Hello everyone...

[Lons79spider]

I'm glad to find this site. I have recently re-acquired my first convertible a 1979 FIAT 2000 Spider. My Dad and I bought it in 1980 or 81 (I'll need to check my records) with low miles on it from a young couple in Whittier that were selling to to get their first mini-van. We co-owned it until seven years later when I had to sell my half to raise a down-payment for my first home.

My Dad has owned it since then. It's been on and off the road since then. Currently the car has just under 88K miles on it. It doesn't run and hasn't been on the road since 2005. The car was stored outdoors under a tarp. It's always been a California car, but it shows where my folks live, so I have some rust and corrosion to deal with where the moisture from the melting snow got under the tarp. I couldn't see the car being donated or dropped off at a salvage yard (the two options my Dad talked about doing with the car) so I had it towed to my house.

The good: since my name is still on the title I don't need to do a title transfer. I will need to change the address with DMV, but that can wait until I get it back on the road. Fortunately the car was put on non-op when the license was up for renewal. Engine, trans and rear all in good shape. New catalytic converter and muffler.

The bad: In addition to not running, a bit of rust and body damage to take care of before it gets a new pait job. Also I have a LOT of vehicles in my inventory already: 1990 Camaro RS Convertible (my 2nd 'vert), 1988 Firebird Formula, 1998 Dodge Ram 2500 V10 Quad-Cab longbed. Add to that my wife's cars 1990 Volvo GL, 1991 Honda Accord. There is also a 1985 Toyota Tercel we inherited I'm trying to get to pass smog check and taken off non-op.

The car will be a good runner in the current condition once I get the non-start issue with the engine sorted out. I'll be here to get help and suggestions as I move forward. I just wanted to introduce myself and let everyone know there will be another Spider owner out here getting his first convertbile back on the road.

Lon

[RRoller123]

Welcome aboard! You will find plenty of knowledgeable and friendly people here.

Here is a thread on how to post pictures to the forum:

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=21014

Pete

[2ndwind]

Welcome. Great story. Looking forward to before and after pics. Look through the archives for troubleshooting the no-start issue.
My initial recommendations:
New battery
Check for spark
check for fuel
'

[Lons79spider]

New battery is a no-brainer. Since there is no battery at the moment. My brother and Dad were working on this issue before I got the car. I need ot get their list of what they did or tried which will help me moving forward. Initially I heard they thought it was a problem of corrosion inside the distributer. I bought a used distributer on eBay, but it was for a 1800 and they said it wouldn't work. Later they said the carb needed to be rebuilt which my brother supposedly has done. Last I heard was there was a problem with corrosion in a conector going thru the firewall. I'll let you know what I find when I dig into this. I plan to get a pressure washer and clean things up before I get into it.

Lon

[Lons79spider]

Update: Looking under the hood shows no evidence of the carburetor being touched. The vacuum secondary was frozen at first. It took a good push to free it up. The weber carb is sure a lot simpler looking than the one on the 85 Tercel. At least there isn't a ton of vacuum lines to deal with.

I was not happy to see that both windwing locks had fallen off. Way too easy to get into the car. Push open the windwing and pull up on the inside handle. I'll have to check the box of stuff that came with teh car to see if they were included. Someone should have invented a version that wraps around the glass so it can really lock the windwing rather than the current design where it can simply be pried (or fall) off.

I also see that the left muffler hanger is broken allowing it to be off-center.

I took a lot of pictures in it's current condition.

Question: Inside the glove box I see a cutout in the upper right side. Is that where a light is supposed to be? It's been too long since I drove this car to remember if the glovebox lit up when opened.

Thanks,

Lon

[Exit98]

Lon,

There's no light in the glovebox. Someone cut a hole in it, maybe for a radio, but who knows. PO's do funny things.

The window vent locks fall off all the time. I'd venture to say half the cars on here don't have any. They can be glued back on with mixed results. Do a search and you'll find some other ideas.

I'm sure it depends on where you you'll leave the Spider unattended, but the whole question about actually locking the car at all has also been discussed at length. Me, no vent things, door locks don't work and I don't care. Who's really going to steal a 30 something year old Fiat? And if they want something inside the car I'd just as soon they take it without cutting up my new top.

Where I drive and park it the crime rate's pretty low. I really don't worry about it.

Good luck with the car by the way, great story. Need some "before" pictures.

[RRoller123]

wait, you mean these cars have door locks? I never checked.

[2ndwind]

No vent window locks, never checked to see if door locks work for the same reason as others.