The new 71

General chat about the car goes in here.
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seabeelt
Patron 2019
Patron 2019
Posts: 1614
Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2008 4:22 pm
Your car is a: Fiat Spider - 1971 BS1
Location: Tiverton, RI

The new 71

Post by seabeelt »

Well, I had some time to start going over the car this weekend and found some interesting things

Electrical - gas guage, oil and clock do not work - cause TDB
Oil guage - works once in a while and seems to read properly when it does
Temp guage works and radiator fan cycles when it is supposed to
Lights all come on when switch is full on, one headlight and one licenes plate light are intermitant. No lights anywhere when headlight switch is in the parking lamp position.
Directionals and hazards work,
Dash lights appear not to work
Wipers work - two speeds but no delay function
Air horns work but are weak
heater fan works but only in one position on the switch

Aftermarket amp meter (installed in the glove box) does not work

Wiring under the hood seems to be in fair to poor condition depending - new battery cables for sure


Interesting gas tank patch
and does anyone know what that plastic valve looking thing is just above the tank mounted on the trunk wall
Image


Also some interesting custom make rocker covers, unless they are supposed to have bend marks in them

Image


Has oil leaks at the two exhaust manifold studs toward the rear of the engine.


Already has the 4 -2 -1 exhaust :D

Some valve noise and of course the rings need replacing, but tranny seems to shif fine first through 3rd ( all I could get going down the driveway) and reverse. 4th and 5th TDB.

Overall not a bad Sunday afternoon
Michael and Deborah Williamson
1971 Spider -Tropie’ - w screaming IDFs
1971 Spider - Vesper -scrapped
1979 Spider - Seraphina - our son's car now sold
1972 Spider - Tortellini- our son's current
Merritt

Re: The new 71

Post by Merritt »

I have a '71 as well. It has been sitting in the garage for 21 years, as I had a choice to either feed the kids or work on the car. It has been a tough choice sometimes. I am currently working on stripping the paint down to bare metal and starting from scratch.
vandor
Posts: 3996
Joined: Sat May 23, 2009 1:23 pm
Your car is a: 1971 124 Spider
Location: Texas, USA

Re: The new 71

Post by vandor »

The plastic valve was for the vapor emissions system, looks like one of it's nipples is broken off so it's not much use now.
Csaba
'71 124 Spider, much modified
'17 124 Abarth, silver
http://italiancarclub.com/csaba/
Co-owner of the best dang Fiat parts place in town
User avatar
seabeelt
Patron 2019
Patron 2019
Posts: 1614
Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2008 4:22 pm
Your car is a: Fiat Spider - 1971 BS1
Location: Tiverton, RI

Re: The new 71

Post by seabeelt »

Ok, so here is what I have done so far, and I'm way behind schedule for getting her on the road.

New KYBs front and rear
BEEK rebuilt the head
Replaced the oil sending unit
Replaced the fuel sending unit
New tensioner bearing
New soft dash from AR
New dash panels made by me - solid mahogany
New 95 amp alt from Mark Allison
Cleaned gauge glass - removed cleaned and reinstalled
New 5watt bulbs for gauge lights
New timing belt
Oil Change
New coolant
Headlight relay kit
Heated seats - seats still at the upholstery shop for a makeover
Replaced heater core valve - tested core for leaks
Replaced cracked plastic defrost plenum
Replaced center console with better condition - non cracked spare
Replaced shift boot
New chrome gauge trim rings
Replaced cooling system hoses
Sand blasted and painted some of the engine parts - exhaust manifold, coolant tee, cam, aux and crank sprockets, aux shaft cover and valve covers, rad fan mounting bracket, brake fluid mounting bracket, intake manifold,
Reprinted radiator solid parts
New thermostat
New fan switch
New temp sensors - gauge and overheat switch
New plugs and wires.
Checked brake pads and rotors - like new
New door lugs
New negative battery cable
New positive battery cable post clamp

Stuff still to do

Immediate
Newer carpet - nice set from the 78
Repair/replace passenger side window cable - likes to roll itself down when going over bumps
Replace Intermediate console???
New top

Some of these may have to wait until the fall, except for the carpet, which may come back out to install some ez cool

Next winter/spring
Control arm bushings
Ball joints - just because I already have new ones
Tie rod ends and center link
Trailing arms, short and long
Paint springs
Repair / replace rockers

Seems like I had not done much until I started writing all of this stuff down

Mark, can you move this post over to the restoration page, or should I just start a new post?
Michael and Deborah Williamson
1971 Spider -Tropie’ - w screaming IDFs
1971 Spider - Vesper -scrapped
1979 Spider - Seraphina - our son's car now sold
1972 Spider - Tortellini- our son's current
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