Possible oil starvation- engine rebuild?

Keep it on topic, it will make it easier to find what you need.
BEEK
Posts: 1833
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 10:45 pm
Your car is a: 1975 Spider
Location: clermont fl

Re: Possible oil starvation- engine rebuild?

Post by BEEK »

rock it backwards too, if it still doesnt free up, the problem is more serious than a out of time aux shaft
Automotive Service Technology Instructor (34 year Fiat mechanic)
75 spider
, 6 Lancia Scorpions, 2018 Abarth Spider, 500X wifes, 500L 3 82 Zagatos. 82 spider 34k original miles, 83 pininfarina, 8 fiat spider parts cars
son has 78 spider
BNelsonAz

Re: Possible oil starvation- engine rebuild?

Post by BNelsonAz »

vandor wrote:A lot more likely that the timing belt jumped a cog and the rod hit the fuel pump lobe at the end of the auxiliary shaft. If that is the case all you need to do is get a new timing belt (and possibly a tensioner, since you are already there...).
Is this an issue on 1980 FI models?
BEEK
Posts: 1833
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 10:45 pm
Your car is a: 1975 Spider
Location: clermont fl

Re: Possible oil starvation- engine rebuild?

Post by BEEK »

the aux shaft hitting a connecting rod can happen on all 2.0l engines. however it is not common for them to jump time. once in time the aux shaft will not hit.
Last edited by BEEK on Tue Jan 21, 2014 5:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Automotive Service Technology Instructor (34 year Fiat mechanic)
75 spider
, 6 Lancia Scorpions, 2018 Abarth Spider, 500X wifes, 500L 3 82 Zagatos. 82 spider 34k original miles, 83 pininfarina, 8 fiat spider parts cars
son has 78 spider
BEEK
Posts: 1833
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 10:45 pm
Your car is a: 1975 Spider
Location: clermont fl

Re: Possible oil starvation- engine rebuild?

Post by BEEK »

what was the condition when it "seized", was he driving it down the road? did he pull up to a light and it just shut off? was it making any noise prior to it shutting off" was it idling? was it full throttle and started to "tighten up"? all of those answers can help better diagnose. but bottom line if it wont move in either direction, there is a major problem
Automotive Service Technology Instructor (34 year Fiat mechanic)
75 spider
, 6 Lancia Scorpions, 2018 Abarth Spider, 500X wifes, 500L 3 82 Zagatos. 82 spider 34k original miles, 83 pininfarina, 8 fiat spider parts cars
son has 78 spider
BNelsonAz

Re: Possible oil starvation- engine rebuild?

Post by BNelsonAz »

BEEK wrote:what was the condition when it "seized", was he driving it down the road? did he pull up to a light and it just shut off? was it making any noise prior to it shutting off" was it idling? was it full throttle and started to "tighten up"? all of those answers can help better diagnose. but bottom line if it wont move in either direction, there is a major problem
It started to tighten up and loose power, and then was knocking , so he pulled over and it died.
Last edited by BNelsonAz on Tue Jan 21, 2014 6:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
focodave
Patron 2018
Patron 2018
Posts: 704
Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2012 10:35 am
Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000 F.I.
Location: Fort Collins, CO

Re: Possible oil starvation- engine rebuild?

Post by focodave »

BNelsonAz wrote:
BEEK wrote:what was the condition when it "seized", was he driving it down the road? did he pull up to a light and it just shut off? was it making any noise prior to it shutting off" was it idling? was it full throttle and started to "tighten up"? all of those answers can help better diagnose. but bottom line if it wont move in either direction, there is a major problem
It started to tighten up and loose power, and then was makinga knocking noise, so he pulled over and it died.

That sounds a lot like a spun bearing -- not good.
1980 Spider 2000 F.I. (my hobby)
1970 MGB GT (my other hobby)
2008 Ford Expedition (daily driver)
2019 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Standard
2019 Harley-Davidson Iron 883 Sportster
BEEK
Posts: 1833
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 10:45 pm
Your car is a: 1975 Spider
Location: clermont fl

Re: Possible oil starvation- engine rebuild?

Post by BEEK »

+1 on rod bearing, after hearing what happened, my guess is a broken oil pump pick up. using my over the internet powers.
Automotive Service Technology Instructor (34 year Fiat mechanic)
75 spider
, 6 Lancia Scorpions, 2018 Abarth Spider, 500X wifes, 500L 3 82 Zagatos. 82 spider 34k original miles, 83 pininfarina, 8 fiat spider parts cars
son has 78 spider
djape1977
Posts: 985
Joined: Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:08 pm
Your car is a: 1970 fiat 124bc
Location: Belgrade, Serbia, eastern Europe

Re: Possible oil starvation- engine rebuild?

Post by djape1977 »

and maybe broken oil pump gear, or just piece of sh*** chinese oil filter
BNelsonAz

Re: Possible oil starvation- engine rebuild?

Post by BNelsonAz »

BEEK wrote:+1 on rod bearing, after hearing what happened, my guess is a broken oil pump pick up. using my over the internet powers.
Thanks Beek. Tried rolling it backwards last night: no joy. Next update after I get a socket on the main and see if I can move the engine at all.
djape1977
Posts: 985
Joined: Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:08 pm
Your car is a: 1970 fiat 124bc
Location: Belgrade, Serbia, eastern Europe

Re: Possible oil starvation- engine rebuild?

Post by djape1977 »

don't bother. remove the sump
fiat218
Posts: 5745
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 5:06 pm
Your car is a: 1969 124 AS spider

Re: Possible oil starvation- engine rebuild?

Post by fiat218 »

vandor wrote:If you do all the work yourself, you might/could do it for ~$1000.
I would not have a machine shop rebuild it. No idea why, but machine shops regularly mess up Fiat engines.
If you want to go that route take it to a good import repair shop.

An engine rebuild usually costs $2500-3500, depending on what is done and what is broken. Could be a lot more for a hi-po build.

As others said, it would need to be 2-3 quarts low for it to starve of oil. That is not what happened (unless someone filled it back up with oil :-)
A lot more likely that the timing belt jumped a cog and the rod hit the fuel pump lobe at the end of the auxiliary shaft. If that is the case all you need to do is get a new timing belt (and possibly a tensioner, since you are already there...).
:shock: damn it, and I have a machine shop building mine
Jim
East Grand Forks MN
1970 Fiat Spider BS1 ( FOR SALE
1969 124 AS Spider
2017 Abrath
2018 Alfa Romeo 4c Spider
User avatar
azruss
Posts: 3659
Joined: Sun May 30, 2010 12:24 pm
Your car is a: 80 Fiat 2000 FI

Re: Possible oil starvation- engine rebuild?

Post by azruss »

this first question that comes to my mind, was when this was all going down, did the kid bother to look at the oil pressure gage :oops:
BNelsonAz

Re: Possible oil starvation- engine rebuild?

Post by BNelsonAz »

azruss wrote:this first question that comes to my mind, was when this was all going down, did the kid bother to look at the oil pressure gage :oops:
Yeah I asked. That was a negative, Ghostrider.
User avatar
mpollock
Posts: 88
Joined: Mon May 09, 2011 10:06 pm
Your car is a: 1979 spider 2000
Location: North side of Indianapolis

Re: Possible oil starvation- engine rebuild?

Post by mpollock »

Times change - I have never owned a car with an oil pressure gauge. Even my '79 spider doesn't have one. I just picked up a used one from a '77 that will go into the center console.
BNelsonAz

Re: Possible oil starvation- engine rebuild?

Post by BNelsonAz »

mpollock wrote:Times change - I have never owned a car with an oil pressure gauge. Even my '79 spider doesn't have one. I just picked up a used one from a '77 that will go into the center console.
No excuse on my 1980. Oil pressure is right in plain sight.
Post Reply