Rebuilt Motor

[DUCeditor]

Although my `77 Spider 1800 is running beautifully there are signs that her 120,000 miles have taken their toll. She drips little dabs of oil from a half-dozen places every time I park her and there is a short-duration puff of blue smoke upon startup - sign the oil is getting into the cylinders -- likely through the valves.

Since she looks great and has had so much done to her over the last two summers (brake system rebuild, front suspension rebuild, carb rebuild, new tires, new fuel tank, new top, etc., etc.) I am starting to think about rebuilding the motor.

Here then is my wonderment... Shall I have my excellent local restoration shop do the work or would I be better off buying a rebuilt engine and simply having it installed locally?

The challenge is time and space. I would not want the car off the road for many long weeks (or months)during the Summer, but if I want the motor rebuilt over the winter I have to tow the motorless car back home into my car barn and then back to the shop in the Spring to have the motor installed. The local shop has no weather protected storage area.

Any thoughts or specific suggestions about getting one pre-built by a specialist?

Note: I am not interested in a super performance rebuild. When I want speed I ride one of my Ducatis The Spider is for relaxed sun on my face back roading and even the stock power is adequate for the way I drive the car.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and suggestions!

-Don

[124JOE]

yes /no/mabey

yes/ it will get a rebuild,mine too.

no/it dosent need it yet,you can drive it all summer and then do most of it yourself.

mabey/ its time to think about what you want a bit more/mabey not

ive been on that hump for a little whille now,
i acuired a FI car for parts and always told myself"SELF put that in there"
now, after finding these guys. YES/ it will get a rebuild
FI on a 1800 head and prob a MEGASQUERT
ill do it with the help of the local guys but ill put it in with a friend.

[mdrburchette]

Don, if you are not mechanically able to do it yourself, you may want to consider someone that is knowledgeable about the Fiat twin cam. I always thought an engine is an engine. Anyone that can rebuild an engine wouldn't have a problem with rebuilding a Fiat engine, but from some posts I've seen from other forum members, I'd be hesitant to let anyone other than a Fiat specialist work on one. You should see if someone like Jon Logan has an 1800 he can rebuild and send you and you can send yours in as a core. That way you wouldn't tie someone's shop bay up for very long.

[majicwrench]

I'll vote for just getting a replacement motor. Wizz bang back on the road again. Fiat engine is just an engine and any competent rebuilder could do it, but why not buy one from somebody who does these. And I like your thoughts about staying stock, most issues occur when folks start trying to make these racier than they already are.
Keith

[markpink]

Hey Don.

My poor spider is still off the road. I am working again and have been too busy to work on the car. I hope to get it fixed soon.


You might want to talk to Jon - He went with us to Gardner's last year. I believe he had Danny of Fun Imported Autos and Toys. in CT rebuild his engine a few years ago. Danny was at Gardner's as well.

There are new engines available. Some people have told me that new engines might be cheaper then a rebuild depending on who you get to rebuilt your engine.

Mark

[katsi]

They advertise factory direct, brand spanking new motors in the parts catalog. I bet a shop would want about the same for a rebuild.

Keep us posted.

[alfadude1]

Hi Don,

Danny from FIAT did a great job on my rebuild years back and I would highly recommend his work. That said, I recommend getting another summer out of your engine and do the work in the offseason.

I've never seen a Fiat or Alfa Spider that didn't leak oil. It is part of the rust prevention system...

Mark, good to hear from you again. I hope to see you at Tutto!

Jon

[DUCeditor]

They advertise factory direct, brand spanking new motors in the parts catalog.

Who is "they"?

-don

[htchevyii]

IAP has new shortblock 2.0's, I don't know of anyone selling new for older engines.
http://www.international-auto.com/engin ... blocks.cfm