A few upgrades finally installed

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scarlson
Posts: 80
Joined: Mon May 25, 2009 10:55 pm
Your car is a: 1976 Spider - sold
Location: Goldendale, WA

A few upgrades finally installed

Post by scarlson »

I finally got around to installing the 4-2-1 exhaust that has been sitting in the garage for way too long. I am surprised at how much the exhaust note has changed :D It sounds so much stronger than it did before. I'm going to have to go for a drive this afternoon and see how she runs now.

I've also replaced the stock air cleaner, reconnected the ignition switch properly, and fixed the fuel pump so it isn't running any time the ignition is on. Oh, and I swapped the stock incandescent headlight with some H4 e-code halogen headlights. This is so much more fun than yard work :D

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76 FIAT Spider - Sold
azygoustoyou

Re: A few upgrades finally installed

Post by azygoustoyou »

Nice Job! :P
scarlson
Posts: 80
Joined: Mon May 25, 2009 10:55 pm
Your car is a: 1976 Spider - sold
Location: Goldendale, WA

Re: A few upgrades finally installed

Post by scarlson »

:cry: I have to pull the manifold back off. oil appears to be leaking from the manifold area. I'll have to reseal the two upper studs. I should have done that while it was apart :x

She seems to have a little more torque than before, but still runs out of breath at 5k rpm. The stock carb will be replaced with a DFEV as soon as I get the linkage for it and should cure the top end issue.

For those who replaced the stock air cleaner, what did you do with the crankcase vent hose? I'm thinking of cutting it short and using a hose that fits into it and onto the plastic elbow on the air cleaner.
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76 FIAT Spider - Sold
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manoa matt
Posts: 3442
Joined: Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:28 pm
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Spider 1800
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii

Re: A few upgrades finally installed

Post by manoa matt »

Looks like you got the external thermostat "righted" too.
baltobernie
Patron 2020
Patron 2020
Posts: 3466
Joined: Sun Nov 25, 2007 6:00 pm
Your car is a: 1973 Spider [sold]
Location: Baltimore, MD

Re: A few upgrades finally installed

Post by baltobernie »

The breather can go into the fitting provided, as you guessed. Some choose to purchase an external filter http://www.knfilters.com/vent.htm
Sunracer

Re: A few upgrades finally installed

Post by Sunracer »

baltobernie wrote:The breather can go into the fitting provided, as you guessed. Some choose to purchase an external filter http://www.knfilters.com/vent.htm
going the filter route will get you a lot more fumes than venting it into the aircleaner PB
scarlson
Posts: 80
Joined: Mon May 25, 2009 10:55 pm
Your car is a: 1976 Spider - sold
Location: Goldendale, WA

Re: A few upgrades finally installed

Post by scarlson »

azygoustoyou: Thanks for the nice comment.

manoa matt: I was hoping the thermostat would not be noticed. I'm not sure how it got on there like that :roll:

I'm going to get some hose. I don't want too many strange smells or the wife won't want to ride with me. Then again... Nah, just kidding.

The oil leak was from the exhaust camshaft seal. It somehow worked loose. I tapped it back in, but who knows when or if it will work loose again.

I swapped the control arm bushings on Sunday and cut one coil off the front springs. The control arms are now parallel without occupants. I hope this isn't too low. The camber need some adjustment, but at least both look the same now. Now I have to cut the rear springs to get the rear down.

A little bit of transmission and brake work, and I'll have a reliable and safe spider. Then I can move on to interior work and paint :)

Image
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76 FIAT Spider - Sold
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manoa matt
Posts: 3442
Joined: Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:28 pm
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Spider 1800
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii

Re: A few upgrades finally installed

Post by manoa matt »

Nice car, I like the rims. Do you do any fly fishing out there? I fished a few rivers in the Willamette valley about 2 years ago, beautiful country.
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bradartigue
Posts: 2183
Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2007 2:35 pm
Your car is a: 1970 Sport Spider
Location: Atlanta, GA

Re: A few upgrades finally installed

Post by bradartigue »

You mentioned getting a DFEV, we just picked a few up from webercarbsdirect.com for $199. Now that ain't too bad for a brand new Weber.
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