'78 and '79 cross member differences

kmoses · Post by **kmoses** » Sun Mar 15, 2015 10:53 pm

I have a '79 spider 2000 that has the oil pan touching the cross member. The oil pan also has a nasty dent across the front but the cross member shows no sign of any impact. I am thinking the cross member has been replaced, is there a way to tell the difference between the early 1978 and late 1979?

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Sun Mar 15, 2015 11:38 pm

the later crossmembers have a spacer welded to the surface that mounts to the unibody

kmoses · Post by **kmoses** » Sun Mar 15, 2015 11:44 pm

Thanks Mark!

kmoses · Post by **kmoses** » Mon Mar 16, 2015 7:47 am

I just checked my '79 for the cross member spacer and there are none. That explains why the oil pan is sitting on the cross member! I my next move is a posting in the "Parts Wanted" section of the fourm. Thanks again for the help.

kmoses · Post by **kmoses** » Mon Mar 16, 2015 11:45 am

Mark, my '79 spider 2000 has the carb. engine. Does it use the same cross member as the '79 fuel ingected engine?

spider2081 · Post by **spider2081** » Mon Mar 16, 2015 12:17 pm

I believe Fuel injection started in the 1980 model year.

RRoller123 · Post by **RRoller123** » Mon Mar 16, 2015 5:20 pm

I believe that '79 was a transition year, with CA cars FI, the balance of the US carbed.

mpollock · Post by **mpollock** » Sun Mar 22, 2015 5:05 pm

I have a '79 California car that's carbureted.

divace73 · Post by **divace73** » Tue Mar 24, 2015 6:07 am

you'll find that the FI cars started late 79 sometime, no doubt there will be a cross over period

'78 and '79 cross member differences

'78 and '79 cross member differences

Re: '78 and '79 cross member differences

Re: '78 and '79 cross member differences

Re: '78 and '79 cross member differences

Re: '78 and '79 cross member differences

Re: '78 and '79 cross member differences

Re: '78 and '79 cross member differences

Re: '78 and '79 cross member differences

Re: '78 and '79 cross member differences