1979 spider 2000 restoration

[fiat218]

What that mirror from

[MrJD]

Lots of cars had them as options back in the day. British roadsters especially. Ebay bullet mirror and you will see them.

[MrJD]

Got a bunch of work done over the last few days

I suppose all of these are vents from the tank? Will be replacing them all along with the flexible fuel lines.


To drain the tank I loosened the elbow from the top and bottom, and had it where I could rotate it down into a bucket. Man it had WAY more gas in it than I thought! Showed totally empty on the gauge and I got a solid 3-4 gallons out of it!


Tank sitting out in the sun to air out prior to cleaning.


a reminder of what my drivers floor looked like



Cutting out the cancer


plate


Some of the work done


more to do


The part under the gas pedal is going to be LOTS of fun. Once the floors are done I get to start cutting carpet! I'll probably end up welding in repair panels on the body first though.... might as well get all the welding out of the way.

Still waiting on the car to cut me a break.

[MrJD]

Well, Looks like I need to buy all new fuel lines =.=

Had a nice little scare tonight while working. Had the brush on the angle grinder cleaning filler and panel bond off so I could do some welding when I looked up and notice the fuel lines I had removed had some corrosion on the underside. Without thinking, I brushed the side of the corrosion and out poured gas onto the angle grinder! Very lucky me and the car didn't both catch fire.




tomorrow I'm pulling them out of the car... thought they were drained but I guess not. So Who has a good deal on LONG fuel lines? I'm just going to run one single piece as opposed to breaking it up.

Think about how sweet of a fire I could have had KNOWING this thing was seeping out gas into the carpet previously. Yikes.

[juvius]

I'm glad you caught the leak before anything bad happened.

[bradartigue]

In 97 I was restoring a 1980 and the fuel lines did the same thing. I stayed out until 5-6 AM (I was in my 20's after all) and when I got home the gas had leaked to the point that the garage floor was covered. Fortunately gasoline really isn't all that explosive until vaporized, but still walking into a puddle of the stuff isn't a joy. Hosing out a garage at 6 AM still terribly drunk isn't much fun.

Those aluminum lines really don't like touching cheap steel....

[Tobi]

In 97 I was restoring a 1980 and the fuel lines did the same thing. I stayed out until 5-6 AM (I was in my 20's after all) and when I got home the gas had leaked to the point that the garage floor was covered. Fortunately gasoline really isn't all that explosive until vaporized, but still walking into a puddle of the stuff isn't a joy. Hosing out a garage at 6 AM still terribly drunk isn't much fun.

Those aluminum lines really don't like touching cheap steel....

I thought the lines are steal, not aluminum?

[MrJD]

Brad, are the fuel lines I need 13mm for sending and 8mm for return? I assume I can get such things from a local auto supply store.

[4uall]

i had a similar situation when i did my lines

http://fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php ... +gas+lines

http://fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php ... =gas+lines

http://fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php ... +gas+lines

[MrJD]

got the floors very close to finished today...


I then noticed a weird crack at the top of the door frame. I had my screw driver in my hand and scratched at it... popping paing off of filler. "oh shit" was pretty much what came out of my mouth. 2 minutes later with my angle grinder...





They basically braised it in place tack weld style, and filler the holes with filler.

I'm not a body man, but aren't you supposed to WELD THE WHOLE SEAM so that it lasts and is strong??? This is a legit question to you guys...

I'm getting really discouraged. Its like one step forward, two steps back. Started my 5th pound of welding wire today... and my welder started tripping the breaker in my house. Had to plug it into an entirely different circuit to keep working.

Somebody give me some encouragement... I'm getting burned out finding HUGE problem after HUGE problem.

[fiat218]

Keep working . When your done you will look back and say nice work
You are doing a fantastic job, way more then I'd ever do

[fiat218]

got the floors very close to finished today...


I then noticed a weird crack at the top of the door frame. I had my screw driver in my hand and scratched at it... popping paing off of filler. "oh shit" was pretty much what came out of my mouth. 2 minutes later with my angle grinder...





They basically braised it in place tack weld style, and filler the holes with filler.

I'm not a body man, but aren't you supposed to WELD THE WHOLE SEAM so that it lasts and is strong??? This is a legit question to you guys...

I'm getting really discouraged. Its like one step forward, two steps back. Started my 5th pound of welding wire today... and my welder started tripping the breaker in my house. Had to plug it into an entirely different circuit to keep working.

Somebody give me some encouragement... I'm getting burned out finding HUGE problem after HUGE problem.

Just think how good it will look when your done

[dmwhiteoak]

I have just now read this thread. Wow, you have come a long rusty way. Keep up the good work. Let us know when your able to drive and how the exhaust sounds under load. I was thinking of a flowmaster myself but I think I'll let my friend at a muffler shop install it. Just wonder if I should keep the resonator.

[MrJD]

Another small project nearly complete.

[juvius]

Looking good.....