should i buy a spider that won't pass smog?

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HuntingtonSpider
Posts: 53
Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2010 1:32 pm
Your car is a: 1969 Fiat 124 Sport Spider
Location: Huntington Beach, Ca

should i buy a spider that won't pass smog?

Post by HuntingtonSpider »

I have the oppurtunity to buy a 77 in decent running resto condition for 900 dollars. The only problem is it wont pass smog/ should I take the chance or run as fast as I can. What are the common problems with failing smog on these later carbed models. Also, its for my girlfriend for her birthday tomorrow so any suggestions are welcome.
1964 Ford Fairlane
1977 Fiat 1800 Spider
1969 Fiat 1400 Spider
calvinconrad
Posts: 104
Joined: Sat Mar 19, 2011 10:22 pm
Your car is a: 1976 spider
Location: Cape Coral FL

Re: should i buy a spider that won't pass smog?

Post by calvinconrad »

did the owner say why it won't pass?
1976 124
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HuntingtonSpider
Posts: 53
Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2010 1:32 pm
Your car is a: 1969 Fiat 124 Sport Spider
Location: Huntington Beach, Ca

Re: should i buy a spider that won't pass smog?

Post by HuntingtonSpider »

Owner doesn't know. He's selling because he's expecting a child next week and doesn't have the time or money to fix it. I got the idea his wife wanted the car gone asap.
1964 Ford Fairlane
1977 Fiat 1800 Spider
1969 Fiat 1400 Spider
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spidernut
Posts: 1906
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2006 12:20 am
Your car is a: 1979 Fiat Spider Automatic
Location: Lincoln, CA

Re: should i buy a spider that won't pass smog?

Post by spidernut »

It can fail for something as simple as a bad vacuum line, timing not set right, fuel mixture out of adjustment, etc., or something as significant as valve train problems or worn piston rings.

If you like the car, it would be worth having a mechanic do a diagnostic on it. Mark Allison is in the LA area and is an expert at working on Fiats...http://allisonsautomotive.com/
John G.
1979 Spider (Owned since 2000)
1971 124 Sport Spider (Owned since 2017)
1977 Spider (Sold 2017)
1979 Spider (Disposed of in 2017)
1979 Spider (Sold 2015)
1980 Spider (Sold in 2013)
1981 Spider (Sold in 1985)
2017 Spider (Owned since 2019)
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124JOE
Posts: 3141
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2011 7:11 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 fiat spider sport 1800
Location: SO. WI

Re: should i buy a spider that won't pass smog?

Post by 124JOE »

yes get it quick
you can learn to fix it or find someone loves the car and knows how to help like us
when you do everything correct people arent sure youve done anything at all (futurama)
ul1joe@yahoo.com 124joe@gmail.com
dmwhiteoak
Posts: 1088
Joined: Mon Aug 15, 2011 1:12 pm
Your car is a: 1972 Fiat 124 spider
Location: White Oak Tx

Re: should i buy a spider that won't pass smog?

Post by dmwhiteoak »

I'm with joe, buy it!
Dennis Modisette

1972 124 Spider
2003 Chevrolet Z71
2007 GMC Yucon
So Cal Mark

Re: should i buy a spider that won't pass smog?

Post by So Cal Mark »

the only tricky part is if there is equipment that is missing. Otherwise, it's pretty much a piece of cake to make them pass
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HuntingtonSpider
Posts: 53
Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2010 1:32 pm
Your car is a: 1969 Fiat 124 Sport Spider
Location: Huntington Beach, Ca

Re: should i buy a spider that won't pass smog?

Post by HuntingtonSpider »

So i bought the car...got it for 600, drove it 2 hours home in the worst LA traffic, witnessed a wreck in front of me on the 405, waited in more traffic, and finally made it home with my girlfriend's new car. The car is pretty strait and rust free but has a terrible paint job, especially the hood. The carb backfires but drove pretty worry free the whole way, especially in higher gears. The car looks good from 10 feet away but up close you begin to realize just about everything needs replacing.
Hopefully I can get it to pass smog and make it a good ride for my girlfriend to cruise to the beach with. She has plans to paint it Postiano yellow with a black stripe down the middle with black interior. Working title "The Bees Knees".

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1964 Ford Fairlane
1977 Fiat 1800 Spider
1969 Fiat 1400 Spider
Kent124

Re: should i buy a spider that won't pass smog?

Post by Kent124 »

$600 if you can't get it to pass smog you can always part it out.
Danno

Re: should i buy a spider that won't pass smog?

Post by Danno »

That appears to be worth every penny of your 600bucks. Great deal, even if it does need work.
Danno

Re: should i buy a spider that won't pass smog?

Post by Danno »

From what I can see the smog parts all seem to be there. Probably needs a carb rebuild and/or tuning. Hopefully that can get you past the smog problems.
So Cal Mark

Re: should i buy a spider that won't pass smog?

Post by So Cal Mark »

I'd say that's a great buy. Interesting dash treatment
spiderrey
Posts: 2623
Joined: Sat Jan 28, 2006 2:08 pm
Your car is a: 70 124 spider-74x19-03 ranger edge
Location: San Dimas, Ca

Re: should i buy a spider that won't pass smog?

Post by spiderrey »

Itll pass
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MrWampus
Posts: 207
Joined: Sat Sep 17, 2011 11:55 am
Your car is a: 1981 Spider
Location: Charlotte, NC

Re: should i buy a spider that won't pass smog?

Post by MrWampus »

So Cal Mark wrote:I'd say that's a great buy. Interesting dash treatment
Yeah, for $600 you haven't put much at risk. And about the dash, it looks a little different. Does the top line have a curl up? Never seen one like that, they are usually flat on the top edge. And is it fully upholstered too? Can't tell from the pic.
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1981 Spider "The Mistress"
http://s1088.photobucket.com/albums/i329/mrwampus1/
"Because a 30-year-old sports car is cheaper than a 30-year-old blonde."
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spidernut
Posts: 1906
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2006 12:20 am
Your car is a: 1979 Fiat Spider Automatic
Location: Lincoln, CA

Re: should i buy a spider that won't pass smog?

Post by spidernut »

VERY nice for $600. Sounds like a timing issue...do the "normal" just-bought-a-Spider stuff and you'll probably fix it automatically. A new timing belt, tune-up, carb rebuild and replacement of vacuum lines might do the trick!
John G.
1979 Spider (Owned since 2000)
1971 124 Sport Spider (Owned since 2017)
1977 Spider (Sold 2017)
1979 Spider (Disposed of in 2017)
1979 Spider (Sold 2015)
1980 Spider (Sold in 2013)
1981 Spider (Sold in 1985)
2017 Spider (Owned since 2019)
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