Hello from California 1975 124 Spider

[rozina]

Hi All!

My first car was a 1980 Spider 2000. We managed to fit 5 teenage girls in that awesome little car. Pretty much drove it into the ground. Now I have a 1975 124 Spider, Pininfarina, on the Central Coast in California. I absolutely love it and love tinkering with it. The forums help me a lot, considering I'm not a mechanic in any sense of the word.

The major problem I'm having is a really nasty oil leak. A friend is supposed to help me change the head gasket next week. I'm really nervous. Ugh. We've just finished some work on the drive shaft, ujoint and the center bearing. I'm also looking for a new roof, I've seen some good links for suggestions. Does anyone have a source for the wooden dash? I can't seem to find them anywhere. Also, the side mirrors I've found, which look totally original http://www.international-auto.com/mirro ... utside.cfm , are $50 a piece. Seems like a lot.

Any advice or feedback is welcome, since I'm an amateur working on it. Driving it is more my specialty

-Rozina

[baltobernie]

Hello Rozina and Welcome! Pretty part of the country to be driving a Spider Did you just squeak under the age limit for emissions testing?

Most amateur restorers of Spiders make their own replacement wood dash inserts. Many dashboards have been covered with a cap, or have settled, so a "universal fit" set of panels is not feasible. An alternate might be to have a local cabinet maker, or even a school VoTech (do they still have these?) make a set using your existing ones as templates. You might also advertise on the "Parts Wanted" section of this forum. At least one regular contributor has made several outstanding sets for folks.

The correct outside mirrors certainly add an authentic look to the car, but you'll see many examples of aftermarket mirrors that look OK.

Oil leaks are something almost all of us have to live with. A thorough engine cleaning with a degreaser or pressure washer will help pinpoint the source. Caution: what appears as a leaking head gasket often turns out to be leaking cam boxes (two surfaces - top and bottom) or leaking manifold studs. Some of these studs protrude into oil passageways, and can become a source for leaks. I'm of the opinion that one should not remove a Spider cylinder head unless absolutely necessary; as bolts can be stretched, holes stripped, innocent, working items like heater pipes can be broken, and so on. And if the head is being removed, there are several jobs that should be budgeted for at the same time, while you've gone to the time and trouble of removing it.

Unless your car has "Valdez" painted on the stern, maybe get all the other things sorted out first. Cardboard and kitty litter are inexpensive

[124JOE]

i read on here that after storing or buying a used fiat or if its just leaking,
retourque the bolts and the leak may stop!

and the mirror IS high quality.joe

[rozina]

Thanks baltobernie! That's all great info.

I kinda figured I would end up having to get the dash custom made. I know at least two amazing woodworkers, but I will check on the forums for the guy that does it here. The real problem, besides a crack on the far right that I can live with, is the glove box cover is ruined. It's cracked in half and long separated from it's hinges.

I had the leak diagnosed by a friend using the florescent oil additive and a black light. It looks like the head gasket, but I'll be sure to share this info before we do any work. It's so bad that I add a quart of oil with every tank of gas, and unfortunately it leaks a bit on the manifold, so I get some smoke, ugh. I've lived with this leak for a too long as it is. We plan on a full diagnostic first and for sure try all the obvious stuff. I'm really not looking forward to taking her apart that much. Would it be too much to hope that it just needs to be retourqued?

[rozina]

Oh, and I've never had to smog the car. I've had it for almost 5 years. The previous owner removed the catalytic converter.

And yes, this is a beautiful place to drive around!

[rozina]

Here's my baby!

[baltobernie]

Would it be too much to hope that it just needs to be re-torqued?

What the heck - give it a try as Joe says, since you're intending to replace the head gasket anyway. More tips: (this site is full of 'em!) http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... 11&p=47199

Nice looking car you've got there. The boot covers being manufactured today are far inferior to original, so take care of yours

Dash wood specialist here is a "her", not a "him". Send "mdrburchette" a PM when you're ready. There are some photos of interesting custom dash treatments throughout this forum, if you want to try something non-stock.

I expect to be in San Louie soon (maybe a stop in Van Nuys for BOFI), but unfortunately I'll be driving a rental, not a vintage Spider

[pooldoctorstl]

Check the Parts For Sale section here for the mirrors. There are always members parting put cars. They won't be brand new, but if it isn't a show car thay might be good enough.

Jeff

[124JOE]

oh ya i just remembered use stainless steel screws on that mirror mount

[rozina]

Thanks for all the great advice!!