Never complain

[mdrburchette]

About not having anything to repair on your Fiat. I just knew my 72 only needed a little polishing and loaded on the trailer enroute to FFO this year. There was nothing that needed to be done to it.....until I drove it to VIR a couple weekends ago and started hearing a grinding noise from the left rear wheel area. I pulled the wheel and found the pads were down to the rivets so now it gets new pads and rotors for the rear. Now, that's ALL it needs, right?

[baltobernie]

Just a little tantrum to let you know who's boss.

[mbouse]

IF i ever get these door panels done, i am parking my Spider until FFO. I am weary of the incessant attention she requires.

[mdrburchette]

Mike, be glad you're not having to do what I did back in '04. Ron and I were in the Fiat, on our way to the FFO and had to swing by the upholstery shop to pick up our door panels. The first night in Asheville was spent at Home Depot finding the correct size screws to put the door panels on....now, that's cutting it close, huh?

[JeremyB]

But that keeps it fun! A wek before I drove my Spider to Wisconsin it was still on jackstands with no front end. I had to replace the lower control arms. Then the fun of finding someone who would do the alignment was a challenge of its self.
I had a list of all th ethings I wanted to accomplish before going to WI. I decided to stop after the tune up. I was afraid that I would start a small project, and I would discover bigger issues.

[4babycar]

They are moody little girls that like to be the center of attention aren't they!?! When we were in high school and college Baby Car always had a habit of breaking down on Michael everytime he took a new girl out because she was jealous...one time when we were out the entire shifter broke off and Michael had to stick his hand in and shift without the stick (sorry, I'm not very technical)...she also left us sitting on the side of 29 after my senior prom, there's nothing like seeing your great looking date in his tux pulling that hood forward and getting the full set of emergency tools out of trunk! It is funny though because no girl can keep herself from falling for a guy with a spider (even if the spider thinks she should be the only girl in the picture)! Maybe she'll like me better since I am the coordinating this suprise restoration!

Jen ( The OTHER woman!)

[mdrburchette]

Your story brings back memories of my high school days and riding in my boyfriend's 69 Spider. It seems every time we stopped somewhere he'd pop the hood to do something to it. The few times I drove it something would go wrong, like the timing belt breaking in the middle of a busy intersection, the electrical system going haywire when I'd turn on the lights or the brake pads popping out right in front of a cop. It's funny that this little car, which has to be of the male gender, only acts up when a guy shows interest in it. It'll loosen a plug wire from the distributor cap every time a guy looks under the hood.

[JeremyB]

Jen, funny you should mention the "Other woman". I am convinced that my Fiat does not like my wife. I owuld do some work to the car, take it for a drive, and it would run fine. Then when I would take my wife out in it, it would break down... Every time!
After sorting out a few issues, my wife began to like the car. I took my daughter and wife for ice cream about 6 weeks ago. Ran fine on the way there. When we tried to leave, it wouldnt start. Pop started it, and got it home. I replaced the alternator with a 55 amp int VR, and it had been happy ever since.
Now my wife is starting to drive it. SHe loves it! Now she is wanting me to do more an dmore stuff to the car to make it look nicer. Hell, eventually, it will be her car. I think they have worked out soem type of estrogen truce. Ever since my wife decided she liked it, it has been running good. I think th ecar figured out that my wife is now involved in improving it, and it likes her for it.

[mdrburchette]

If you have more than one Fiat, I can assure you they'll be jealous of each other. I took the 71 to the mountains today and lo and behold, it started making the exact same sound as the 72. Another set of rotors and pads are on order.

[JeremyB]

HA! Typical isnt it! So I have a question then. Are they jealous of other Fiats only? Or are they jealous of other I cars? My next toy purchase will not be for another couple years, but at this point, I am strongly leaning towards a Alfa Alfetta/gtv6. I hope the Fiat is OK with having to share a garage with an Alfa.

[4babycar]

Well, I told you guys she didn't like me. Apperantly that still holds true. My father in- law found "beyond repair" rust damage to her frame today....So now instead of restoring my husband's favorite girl I get to tell him that she's a goner. I guess that means I won the estrogen contest- I would have gladly lost to see my guy in his spider again!