Foam Foot Rest

Maintenance advice to keep your Spider in shape.
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NSFIAT
Posts: 89
Joined: Wed Jul 10, 2013 7:09 pm
Your car is a: 1981 Pininfarina

Foam Foot Rest

Post by NSFIAT »

I picked up my Spider close to 7 years ago and in the process of removing dingy carpet I seem to recall a piece of white, expanded polystyrene in the passenger side footwell. If memory serves me correct it appeared molded to fit the floor pan / firewall area and sat underneath the carpet. It was in rough shape and would have been tossed with the carpet. Is that a factory piece or something that was crafted? Does anyone else have one or implemented something different in its place?
redcars
Patron 2020
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Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 9:36 pm
Your car is a: 1981 Spider 2000
Location: Collinsville, IL

Re: Foam Foot Rest

Post by redcars »

That was a factory part.
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18Fiatsandcounting
Posts: 3798
Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2019 11:23 pm
Your car is a: 1969 and 1971 124 spiders
Location: San Francisco Bay Area

Re: Foam Foot Rest

Post by 18Fiatsandcounting »

I'm pretty sure most of my early 124 spiders had this polystyrene part, and yes, it appeared to come from the factory that way. My current two spiders have this part.

-Bryan
braca23
Posts: 66
Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2011 9:36 am
Your car is a: FIAT 124 Sport Spider 1971
Location: Belgrade - Serbia

Re: Foam Foot Rest

Post by braca23 »

I have same exepriance. :-)
PaulC
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Your car is a: 1979 Fiat Spider 2000
Location: Maine

Re: Foam Foot Rest

Post by PaulC »

Mine had it too but ditched it when replacing the carpet
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Hootch
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Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Spider 1800
Location: Boise, Idaho

Re: Foam Foot Rest

Post by Hootch »

My '78 has one. Quirky, these cars. I replaced my carpets last summer but kept the styrofoam. Not sure if it helps with road noise, or maybe heat transference from the engine, but regardless, my was in decent shape, so I left it in.
Hootch McGee
1978 124 Spider (1592 cc motor)
2012 Mini Cooper Clubman S
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PaulC
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Your car is a: 1979 Fiat Spider 2000
Location: Maine

Re: Foam Foot Rest

Post by PaulC »

Replaced ours with HushMat throughout. Haven't noticed a lot of road noise with it.
NSFIAT
Posts: 89
Joined: Wed Jul 10, 2013 7:09 pm
Your car is a: 1981 Pininfarina

Re: Foam Foot Rest

Post by NSFIAT »

I have a gap running between the carpet on the floor and the carpet running along the side. Having the styrofoam back in place would eliminate it I think. Just me being picky! I may try to carve a block of foam to serve as a substitute.
tima01864
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Your car is a: 1983 FIAT Pininafarina Spider 2000
Location: Wilmington, MA

Re: Foam Foot Rest

Post by tima01864 »

I am very surprised how much adding padding and carpet cut down on the road noise, The harshness I felt is almost gone. I have that piece of styrofoam, will put it back in.
18Fiatsandcounting
Posts: 3798
Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2019 11:23 pm
Your car is a: 1969 and 1971 124 spiders
Location: San Francisco Bay Area

Re: Foam Foot Rest

Post by 18Fiatsandcounting »

Carpet and padding and door seals make a big difference in noise levels. I had my Jaguar XJ6 repainted along with interior work a couple months ago, and I drove it to the body shop after I had removed carpets, door cards, door seals, etc. I was really surprised at how noisy and drafty the cabin was without those items, and this was only driving at 25-30 MPH a few miles to the shop.

So, any foam padding or sound mats or carpeting is probably doing a lot to allow you to hear the engine better!

-Bryan
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