Look what I didn't find...

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Texasbull

Look what I didn't find...

Post by Texasbull »

Pulled the wiper cowl off yesterday, with the intent to add new washer nozzles, since PO removed the old ones. This is what I found (or didn't find, I should say):

Image

Now it may just be me, but something is missing in this pic...

I did however find this:

Image

Fixable, probably just use fiberglass since the location is not viewable, and then POR 15 it all.

And these guys seem to have dry-rotted:

Image
Image

oh, and speaking of dry rot, the cover over the connections on the wiper motor literally just fell to the ground and went POOF into dust (okay, I may be exaggerating a bit, but not by much). Look like I'm gonna need a bottle of Liquid Tape.

Image

Fun, fun, fun!
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kbee00
Posts: 240
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2010 6:23 pm
Your car is a: 1972 Spider
Location: Waukesha, WI

Re: Look what I didn't find...

Post by kbee00 »

When I opened my cowl, there was a furry little critter with two black eyes staring at me....must have woke him from his slumber because he didn't move for quite awhile. I finally chased him out with my air nozzle. Caught him in a bucket and sent him into the woods to play.
1980 Strada (crushed)
1982 Strada (parts for the 1980 then crushed)
1966 MGB (E-Prod race car - sold)
1968 MGB (Targa Newfoundland - totalled)
1979 Spider (current vintage restoration)
1972 Spider daily driver
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RRoller123
Patron 2020
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Posts: 8179
Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:04 pm
Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: Look what I didn't find...

Post by RRoller123 »

Needless to say, your wipers were VERY slow?
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle
Texasbull

Re: Look what I didn't find...

Post by Texasbull »

Well, dug into the rust spot.... and dug....... and dug....... and..... well, needless to say, a little more rust than originally thought. :?

Image

Image

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All in all still fixable though. Gonna make a plate to replace where the heater box mounting bolt should be, tack weld a bolt to it and rivet on the plate, the rest I'll just use fiberglass. After that the entire area will get a good coat of POR15...

Just gotta love these little projects!! I was only wanting to add windshield washer nozzles... :lol:
dmwhiteoak
Posts: 1088
Joined: Mon Aug 15, 2011 1:12 pm
Your car is a: 1972 Fiat 124 spider
Location: White Oak Tx

Re: Look what I didn't find...

Post by dmwhiteoak »

But look at all the fun your having playing with your spider. :mrgreen: I have no rust yet discovered to deal with so I have to look for something to mess with. Working on my top boot now.
Dennis Modisette

1972 124 Spider
2003 Chevrolet Z71
2007 GMC Yucon
vandor
Posts: 3996
Joined: Sat May 23, 2009 1:23 pm
Your car is a: 1971 124 Spider
Location: Texas, USA

Re: Look what I didn't find...

Post by vandor »

Dang, there are a lot of holes there! Luckily it is normally not visible, so the repair does not have to be pretty. Check your drain holes for blockage.

BTW, at the rear corner of rge cowl, where the fender, windshield and cowl meet is a big hole that is sealed with some goop. This gets hard over the years and lets water in the passenger compartment. I just scraped the hard part off mine and added a bunch of seam sealer to keep the water out.
Csaba
'71 124 Spider, much modified
'17 124 Abarth, silver
http://italiancarclub.com/csaba/
Co-owner of the best dang Fiat parts place in town
Texasbull

Re: Look what I didn't find...

Post by Texasbull »

Yeah, fun fun fun... (I'd rather be driving! lol). Thanks for the heads-up Csaba, I'll check for that hole. My drains are great. There was some debris in there, but for the most part all was clean and dry. Several others have done repairs here, and it seems the easiest thing to do is just coat it all with POR15 after I seal the holes, so I'm gonna go that route. Ain't no one gonna see it anyways... :lol:
vandor
Posts: 3996
Joined: Sat May 23, 2009 1:23 pm
Your car is a: 1971 124 Spider
Location: Texas, USA

Re: Look what I didn't find...

Post by vandor »

Oh, and I have the flap that is missing from above the heater core, but you'd have to remove the heater box to install it.
Csaba
'71 124 Spider, much modified
'17 124 Abarth, silver
http://italiancarclub.com/csaba/
Co-owner of the best dang Fiat parts place in town
Texasbull

Re: Look what I didn't find...

Post by Texasbull »

Thanks Csaba, but I got one from Shade Tree Enginetrics (Fiat Parts/Salvage Yard just 6 miles from my house). I brought it to work and media blasted it and will be POR15'ing it so it'll never rust again.
braca23
Posts: 66
Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2011 9:36 am
Your car is a: FIAT 124 Sport Spider 1971
Location: Belgrade - Serbia

Re: Look what I didn't find...

Post by braca23 »

Yap, I had a similar experience with my car. :roll:
Texasbull wrote:Pulled the wiper cowl off yesterday, with the intent to add new washer nozzles, since PO removed the old ones. This is what I found (or didn't find, I should say):

Image

Now it may just be me, but something is missing in this pic...

I did however find this:

Image

Fixable, probably just use fiberglass since the location is not viewable, and then POR 15 it all.

And these guys seem to have dry-rotted:

Image
Image

oh, and speaking of dry rot, the cover over the connections on the wiper motor literally just fell to the ground and went POOF into dust (okay, I may be exaggerating a bit, but not by much). Look like I'm gonna need a bottle of Liquid Tape.

Image

Fun, fun, fun!
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