Greetings

[Kabong]

Hello out there, just picked up my new baby this past weekend. It's a 1980 and seems to be in impeccable condition. Only 10k miles on it, zero rust. and all original (I have noticed some of the hoses appear to have been replaced). I am curious if there is any preventive maintenance I should be doing on her to keep her in top form.

[baltobernie]

Hello, Kabong, and welcome! Great looking car!

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... 92&p=22404

[Estaban]

Hi. Your Baby looks nicer then mine. I hope you and it make as many wonderful memories as I and mine have.

[CajunMike]

Beauty, but 10k miles??? What was it used to check the mail for 30 years? You may need to check the gas tank that low mileage turnover may have left a little rust in the tank.

Are those wheels rotas or panasports? Very nice.

[Exit98]

Wow, is it really as clean and nice as it looks in the pictures?

Can we see a shot of the engine compartment?

Do you have maintainance records?

Change the timing belt unless you know otherwise when it was done. On the other hand your's may not be an interference motor, I don't know much about the "modern" Spiders.

[TX82FIAT]

Wow! that is a really nice Spider. I would review the maintenance done on the car. I found it helpful to go the geek route and log everthig that was done with the car in excel using the records provided. From that i realized i should change all the fluids, plugs and timing belt. The car may have sat for a while with 10K. Or.... you came across the diamond in the ruff that had and owner that kept miles low and maintenance up to date. Best of luck to you with your practically new car.

[divace73]

Really nice car, love the interior,
Regarding to the miles, would it be the case the odometer has clocked itself, may be even a couple of times?.
I'd be changing the timing belt if there is no recent record of it being changed. (If there are no record, I chan ge everything regardless, peace of mind)
Is it a FI model?

[Kabong]

I have ALL the maintenance records dating back from when it was new. It really is in that great shape. I will take some pics with my high res camera and upload them tomorrow of all the litte details, there is still plastic on the carpets from the factory, the rear window has not yellowed at all, the Panasport rims and tires are new and filled with nitrogen. If this is a resto, the REALLY did a job on it. I bought this car off Tiger Woods' neighbor, who was the second owner. The first was a lady who kept it covered up in her garage for most of its life. I was looking for a beater to keep me mobile until my daily car arrives from Canada when I stumbled upon it, and being the previous owner of a '72 850 spider I had to check it out. When I saw the shape it was in, I bought it on the spot. I'm assuming the timing belt is a known issue with these things, I will check through my records tonight.

Just checked - Timing Belt was replaced 05/11/1999, think we should be ok here?

[Kabong]

Is it a FI model?

Yes it is FI

[divace73]

Normal wear and tear would be a good indication, rips in seats etc, if none of that is present then you are onto a winner.
The interior does look immaculate, judging by that alone it does look genuine, man I am envious.
Sounds like you got yourself a great deal!!! I like the tiger wood name dropping Can you somehow link the car to a scandal?
Take care of that baby.

[Kabong]

I like the tiger wood name dropping Can you somehow link the car to a scandal?

Other than the fact that it was sitting in the driveway across the street when his wife took a golf club to him and his SUV there is no link

[2ndwind]

Kabong,
Welcome and congratulations on a beautiful car find. Timing belts on these things should be changed every 30K miles OR 6 yrs. I just met a guy who has been driving his 1980 FI FIAT (good weather only) since 1999 and it never occurred to him to change the timing belt. He has no idea when it was last changed. I also recently met a guy with a 1991 Miata. He has never changed the timing belt. So I guess it is a crap shoot as to whether the belt will dry rot over time and break or not.

The 2.0L FIAT engine is not officially an interference engine. That is, a broken belt does not lead to valve and piston damage. However, on rare occasions, if it breaks just right, and the cam on the auxiliary shaft happens to be hit by the piston rod, you are likely to get a cracked block. A shame for a 10K-mile car. Ramzi from Auto-Ricambi parts said he's only seen about four of these, I didn't want to be #5. Call me overly cautious, but now I have peace of mind.