Hello from Vancouver Canada

TheRobster · Post by **TheRobster** » Thu May 21, 2015 9:00 pm

I just bought a 1981 Fiat Spider.

She needs a water pump, and a head gasket. (Hopefully that is all.)
Then a whole lot of restoration.

aj81spider · Post by **aj81spider** » Fri May 22, 2015 7:30 am

Welcome aboard. That's a beautiful car - I love that color.

4uall · Post by **4uall** » Fri May 22, 2015 7:39 am

Hello & welcome to the greatest place on earth

TheRobster · Post by **TheRobster** » Fri May 22, 2015 11:03 am

She looks a lot better in that picture than she really is.

I think my phone has permanent beer goggles.

The interior is completely trashed.
Someone "restored" her poorly a few years ago.
Drivers seat is falling apart.
The woman I bought her from did little or no maintenance while she owned her.
Electrical issues.

That all said. I am in love.

The plan is to get her road worthy, then enjoy the summer. Then the real restoration will begin.
I am going off in search of some wrecker seats to use until I can spend the time to completely rebuild the originals.

courtenay · Post by **courtenay** » Fri May 22, 2015 8:29 pm

Hey Robster - nice to see another "local" member. There are quite a few in the Vancouver area. You'll find all kinds of help on this Forum - you just gotta ask!

Bruce

Tobi · Post by **Tobi** » Fri May 22, 2015 10:50 pm

I just got back from a vacation in Vancouver last night. A beautiful city and I wish I would have had the Spider with me.

sTEFFEN · Post by **sTEFFEN** » Sat May 23, 2015 6:54 pm

Hi from North Van, be sure to come to the French- Italian Day car show on Fathers Day June 21 at the Water front park in North Van, bring your fiat even if it's not in great condition, we all love to shear ideas and have fun.
1981 Silver Fiat Steffen

RRoller123 · Post by **RRoller123** » Sat May 23, 2015 7:22 pm

Welcome aboard! Lots of friendly and helpful people here!

narfire · Post by **narfire** » Sat May 23, 2015 10:39 pm

Nice looking car from here.
If the car is "rust-free" you have the best starting platform. The mechanicals are pretty straight forward for the most part as are the cosmetics.
Keep an eye on CL Vancouver for parts, as well as Kijiji BC. Used Victoria has a few listings as well.
If the weather is going to be good, I'll be down for the Fathers Day show in N Van as well.
Chris-- FIAT- Fixing It As Therapy....

TheRobster · Post by **TheRobster** » Sun May 24, 2015 12:23 am

Technically not Vancouver, but I figured no one would know where I was if I wrote Mission BC.
If anyone is heading out to the Mission raceway, be sure to send me a message.

About me, I got started on loving cars with a 1979 BMW 320i, that I fixed up from heading to the scrap yard, into a nice resto/mod/rat/rod.
I sold that and got into Jeeping pretty hard. Built up a 1989 Jeep YJ from bone stock, to quite a capable off roader and a bit of a looker.

Decided I wanted to get a restoration/long term project car, and this sort of fell into my lap.

With all the work I have done, I have never gone into the internals of an engine. So the head gasket swap next week is uncharted territory for me.

Wish me luck.

Kingme2 · Post by **Kingme2** » Sun May 24, 2015 1:56 am

Hey, about those seats, my two bits...

1) the later years had a tendency to twist... Buy old/good, or have someone weld a brace in seat back so your spine won't get the matching twist...

2) heated seats. Find a nice kit on eBay, $100.... My wife is now willing to take "shoulder season" drives. Super easy, as you recover your seats (good time to strongly recommend the 95amp alternator...)

Tobi · Post by **Tobi** » Mon May 25, 2015 2:45 am

TheRobster wrote:Technically not Vancouver, but I figured no one would know where I was if I wrote Mission BC.
If anyone is heading out to the Mission raceway, be sure to send me a message.

About me, I got started on loving cars with a 1979 BMW 320i, that I fixed up from heading to the scrap yard, into a nice resto/mod/rat/rod.
I sold that and got into Jeeping pretty hard. Built up a 1989 Jeep YJ from bone stock, to quite a capable off roader and a bit of a looker.

Decided I wanted to get a restoration/long term project car, and this sort of fell into my lap.

With all the work I have done, I have never gone into the internals of an engine. So the head gasket swap next week is uncharted territory for me. Wish me luck.

Ha, I know where Mission BC is. I stopped there last week to get beer, gas and food. Did not know about it before though.

azruss · Post by **azruss** » Mon May 25, 2015 12:14 pm

I put heated seats in my car and was worried about the amps. In reality their amp draw is quite low, so doesn't require stepping up to a larger alternator.

TheRobster · Post by **TheRobster** » Tue May 26, 2015 6:54 pm

Found some seats that look like a pretty good fit.

Seats are from a 1998 Pontiac Sunfire 2DR
Here is a mockup of the fit.

Seating position is almost exactly the same as the original seats. Although the back rest is somewhat higher.

Once they are completely installed I will do a full writeup.

PeterSteele · Post by **PeterSteele** » Thu May 28, 2015 5:11 pm

TheRobster wrote:Found some seats that look like a pretty good fit.

Seats are from a 1998 Pontiac Sunfire 2DR
Here is a mockup of the fit.

Seating position is almost exactly the same as the original seats. Although the back rest is somewhat higher.

Once they are completely installed I will do a full writeup.

This is very relevant to my interests. I want to see how this comes out - I like a higher back rest.

Hello from Vancouver Canada

Hello from Vancouver Canada

Re: Hello from Vancouver Canada

Re: Hello from Vancouver Canada

Re: Hello from Vancouver Canada

Re: Hello from Vancouver Canada

Re: Hello from Vancouver Canada

Re: Hello from Vancouver Canada

Re: Hello from Vancouver Canada

Re: Hello from Vancouver Canada

Re: Hello from Vancouver Canada

Re: Hello from Vancouver Canada

Re: Hello from Vancouver Canada

Re: Hello from Vancouver Canada

Re: Hello from Vancouver Canada

Re: Hello from Vancouver Canada