First Fiat. 1980 Fiat Spider 124/200
As I do with all older Classics I bring home, start with a simple "Tune-Up", "Fluid and Filter Change":
?
What do you guys/girls suggest as to:
Oil Filter (type)
Air Filter (type)
Oil (type/weight)
Rear End or Transmission Fluids - Should I change these?
Spark Plugs (type)
Wires (type)
Should I do anything with the distributor?
Any other "Preventive Maintenance" I should do, remember she's 42 years old and runs great now but I'm not sure how "hands" have been over her and what was done, constant start off with the above.
Appreciate replies like
Thank you.
Tune Up, Fluid Change, Filters ?
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JPLSR1
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Sat Oct 08, 2022 9:33 am
- Your car is a: 1980 Fiat Spider 2000
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18Fiatsandcounting
- Posts: 3798
- Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2019 11:23 pm
- Your car is a: 1969 and 1971 124 spiders
- Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Re: Tune Up, Fluid Change, Filters ?
I definitely suggest replacing the timing belt and tensioner bearing unless you are very sure that it was done recently.
As for brands for oils and such, I might be in the minority but I don't think it's super critical for these older cars. I wouldn't buy some no-name brand from the dollar store, but any name brand (Castrol, Shell, Valvoline, Quaker State, Mobil, etc.) would be fine. I would start with 10W-40 for engine oil. For oil filters, I use WIX 51189 but pretty much any name brand will be fine. The NAPA version is NAPA gold 1189.
I would change the transmission and differential oil unless you know it has been changed recently. If they are original, it's definitely time. The transmission uses about 2 quarts of 90 weight GL-1 which is a mineral oil and is hard to fine. You can buy it online or some NAPA stores carry it. Definitely do NOT use GL-5. Some people use GL-4 which probably works but I'm not a big fan of this. The differential is 80W-90 oil but this needs to be the EP (Extreme Pressure) version.
Coolant: About 2 gallons of 50/50 antifreeze/water. I use Prestone, but again, not sure it really matters. I stay away from waterless and OAT (organic acid technology) coolants although some people have no issues with them.
I use a free flow air cleaner housing and element so I can't help you there.
Spark plugs: I use Champion RN9YC or the like. Others, especially the racing folks, recommend NGK BP6ES. Any quality wire will be fine, although parts stores might try to sell you some low quality stuff.
I'd leave the distributor alone for now unless you know something is wrong with it.
-Bryan
As for brands for oils and such, I might be in the minority but I don't think it's super critical for these older cars. I wouldn't buy some no-name brand from the dollar store, but any name brand (Castrol, Shell, Valvoline, Quaker State, Mobil, etc.) would be fine. I would start with 10W-40 for engine oil. For oil filters, I use WIX 51189 but pretty much any name brand will be fine. The NAPA version is NAPA gold 1189.
I would change the transmission and differential oil unless you know it has been changed recently. If they are original, it's definitely time. The transmission uses about 2 quarts of 90 weight GL-1 which is a mineral oil and is hard to fine. You can buy it online or some NAPA stores carry it. Definitely do NOT use GL-5. Some people use GL-4 which probably works but I'm not a big fan of this. The differential is 80W-90 oil but this needs to be the EP (Extreme Pressure) version.
Coolant: About 2 gallons of 50/50 antifreeze/water. I use Prestone, but again, not sure it really matters. I stay away from waterless and OAT (organic acid technology) coolants although some people have no issues with them.
I use a free flow air cleaner housing and element so I can't help you there.
Spark plugs: I use Champion RN9YC or the like. Others, especially the racing folks, recommend NGK BP6ES. Any quality wire will be fine, although parts stores might try to sell you some low quality stuff.
I'd leave the distributor alone for now unless you know something is wrong with it.
-Bryan