Auto and from Wolf Steel.

Pleasantly surprised that there wasn't more rust under the shock tower.
Image

Image

Image
1978 Fiat Spider 1800
2010 F350 6.4 Lariat 4x4
2012 Gulfstream 35qbh
2006 Smart Fortwo Convertible
2000 VW Beetle
1990 Saab 900 Turbo
1992 Saab 900 Turbo Convertible
2015 Jeep Wrangler Willys Unlimited
2014 Bayliner 175


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