1980 spider Restoration phase 2

[DRUMMOND]

Seattlespider the link to the mirrors are on page 16

[SeattleSpider]

Thanks.

Beautiful work by the way.

[Kiwispider]

Hey Drummond, it's been quite a while since I was last on the forum, but tonight I logged on specifically to see what you'd been up to. And whadya know? AWESOME! Congratulations on a fantastic job and I have to add my thanks for the inspiration and knowledge you've shared.

Tough choice on the bumpers. Like you, I am going for a pared back exterior - let the clean body lines and a sweet set of rims do the talking - so going bumperless seems a logical fit with that aesthetic. And your car looks sexy as hell as it is. But a tasteful bit of chrome also looks good and the early model bumpers are nice, so I can see why votes have gone that way. Looking forward to seeing what you decide.

[DRUMMOND]

Hi Kiwispider! long time no hear

thanks for the kudos!

how is your project going? any pics?

[Kiwispider]

I've had to ignore my Spider lately, life (and death) having gotten in the way. But I'm enthused once again. One of the next moves, in readiness for fitting 5 speed box, is lengthening the drive shaft using those measurements you gave me - thanks again for that btw. Got a new carb fitted which pumped up the volume nicely but the cam covers began leaking so won't get a warrant of fitness, so can't drive it. And it's winter.

[DRUMMOND]

Yep life has a way of throwing curve balls. Sorry for your loss!

Spring and summer is coming

[DRUMMOND]

Well its been nearly two months since the completion of the spider. nearly everything has worked spectacularly well!

A few things of note: the spider body flexes quite a lot, not so much in the rear but a lot at the front! May look into a strut bar to connect both fenders midway.

Steering took a while to get used too! 1 inch slack is quite a lot when you are using the steering wheel going down the road Going to have to find a solution for that one.

Will have to refit a catalytic converter too smelly without one!


Took it for its first public outing courtesy of The DC Fiat club crab run. Great event!!

[Akspider]

Very impressed with your restoration - thought mine should have been crushed with all the rust I cut out but just couldn't do that! Recently joined the forum and went thru all your posts on your spider and it's outstanding - gives me hope that I can do half as good. Enjoy the ride

[RRoller123]

"A few things of note: the spider body flexes quite a lot, not so much in the rear but a lot at the front! May look into a strut bar to connect both fenders midway."

I will be interested in following this idea! There doesn't seem to be enough room for a "standard" shock-shock mounted bar under the hood on the FI cars, but maybe a triangulated approach, like the Jaguar XJ6 takes, might work? Agreed that the front end flexes quite a bit.

[DieselSpider]

If the 1" is posing a problem you may want to have the alignment rechecked as properly set it should still track straight without wandering. Many do not set the caster correctly for when someone is actually sitting in the car and then the 1" feels more like a foot.

[aj81spider]

My 1981 came with a custom made bar that connected the fenders:



I pulled it out because it interfered with working on the engine a little and I didn't think that it did much. The car is gone but I still have the bar. PM me if that's the kind of thing you are looking for and if you are interested.

[RRoller123]

Do you remember how it was attached to the car? If it was just attached to the sheet metal around the fender wells, and not to the shock tower mounts, it probably still flexed along with the fender sheet metal?

[DieselSpider]

Do you remember how it was attached to the car? If it was just attached to the sheet metal around the fender wells, and not to the shock tower mounts, it probably still flexed along with the fender sheet metal?

In the picture its about 12" forward of the shock towers and attached to the fenders.

It looks weak and like it would only keep the hood opening more consistent but have little real value in preventing the frame from flexing.

[RRoller123]

There really isn't anywhere else to put one, with the intake plenum on the FI cars so large and high up in the bay. A beefier one might help, with stronger mounting area and plate.

[aj81spider]

Sorry for the delayed response - gone for the weekend.

It was attached to the sheet metal lip on the fender wall. I didn't think it would do much either - which is one of the reasons I took it out.

It might keep the fenders from flexing as much, but it certainly won't stiffen the car meaningfully.