My 1978 fiat

[1978fiatspider2000]

Hi every body I'm a 20 year old fiat crazed kid who loves his car.

i just reseved a 1978 fiat (my dream car) from my dad who bought it as his "mid life chrises car" as payment as my last birthday in june. well let me give u some back ground.

my dad bought the car about 12 years ago from a mecanic who saved her from pick and pull hell. She was dismantald repainted and reasambled. the car ran when he bought it, but no seats. so their she sat 12 years...... until june 3 2012. i reseved her and ever sence then ive been trying to get her to run.

as far as i can tell she sparks because she starts spits some smoke and stops after a few pumps of the gas peddle. i changed her oil and oil filter and still nothing i put some extra gas into the tank yet she wont stay running. the last thing that i can think of is a fuel pump but i realy have no idea how to tell and how to change it.

im also working ont the entirior. i found some seats but i need to strip the old carpet out, need two door panils, seat belts, radio speakers, fix broken dash, fix broken miror, re-store color in leather, strip soft top fix roof frame. thats prity much it, but the main thing right now is getting the car running.

i need help plz vets if you god advise plz share it with me.

[RRoller123]

Probably start with cleaning up the carburetor well, and a new distributor cap, rotor and plugs. If it has been sitting that long, the fuel in the gas tank is bad and needs to be carfully drained and the tank cleaned out, new fuel filter too. Good luck!

[1978fiatspider2000]

hi again i only have weekends off so i just got done working the little monster and guess what, she started right up no probs didn't do a thing except re- changed the oil and filter.

now that shes a running i heard something that made my heart sink, a engine knock! the knocking gets louder as you press the accelerator peddle. once again this is my first classic car and rely the first car i will "NEVER" let another human being work on her except for me until i die. i had my dad help me look at her and he told me it was called a "loud upper noise." being young i still lack in just about any car experience so can some here help me?

ps. once the car is in neutral the noise no longer is noticeable.

[124JOE]

check your timing.the belt may have skiped a tooth