Help-Buying my first Fiat Spider and have ???

[wachuko]

Well... I hope you guys are not tired of my posts. Really need the help.

Next candidate is a 1981, this time I am asking for a lot of photos before I take another 100+ miles drive...

Does everything in the photo looks right? Does that looks like a stock rear end for an '81? Looks like an older unit to me, but I don't know enough to determine if that is the case... It does not look like Don's car (a few photos above) that has a cover with bolts.

[amsiegel]

The black one in Orlando has been for sale for at least 3 months. I am glad you posted photos of I was always wonder what the car looked like up close.

[wachuko]

The black one in Orlando has been for sale for at least 3 months. I am glad you posted photos of I was always wonder what the car looked like up close.

Yeah... the concept was great, the execution could have been better. That car, done right, would have been a blast.

Anyone that can give me some feedback on that differential photo??

[So Cal Mark]

that is the earlier rear end

[stefhahn]

Jaime,
this is an old style rear axle if I see that right. Not the worst idea as it is a lot easier to exchange the differential. The oil leaks would make me worry more than the "wrong" axle.
ciao,
Stefan

[wachuko]

that is the earlier rear end

So the rear end was replaced... besides not being the original differential, is that good or bad??

[wachuko]

Jaime,
this is an old style rear axle if I see that right. Not the worst idea as it is a lot easier to exchange the differential. The oil leaks would make me worry more than the "wrong" axle.
ciao,
Stefan

Stefan, I did not see any oil leaks. It appears that previous owner sprayed black paint on the underside in areas where it may have been flaking or showing slight surface wear.

[wachuko]

So now I know that the differential is not original but from an earlier car. Still would need to know what that means in terms of reliability, performance impact, etc.

A few more photos of the underside of the car I am looking at now (1981).

Rust bubble surfacing... until I see the car in person I will not know what the paint and body work really looks like.



More of the underside. Is that a rust hole I see???



A few more, what do you guys think??

[wachuko]

Well... that 81 was nice but outside my budget....

Heading out to look at a 1972...

[wachuko]

1972 car was no good, cracked chassis. Rust, leaks, a mess...

http://daytona.craigslist.org/cto/1606131664.html

A bit frustrating, as I spoke with the owner, asked all the pertinent questions about rust, condition of the body, engine, if it had been in an accident, etc... Even told him that I was ready to buy and was asking all these questions to avoid wasting his time... "Ah is all fine, only a bit of rust in one of the fenders" . So I reserved an U haul trailer from a place close to where the car is, just in case...

I get there, and what do I find? Car had been in an accident and the front right fender was poorly repaired. Both shock towers are cracked at three spots... not just started cracking, cracked all the way through... fuel leak in the engine, trunk latch broken, rust in every corner of the car, all the bottom of the car is full of oil, coming from tranny and rear end. I could not sit straight in the driver's seat because the seat was all loose, passenger seat broken, the bottom pad of the seat is split in two! Like a sandwich! I try to drive it (yes, imagine that!) and when the car is in first it is jumping like a frigging kangaroo I have to quickly shift to second... When braking it pulls to one side... dash is cracked, instrument panel is broken and pulling out...

"Ah is all fine, only a bit of rust in one of the fenders" Pleeeeeeaseeee....

[wachuko]

Guys and Gals, if you know of a good candidate between US$2,500-3,500.00 please drop me a note...

[wachuko]

... Did you ask him what he would take?...

I called Don today, while driving back after looking at that "pristine" '72... he is set on 6K and will not lower the car. I did offer him the 4K and told him that I had to ask even if I knew the answer... He was very nice about the whole deal. What a cool guy. But no deal. 6K is his final and only number...

[kuhndg]

SENT PM.

[Europa]

Guys and Gals, if you know of a good candidate between US$2,500-3,500.00 please drop me a note...

Wachuko, I've been looking and will continue to do so. I understand what you're going through. I too looked for a long while and settled for the one I have now.

I have a neighbour with an '81 that he bought new. It's garaged and looks good from the street. I haven't seen him drive, so not sure about the mechanical condition. I'll venture over to him and see if he would consider selling it.

[wachuko]

Thank you for all your help!

I know these are 30+ year cars... so I know that what ever I find will require work. Working the cars is what I enjoy the most so I am not afraid of having to do work on them. And what I can't figure out I will ask for help,try to find it in a book, or pay a professional to do it.

But outside of Don's car (outside my budget) and the red car in Sarasota (even further away my budget), the rest of the cars I have seen can't be consider anything other than parts car...

Anyhow... I just got a call back from the seller of this car: http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/cto/1604273865.html

Picking up the car tomorrow. There... bought it! Sight unseen, but it is going to be my first parts car... now I need to find a good one so that between the two I can make a decent one. Wife is going to go haywire because all along she was expecting a driver and not just another project sitting in the garage...