Why are POs so stupid?

[spidernut]

I'll never understand people. Despite having an extremely low mileage Spider, I still run into those PO (Prior Owner) nightmares that make performing repairs a pain in the behind. Depite the PO repair that was done wrong (of course), I replaced the exhaust manifold gasket and water outlet gasket. I couldn't find a replacement EGR gasket, so I had to use the old one again. Now, all everything is snug and leak free! I took the Spider out in the rain for the first time in about five years. I forgot how slow the windshield wipers are. Looks like I'll have to clean them up, lubricate them and clean the connections.

[Zippy]

My PO is an exception then. I have absolutely no complaints about anything that he did. That's not to say there aren't things I would do differently. I would have painted the engine bay the body color but I can't remember why he painted it black. He put a piece of plastic where the ashtray was and put the flashing LED for the alarm there. I don't need an ashtray but I always kept my change for the toll bridge in there in my other Fiats. He did a beautiful job of refinishing the wheels but if I had the money I would powdercoat them. He put a big box with speakers where the back seat was. I took it out so the dog could ride back there. I have a seat bottom to put in but I have to custom cut it around the roll bar and just havent had the time or inclination to do it. I would have tried to find a hood and doors correct for a 78 but he liked the look of the recessed door handles and the parts car he used was a later model.

The body work, the chrome, the top, the mechanicals were all done very well. His mechanical skills and his attention to detail resulted in a nicely done car. I am very happy to drive it and sing his praises. Thanks Rick (if you're listening) for a nicely built car.

[kilrwail]

[quote="Zippy"] I would have tried to find a hood and doors correct for a 78 but he liked the look of the recessed door handles and the parts car he used was a later model. [quote]

I'd say you're very fortunate, based on the other tales we read. There's nothing wrong with recessed door handles on a '78. Mine was manufactured in May '78 and has them.

[ventura ace]

Keep in mind . . . when you get around to selling your Fiat one of these days, you will then be the PO. Give that a little thought.

Alvon

[maytag]

Ya know, I'd point out that these cars have been and should be owned and driven by people from every walk of life, with wide-ranging mechanical ability, and even more wide-ranging budgets.
When I was a kid, I frequently KNEW the right way to make a repair on my Spider or whatever else I had at the time, but I either lacked the budget or, frankly the patience. I knew that if I waited to do it "correctly", then I was delaying te actual DRIVING-ENJYMENT that I wanted from the car.

Guess what? I'm much older now, with increased knowledge, increased budet, and even some increased patience. But I find I'm just at a different place on the same curve. I still have to balance the available time, money, patience, etc to determine what methods I'll use on my car.

Right now, I've got several items on my current Spider that I wish had been done differently by the PO. Some I've corrected, some aren't worth it, and some I've compunded with my own.

In short: remind me to never sell on of MY cars to YOU!
I'm just kidding of course. I understand the frustration and the sentiment. I'd just like to see it tempered by some understanding for some of our members who are STILL creating future headaches for thenext owners... but at least they are enjoying the cars, and driving 'em (hopefully)

[spidernut]

I don't mind the little things like the improperly installed stereo, poorly painted wheels, improperly mounted muffler, bad bodywork, etc....fixing simple things is half the fun of restoring a car. The problem is that one of the prior owners had no idea how to properly torque anything he touched. It is so frustrating when you have to perform a simple repair and find that someone torqued something that should have been torqued to 15 inch pounds and they torqued it to 15 foot pounds thus stripping the threads off. There's no easy fix. It makes those simple 15-20 minute jobs take 2-3 hours.

The good news is that I have a nice garage that stays fairly warm and is well lit. With the music playing, I guess it isn't all that bad.

[Zippy]

I'd say you're very fortunate, based on the other tales we read. There's nothing wrong with recessed door handles on a '78. Mine was manufactured in May '78 and has them.

Did not know that. Thanks.

Keep in mind . . . when you get around to selling your Fiat one of these days, you will then be the PO. Give that a little thought.

Not a problem, I'm going to be buried in mine.

The good news is that I have a nice garage that stays fairly warm and is well lit. With the music playing, I guess it isn't all that bad.

If I could get all my remodeling projects done I would be able to get rid of all the building materials I have acquired. Then I would have more room to move around and work. As soon as I get the new garage door mine won't be so drafty and I will be able to heat it when I need to work out there. Got the lighting covered.

[maytag]

teeheehee....
I consider myself lucky. In my garage, besides plenty of heat and light< i've also got a fridge, a microwave oven, a toaster oven, and a 35" tv with digital cable and DVD, all pumped through surround-sound.

it's truly a "man-cave".

[TulsaSpider]

teeheehee....
I consider myself lucky. In my garage, besides plenty of heat and light< i've also got a fridge, a microwave oven, a toaster oven, and a 35" tv with digital cable and DVD, all pumped through surround-sound.

it's truly a "man-cave".

Niiiice~!

[redcars]

Now that it is cold with snow on the ground I am working on my fiats. I put the car on the lift and the set the temp at 60 and away I go. I installed new shocks, cut a coil off the springs, and put new bushing and ball joints on the left side a-arms today. It is nice to be older and spend some money on yourself. The PO's of my 82 spider have left me a nice car to work on. Not the same story on my 81 spider. They where the kind that no likes!

[zachmac]

As was sort of pointed out earlier, you have to remember that these cars weren't always "collectible"; quite the opposite. For many years most of these cars belonged to mostly poor young guys who lived without tools and garages and only cared if the women still found being stranded by the side of the road in an Italian convertible sexy or not.

I had two roommates in the Navy who both bought Spiders new (75 and 76) and let me also say that having a Fiat dealer repair the car wasn't much better than a shade tree mechanic. The PO that screwed up you car or did a half-ass repair just might have been factory trained!

I also have a to do list that is sorted into "need to do", "nice to do", and "if I run out of other things and am really bored to do". I find with this car however that "drive it" seems to take priority over all but the safety related "need to do".

God bless POs however bad they may have butchered the car as they at least kept it from the crusher.

[spidernut]

God bless POs however bad they may have butchered the car as they at least kept it from the crusher.

Amen. My car sat in a barn for 15 years. It easily could have found its way to the crusher though I doubt that with only 31,000 miles on it at the time that anyone would have done so.

The PO that screwed up you car or did a half-ass repair just might have been factory trained!

You actually could be right on that one since the guy whom I bought it from didn't seem to know much repairing vehicles. He was a REALLY nice guy and very informative about the car's history. He actually cared who he sold it to because he didn't want to see it beat up by a teenager. Nonetheless, the repairs were performed wrong by the PM (prior mechanic). As of today, it's all fixed and fixed correctly!

[mdrburchette]

He actually cared who he sold it to because he didn't want to see it beat up by a teenager.

This is how the PO of most of my Fiats were. They were relieved their car was going to a good home.

[BEEK]

<---has home for wayward fiats ive owned 1000's literally, now i have 10 but i still find the need to have them. dont realy understand why, in fact i dont even think of it much anymore. when i see a spider in need i usualy buy it to keep it from the crusher. eventhough i have crushed many fiats in my times, there was absolutly nothing left to save. thank god i have a large storage lot. my pesonal spider has a bad transmission right now. ill pull it out and overhaul it this spring, same time ill replace the motor with the one im building. until then its project scorpion time!

[htchevyii]

My theory is that in the time between when Fiat pulled out of the US and the widespread use of the internet, people had a hard time finding parts/info and just did what they could to keep them going. At least that's my theory on why my car had a aftermarket headlamp switch, garden hose for the crankcase vent, etc.