Early hood on later car?

What sets your Spider apart from the rest?
burgandy81
Posts: 371
Joined: Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:38 pm
Your car is a: 1981 FIAT Spider 2000
Location: Victoria, BC

Early hood on later car?

Postby burgandy81 » Mon Dec 26, 2016 7:55 pm

Hi all,

The hood on my 80 is damaged and I have been looking for a replacement on Vancouver Island. Locally, one of our forum members has one from a 72 (flat hood).

My car has early bumpers so the hood might look good.

Also my car has had the stock FI removed (no intake hose over the valve covers). Were the bumps on later cars to provide clearance for the FI equipment?

Has anyone put an early hood on a later car? What is involved?

Thanks,

Jordan

User avatar
So Cal Mark
Posts: 13839
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2006 3:45 pm
Your car is a: Fiat
Location: upland, ca.

Re: Early hood on later car?

Postby So Cal Mark » Mon Dec 26, 2016 8:57 pm

you'll need the hinges with the early hood, your distributor will have clearance issues and you'll have to do some fabrication in order to have the hood stay open
Mark Allison
allisonsautomotive.com Fiat and Alfa Romeo parts and service. Performance parts our specialty!
Headers, ignitions, wheels, cams, flywheels
starsmark@hotmail.com 909-981-3566

burgandy81
Posts: 371
Joined: Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:38 pm
Your car is a: 1981 FIAT Spider 2000
Location: Victoria, BC

Re: Early hood on later car?

Postby burgandy81 » Mon Dec 26, 2016 10:22 pm

Thanks Mark!

No distributor, I have gone electronic.

A hood prop is not so bad.

I'll check and see if the hinges are included.

User avatar
azruss
Posts: 3659
Joined: Sun May 30, 2010 12:24 pm
Your car is a: 80 Fiat 2000 FI

Re: Early hood on later car?

Postby azruss » Tue Dec 27, 2016 2:49 pm

You may need to shorten the neck on your radiator if you are looking at a flat hood. You will find a mild rub spot between the center hood frame and the cam belt cover. The latch pin will be different as well.

burgandy81
Posts: 371
Joined: Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:38 pm
Your car is a: 1981 FIAT Spider 2000
Location: Victoria, BC

Re: Early hood on later car?

Postby burgandy81 » Tue Dec 27, 2016 3:02 pm

Thanks azruss!

I have an after market rad so I will check that out carefully.

My can wheel cover is gone so I will check that one as well.

Do you know if an earlier latch mechanism will not on?

User avatar
azruss
Posts: 3659
Joined: Sun May 30, 2010 12:24 pm
Your car is a: 80 Fiat 2000 FI

Re: Early hood on later car?

Postby azruss » Sun Jan 01, 2017 4:35 pm

Here are some pix of the mods i did to get the flat hood to fit. Reducing the radiator neck from 1.75 to 1" was easy. Took it to a radiator shop and the 1" was a standard size. Not sure I needed the FI hose clearance. Did it since I was already making the mods. It may not show in the photos, but I shaped pieces with the mods, cut away what i needed on the original brace and place the mod pieces over the top and glued them with epoxy. The mod pieces act as a doubler to keep the strength at the cut spots. They look great 4 years later with no signs of cracking. You may have to do some dinking with the hood to get it to match the contour of the fenders and cowling. Not sure why the pix are coming out so small. I set the width at 700 pixels. If you want more detail photo, PM me.

Image

burgandy81
Posts: 371
Joined: Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:38 pm
Your car is a: 1981 FIAT Spider 2000
Location: Victoria, BC

Re: Early hood on later car?

Postby burgandy81 » Tue Jan 03, 2017 11:31 pm

Thanks azruss!

Great description and photos. I am waiting for some photos and will make the next step.

Once I get it I will probably reach out for some more pointers.

Cheers,

Jordan

carl
Posts: 244
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 9:56 am
Your car is a: 1971 128

Re: Early hood on later car?

Postby carl » Tue Jan 24, 2017 1:21 pm

Modeling clay is your friend. Put small columns of it in places where you suspect possible interference and CARFULLY lower the hood. The clay will crush down to indicate what your clearance is. Also, the motor torques clockwise so any tiny clearance on the intake side will get smaller when the motor tries to rotate.


Return to “Custom Stuff”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 40 guests