Transmission Rebuild

[SteinOnkel]

Thanks, I really appreciate it

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Yes, thanks A.J., very helpful. I didn't know about the other 5th gear ratio for 1979-1980, but then again, I've only owned one spider in those years, and I never had to work on the transmission.

Which brings up another question: I still have the original transmission in my '69, but the engine is a 2L (different bellhousing of course). Perhaps I should take a look someday at the gear ratios to take advantage of the higher torque in the 2L engine? It works fine as is, but I've always gotten the sense that the driveability would benefit from taller ratios. Or maybe just change the differential. Anyway, given Steiny's trials and tribulations, maybe I should just leave things be. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

-Bryan

[SteinOnkel]

You could bolt the bellhousing from my lovebox onto it, no? That's not too difficult.

[SteinOnkel]

I have returned from Stockton. What an odyssey.

I left the block. Just grabbed the Transmission, a single plane manifold and a 4-1 exhaust manifold. Gearbox looks pretty good. It shifts and spins, but it's a bit dirty. Will clean it up and drop it in pretty much as-is.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Sounds like a plan, Steiny. I'm sorta glad you didn't pick up the block, because after thinking about it, I would have been tempted to take it off your hands (with suitable payment of course), but I really don't have space. About 12 years ago, I gave away for free a large collection of blocks, heads, transmissions, and even a rear end. Perhaps a dozen items in all. There was a reason I did this, and I have to be honest with myself and realize that I really don't need to start accumulating spare engines and transmissions all over again.

Anyway, I hope this "new" transmission solves the problem for you.

-Bryan

[SteinOnkel]

Sounds like a plan, Steiny. I'm sorta glad you didn't pick up the block, because after thinking about it, I would have been tempted to take it off your hands (with suitable payment of course), but I really don't have space. About 12 years ago, I gave away for free a large collection of blocks, heads, transmissions, and even a rear end. Perhaps a dozen items in all. There was a reason I did this, and I have to be honest with myself and realize that I really don't need to start accumulating spare engines and transmissions all over again.

Anyway, I hope this "new" transmission solves the problem for you.

-Bryan

Exactly. When I moved from Germany to the States in 2016, I had to close the door on my workshop there. I had no less than three VW Polos in parts (minus body panels). Initially I though okay roll on roll off transport is around $1.5k (that's just the car on a ship and I mean JUST the car, nothing else is allowed). A container would have been more like 3. So I sat down and tallied everything up that I had. Not even close to worth it. Thankfully, I found someone last minute to take over the whole lot from my vw club, basically gave it all away.

I haven't missed a single thing. There is no reason to hoard anything - who needs three sets of used starters and alternators? Or 4 different blocks?

[18Fiatsandcounting]

There is no reason to hoard anything - who needs three sets of used starters and alternators? Or 4 different blocks?

Yes, that's the conclusion I came to. Back then, I had space but not much money. Now, I have less space but a little more money, and I've concluded that there are enough Fiat parts floating around for me to be able to pick something up when I need it. Might take a few months of searching to find a local engine block, but there's enough of them around that it's do-able. Now if I had a ranch in Wyoming and wanted to keep my two Fiats indefinitely, I might just keep a few blocks and heads laying around.

-Bryan

[SteinOnkel]

Repetitio mater studiorum est.

4 hours turn around for a transmission swap.

Just gotta reconnect the driveshaft and we're off to the races. But that's for tomorrow.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

You're getting good at this Steiny! I do want to hear how this turns out.

-Bryan

[geospider]

Yep, we want to hear you are back on the road. But, also now we know who to go to anytime we need the trans out.
geo

[SteinOnkel]

These are the type of things you need to daisy chain together in the precise order to get to 7 of the bolts on this job.

Also, the transmission mount gets bolted in completely last.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Yep, that's the best way to do it Steiny. Lots of socket extensions and, for no extra charge, you even get a universal joint of sorts as part of the deal.

Practice makes perfect. Given how many cylinder heads I've removed, it takes me less than 1 hour between the time I open the hood to the time that the cylinder head is laying on the ground (dripping oil, of course).

-Bryan

[SteinOnkel]

And there we are.

Didn't got down without a fight, of course. Took me two hours to slide the driveshaft in. I had to file down the splines to get it to mate up.

It's fine, I guess. 3rd is a bit whiny and so is 5th. The rest are okay. Everything is about 50% quieter than it was before and 500% quieter than with the lovebox.

I think. Can't really hear over the extremely loud exhaust. Unless you've got 4 arms, you can't put the downpipe in properly by yourself. That stupid giant clamp allows an extreme amount of movement, but I can't be under the car holding the downpipe in place AND up top tightening both nuts. What a shit design, once again.

Whatever. We're painting cars next month, possibly including this one. Then it's getting a for sale sign.

Cheers
Steiny

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Well, it sounds like this long saga is coming to an end, but I do hope you'll drop by this forum once in a while to offer advice and check in with your Fiat homies. Things just won't be the same without Steiny, and besides, who am I going to tease about points versus electronic ignition?

Just one question: Where are you getting the car painted? I'm thinking of repainting my '71, but considering that I paid $175 for it, I'm reluctant to spend $6,000 on a paint job for a car that is worth (at most) a couple thousand bucks. It does run fine, due to all the work I've done on it over the past year or so. I'd like to paint it myself (I have painted several cars in the past), but my wife has made it pretty clear that "there is no way you are painting a car in our garage."

-Bryan

[SteinOnkel]

Oh, shoot, Bryan. I was heavily banking on painting in your garage. Now what!?

We're just going to shoot it at my brother's house. Single stage grand prix white. Super simple. Tape it off, scuff it up, blast it, done. Nothing fancy.

Cheers
Steiny

P.S: I might hold on to it a bit longer. Not decided yet. Costs me next to nothing per month to own, soooo...