A black '69 124 Spider AS

[Exit98]

HI Riccardo,

My 76 has the same issue with the parking brake cable as yours does. I'm no expert but I can tell you that many of our Spiders have the exact same issue. The main advice I have now is don't worry too much about this, it is not that big a deal. The emergency brake will work and as someone posted earlier, it’s been this way for years. Right now you have higher priorities.

When I first got my Spider the exhaust vibrated and rattled against the parking brake cable a lot and it drove me crazy. Replacing the two rubber hangers back by the muffler helped. Then I started thinking how I could get the brake cable lower as it was tight against the muffler. So I got two “coupling” nuts and used them to drop the parking brake cable bracket down from the body about an inch and a half. The cable still touched a little but no more noise so I was pretty pleased with myself. Here’s what the coupling nuts look like.




The parking brake worked fine but it wasn’t as smooth with this arrangement.

But then I got a 4-2-1 exhaust header and downpipe and the installation resulted in my exhaust dropping down about an inch, so I was back where I started. The brake was harder to apply and it was banging around down there again.
After looking things over I decided to reroute the brake cable above the exhaust and through its bracket differently as you can see in this picture. The coupling nuts are still there but they are no longer doing anything. Not elegant but it works.

[RCSquadraCorse]

u say your car is original. id like to see your door panels ,just to compare with mine, id like to see if mine are the same , thanks

If you're asking to me, in the first post of the thread there are a bunch of photos of the car!
Anyway, there you go:


The two chromed lines on the lower part were missing in the photos, I was cleaning them, and the door handle on the driver side is broken but I've already bought another brand new one.

HI Riccardo,

My 76 has the same issue with the parking brake cable as yours does. I'm no expert but I can tell you that many of our Spiders have the exact same issue. The main advice I have now is don't worry too much about this, it is not that big a deal. The emergency brake will work and as someone posted earlier, it’s been this way for years. Right now you have higher priorities.

When I first got my Spider the exhaust vibrated and rattled against the parking brake cable a lot and it drove me crazy. Replacing the two rubber hangers back by the muffler helped. Then I started thinking how I could get the brake cable lower as it was tight against the muffler. So I got two “coupling” nuts and used them to drop the parking brake cable bracket down from the body about an inch and a half. The cable still touched a little but no more noise so I was pretty pleased with myself. Here’s what the coupling nuts look like.




The parking brake worked fine but it wasn’t as smooth with this arrangement.

But then I got a 4-2-1 exhaust header and downpipe and the installation resulted in my exhaust dropping down about an inch, so I was back where I started. The brake was harder to apply and it was banging around down there again.
After looking things over I decided to reroute the brake cable above the exhaust and through its bracket differently as you can see in this picture. The coupling nuts are still there but they are no longer doing anything. Not elegant but it works.

Hello Doug and thanks for sharing your experience!
Of course right now I have higher priorities! I'm still in the process of overhauling the calipers and changing the old brake hoses, so I'll have something to play with for the next days!
As for the hand brake cable, some days ago I was thinking about routing the cable above the exhaust (I have probably said it here before) but of course I still haven't tried anything. Looking at you picture it looks like a great solution and it may solve my issues! I have far more room above than under the exhaust, so I'll try this for sure! I guess you don't have any problem when pulling the e-brake inside the car, everything work smoothly, right?
However I think that is far more elegant something like that, more than having a melted rubber over the exhaust! Ahah!
I'll try this solution and will report how it works!
Thanks a lot for the tip Doug, much appreciated!

Riccardo

[FiatBen]

Great project, Riccardo!
I am very interested in watching your progress as I am undertaking a very similar project. I need to write an introduction and start a thread on mine, but basically I am also tackling a '69 124AS that has been idle for 15 years.
I was reading the e-brake discussion and decided to just go out in the garage and see if I could get a couple of decent pics of my underside. Background: this '69 is probably about 98% original, even at 87K miles. As far as I know the only "upgrades" it has are a roll-bar and aftermarket steering wheel. I am 3rd owner and had an extensive discussion about the car with the previous (2nd) owner.
As an add, as best as I can recall on all my Fiats I've crawled under, the e-brake cable rubs against the exhaust pipe. I've never seen one that looked like it was about to fail.

This is an overview of my '69s setup, again, all original.


And a closer view of it going under the exhaust.


I did notice that in your pic the resonator is right at the point the cable crosses. Mine doesn't even have one so I suppose it is possible that the exhaust was reworked at some point.

Anyway, looking forward to watching your progress (as well as posting my own.)

[RCSquadraCorse]

Hi Ben!

It's great to have another AS in the forum!
I think that soon it will be me following your restoration thread, since I'm pretty slow and with a tons of doubts (but hey, better asking than make some mistakes!)... ahah!
I hope that at least this thread will be useful for someone, I have a load of pictures and always keep 'em coming as the restoration goes on!
Talking about the e-brake cable, I think that Doug's solution will be my first try when I'll put the calipers back on the car, I just hate to have a melted cable on the exhaust (even if it's "normal" for this car)!
Looking forward to see your AS, just throw in a presentation post and start your restoration thread with some pictures of the car, I'm really curious to see how it looks like!

Riccardo

[giuliot60]

You 69 guys will like this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLfXzikzJvs

BTW, What do the model codes mean? AS, BS, etc.

[fiat218]

You 69 guys will like this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLfXzikzJvs

BTW, What do the model codes mean? AS, BS, etc.

Re: AS - BS-CSI < WHAT DOES IT STAND FOR
by mdrburchette on Fri May 16, 2008 7:52 pm

I believe this is how it works, according to my service manual:
AS = 1438cc
BS = 1608cc
CS = 1592cc and 1756cc
CS2= 1995 carbed
CSO=1995 FI

[divace73]

You 69 guys will like this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLfXzikzJvs

BTW, What do the model codes mean? AS, BS, etc.

AS "A" being the 1st was the first series and the "S" meaning spider usually a 1400 motor
BS second series usually with a 1600 motor
CS or CS1 third series usually with 1800
CS2 usually with 2000 carb motor
CS0 Fuel injected 2000
DS Pininfarina model

You will notice the distinction more on the coupe models which would be AC, BC, CC respectively

In the pic, the CC is in front, then the BC, then AC

[giuliot60]

That makes sense. I always wondered. Thanks.

[djape1977]

And a closer view of it going under the exhaust.


I did notice that in your pic the resonator is right at the point the cable crosses. Mine doesn't even have one so I suppose it is possible that the exhaust was reworked at some point.

Anyway, looking forward to watching your progress (as well as posting my own.)

originally exaust pipes weren't welded together so it's not suprising that handbrake cable is resting on exaust pipe. someone did a half assed job replacing the muffler

[RCSquadraCorse]

You 69 guys will like this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLfXzikzJvs

BTW, What do the model codes mean? AS, BS, etc.

Thanks for the vid Giulio! I saw all those vids (engine rebuild, installation etc...) I don't know how many times! Ahahah!
The US model looks so different from the Euro model, it's so strange to see the same car with a lot of differences!
What I really don't like about the US models are the "added" standing (or parking) lights on the rear quarter panels, the big thinghy over the bumpers (like small bumpers to cover the bumper! Ahah!) and the license plates lights (not on the AS, but on the later models) that are simply HUGE! And nowdays you still have those big lights, I've never understand why you need to use bigger ones, EU lights for the license plate are just fine...!
However David explained properly the differences between AS/BS/CS. The first letter is to indicate the generation of the car and the second letter means Spider!

Riccardo

[blurple124]

Just throwing in my two cents. When my forward (amidships) exhaust bracket was broken, I bought some metal exhaust strapping from an autoparts store and re-hung it there and closer to the resonator. When doing this, I made sure to pull the pipe really close to the body. This might make the floor a bit warmer in the cabin, but only in back where you won't notice it.

What it does do is allow for the e-brake to pass through un-touched. I may still put some kind of protective insulation on the cable in case things do end up making contact.

[RCSquadraCorse]

Thanks Charlie!
I will try all the different solutions when I'll put back the hand brake cable, I just want to have it to work properly (not like before) and I don't want to make it rub again on the exhaust, so I'll fix it for sure in some way!
Still trying to pop out a piston from one of the front brake calipers without using the "pump-in-grease" method (luckily the other ones are aready done!)!

Riccardo

[fiat218]

Can we get pass the e brake cable and. Move on. Lol ,I I I

[RCSquadraCorse]

Can we get pass the e brake cable and. Move on. Lol ,I I I

It seems that I've started the "find the correct position for your hand brake cable" trend! Ahah!
Seriusly tho, I really appreciate all the tips I'm getting about everything, and a lot of people are kind enough to share their experience!
However to change topic for a moment... good news! Today I've finally removed the last piston from the caliper and the answer is 14 BAR (or 203 PSI for the US folks)! Ahah! It was like shooting with a 50 cal, it litterally exploded out from the caliper! BANG!
I loved it, I have to find some calipers in really bad conditions to do this again! While the other pistons came out with just 5 BAR of air pressure, this one was really stuck inside the caliper. No damages on both caliper and piston, they're absolutely fine.
I can finally finish to clean and overhaul the 4 calipers.
Oh, and I've replaced the broken hard line! The old one was in a very silly position, so I had to cut it just behind the engine and the new one has now a new and more practical route (I love plastic straps!)!
Question, do you think it would be better to disassemble and clean the rear calipers (e-brake levers and piston mechanism)? Also, is ok to use a wire brush inside the piston housing? There is some dirt inside that won't come off just with WD40 and rags.
No pics unfortunately (or luckily, the choice is yours) because I forgot to charge the battery of the camera, but tomorrow I'll upload a couple of shots!

Riccardo

[fiat218]

Can we get pass the e brake cable and. Move on. Lol ,I I I

It seems that I've started the "find the correct position for your hand brake cable" trend! Ahah!
Seriusly tho, I really appreciate all the tips I'm getting about everything, and a lot of people are kind enough to share their experience!
However to change topic for a moment... good news! Today I've finally removed the last piston from the caliper and the answer is 14 BAR (or 203 PSI for the US folks)! Ahah! It was like shooting with a 50 cal, it litterally exploded out from the caliper! BANG!
I loved it, I have to find some calipers in really bad conditions to do this again! While the other pistons came out with just 5 BAR of air pressure, this one was really stuck inside the caliper. No damages on both caliper and piston, they're absolutely fine.
I can finally finish to clean and overhaul the 4 calipers.
Oh, and I've replaced the broken hard line! The old one was in a very silly position, so I had to cut it just behind the engine and the new one has now a new and more practical route (I love plastic straps!)!
Question, do you think it would be better to disassemble and clean the rear calipers (e-brake levers and piston mechanism)? Also, is ok to use a wire brush inside the piston housing? There is some dirt inside that won't come off just with WD40 and rags.
No pics unfortunately (or luckily, the choice is yours) because I forgot to charge the battery of the camera, but tomorrow I'll upload a couple of shots!

Riccardo

Grete