73 spider restoration

[BEEK]

the bearing area is actually taped, just remove the tape. as for the gasket surfaces, I'm going to mill the block after dry assy. so it will be removed at that time. i finished the head today, what was in the last pictures was the rough porting. ill post later tonight new finished pictures. i make no claim as to having knowledge of porting heads. what i have learned was taught to me by bill king, look him up sometime on the internet. i met him as an old man with a marine shop next door to mine, but he had can am engines laying around everywhere, people flying in and out from England having him work on their engines and dynoing them. he took a few weeks before he passed and taught me what i know about porting heads. he explained flow , short side radius, and what not to do. granted its only one mans opinion. we never went to a flow bench with heads that we did. but wow is all i can say on his dyno. unfortunately we never kept any records as his printer was broken, and he didn't care to fix it. but i know what was achieved. again I'm looking forward to a guy croft head, after all he is the master when it comes to fiat heads. one day if i have the opportunity i would like to have one of my heads tested and see how far off from guys work i am.

[BEEK]

coming back from the dead.... i have now started this project again

[scgstuff]

Yea, can't wait. I was hoping the one we got wouldn't need much work, but the more I look at it, the more I find.

[BEEK]

the last 3 years havent been so good to the car. i also discovered that the po had covered the floor pans with fiberglass to hide some significant rust. still not a deal killer, but now i have a bit more work to do. but i love this kind of work.

this picture was of the floor pan 3 years ago


this one is from today, after the fiberglass was removed as well as the tar chipped off








now i have removed the rust from the front floor pan



i have removed the right front fender, and began the rust removal and repair behind the fender

[BEEK]

also, some ex employees decided to rip the wiring harness out of the car and sell it for scrap to help their drug habit. i do say EX! but now i will probably install a wiring harness from a 80 spider i have. even over a harness from a 74 which is basically the same as this car, the later cars just have a much better electrical system, in my opinion. i may updater the fuse boy to blade fuses, but thats about it for changing the harness

[hamlet]

BEEK doing a restore? Awesome!!

[djape1977]

hmmmm, why does this look so familliar?





and later...



so to cut the long story short, my condolances pal, you're in for a year of pain

[djape1977]

and if you need new seat mounts, chasis legs and shock towers, p.m. me

[cos]

what a transformation! well done

[BEEK]

djape1977, very nice work

[narfire]

Wow, tip my hat to those that are/ will cut, fit and weld.
I got fed up with the rust and( the shop) performed a lobotomy of sorts...spliced a 79 front on.




Chris

[BEEK]

that is exactly what im doing as well. i have the front clip from my 80 spider i parted out. this is not the first time ive done this. i am replacing everything from the firewall forward too. i just really want a small bumper car again. the only thing im still debating is the color. i am thinking either red, or baby blue, which was the color of my first car, which was a 74 spider

[courtenay]

Hey Chris - have you got your '72 ready for the road yet?

[djape1977]

thanks beek.

whish i could find a shell withouth rust and use it. spiders are extremely rare around here.

[Daniel]

Nice work guys I'm truly inspired now.

It's been a couple years since I acquired Dan's 66 Shell of a 124 it is rust free but needs body and paint the plan was
to do it myself or use the plates on a newer spider getting around smog till I get it done then taking my Engine out
and placing in the 1966. I guess after reading about your projects I have no excuse since less work is needed on
my project car.