Timing belt cover

[4uall]

What is it we are protecting the belt from?

Debris, rocks, the off-chance that one is going to fly up and get lodged in there. I'm not even sure why this is being debated, but it is. You don't need it. It serves no mechanical function other than protection. If you think it looks bad, remove it. Do what your dealer did - remove it, the lower pans, the rear pans, the bell housing shield, and whatever else you think unnecessary. These are the first steps in a twenty-four step program of Spider ownership:

1. Remove all items that inconvenience you and discard.
2. Replace ignition with mess of wires and aluminum box.
3. Cut wood for your own dashboard.
4. Replace seats with 5 point harness style, because a 102HP car needs them.
5. Install ANSA twin tip.
6. Remove bumpers and install boat trailer blinkers.
7. Install 9mm plug wires.
8. Install at least five fuel filters.
9. Install panasport rims.
10. Paint your engine and install aluminum parts.
11. Install Kicker or similar radio and a speaker box in place of rear seat.
12. Place at least one ABARTH sticker on car.
13. Remove ABARTH sticker
14. Reinstall rear seat and buy period correct radio from ebay
15. Remove engine parts and bead blast to original
16. Find iron cross or turbo rims, clean, paint, reinstall
17. Correctly repair fuel system and clean tank
18. Buy OE Carello wires for plugs
19. Reinstall bumpers and original lamps
20. Remove rusted out ANSA exhaust
21. Find and fix original seats, recover
22. Replace homemade wood with OE pieces
23. Seek out a Marelliplex then settle on a OE Electronic ignition
24. Replace engine pans and timing belt covers, other panels and shields

#25 LMFAO!

[majicwrench]

Glad to hear you wear your seatbelt Maytag, I would miss you around here if something happened


I fix cars for a living, and yes, I consider myself, after some 35 years, working in a dozen diff dealerships, including Fiat, a bit of an authority. But everybody is entitled to their own opinion.
Love you guys,
Keith

[Divers]

I love this forum

[maytag]

Nice, Brad.
that there's funny.... I don't care WHO y'are!

yes, i replaced the cover on the benz. As i mentioned above, it was only there to hide ugly parts, like me wearing a shirt at the pool. I will add to my cleaning regimen the removal of the cover and cleaning underneath. But if it were as difficult to remove as the timing belt cover on the TC, I wouldn't, and so I would've left it off.

Why do you think I'd ever take my spider back to stock? I mean, if I had wanted a cute but under-powered, under-braked, under-sprung, under-valued little sports car, I could've had a Miata!

I don't believe in unmodified cars. At least for me.
How many GREAT CARS and even car companies have been born from "hot-rodding"? or that quest for better, faster, lighter, stronger?

My own Spider is devoid of EVERYTHING that doesn't serve a real purpose. (in some cases, that "real purpose" is to appease the annual safety-inspectors, like windshield sprayers/wipers)

No cigar-lighter: I don't smoke.
No radio: I'd rather hear the motor.
No interior lights: who needs 'em?
No back seat: don't need it.
you get the picture.

[majicwrench]

I dearly love my interior lights. But I can understand why you might not want em, after all they draw a lot of current and would require a relay or two to take the load off the rest of the system.
Keith

[4uall]

Nice, Brad.
that there's funny.... I don't care WHO y'are!

yes, i replaced the cover on the benz. As i mentioned above, it was only there to hide ugly parts, like me wearing a shirt at the pool. I will add to my cleaning regimen the removal of the cover and cleaning underneath. But if it were as difficult to remove as the timing belt cover on the TC, I wouldn't, and so I would've left it off.

Why do you think I'd ever take my spider back to stock? I mean, if I had wanted a cute but under-powered, under-braked, under-sprung, under-valued little sports car, I could've had a Miata!

I don't believe in unmodified cars. At least for me.
How many GREAT CARS and even car companies have been born from "hot-rodding"? or that quest for better, faster, lighter, stronger?

My own Spider is devoid of EVERYTHING that doesn't serve a real purpose. (in some cases, that "real purpose" is to appease the annual safety-inspectors, like windshield sprayers/wipers)

No cigar-lighter: I don't smoke.
No radio: I'd rather hear the motor.
No interior lights: who needs 'em?
No back seat: don't need it.
you get the picture.

YEAH! MIATA'S


Guys who drive Mitas rock! by itzebtze, on Flickr

[maytag]

I dearly love my interior lights. But I can understand why you might not want em, after all they draw a lot of current and would require a relay or two to take the load off the rest of the system.
Keith

SNAP!!

[burlybryan]

Slightly off topic, but Maytag's comment about his Benz's engine cover hiding detritus reminded me of our (wife's) new Fiat 500. After our first (and only) road trip I popped the hood to check fluids, etc. To my surprise the front side of everything in the engine compartment was caked with bugs and crap. The front nose and hood design perfectly funnels bugs, dirt, deer, skateboards and small children into the engine compartment! The belt was well protected and now I know why they covered up the engine and intake with plastic shrouds.

For the record, my spider has the timing belt cover. Mainly because I don't trust myself around it.

[bradartigue]

How many GREAT CARS and even car companies have been born from "hot-rodding"? or that quest for better, faster, lighter, stronger?

You do own a FIAT Spider, right? Because one thing FIAT never intended to do was create a great car. They've always excelled at mediocrity. The Spider and X1/9 being the sole shining examples of them going out on a limb. Everything else has been pedestrian at best. I know, I know, the Mexibarth 500 is supposed to be great, whatever...

To your point on the difficulty of removing the cover, I can't think of a time I had to do this with regularity, maybe once every couple of years? More like once every 3 years. A couple of bolts and some cursing, no worse than any other minor procedure, done when the valves need a servicing.

[katsi]

Wow, I can only ring in with some personal experience. I once dropped a small washer and could not find it. It got caught between the belt and lower gear. When I went to turn the car over, the belt popped. Had I had the timing belt cover on at the time, who is to say what would have happened.

[focodave]

HaHa.
Brad, you are certainly passionate about what you think/write.
That's a good thing!!
I would like to say that, as far as your opinion on one changing out the stock wheels for aftermarket (Panasport in your example) -- I just installed a set of Rota's on my otherwise stock-looking 1980 and they look Frickin' AWESOME!!
Don't get me wrong -- I think the C-Dora's are very attractive wheels, but man I like the look of the Rotas a lot better.
If you are a purist, though, the C-Doras are great-looking wheels and I am not knocking them.
All other items on my car are stock and they look and operate just great.
Fiat Spiders are very attractive cars and, when properly maintained, are mechanically sound little machines IMHO.
Dave

[Danno]

Quoting Service Letter 100-13, dated 6-28-79, title is "NEW ADDITIONAL TIMING BELT COVERS"

"To increase timing belt protection, three additional sheet metal timing belt covers have been added. The sheet metal cover located between the plastic cover and the timing belt must be removed to R & R the timing belt. Because of the additional time required, all service times requiring belt R & R have been increased."

Not to be nitpicky, but this does NOT reference the timing cover, this references those sheet metal pieces, indicating that the timing cover doesn't work.

My question is: Why does the cover have to be freaking yellow? What is the point of that?

[4uall]

because they are sexy as hell


Timing belt cover after a shot of Sunshine Yellow by itzebtze, on Flickr

[Danno]

I'm going more for a corroded and rusty look in my engine compartment. Yellow doesn't fit.

[4uall]

oh that's easy, just spray a can of "neglect" or perhaps a can of "don't give a shit" LOL