1981 Fiat Spider 2000 - What am I doing!? LOL!!

[124JOE]

open the cap and squeez the hoses then fill
the heater core needs to be open
some day install a flushing tee on the upper heater core hose
and drill a 1/8th hole in the thermostat disk

[jimmycakes401]

Yep. What Joe said

[124Germ]

I understand installing a T in the hose for flushing and venting, but why would you drill an 1/8" hole in the thermostat disk?

[RRoller123]

It lets trapped air get past the disk, assists with bleeding the system. Doesn't significantly effect overall function.

[jimmycakes401]

I think I drilled a 3/32" hole. Worked out great.

Anyone know how far away the E-brake line is supposed to be from my exhaust? Mine is right up against it and if I don't fix it, it will melt. My exhaust is nice and tight up against the body. It's not loose or dangling. If I fiddle with the ebrake cable it will hang about .5"-1" below the pipe. But I feel like it works its way back up to the pipe. Bare in mind, I'm not on the road yet.

[BEEK]

the emergency brake cable routing is a factory defect!, the cable was to be about a inch from the exhaust in a perfect world, there is no support to keep it there, the support provided does help, but not much. My personal recommendation is to get a piece of Aeroquip firesleave, or a plug wire covering from a race shop. Slide this down the handbrake cable to protect it from the heat and contact. Works great on my car and has for 10 years

[jimmycakes401]

I had a feeling that was the fix. Thanks!

[Weelan]

Thanks. I'll try with more force tonight on squeezing it. I got some weird genetic house that has metal wound in it and it's really hard to squeeze, but I'll give that a try. Already have the flushing T . I understand the drilling part now, it's the disk inside the thermostat right? Makes more sense.

[jimmycakes401]

Have you followed these instructions?
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6228/6381 ... e3a4_z.jpg

[Weelan]

oh, I'm not FI... but for the first step, it seems like I'd still wind up with air in the tube when you connect 1 back to 2 and I don't have the bleeder plug.

[jimmycakes401]

I didn't do 1 to 2. LOL. SHhhhhhh

But I did jack up the front with the top of the radiator off and run it. It didn't burp much. I guess it was pretty well full to begin with. I will install a burp T when I put in my new heater core. I'm an expert now when it comes to taking apart my hoses and heater core.

[Weelan]

haha, I won't tell. Ya, I was thinking about it earlier, I need to get a bigger incline, my jack doesn't get the car high enough. I guess I'll give the ramps a go again.

[jimmycakes401]

I wanted to use ramps, but it's not an option at the moment.

[4uall]

Have you followed these instructions?
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6228/6381 ... e3a4_z.jpg

I know I sound like a broken record however, I do not have a T installed and I was able to follow these instruction while on flat ground and I had no issues ever since

http://wwwe.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopi ... =5&t=16398

[jimmycakes401]

I did it on flat ground too. I figured it would work fine, but as an extra precaution I did the raised burp as well. Mainly because I bypassed the heater core and was concerned that maybe one of my hoses was a little higher than normal. I only go one tiny burp when it was raised, so I know I did a good job to start out. Also, I just posted the picture of those instructions.