First drive of 2016

[phaetn]

Yay! I was out the same weekend, too. Just a very short jaunt, but it's enough to get the blood going again!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/1974_fiat ... ed-public/

Everyone heard it: My wife forgot the date of our wedding anniversary (it's just before the vid, but I have it on record) AND she seemed joyful when I mentioned that there was an exhaust leak at the header and that I needed to pull the head to replace the valves and guides. That, it seems to me, is license to get Mark Allison's performance "snakes" header. No? What about if I remind her about our anniversary.

Cheers,
phaetn

[Hugh1545]

Hey jay!
Nice vid of the drive and thank for sharing its a real motivator. I love your exhaust note, what are you running underneath? is your cat still there?
Hugh, 1980 injected, just down the road in Pickering.

[sonosml]

Great video Jay! I think we met last summer at FFO? If so, hope to see you again this summer.

[4uall]

Hey jay!
Nice vid of the drive and thank for sharing its a real motivator. I love your exhaust note, what are you running underneath? is your cat still there?
Hugh, 1980 injected, just down the road in Pickering.

Thanks, loving the exhaust as well. When I bought Fiona she did not have the cat, and it is not required due to being emission exempt Here are all the details http://www.fiatspider.com/f15/viewtopic ... it=exhaust. Going to a wrestling tournament tomorrow in Beamsville so I'll be sure to wave to you as I drive by Pickering today

[Hugh1545]

Thanks! Love it, I shall get the sawzall and get that pesky cat out of the way!

[Nanonevol]

Jay, I was enjoying your video and caught a glimpse of your clock. It looks like you have the dreaded cloudy clock face. Sorry to put you out there like this but we are here to help each other. Do you want help with this?

[4uall]

Help is my middle name, well that and Mr. Miata I have never really worried about my clock as my stereo, phone, and watch all tell me the time That being said, gimme all the help you have When I drive Fiona the last thing I think about is what time it is I also have this sitting in my parts garage (they are all mint)

[Nanonevol]

Well, simple enough to to swap in that spare clock, but sounds like it's not a priority. Nice spare gauges there. I'd put in the amp meter too. It was just that the rest of your interior looked real nice, nice wheel etc.

[narfire]

I'm getting closer for first drive.
Swapped out front left hub as the old one had a stripped wheel bolt hole. Put new bearings in the new(used) hub.
Noticed I had a leak at the rear right wheel. Pulled the axle and swapped seal and "O" ring and put it back together. Now just a bit of welding on the muffler hanger, lower the hoist, charge the battery and lets see what happens.... + 24C here today but next week back to seasonal norms with some showers... might wait another week before insurance.
Getting excited to drive the car again. Roads for the most part have been swept of the winters detritus.
Chris

[4uall]

[Redline]

I tried a little over a week ago to have my first drive, but then realised that I had forgotten to open the quick disconnect on the battery when I put it away. It almost caught, but not quite enough juice. Charged it up during the week and it started right up with no fuss after 4 months of sitting. Some will say I have no respect for the gods of Italian cars, but I simply let it run for 30 seconds before pulling away, then went for a really nice 100km drive. I didn't even check the oil before I left, as it hasn't burnt a drop in 6 years and the pressure was good. I let it come up to temperature, then gave it the beans everywhere for the next hour. The twin Webers didn't seem to mind their winter slumber, and all ponies seemed to be present and accounted for. What a neat little car. It's completely different than my other two and endearing in its own way. It's clear I need to do the rear end this year, but any thoughts I had about selling it were blown out with the first WOT run up the mountain behind our town. What a great car, and given that you can count the number of Coupes here on one hand, it would be almost a crime to let it go.

[narfire]

Ok just about ready for another season. Likely getting it insured this week and off we go.
On the hoist after the hub and rear axle leak repaired.

The car is rather dusty as the other part of my shop is where I do some simple wood work for customers.

The green car is a 72 that has been a work in progress for a number of years now. I've had it running but still has a bit to go before it is road worthy.
Dusty eh...

Bit of a panic as it would not fire up at first. No fuel at the cold start fuel line after jigging the AFM flap open and ignition on. Checked the power at the fuel pump leads and showed about 12V pushed them back on and the pump started up. Leads must have come loose while I was mucking about under the car. Funny thing, I was in a bit of a happy place working on the car again...
All is good now. Just a good wash and wax and a drive through the orchards now in bloom and daffodils . ( Sorry TO, saw clips of your weather this am )
Chris

[Kingme2]

I pulled mine out of storage two weeks ago also (Calgary, Alberta).... Left the acreage it was stored at, and let her go. I was flying at 165km/hr, passing vehicles uphill... Figured I'd better cool down, as they just take away your licence at that speed...

Great to have it back, but now add all the Fiat gremlins to my large to do list... Sigh

[otter]

I drove my car today for the first time this year. Pratically for the first time since two summers ago. i only drove it a relatively short distance in the city, from one garage to another (I need to at least get an opinion on the trailing-arm-mount issue, plus do a bunch of serviciing before I drive it further) but it was a joy to drive! And it behaved perfectly. It's the kind of thing to give me second thoughts about selling it, despite having the 911.