To restore or not...that is the question

[HiFiSpi77]

Here she is....







$500.00+new clutch cable ($21.90 with shipping)+ $15.31 in gas= Driving home

However...it squirmed all over when applying power or letting off, hard to start, tapping from engine, brake booster leaking, roof/interior is shot, some rust here and there, hoses to nowhere in engine compartment, large hole in driver side floor pan under pedals, etc

Then again...it did make it home under it's own power, 4 good tires and rims, windshield intact (surround has heavy rust in one spot though), lights work, brakes work, it's a cool car... did I mention it made it home under it's own power?

Are their any problems that make it useless to try to restore this car? I'd like it to look pretty good, drive well and be somewhat reliable. I'd appreciate any advise I can get.

[dmwhiteoak]

I'm sure you will get alot of opinions on this matter so here is mine. How much work do you want to put into it? Check the shock towers and see what condition they are in. If it made it home on it's own power then maybe it really wants to live and not be destined to be a parts car. There are many more knowledgeable people than me on this forum but I say if nothing major needs replaced and it makes you happy, go for it.

[maytag]

for me, the biggest factor in a car being a good candidate for restoration (or resto-mod) is the level of rust. How bad is it?

[narfire]

Shock towers is a good place to start. They are replaceable if shot but you likely might find more rust issues as you get into it.
How much do you want to spend,how much can you do yourself? body work skills or mechanical only? (shop rates..$60-$90/hr)
What is the interior like? If it squirms all over the road, perhaps a rebuild of the front end and alignment would be in order. Tapping in the engine, perhaps just an adjustment of the valve shims or something else. Swap out the timing belt, flex disk, hows the driveshaft center bearing, u-joints?.... If the car was cheap enough to purchase, these things can be addressed with a modicum of skill and simple tools and a couple of manuals. Parts I believe are relatively inexpensive compared to other cars I've owned and the vendors carry everything you will need to get the job done.
There is a thred somewhere here called..."project creep" if funds are available this is becomes a serious affliction that can result in a totally restored car with a hot engine and a s... eating grin on your face (to e'll with the empty wallet)
decisions decisions eh..
Chris

[maytag]

There is a thred somewhere here called..."project creep" if funds are available this is becomes a serious affliction that can result in a totally restored car with a hot engine and a s... eating grin on your face (to e'll with the empty wallet)
decisions decisions eh..
Chris

HEy! That's MY thread! I'm famous!

But seriously, Narfire is right. decide what your plan is first, and stick to it. Otherwise, it can get waaay out of hand.

[engineerted]

Wow it looks alot better than what i started with!



Here is what 3years and lots of $$ will get you, First place at Freakout 2006

[baltobernie]

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3339

A few years later, more than a few thousand dollars later, and I too have a Best in Class award. (Donning all of his hockey equipment, including the helmet).... Bring on your sticks and stones, but if you're looking for a knock-around roadster, get yourself a used Miata. You'll spend less on the entire car than an engine and transmission rebuild on a Spider and you'll have a modern, safe, reliable roadster.

A vintage Fiat Spider (or a vintage MG, or a vintage anything) is not a good choice for an occasional-use, fun car. Our Spiders are from, literally, the Middle Ages of automobiles. Yes, they are beautiful, elegant and unique. They require, however, a continual commitment in time and money to make them roadworthy, and even a ground-up, $30k restoration won't give you the comfort, safety and reliability of a modern car. Ya gotta really want a vintage car to put up with the shortcomings.

[Jimb]

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3339
but if you're looking for a knock-around roadster, get yourself a used Miata. You'll spend less on the entire car than an engine and transmission rebuild on a Spider and you'll have a modern, safe, reliable roadster.

A vintage Fiat Spider (or a vintage MG, or a vintage anything) is not a good choice for an occasional-use, fun car. Our Spiders are from, literally, the Middle Ages of automobiles. Yes, they are beautiful, elegant and unique. They require, however, a continual commitment in time and money to make them roadworthy, and even a ground-up, $30k restoration won't give you the comfort, safety and reliability of a modern car. Ya gotta really want a vintage car to put up with the shortcomings.

Sorry, but I disagree. Granted I've not owned my Volumex for a great long time....but for the few years I have owned it my wife and I have used it often as a summer weekender out for coffee and car shows kind of driver, and it has been a bucket of fun and absolutely dependable. In fact nothing has gone wrong with it. Just gas and oil changes.
And when I sell her I expect I'll get my money back....something I can't say about a Miata.
Cheers,
Jim

[baltobernie]

Yeah, well, perhaps I got a little carried away. My car is now (reasonably) sorted, and like your Volumex, she probably won't require a great deal of effort to keep her that way.

But we see a lot of guys who've bought $1000 Spiders and expect to throw a couple hundred dollars at them and drive off into the sunset, happily ever after. Their enthusiasm often evaporates a few thousand dollars later.

HiFi, you might want to sit down with a catalog or three from our great vintage Fiat parts suppliers, and just start adding up dollars of all the things you know are wrong with the car. In addition to money, you'll need time, workspace, tools and patience to make this car "look pretty good, drive well and be somewhat reliable".

[engineerted]

The nice thing about taking on a project like this is, all those new tools you get to buy.
There is alot said about doing the work youself, but if i had to do it again, I would look long and hard for a rust free car!
On the bright side, welding in sheet metal, no big thing now.


Ted

[mscafide]

Ted is right, a rust free car is the best place to start but nobody will pay for a rust free car.

Everybody knows you can buy a few parts, weld it up and you will be as good as new while saving lots of money.

What would a rust free shell be worth these days? I tried to sell one a few years ago but there were no takers. At the time, I wanted 2 or 3 grand. Too much?

Mike

[124JOE]

yep do it
she needs you

[maytag]

Ted is right, a rust free car is the best place to start but nobody will pay for a rust free car.

Everybody knows you can buy a few parts, weld it up and you will be as good as new while saving lots of money.

What would a rust free shell be worth these days? I tried to sell one a few years ago but there were no takers. At the time, I wanted 2 or 3 grand. Too much?

Mike

ha!
check THIS out:

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... 11&t=16585

could hardly GIVE it away.

[mscafide]

I remember that. I've learned my lesson and buy the best I can afford because it's cheaper.

When I wanted an early 500 I paid a lot for a nice one and I would do the same for a Spider or anything else. You also get to use it sooner too. BTW, what did you think you could get for the shell?

My shell had Koni reds, a rear sway bar and only about 28K miles on it so the ball joints and other parts were young as far as driving time AND it was Ziebarted. You get what you pay for.

Mike

[FiatFever]

I restore cars for as a hobby. Run from that dream car that has enough rust to make yourself question if it's too much rust.
The exception being floor pans. All of the cars below will be completed this month. It's only possible because all were kept from the elements for years.

The cars currently underway now are the 124 Spider, which is my first Fiat.
a 70's Fiat 500 ,Shipped to the US by aoneone in the service , and left it.
65 mustang, barn find.
66 F-100, stored in a barn by a farmer.
( 2 )1971 Jeep Grand Wagoneers, AZ cars
71 VW Karmann Ghia Vert, one owner car only driven in the summer by a dentists wife in PA.
Luckiest find of my life.