1969 spider with engine out -- need recommendations for help putting it back together please

[sshanky]

Hi,

I have a 1969 124 Spider with the 1.4l engine removed from the car and currently at the shop, freshly bored, new pistons, but not put together yet. The car is in my carport under a cover, in good shape, except for a crack where the crossmember meets the frame in the front.

The mechanic who took it apart for me moved back to Europe, and the engine guy who bored it hasn't got the time to rebuild the engine for me.

I'm trying to decide what to do next -- bring the engine and parts to someone to rebuild it for me or simply sell the whole thing as a package to someone who wants to take this on?

I'd love to hear your thoughts, and if you know anyone in the Phoenix area who knows how to work on these cars, I'd really appreciate info.

Thanks...

[azruss]

Trying to sell a 69 with the motor in pieces will net you chump change. I know a lot about these cars, but I'm not an engine rebuilder. IMM motors in Tempe have worked on several 124s in the past. May want to give them a call.

[spidernut]

A few questions regarding what work has been done:

1. Motor was bored out and you have new pistons - were the pistons installed onto the connecting rods? Were they balanced?
2. Was the crankshaft spec'd, polished, ground or balanced?
3. Was any work done on the cylinder head (valves, valve guides, seals, cams, etc.)?
4. Do you have the main caps with the block?
5. Have you purchased rings, gaskets, seals, main bearings, crank bearings, thrust washers, etc.?

The reason I ask: If all the work has been done and it simply needs to be assembled, it is a VERY easy job to put the motor back together with some fairly basic tools. It can easily be assembled in one day.

If nothing but boring and purchasing new pistons was done, the sum total of the motor and parts is worth around $200. To reassemble the motor, there would be a lot of measuring and possibly further machine work that will need to be done.

I recommend posting on mirafiori.com and see if you can find someone in Phoenix. I know that there are many Fiat owners there.

[sshanky]

Hi, Thanks for the answers. I wonder if it's even worth fixing. A mechanic friend of ours offered to do it for about $3,000, but that is probably more than the car will be worth, right?

I don't know the answers to all of those questions, unfortunately, until I retrieve the engine from the guy who bored it. I believe:
1. the pistons have NOT been installed yet or balanced.
2. The crank was polished
3. The head hasn't been worked yet, but the valves had been worked on prior to this
4. I think I do have the main caps
5. I have purchased most or all of the parts.

Thank you for the tips -- I will post on mirafiori.com and see if anyone in interested in discussing this with me.

[DieselSpider]

Prices are going up and with the engine restored will be worth a bit more than $3,000 and possibly a whole lot more than $12,000 if the body and interior are kept in good condition.

The 1969 124 Spider currently is shown as follows on NADA if being sold in the area around Tampa Bay:
https://www.nadaguides.com/Cars/1969/FI ... ble/Values

[JohnMc]

Unfortunately there is really no good answer - and certainly no good fiscal answer.
If the body and interior are in really good condition might be certainly worth it to have someone put back together - but that is my $0.02. If the body and interior are not in great shape than possibly not.
Don't know about that crack where cross member meets the frame. Presume you are going to need some welding?
I personally love the 1438 engine and especially the 1969 and earlier because of the side marker lights.

[JohnMc]

You might want to post picture of crack - might be nothing. Others might have experienced. Just a thought.

[spidernut]

You might be better off just buying a short block from someone. Auto Italia in Windsor, CA, usually has many short blocks and long blocks for sale and they are guaranteed. Prices are reaaaaaaaaally reasonable.

Auto Italia
3350 Woolsey Road, Windsor, California, 95492
707.528.4825

[AndyVAS]

The answer to your question really is another question. Do you want to drive and enjoy the car? Do you have the money to burn? If the answer to either question is "no" then sell it for whatever price and reclaim the parking space. If Both answers are "yes" then decide if you want to buy the tools and spend the time or pay a professional.