Hey everybody I am new to the car but i like it so far. The 71' has been sitting in my uncles shed for 7 years. Origionally my cousin screwed up the timing belt and this caused further problem (so i have heard). Is there anything that i should be looking for that might be bad in the long run when it is running? And what can anyone tell me about the Fiat Spider in general?
Please and thanks
Red
New to the car
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rlux4
- Patron 2022
- Posts: 4211
- Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:32 pm
- Your car is a: 1982 2000 Spider
- Location: Granite Falls, Wa
Re: New to the car
Hi Red, congratulations on your new car.
Did your cousin screw up the timing belt, or did he (or she, as the case may be) screw up the installation of it?
Up until the 2 litre engine they were what's called "interference" engines. Meaning that if the cam timing isn't right, or the belt breaks while running, a valve can be going down while a piston is coming up and they meet, causing damage to the valve or the piston, or both. Do you have a repair manual for your car? You'll need at least one, more is better, so that you get the best procedure for whatever repair you're doing. With instructions in hand, check that the cam timing is correct (don't forget to position the auxiliary shaft pulley) and by hand, see if the engine will turn over. Depending on what happened when your cousin did the timing belt, you may end up having to take the engine apart to repair it, but if you're lucky it only locked up when it was being turned over by hand (as per instructions) and will be OK. Having sat so long, you may have pistons that have rings rusted to the cylinder, if that's the case, let us know and we can deal with that then. My car had sat for five years, and suffered no damage for it.
These are great little cars, and the engines were ahead of their time as far as their engineering. They are bullet proof if taken correct care of.
Good luck, and don't hesitate to come to the forum for any help you need. I hope this has been helpful.
Ron
Did your cousin screw up the timing belt, or did he (or she, as the case may be) screw up the installation of it?
Up until the 2 litre engine they were what's called "interference" engines. Meaning that if the cam timing isn't right, or the belt breaks while running, a valve can be going down while a piston is coming up and they meet, causing damage to the valve or the piston, or both. Do you have a repair manual for your car? You'll need at least one, more is better, so that you get the best procedure for whatever repair you're doing. With instructions in hand, check that the cam timing is correct (don't forget to position the auxiliary shaft pulley) and by hand, see if the engine will turn over. Depending on what happened when your cousin did the timing belt, you may end up having to take the engine apart to repair it, but if you're lucky it only locked up when it was being turned over by hand (as per instructions) and will be OK. Having sat so long, you may have pistons that have rings rusted to the cylinder, if that's the case, let us know and we can deal with that then. My car had sat for five years, and suffered no damage for it.
These are great little cars, and the engines were ahead of their time as far as their engineering. They are bullet proof if taken correct care of.
Good luck, and don't hesitate to come to the forum for any help you need. I hope this has been helpful.
Ron
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Bigred
Re: New to the car
My uncle said that my cousin(its a him btw) got the timing wrong. I dont know that much about cars b ut this is what was told to me. I do not have the repair manual(last time i checked but i'll ask my uncle) so is there somewhere online that i can find it?
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mbouse
Re: New to the car
seven years... change the guibo
send some pictures.
that's about all you need to do.
welcome
send some pictures.
that's about all you need to do.
welcome