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

[jimmycakes401]

Hmmm... My fan switch isn't turning on my heater fan... I checked the wiring diagram. Red, lightblue black stripe and yellow black stripe... I lined up the red with the red dot, the blue with the blue dot and the yellow in the leftover tab. Need to figure out what to do next... Can't put the console on until I have all this figured out.

I gave up on my lighter. I bought one at the parts store, but in order to use it I"ll have to cut off my plastic clip and wire in new leads. I'd rather wait and buy a proper lighter. Maybe that is why my fan switch won't run?

[124JOE]

test for power
one should be hot
touch it to one of the other ones to see if the fan works
if it dont then you may need a fan

[jimmycakes401]

I gave up on the fan for now.

Radio issue. You know the bracket that holds the back of the radio up? I know you can take the silver part off, but can you take off the black metal part that holds the silver bracket on? It's all in the way. I don't want to take my console back off and see. If I can, I'll go in and do it. If not, I'll put the face plate cover back on for now and wonder what to do.

Here's some pics of my progress, which will most likely be undone yet again. Everything takes a thousand times longer than it is supposed to. I wish I had taken it apart myself. Also wish the original parts were all in good shape. This is a 1966 upper console. I'm sure that's part of the problem.

[jimmycakes401]

Took out the console. Question answered. It's welded in.... I'm not cutting it out. I'm not customizing anything to get a radio in it. Guess I'm just going to put a cover over the hole and wish I had a radio. IRRITATING. Everything has to be a big job.

Found out that I didn't connect the ground back onto the cowl when I removed the heater core. Fan works. At least I have that going for me.

[jimmycakes401]

OKAY. Just put everything back together. No radio. Who cares for now.

My newest problem. How does the rear bumper bolt on. PLEASE tell me I don't need to take out the gas tank....

[124JOE]

sorry to the bearer of bad news BUT
if i were you i get the dremmil and install that radio
and yes removing the gas tank is nessasary to unbolt the rear left bracket
unless you unbolt the bumper from the bracket and leave it to look at for awille
on the other hand how old are the rubber tubes like the one for filling"they get soft after 30 yrs

[Divers]

Remove the nuts holding gas tank down. Place jack under gas tank with wood to protect tank. Gently push gas tank up....the flex lines give you just enough movement to take out that bolt. Took my rear bumper off in about 1/2 hour this way. When putting tank back down, a nice bead of sealant under the tank lip is a good idea.

Robert

[jimmycakes401]

I have fresh foam gasket material down under my tank. I don't really plan on driving it in wetness at all, so I think that should be fine. Plus, makes it easy to jack it back up! Thanks for the tips! I'm getting a new bumper shortly from another board member. Mine was... less than stellar when I brought it up from the basement to take a look at it. Here's some shots of my bumper. I think it may have been in a fender bender.

[124JOE]

yes bad shape

[jimmycakes401]

LOL

[jimmycakes401]

Still working on getting a bumper to my house. What size bolts do I need for this bumper? I'm getting to the point where I just want to put the beat up bumper on so I can drive it. I don't want to drive it with zero bumper.

[jimmycakes401]

Putting my junk bumper back on. I'm tired of not trying this car out. Hasn't been on the road since 1989. I'll deal with a new one later. If his gentle jacking trick works, then I will feel better about it. I doubt there's even a gallon of gas in the tank at the moment. So I've got that going for me.

[FiatBen]

Putting my junk bumper back on. I'm tired of not trying this car out. Hasn't been on the road since 1989. I'll deal with a new one later. If his gentle jacking trick works, then I will feel better about it. I doubt there's even a gallon of gas in the tank at the moment. So I've got that going for me.

Hmmm, seems to me like a lot of guys are driving theirs without a bumper at all. I sure wouldn't let lack of a rear bumper keep me from having a little fun time behind the wheel. But then I'm driving a '69 with rusted shock towers!!

[4uall]

I hear ya


Original front shock and lower bolt fused with inner shaft of bushings by itzebtze, on Flickr

[jimmycakes401]

Yeah. It's time for fun. My wife won't let me drive bumperless. Tempted to make custom bumpers with round bar in place of shocks, but I imagine if I'm hit it would do some weird internal damage.