Purchase advice

[pooldoctorstl]

O.K., so I've moved from the "New Members" area to here for some advice. As I posted in the new members, I had owned a '74 many years ago and I am looking for another and leaning toward an 81 or 82 FI model, but I found a 76 that looks good. From my past car restoration experience, I know that the least desireable years for almost any car are 75 through about 80. I know from my research (and help from this forum) that the 79 & 80 are years to probably stay away from. But what about a 76? Any help is appreciated.

Jeff

[NJFIAT1981]

Hi Jeff,
I have a 1980 and a 1981. Both are fuel injected and I'm very happy with them. There are those owners that poo poo the FI engines and only want carbs. To each his own. I would take a look at the overall condition of the vehicle. Rust is always an issue. If it has no problems and runs great then you should consider it. Welcome to the site

[ga.spyder]

Hey Jeff,
You are really lucky to have found this forum ,before buying a car.There is a huge amount of knowledge available here.We all joke about the best year (82 ) of these cars.They all have something to offer,and are a blast to drive.I have a late 76 model and a injected 82.The 1800 engine revs higher than the f.i. motor which makes it fun to drive.However it is lacking in the torque and horsepower,compared to the 2 litre.I think you have to ask yourself what you ultimately want out of the car.If you are into mods,and building up a motor go with a carbed model.The f.i. cars have good power already,but are a lot harder to modify.There is a buying guide in what to look for when buying a Spider and I will see if I can find a link.Basically make sure the car is solid in all the problem areas(crossmember,shock mounts,floorboards),which are common to all model years,no matter which motor you opt for.Good luck!!
Craig
here is the buying guide link,it is excellent! http://www.mirafiori.com/faq/content/buyspid.html

[So Cal Mark]

the two big issues with 76s are the smog pump and piston-valve interference. The smog pump was driven off the camshaft. In the event the pump seizes (quite common) the timing belt will shear and the exhaust cam stops turning immediately. Since the 76 had slightly higher compression via small valve reliefs in the pistons, bent valves are the result.
If the smog pump has or can be removed, then regular t-belt changes are the only issue

[katsi]

Another thing to consider is WHERE you live. For example, I have a 79 but I live in TX so that means that I can pretty much do anything I want to it and not have to worry about the MAN getting in my face about it . I can ,and am in the process of doing so, remove all smog equipment and go with just a simple manually advancing carb. Which not only simplifies the fuel delivery process but also boosts HP due to loosing all the restictive smog preventative measures.

Look at my carbon footprint kicking your ars in the near future! Or at least creaping up on you and eventually passing if your not going too fast!

[pooldoctorstl]

UPDATE....Just got a phone call and they took my offer on the 82. Pick it up as soon as the snow melts. This happened faster than I expected here but I have been looking for a couple of months. Thanks for the helpful info and I will post pics as soon as I get it. By the way, there is a nice 76 on Craigslist in Palestine, IL (middle of the state) for $1500. Looks nice in the listing but you never know. Here is the link: http://carbondale.craigslist.org/cto/1508683605.html

[rlux4]

Good on you! And good on us, another 82 owner joins the ranks.
Ron

[2ndwind]

Wow, an 82. Imagine that. I just got mine in October.

Good luck and show us some pics. My car is in pretty good shape. That means-no rust. These are the things I have done or am doing prior to putting it on the road for spring:

Changed timing belt (because I don't have PROOF of previous change)
Replaced starter
New Air Flow Meter
New temp sensor
Rebuilt auxilliary airflow valve (coming from Mark)
Repaired poor rewiring of headlights, starter and alternator.
Rebuild all front end components
Rebuild drive shaft including guibo
Inspect and repair any brake issues.

This will give me the peace of mind that my car is safe AND fun to drive.

Again, Welcome .

[ga.spyder]

Congrats,an 82 is a wise choice Now,get it home and get to work!
Craig