Stock 79 Spider 2000 carb rebuild time

[Hvnfn]

Hey There,

I searched the forum over and over and there was tons of great information! Thank you!

Now, most of the posts regarding the carbs was relatively older or for different Spiders... so I am posting to get a feel for some new info, should it exist.

My '79 Spider 2000 has a stock carb and it fails to idle well... when pressure is applied to the driver side of the carb, it dies... I am thinking vacuum leak where the carb meets the intake... anyhow... I am considering rebuilding this carb... however, I have heard/read that replacing the carb will result in a performance/fuel efficiency boost... If I were to replace the carb with a different unit, What would you do had you an opportunity to do it over again? I am not wanting to go dual carbs... that is just too complicated for my little brain! lol...

I have read that the 34 ADFA would be a better carb than my ADHA and it should be a direct bolt-on? Is it enough of a boost to warrant the change or should I just rebuild my carb?

I have also read that the DGAV is a better carb but it would require a completely different linkage... That was posted here:
http://reviews.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Fiat ... 0002373074

Guys/Gals, I really appreciate your healthy insight!

Christian

[Danno]

without a doubt change it out!

I got a 32adfa, I'm 100% happy with it. If I had to do over again i'd look a little harder for a 34ADFA, but I'd have probably stuck with what i got for the price.

I cannot speak to the performance change that I got from it, my car was nonrunning beforehand. I can speak to the ease of the install, and the simplicity it brought to my engine bay.

[Hvnfn]

Thanks for the quick reply!

When you say simplification to the engine bay, is that because of all of the missing Smog stuff? I apologize for my ignorance, I am still learning here! Did you have to do anything to the linkage, or was it a direct bolt-on application?

Thanks...

I recently had to learn about the smog stuff because my check valves kept burining out causing my reed filter to blow to dust and clog the carb... So, I plugged both check valves and put on an aftermarket air cleaner from Bayless.

[Danno]

Thanks for the quick reply!

When you say simplification to the engine bay, is that because of all of the missing Smog stuff? I apologize for my ignorance, I am still learning here! Did you have to do anything to the linkage, or was it a direct bolt-on application?

Thanks...

I recently had to learn about the smog stuff because my check valves kept burining out causing my reed filter to blow to dust and clog the carb... So, I plugged both check valves and put on an aftermarket air cleaner from Bayless.

yes, referring mainly to the desmogging that I did at the same time i swapped carbs.

[mbouse]

you knew i was gonna chime in here, right danno?

Hvnfn, what is your goal? Spend thousands of dollars and get a hellava performance boost, and have a rough riding, but extremely perky little sports car? Spend hundreds of dollars and have a real smile packer? spend nearly nothing but a few minutes and get the dying carburetor to stop dying?

there are four nuts (13mm) that hold your carb to the dual plane manifold. tighten these nuts and I bet your dying issue goes away. five minutes and you are done.

before you read on.....the following assumes that you have no emission tests that must be met by your vehicle. if you must comply and prove compliance....seek advice elsewhere.

gut the exhaust, trash the intake and the carbuetor, ignore any emission law ever created. Buy brand new 4-2-1 ceramic coated 1- 1/2" exhaust manifold, sling on a custom 2" exhaust and a custom built stainless steel muffler from Danny O's. getcher self a set of 40 idfs webers and a waffle intake from who knows where. spend a couple hours per month keeping those dual 40's in tune. Oh, better plan on a rear anti-sway bar and a bigger front sway bar. and now that you are screaming down the straightaways, better get some whoa brakes to help stop the beast you have created. Umm--that is the mo' power option.

or, spend a couple hundred dollars and get a brand spanking new 32/36 DFEG Weber carburetor, and a used intake manifold off an 1800 Spider engine. ditch the egr system and the complicated vaccum lines that do nothing but support vaccuming the carburetor and engine of power. replace the stock 4-1 exhaust with a 1973 (or so) 4-2-1 exhaust manifold and downpipe. replace or discard the more than likely plugged catalytic converter. takes about a week once you find the manifolds. and i promise you can do everything yourself.

i prefer option #3

[Hvnfn]

mbouse, your reply is genious as it is simple. Regardless that option number 2 sounds like a freakin' blast, I would like to remain married... so, I will invest in option number 3. I have been poking around for an 1800 manifold but have not had much success finding one... now, my attempt is not full-hearted or else I would have hit the junk yards... I will double my efforts.

I can pick up the DFEG Carb and linkage for $340 (does that sound about right?)

[mbouse]

Owning and restoring a Fiat Spider while married to the bride of your youth is always a challenge....even after you buy her a Spider of her very own. Then the competition begins....who's Spider is faster? i sneak modifications to my '80, then get the joy of repeating the process on her '78 when she 'accidently' discovers them. she has yet to figure out that there will be NO catching me....har har har !!

OK, sit back and relax. Junk yard hunting is unnecessary....though i would highly recommend that if a Spider is in a local junk yard you make haste to retrieve the valuables that may still be on it. a complete parts car is worth $500, and salvaged parts can be sold for nearly triple that amount, if you have patience.

see if you can find a guy by the name of Marc Matzer at http://www.flu.org I know for a fact that he has some 1800 intakes for sale, at least he did last week. Please let marc know i sent you; not that it will do you any good, just to prove a point. if not, look at Bruce's at http://www.fiatparts.com

did you want a water choke or an electric choke?

for a NEW 32/36 DFEG (electric choke) Weber take a look at http://www.piercemanifolds.com or http://www.webercarbsdirect.com Be sure to order the correct linkage at the same time. Also, if you are considering a "performance" air breather kit, these are the places to do that too. I think those kits run about $22 now. Get all three at the same place and save a bundle on shipping. DON'T use our "standard" Fiat suppliers for these three items. Send me an email if you cannot figure out why.

Don't forget Mark Allison when you start looking at your exhaust needs.

And of course, once you have completed these modifications, you simply must install a Michigan SHORTER SHIFTER.

[So Cal Mark]

wow! "don't use our standard Fiat suppliers". I hope you enjoy shopping at Autozone for Fiat parts in the future

[Danno]

Oh, c'mon Mark! You and I both know that the Vendors (despite all they do for us) have a couple of things that are just ridiculously priced! I guess I don't know if that's what Mike was referring to, but i can only guess. I think I remember getting my NOS intake manifold and rebuilt carb for something like $600 dollars less than what vendor wanted for the Carb (albeit new) alone.

[Hvnfn]

Just so I dont get taken... What is a decent price for an intake manifold? I know a gentleman that has one to sell... he said make an offer... I had no idea where to start... $50?

[Danno]

I paid $225 for a New Old Stock intake manifold AND the 32ADFA rebuilt. That price did not include the shipping.

I've seen combos of the exact set I got go for 100-150 but they were used manifolds and non-rebuilt carbs. NOS on a manifold isn't really a big deal, but oh well. I say offer 50 plus shipping and that should be a decent deal. definitely pay <100 for the thing.

[mbouse]

Value is a relative term. If he has no need for it, and has no better way to unload it, then $50 would be a fine offer.

If he wants to go to the trouble of listing it on our chat forums, and concern himself about risking losing the sale, he might ask more.

Start at $50 and be prepared to go another $25-30

[mbouse]

my offer to discuss this privately via email or PM remains open to everyone, not just Hvnfn

[Hvnfn]

You guys are awesome! I love this forum. I hope that I am able to provide decent help for people after I get a little experience under my belt.

I think I will take pictures and report back on my entire intake/carb changeover and post it up here?

[mbouse]

that would be cool. take notes and lots of pictures. some of us have a few pictures laying around we can send your way as well.