Must haves?

[ap28]

Hi guys I just brought a 78' spider and I have a few questions. The spider has 21k miles and is in pretty good shape.

What would be the best manual to get, I have seen a few out there but whats worked out for you guys the best?

What spares do you keep on hand or even in the car at all times? I plan to keep a volt meter and a good set of hand tools in the trunk.

Other than the timing belt what are most common things to fail with these spiders?

Thanks

[Sunracer]

Hi guys I just brought a 78' spider and I have a few questions. The spider has 21k miles and is in pretty good shape.

What would be the best manual to get, I have seen a few out there but whats worked out for you guys the best?

What spares do you keep on hand or even in the car at all times? I plan to keep a volt meter and a good set of hand tools in the trunk.

Other than the timing belt what are most common things to fail with these spiders?

Thanks

The factory manual is great, pick up a couple cheap used ones, like Haynes. It is good sometimes to get a few different takes on things with different procedures, pic's etc.

I would add a fuel filter, fan belt (buy new ones for the car, install them save the old ones as spares) same program for points, condenser, rotor and cap. A few loose 10mm and 13mm nuts and bolts are good. A quart of oil and a bottle of water. Rig up a little wire with female spades on each end-this is what you use to jumper the electric fan switch in the radiator if the car starts to get hot and the fan is not coming on.

Jumper cables of course. Check the condition of your spare, jack and lug wrench. Charge your cell phone before you leave : ).

Good baseline stuff on a new to you Spider-inspect cross member for cracks, check torque on cross member bolts. Check valve adjustment. Clean and tighten (bending as required) the fuse box fuse holders. Buy all new fuses-the original plastic kind, not the glass ones. Install, save oldies as spares.

PB

[WYSpider]

Nice tip on the jumper for the radiator fan switch.

[TulsaSpider]

Great advise for anyone on all those points! I would ditch the points for an electronic setup but I have this thing about points. It is recommended to switch to the single point setup. I would also check the vacuum advance diaphragm and carry spare condensers as mine kept failing before I switched to electronic ignition.

[Sunracer]

Should have said male spades to jump the wires that lead to the fan temp switch at the bottom of the rad : )

[WYSpider]

Bottom fan temp switch looks easier to make a jumper for.
Fiat 1978+


Fiat 1971-77

[opus10583]

Gaskets.