1978 or 78.5 or 79

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Texsardo
Posts: 216
Joined: Fri May 09, 2014 1:15 am
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat Spider Convertible 1800
Location: Post Falls, Idaho
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1978 or 78.5 or 79

Post by Texsardo »

I have a very nice 1978 but with 79 door handles. It was a late 78 manufacture. But when I go to sites, I have difficulty getting correct parts. Parts are listed like 1976 to 1978 and 1978 to 1983. What the heck. Wouldn't it just be 1976 to 1983? I tried a regular air cleaner for a 1978 with 1800 and 32 ADFA carb. Didn't fit, it wouldn't fit due to choke cover. No clearance. I have had other parts ordered for 1978 that don't fit. Screaming inside, ",Well I should sell this and get either a 1974 or 1980 2000 where parts are usually correct. AAaaaaaaarrrrrrgggghhhhhhhh.
Texsardo :roll:
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Nanonevol
Patron 2018
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Posts: 828
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2014 9:17 am
Your car is a: 1977 Fiat 124 Spider
Location: Medway, Massachusetts

Re: 1978 or 78.5 or 79

Post by Nanonevol »

The challenges of restoring a 40 year old car!
1977 Fiat Spider
1985 Jaguar XJ6
1967 Triumph Bonneville (hard-tail chopper)
1966 BSA Lightning
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MattVAS
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Posts: 225
Joined: Thu May 18, 2017 11:10 am
Your car is a: 1976 Fiat Spider 124

Re: 1978 or 78.5 or 79

Post by MattVAS »

Late 1978 models are always like this.
They have lots of parts that are for later year models. That is just due to them running out of the proper equipment and using the next gen instead. Kept the assembly line moving but can make an owners life a living hell.
Matt Phillips
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bonsaiwino
Posts: 228
Joined: Sat Jul 13, 2013 8:10 am
Your car is a: 1979 Spider

Re: 1978 or 78.5 or 79

Post by bonsaiwino »

Yes, very confusing indeed. My experience is that an '80 would, be much easier to identify parts in every way. Just my opinion.
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dinghyguy
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Posts: 457
Joined: Thu Jul 20, 2017 7:41 pm
Your car is a: 1981 spider
Location: Vancouver, Canada

Re: 1978 or 78.5 or 79

Post by dinghyguy »

My 79 is easy in the run and has 78 seats,visors,headlights, and top that I have confirmed. But so far the rest is 79 or 80 except what has intentionally been changed. So I understand your frustration

Cheers
Dinghyguy
1981 Red Spider "Redbob"
1972 blue Volvo 1800ES "Bob"
1998 Red Ford Ranger
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