Reviving Engine

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Koya

Reviving Engine

Post by Koya »

Hello everyone, I finally freed up my driveway to accept delivery of our 1980 spider. to my understanding the car ran last year and stored there after, the people I got it from said the engine is frozen. I was not concern about it because is going to be converted into an electric car for my wife. I do however would like to revive the engine before I pull it out, I've sprayed some liquid wrench in each cylinder hoping it will free up any stock rings. I have not look at the crank to see what size the bolt head is, if there is one to use to rotate the engine. If not, where can go to turn the engine manually to see if does rotate.

I am new to these cars but I consider myself a "gearhead". Thank in advance.

Ben
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divace73
Posts: 1380
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2010 5:59 am
Your car is a: 1980 Fiat 124 Spider Silver
Location: Sydney, Australia

Re: Reviving Engine

Post by divace73 »

unless there was something wrong with the motor to start with, it shouldn't freeze withing a year? MAke sure the timing belt isn't broken??
Please do post your electric conversion, are you using AC or DC? and what type of controller and batteries will you be using?
Cheers David
-=1980 silver Fiat 124 Spider=-
If you want to see pics of my car (and other random stuff) >>click here<< OR
see my >>You tube channel<<
redcars
Patron 2020
Patron 2020
Posts: 487
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 9:36 pm
Your car is a: 1981 Spider 2000
Location: Collinsville, IL

Re: Reviving Engine

Post by redcars »

I picked up a Spider last summer that had set outside for 10 years and the engine wasn't frozen up. I think that if
you engine won't turn over that it has a mechanical problem and not frozen up. IMO
1987 Lotus Super 7 clone
1981 Fiat Spider 2000 AT
1982 Fiat Spider 2000 5sd
1970 Fiat Coupe
narfire
Posts: 3959
Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 2:14 am
Your car is a: 1980 124 spider
Location: Naramata B.C.

Re: Reviving Engine

Post by narfire »

When shimming the valves, I take all the plugs out and can then turn the engine with a 19mm on the intake cam nut and pull towards you.
80 FI spider
72 work in progress
2017 Golf R ( APR Stg. 1)
2018 F350 crew long box
So Cal Mark

Re: Reviving Engine

Post by So Cal Mark »

if the auxillary shaft is out of time, it can prevent the crankshaft from turning. Try turning the motor backwards by hand and see if it turns.
BTW, don't scrap the motor once you convert it. 2L motors are desirable and are getting harder to find
vandor
Posts: 3996
Joined: Sat May 23, 2009 1:23 pm
Your car is a: 1971 124 Spider
Location: Texas, USA

Re: Reviving Engine

Post by vandor »

The crankshaft nut is 38mm, or 1.5".
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
Koya

Re: Reviving Engine

Post by Koya »

Thank you everyone for your inputs, I myself was surprised to hear the engine was frozen within a year of static. I got a 1972 Corvette three years ago which sat for 12 years, the engine rotated without a problem. I am leaning towards some mechanical issue. If indeed it is frozen, I have not tried yet. If it is dead I do plan on keeping it and re-build down the road for future in another project can.

This car main purpose in life is to run 100% elecric, I will start a new post when I start on the project. I will be using a DC motor from netgear I believe and soliton JR controller and Lithium Batt. It will be a 144V, 160ah powqer source. Once I start and have all the components for the builld I will start a seperate post for the built.
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