Introducing myself and my car. (With pics)

[nextse7en]

Hello!

My name is Patrick, and this is my car. A 79 Spider.

I found it on a small town craigslist about 100 miles from my home city of Portland.

The car is an absolute blast, but it will need some work. Maybe you guys can point me in the right direction.

It has a new 32/36 Weber carb, which is badly out of tune, I can't drive with the top down without getting high from the fumes. I think the choke is engaging slightly when at WOT. When I took the air cleaner off, I found a bolt just hanging out in the throttle body, impeding airflow.



About 8 hours after I bought it, the clutch cable failed loudly and spectacularly at a stop light, I fabricated a new end for it to tool around until a new one arrives.




The transmission whines loudly in 3rd and 5th, but stays in gear in all gears. Might be time for some sawdust in the oil.



The car pulls to the left, I ascribe that to a rusty, old caliper on that wheel. Caliper rebuild on the horizon.



The drivers side door was hyper-extended at one point, putting a dent 3/4' deep down the fender directly in front of the door, the dent runs the height of the fender - I'm looking forward to tips on how to fix that area, as it looks like the fenders are all welded on.



There is oil pooling in each of the spark plug galleys, but the engine isn't losing oil at any appreciable rate. I've driven it 300 miles since I bought it, and I haven't noticed any drop in oil level


Most of this post I've spent complaining about things that aren't right. Let me tell you about the things that are.

The paint is shiney and nice.
The car accelerates wonderfully, and stays running at stop lights.
All the electronics work.
The interior is pretty nice.
The top is in like new condition.
I bought it for $1000

I imagine you'll be seeing lots of me from here on out. I'm no stranger to wrenching on cars. And this isn't my first rattletrap roadster (I had a midget prior to this) My hope is to get the car into solid running and cosmetic condition, as this will be my daily driver.

Cheers!
-Patrick

[azruss]

welcome. If you can wrench, then you will with this car. You have lots of help in the Willamette Valley as there are many members along the I-5 corridor.

[TX82FIAT]

before putting sawdust in trans oil. Check trans oil to see what is in there and change the oil to GL1. These transmissions have soft metal syncro rings and I cant see how sawdust in the oil would do anything other than require a new trans. $100.00 for a running car is awesome. Welcome

[Exit98]

Hi Patrick,

For a $1K I think you did great.

The oil in the plug holes could be as simple as a loose oil fill cap. Clean up all the oil, check the cap and see if you can tighten up the underside of it and make sure its on tight. That's all I had to do.

That fender dent is a problem. Does the door open and close OK? I'll be watching to see what the experts say about that issue.

Besides the caliper you might find that many or all your front bushings are toast. Common problem. It'll cost a few bucks to get the front end squared away but it's money well spent. Safer and way more fun to drive.

Once you get the safety issues resolved you'll want to consider a carb and exhaust header upgrade. These two changes plus of couse de-smoging, will bring that seeming anemic 1800 to life.

[Lons79spider]

Hi Patrick,
...Once you get the safety issues resolved you'll want to consider a carb and exhaust header upgrade. These two changes plus of couse de-smoging, will bring that seeming anemic 1800 to life.

Being it is a '79, wouldn't it be an anemic 2 liter?

Welcome to the fourm. I'm bringing a '79 back from a rest too. Good luck with sorting our the problems.

Lon

[focodave]

Patrick,
Please tell us you were kidding about putting sawdust in your tranny. (hard to tell without any smiley face emoticons after your sawdust statement).
That's not going to fix anything.
Changing the trans fluid to the proper GL1 fluid will not fix anything either (will not reverse any previous damage), but it is good to make sure the proper fluid is in there, nontheless.
So I agree that I would drain it and replace it with GL1.
Welcome, and good luck with it.
Dave

[nextse7en]

Patrick,
Please tell us you were kidding about putting sawdust in your tranny. (hard to tell without any smiley face emoticons after your sawdust statement).
That's not going to fix anything.
Changing the trans fluid to the proper GL1 fluid will not fix anything either (will not reverse any previous damage), but it is good to make sure the proper fluid is in there, nontheless.
So I agree that I would drain it and replace it with GL1.
Welcome, and good luck with it.
Dave

Forgive me, I was making a Grapes of Wrath reference. I know full well not to put sawdust in the transmission, everyone knows it goes in the crankcase!

Does anyone have a comprehensive guide to tuning the Weber 32/36? Its aftermarket on this car, (and by the looks of it, nearly new) It looks like the car was partially desmogged as well. (I don't have DEQ where I register the car) It looks like I may need to go in and finish the job, just to make sure there are no vacuum leaks.

So, at the moment, I'm looking for a sensible de-smog how to for 79, and a tune up sheet for the Weber. Or, lacking a comprehensive guide, a decent vacuum diagram for the engine compartment.

Thanks!
-Patrick (The guy who detests emoticons)

[focodave]

Thanks!
-Patrick (The guy who detests emoticons)

Ha!
Good to see you have a sense of humor.
You'll definitely need it to work on your car and to communicate on the forum.
All good...
Dave

[narfire]

[quote="nextse7en"]-Patrick (The guy who detests emoticons)[/quote
Ok, I promise not to use emoticons with you so long as you promise not to mention that particular Japanese two seater that starts with the letter M... (you don't want to see the consequence)
Hi there. Yes you have come across a great place for information for these great little cars.
Several have tweeked the 79 with a new carb the single plane intake, and when available switched to a head from an 1800. All great bolt on improvements.

[SLOSpider]

Hey what are you doing with my Blazer....must be the personality type to own Blazers and Fiats. Ok so its a Suburban, Ill let you slide.

[sleggar3]

hey portland is not to far from me nice to see some fiat owners in the northwest

[RRoller123]

Welcome!