I just recently purchased my first car: a blue 1978 Spider. I know my way around cars generally pretty well, as I've shadowed my dad throughout his various restoration projects. As a teenager, I don't have the years of experience that most classic car people have, so I'm just hoping to learn as much as I can whilst maintaining a fun, drivable project car. It's currently in pretty good shape from a glance but has a few needs: a diff pinion seal replacement, a new timing belt, and some pretty problematic rust holes that go through the floors around the seat supports. I'm currently working on upholstery which has been quite the struggle. Again, despite some general knowledge, I'm pretty new to this, so I'm just looking for any advice for someone just starting.
Images of Car:
https://postimg.cc/zbhhjp3N
https://postimg.cc/yWZqmRPT
Hello From a Fiat Newbie in Seattle
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Harris
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sun Oct 15, 2023 5:56 pm
- Your car is a: 1978 Fiat Spider
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18Fiatsandcounting
- Posts: 3799
- Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2019 11:23 pm
- Your car is a: 1969 and 1971 124 spiders
- Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Re: Hello From a Fiat Newbie in Seattle
Welcome!
My typical order of priority for Fiat work (first item being highest priority): Safety, mechanical, interior cosmetic, exterior cosmetic. Safety would include brakes, steering, unsafe wheels/tires, and your seat supports depending on how extensive the rust is.
Then work on mechanical stuff, and I'd start with the timing belt. It's always more fun to have a running car that you can then slowly tackle the various cosmetic issues. I wouldn't worry about oil leaks as almost every Fiat leaks oil. Unless the leak is major of course.
Then fix up the interior and move to the exterior.
-Bryan
My typical order of priority for Fiat work (first item being highest priority): Safety, mechanical, interior cosmetic, exterior cosmetic. Safety would include brakes, steering, unsafe wheels/tires, and your seat supports depending on how extensive the rust is.
Then work on mechanical stuff, and I'd start with the timing belt. It's always more fun to have a running car that you can then slowly tackle the various cosmetic issues. I wouldn't worry about oil leaks as almost every Fiat leaks oil. Unless the leak is major of course.
Then fix up the interior and move to the exterior.
-Bryan
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rdv
- Posts: 471
- Joined: Sun Feb 12, 2006 8:34 am
- Your car is a: 69 AS Spider
- Location: Hamburg, Germany
Re: Hello From a Fiat Newbie in Seattle
Hi
and welcome! Your car looks great! This forum is a big source for your project with "how to" informations. Me myself needed a real help in my former restoration process. Hope you will manage that (with your Dads help?). Good luck!
Is your car already listed in the worldwide Spider Register? The WA state actually counts 329 cars (with 64 cars in the Seattle area) including 8 blue 78 Spider, see here:
https://www.fiatspider.de/register?Fahr ... Washington
Would be great to get your car data to add/update your car, thank you!
Cheers Ralf
and welcome! Your car looks great! This forum is a big source for your project with "how to" informations. Me myself needed a real help in my former restoration process. Hope you will manage that (with your Dads help?). Good luck!
Is your car already listed in the worldwide Spider Register? The WA state actually counts 329 cars (with 64 cars in the Seattle area) including 8 blue 78 Spider, see here:
https://www.fiatspider.de/register?Fahr ... Washington
Would be great to get your car data to add/update your car, thank you!
Cheers Ralf
69 AS Spider
-------------------------------
the Worldwide Spider Register
Be part of it and register your car(s). Starting point here:
https://www.fiatspider.de/worldwide-spider-register
-------------------------------
the Worldwide Spider Register
Be part of it and register your car(s). Starting point here:
https://www.fiatspider.de/worldwide-spider-register