Help Wanted

[BrwnRecluse]

Been quite a while since I've been here. I work out of town and have lost touch- and nearly interest- in my Spider.
I have a 1978 spider I got last August. Had a ball with it for a month or so, even replacing the carb and finding replacement seats. Got a new top ( 'nother story there) and began to replace the clutch cable before going back to work. There the tale of woe begins.
Got the cable in, but could not get any clutch action at all. On various trips home from the job, kept trying. Then heard a 'pop' and no resistance whatever. The forum suggested the arm the cable attaches to may be cracked, so I decided to remove the transmission and replace clutch, bearing and whatever looked bad. Pulled the driveshaft and most of the bolts, then left town for the rest of the year. Had January off, but too cold to get under the car. Back to work for a couple of months, then home for the summer. Catching up on the hunnydo list, now time to get back on the Fiat.
Apparently one bolt left on the starter motor and I can't get it. The frustration level has me ready to sell the whole shebang, but I still want to drive my Spider. Anyone near Augusta, Georgia? I'll feed and furnish beverages of you choice to anyone who can help me snatch this tranny. Bonus will be remembering how to put it back in. If I can't fix this thing soon, I'll be selling it, the parts car, and everything I have for it. May even throw in a motorcycle or two and the dogs.
If anyone can help, shoot me a message. I need my carport! Thanks, Will

[So Cal Mark]

the top starter bolt can be removed with a swivel socket and a long extension. I haven't seen a clutch arm in the bellhousing break, but lots of broken pedals and firewalls. Have you checked those items? You might not need to pull the trans, or sell the car

[FiatMac]

The clutch arm may have come off of the pivot ball. Explains the "no clutch action after replacement of the cable. If this is it, you may be able to get it engaged on the throwout bearing and back on the pivot without removal of the transmission.

[Fi8spider]

Good advice in these two posts.
If you lived near me I'd take you up on the offer, nothing like a beer or three and a good feed in return for a little Fiat fix.

Just a little question, is the return spring still attached to the outer end of the clutch fork? This should have kept the fork in place as you changed out the clutch cable. My money is on the fork coming off the pivotball as FiatMac has suggested.

You haven't mentioned why you were changing the clutch cable in the first place, maybe this could help us help you.

Hang in there!

[hamlet]

Hey bud, we all go through these moments of frustration. You can solve the problem. The starter bolt is something you should be able to find fairly easily with your hands, and then a universal joint and 2-3 feet of extensions to remove. I am a novice mechanic and I did it just the other day. Get the car up on jacks, slide under from the front so your feet are pointing up and under the front bumper, and use your right hand to feel around the bellhousing. You will find it, and you'll see that you can get it off. Don't get discouraged -- people much dumber and less mechanically inclined have replaced starters, and you can do it too. Be prepared to get your hands dirty, though.

As for the clutch thing, I think you should look into other options before dropping the transmission. Sounds like a big job to me, and checking the firewall/clutch pedal/other problems are certainly cheaper and easier.

[fiat218]

Piece of cake. Feel it with your socket

[godner]

Sorry to hear about your woes, I bought my fiat 78 spider for parts, and it runs well, but I need a new top, how did that go for you, and is that something I can do my self?

[NGK]

Sorry to hear about your woes, I bought my fiat 78 spider for parts, and it runs well, but I need a new top, how did that go for you, and is that something I can do my self?

did you ever get your top done Im interested in doing one myself as well pm if you have more info.