I use the term rolling loosely as it has only moved around in my neighborhood for the last 2 years. This will be the thread of my transformation. Nowhere as exciting as Wachuko's adventures.

Purchased 2 years ago for $500.00 not knowing if it ran as it didn't have any keys, idler arm was torn off the frame and there was 3 inches of water on the floor. Since then I have been collecting parts with whatever spare cash I could come up with. Purchased parts car for the gear box, kept a few other parts and sold many parts.

In the beginning there was.........





1) Fix the idler so I could roll it around the garage.

2) Get new keys made, luckily I found the key code in the original owners manual in the glove box.

3) Rewire the ignition switch, check every ground and clean, luckily I found the original wiring diagram in the glove box.

4) Replace fluids, check gas tank, fill it and turn it over. Vroom, but find out first gear is shot.

5) Buy parts car for transmission. Take chance as there are no guarantees the trans is good. Replace trans. Vroom X5

6) Buy misc parts and install. New tail lights, headlight rings and stone guards. Make headlight relay out of parts car wiring harness.





7) Cut out rusted seat risers and welded in replacements.

Partially fitted for welding.

Another.

Welded and painted.

With Protecto Wrap ready for carpet.

Stripped top and sanded bows. Header bow in near pristine shape, only 2 pin holes.



Waiting for front suspension parts and carpet at this time.

More to come........

cool, keep us updated

This is great. Bringing back to life a beautiful early car. Keep us posted. Wish I had started with such a nicer looking car. Love those early bumper cars.

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Nice progress, Rook! Keep up the good work.

I have a question for you. Are the front bumper over-riders in their original positions, or are they switched around? Notice that the taller portion of the over-rider points down in your picture for the front bumper, and compare that to the rear over-riders where the taller end points up. It turns out that you can install them either way, and I've seen cars with them installed both ways. The pictures that I've seen in brochures and my owner's manual suggest that the taller end points up. I'm wondering if Fiat didn't pay a lot of attention and installed them either way, or maybe the owners have had them off and put them back on, and reversed them in the process. It really doesn't matter, and makes no difference in the look of the car, IMHO --- just curious, though.

Alvon

I do believe they are on upside down. I figure they look like fangs of a spider so I havent bothered changing them.

Looking good, how's it sound with the SuperTrap? I haven't seen one of those for awhile.

The sound is ok, better than stock but not as good as an Ansa. I am hoping to replace this with a more suitable option, but it will stay until funds allow for the upgrade.

That's looking awsome! Nice job! Keep up the good work. This is the fun part getting all the parts like a puzzel and making it how u want. Keep up with the pics.

I got a package today from IAP. Now I have a project for the weekend.

New control arms.



Speedo cable. Long black thing.

Turn signal lenses.



Now for your input. Clear part with clear bulb or amber bulb?

Thats the package that should be at my door right now! I say the amber bulb.

Clear part goes with the amber bulb.

Looking good, keep those progress photos coming.

In Italy you will never see the clear part with a amber bulb.... so: clear bulb!

Here is what I have been doing today.

Before



After




Does this look right?



The spring looks overly curved to me. Also when the suspension is drooped like it is I cant move that sub shaft by hand like I could before the change. Mu guess is my old ball joins were so bad they allowed it to move unlike the new ones.

Looks better with shock installed.

ROOK1 wrote:The spring looks overly curved to me. Also when the suspension is drooped like it is I cant move that sub shaft by hand like I could before the change. Mu guess is my old ball joins were so bad they allowed it to move unlike the new ones.

ROOK1,

The curve spring is normal. The reason you can't turn the stub axle is due to the angle of the ball joint. I like to put a scissor jack under the lower ball joint to take up some load. This allows for a better angle of the ball joint to move the stub axle and does not load up the shock when its installed.

Remember to torque the suspension rubber nuts when the arms are in their loaded position. Otherwise your rubbers will experience undue torsion stress and fail prematurely.

Dont forget your shocks
Some pics from my last Spider I did: