Hello from NY

[opus10583]

Hi,

I am about to be the new owner of a 1978 FIAT 124 Spider 1800,
to be delivered "between 8 and 9" tonight!

This will be my second Spider, 30 years removed.

Once I've verified what appears to be excellent mechanical condition, I intend to de-Federalize it as much as possible short of replacing the pistons and bumpers (Phase 4?): I'd love to hear from anyone here having experience resetting the cam and ignition timings, lowering the ride height, installing a larger mechanical two-barrel carb (, installing a header).

Going forward from there, I'd also like to hear from anyone who's installed hotter cams, a rear sway bar, fog lights, wired in headlight relays, has an opinion of the ANSA rear exhaust element, or might suggest a serviceable (NOT audiofile) sound system (think background Vivaldi rather than Kid Rock or Kanye).

Glad to be aboard,
Mark

[grittracing]

Mark,
welcome , this is a great place. To answer most all your questions and more.

[opus10583]

Mark,
welcome , this is a great place. To answer most all your questions and more.

Thanks, I'll spend a little time searching around first.

Car, an eBay find, arrived last night, 11:30pm instead of 8, but none the worse.

1st impressions, marred by fatigue, cold, top up: It's as solid as described, with the caveat that the suspension bushings seem to be original! ...Quite a bit more "English" on the ball than my Honda.

The transmission is a bit noisier than memory leads me to suspect and the throw-out bearing threw it all away quite some time ago.

One troubling aspect is a pronounced pull to the left, despite recent caliper replacements.

So, into the shop for a quick how-do-you-do, then I start ordering A-arms and trailing arms and Mr. Panhard's Rod along with the "might as well" set of springs and braided soft lines; you know - while it's all to pieces.

Ciao!
Mark
124 CS1