looking at first fiat HELP

[pluktv]

I drive a brand new f150 for work, automatic of course, very nice don`t want anything else. My own car is a Saturn which is a stick shift, and I wish it was an automatic.

However, I just cannot imagine a spider being an automatic. A great car ruined. This would be the absolute deal breaker for me.
Teach her to drive the stick shift. Or buy her a dishwasher or something...

[taylor120]

lol she can drive stick, she just doesn't want to drive stick. You see, it's a woman thing I guess. She just wants to get in and drive without having to shift.

[ga.spyder]

I think if she was to actually drive a Spider,she might change her mind.Sports cars are made to be shifted

[taylor120]

Ok, so I guess the 75 has had some upgrades to the motor but the owner couldn't tell me everything. He said I will need to speak to the mechanic who did them. I know for sure it has dome pistons and therefore higher compression. I believe he also said it has an upgraded cam. It needs to run on premium fuel of course. I'm not sure if I want anything other than a stock fiat at this point. I want to make sure not to get someone else’s headache! On the other hand, if it was done right I won't need to do any of the work!

[dmwhiteoak]

Talk to the machanic, if he knows what he is doing you will be pleased . Mine is a daily driver to and from work and I wish for a little more on the performance side. Just about 90 miles round trip and alot of open highway, if it's not to radical I would say go for it. My our wife will change her mind. I have to tell mine it's running right just to keep her out of it when all along it's running great.

[dmwhiteoak]

Your wife. Not my our.

[taylor120]

lol its ok I knew what you meant with the typo Well I will call the mechanic tomorrow and see what he has to say. The owner says he is from Italy and only works on Italian cars, so I have my fingers crossed.

[taylor120]

Also, I wanted to ask if I posted this in the right area of the blog? It's in the general area, but I didn't know where else it would go!

[rlux4]

The point gap is a measurement distance (the gap between the point's contacts when fully open). Dwell is a measurement of duration (how long the points stay in contact with each other, or "dwell" with each other). So you'd check your point gap with feeler gauges. Point gap affects dwell; the wider the gap, the less the dwell angle and vice/versa. In theory if the points are new, having none of the contacts wore down, with the gap set dead on the dwell would be in spec.
Here's an explanation that may make more sense than mine:
http://autorepair.about.com/library/a/1h/bl483h.htm
Ron

[taylor120]

Ron, I think your last post was meant for a different thread

[taylor120]

Ok, so I have a question. I'm sure this is one I have already answered for myself, but I have to ask. The 1975 Fiat 124 drove great, and was almost rust free. It does have the smallest amounts of surface rust on the underside. I did check the shock towers, and only the smallest amount was seen.

Now for the question. The clutch technically worked flawlessly, my only gripe would be that the peddle travel was not smooth and the clutch takes up very late. This was not real problem for me, but if I’m going to have my wife drive this it will be a big problem. Does anyone thing it would be possible to upgrade to a hydraulic clutch? I'm sure it can be done, but I wanted to get some of your opinions.

Also, he said the engine was rebuilt not once, but twice. The first time was after the one of the former owners wife’s let it overheat and warped the heads…. So it’s definitely been punched out, and I don’t know it will have any wall thickness left for another rebuild in her.

I did not speak to the man who did the work, but at this point the clutch will for sure be holding me back as my wife will not be able to drive it the way it is.

Thanks!!

[rlux4]

You're right. I don't even know how that happened. Must have been when I came back from copying the URL.
Sorry.
Ron

[taylor120]

Ok so I'm a proud owner of a 1981 Fiat spider 2000 pininfarina You notice the “not so smiley” smiley face, well as I was about to take her off of the trailer the high pressure fuel line blew. It is a rubber hose with a fitting on one end but it appears to be fitted directly to the fuel rail. I will take a picture, but can someone please tell me how to post it, or where I can learn how to post the picture? Is the fuel line and rail all one piece?

Also, the headlights and turn signals don't work at this point and I will need to dig into that.

Thanks!

[taylor120]

I also tried to a picture of the shock towers, they are super clean. This car has it digs, but she is as close to rust free as they come.

Also, the double relay has been bypassed and the fuel pump turns on when the key is turned on. I have read in other posts where some say this is not safe, so should I fix this? I took a picture of the AMF, does it look normal? The cover is missing, so I don't know what I should even do at this point.

I read in other posts where a manual for FI is recommended, where can I get a copy of this manual?

Thanks again for everyone’s help, I hope one day to be able to give back somehow!

[rlux4]

Whoa! That AFM looks cooked. On the other hand, it looks like the cover's been off a long time and it's still working. You should start looking for a replacement just in case. Try in the parts wanted section, someone will have one for sale and it's usually the cheapest way to get a spare. You may try rigging up a cover. The fuel line can be repaired, cut off the end of the tube, trying to leave a section of the flared end and put FI hose on it with FI clamps. I see you have a regular screw type on the injector, they damage the hose and don't give equal pressure all around like FI clamps do. Whether or not you return the car to it's origingal wiring with the dual relay is a matter of personal choice. I wouldn't have mine bypassed, most cars I know of have a safety fuel shut off in case of an accident. No telling why it was bypassed, it could be a bad relay or the inline fuse that someone gave up trying to figure out. If you're not familiar with the wiring let us know and we can walk you through it.
It definately looks like it's worth fixing up though. Congratulations.
Ron