79 restoration started

[jimmycakes401]

I'm jealous. My car will only be on jackstands... no spinning involved. LOL

[kbee00]

Got the front suspension and cross member off. The passenger side upper ball joint was replaced and bolted in - pulled the bolts and the upper A-arm popped open and out came the spring. Thought I could do the same for the drivers side, but that ball joint was original - and riveted in place. So I am trying to figure out how to pull the suspension apart to the spring out - not looking forward to a pnuematic fork to pry the arm off - so I go to stand up and pushed off the bottom a-arm - when POP! the upper ball joint just separates!! Scared the crap out of me when that happened! But, problem solved. Weird....

So I spun the car on the rotesserie and it works like a charm. So cool to be able to work on the bottom of the car standing up. Removed everything with a bolt, bagged and boxed it all up, and started removing the underbody gunk. Still some welding to do and then off to be blasted and primed. Winter is approaching quickly....gotta keep going.

I know, pics. I'm trying.....

[124JOE]

very cool to hear that kbee00

[kbee00]

pics of the mounts, rotisserie, etc.



Csaba supplied seat mount pieces I welded in..

[kbee00]

Spent the day cleaning rust, welding in patch panels, and POR'ing a bunch of areas. I can't tell you how much the rotisserie has helped - it was well worth the work.

I am now working on the exterior rust spots - found a couple around the fender areas - but really not too bad. My welding skills are getting better every day. I have decided I am not using Bondo except for smoothing out bumps. It has become my personal challenge to replace all metal with metal.

I am working overtime on the car before winter really hits. We had some snow the other day and it was a wake up warning for me.

BTW - I am selling my second car - my wife refuses to allow me the garage space for both cars and there is no way I am letting Spider #2 sit out in the weather. See the for sale section for car is SE WI. I am letting it go for 1/3 what I paid for it - I only want to recoup a few of my dollars to help finish my current project and I just want someone to take it home and make it right. Frankly, I should have started with this Spider - live and learn, right?

Anyway - pics as soon as possible. And if you are in the market for a great value, please consider Spider #2. $600 for a very solid car. Even has new tires. And if there are any parts you need to go with it, let me know. I will have a bunch of spares left from my current restoration. I have a spare trans that goes with the car too.

Thanks for your interest.

[FiatBen]

It's been almost a year since the last post, any updates? I'm inspired and intimidated by you guys that can take a car down to the hull and put it all back together. Somedays I feel lucky I can air up the tires without creating a problem!