New Member from Sammamish, Washington

[valmontej]

Hi, folks. Signed up a couple of weeks ago and I'm so glad I found this forum.

A friend of mine from work went to Hawaii and gave me his early '80 spider. The car was in the middle of restoration but he lost interest 3 years ago. Just sat outside his garage. I asked him about it and he says, you want it? It's yours. He also gave me a spare fuel injected engine, a tranny, the front suspension assembly and a whole bunch of parts he had salvaged from another spider. I named the car Luigi.

I've been working on restoring it, (or should I say my race mechanic) and the car is in excellent mechanical condition. Put in the fuel injected engine but put in a carbureted setup with the 32/36 DFEV, mild cams, single plane manifold, stock compression, 4-2-1 headers, lightened flywheel, performance clutch, replaced everything from the clutch back to the rear axle.

New brakes, new braided stainless steel lines, new pads, rebuilt calipers, new coil springs, new shocks, new sway bar.new top, new headlights, new wipers, and on and on and on. Anyway, all electricals work (how's that for a Fiat!). Most of what I have in the engine came from Mark.

The suspension pieces and the brakes came from Vick Autosports.

I've had all the rusted parts replaced or treated and all it needs is a good paint job, lowering, and a spacer from Mark so I can get full open throttle. I took it to the dyno shop and they told me I was getting only 90-95% throttle at maximum.

It pulled 108 ft-lbs at 3900-4400 RPM and put out 99 hp at the rear wheel. I guess that puts the car at about 115 at the crank.

Anyway, this is getting long-winded. Glad to join you guys. Anyone in my neck of the woods who wants to go for a ride along our backroads, drop me a note. It's beautiful countryside out here.

[DocGraphics]

Hey, welcome.

I'm not really in your neck of the woods but still in the Northwest, I'm in Coeur d'Alene Id, just across the border from Spokane.
Nice to see another member join from our corner!

Just started restoring my 78, long ways to go.
How about some pics?

[Zippy]

Welcom to the forum. I'm down south in Federal Way. Will you be able to get it together for some summer driving?
Al

[maytag]

Welcome!
I'm not in your neck of the woods either.... but there's a lot of beautiful roads between there and here!

But in fact, there's a car up there in Colville WA (probably closest to our friends in Coeur D'Alaine) that I'd really like to have a look at... if anyone finds themselves in that area and could go take a peek for me.. that'd sure be helpful!

[majicwrench]

I end up in Colville almost every summer....I'll try and remember to drop you a note if I make it that way!

AND WELCOME

[maytag]

I end up in Colville almost every summer....I'll try and remember to drop you a note if I make it that way!

AND WELCOME

THAT'D BE SWEET!

[valmontej]

Welcom to the forum. I'm down south in Federal Way. Will you be able to get it together for some summer driving?
Al

It's very driveable at this point. There's just paint work to be done. I am down in Federal Way once in a while because my mechanic is in Auburn and I have a brother I visit down by North Shore. Were you the one that has a video of a drive thru Gig Harbor that's on You Tube also?

[valmontej]

Hey, welcome.

I'm not really in your neck of the woods but still in the Northwest, I'm in Coeur d'Alene Id, just across the border from Spokane.
Nice to see another member join from our corner!

Just started restoring my 78, long ways to go.
How about some pics?

I'll post pics once I figure out how to do it. Seems like I can't upload images. I can only provide links? I'll get back to you.

[valmontej]

I end up in Colville almost every summer....I'll try and remember to drop you a note if I make it that way!

AND WELCOME

THAT'D BE SWEET!

That would be cool. I have a friend/former co-worker who asked me to drive it up to Colville. Once in a while I have work to do at the Boundary Dams by Metaline Falls.

[valmontej]

Welcome!
I'm not in your neck of the woods either.... but there's a lot of beautiful roads between there and here!

But in fact, there's a car up there in Colville WA (probably closest to our friends in Coeur D'Alaine) that I'd really like to have a look at... if anyone finds themselves in that area and could go take a peek for me.. that'd sure be helpful!

I won't be in that area until July or so but there's a one-owner (as in original owner) selling his Spider for $8000. Somewhere in the Sea Tac area I think. Saw it on Craigslist. That's actually a bargain if it is in really excellent condition as he claims. I've easily spent that amount already and I'm not finished yet.

[Zippy]

Welcom to the forum. I'm down south in Federal Way. Will you be able to get it together for some summer driving?
Al

It's very driveable at this point. There's just paint work to be done. I am down in Federal Way once in a while because my mechanic is in Auburn and I have a brother I visit down by North Shore. Were you the one that has a video of a drive thru Gig Harbor that's on You Tube also?

Oops, missed this. I haven't been on the forum for awhile. Yes, that's my video going through the roundabout. I met up with Michael on short notice and we drove over to Gig Harbor and had lunch with another new member, Pat. I am thinking of planning another outing for either later in June or early July if you are interested.

Al

[valmontej]

Welcom to the forum. I'm down south in Federal Way. Will you be able to get it together for some summer driving?
Al

It's very driveable at this point. There's just paint work to be done. I am down in Federal Way once in a while because my mechanic is in Auburn and I have a brother I visit down by North Shore. Were you the one that has a video of a drive thru Gig Harbor that's on You Tube also?

Oops, missed this. I haven't been on the forum for awhile. Yes, that's my video going through the roundabout. I met up with Michael on short notice and we drove over to Gig Harbor and had lunch with another new member, Pat. I am thinking of planning another outing for either later in June or early July if you are interested.

Al

Yup, very interested. Let me know. My e-mail is valmonj@hotmail.com. E-mail me there and I'll send you my cell phone #.

[fiat218]

dAM I I USED TO LIVE IN EVERETTE WA. AND MT VERNON