I had my 73 Spider brought home yesterday to see if I can get it running after 20 years. As a newbie at mechanics I have a few questions. I had removed the gas tank to have it cleaned and learned it had pin holes in the bottom. Form reviewing this form the best solution is to purchase a new tank. Can someone tell me the names of the parts indicated with arrows in my trunk picture? I do plan on purchasing a new tank and fuel sending unit from AR. Also will replace hoses. Are the hoses a special type for gas? What size and length will I require? Should I replace any other parts? How can I tell if the fuel lines are still good or need replacing? How do I do this?
The lowest one in the pic is either a fuel filter or possibly a fuel pump, hard to tell from the pic. If it has wires going to it, then it's the pump.
The other two are parts of the vapor emissions system. Neither are available new. Are they bad/leaking? They do not normally need replacing. I think we may have the one with 3 hoses going into it in the New Old Stock inventory.
I would replace all hoses just to not have any issues in the future. You can buy 5/16" fuel hose from your local auto parts store. However, any hose that actually passes fuel needs to be rated for fuel injection, as those hoses are built to resist the ethanol that is not added to gas. Some auto parts stores have this, or you can buy it from Fiat parts vendors.
Csaba
'71 124 Spider, much modified
'17 124 Abarth, silver http://italiancarclub.com/csaba/
Co-owner of the best dang Fiat parts place in town
trunk looks very clean and your door seams nice and straight. Looks like you found a good one, my friend. It looks like some creative wiring is coming from your license plate lights. Getting that part straightened out wont be much fun. Sure beats fixing rust.
Thank you. Yes it is the fuel pump. I will remove it and check out if is working. Will purchase and change all rubber hoses.
Happy Easter Russ...yes I have been looking at the wires that have been cut to the lights for the licence plates. Somone has tried to tape them. I will be looking after this and hope this is my only wiring issue.
Your tank might can be saved depending on how bad the holes are. If they're pin holes, you may can use jb weld on the outside and then a good quality sealer on the inside. Caswell makes a 2 part epoxy for tanks that gets good reviews. Prep is extremely important. If you get a new tank, make sure they have the 3 vent barbs on top for the hoses. I don't think the new tanks have them. Also closely inspect the main filler hose to the tank. They tend to dry rot and leak. Looks like you have an original Carter pump there. You may be able to take apart and clean/rebuild. Pump has it's own fuse separate but near the fuse box. Make sure you put an inline filter between tank and pump.
Most importantly, enjoy the process! These cars will drive you nuts otherwise!
The fuel tank had been repaired by the PO and this is were it is leaking. He had it done at a gas tank shop and had a lifetime warranty...they are now out of business. I can send the tank to Toronto and have it repaired for about $300.00 (Cnd) with a 3 year warrant. Or I can purchase a new one for $160.00 (US). I will discuss with AR and feel confident they will send me the right tank. The old tank will be for backup. Thanks for the additional tips. I am really enjoying working on the car...however I might be a nut case before I'm finished.
This car may be much newer than a '73. '74 was the first year the battery was in the trunk, and '75 was the first year of that style license plate light.
Either way, you have an aftermarket fuel pump. Make sure it's wired correctly (not always on) - your car may have originally had a mechanical fuel pump. If you stay with an electric fuel pump, make sure it's low-flow, not a high pressure unit designed for Fuel Injection.
The year of the car is a bit in question. The chassis numbers are 72 or 73. (0055864) It has the large tubular bumpers which I think are 74. As you noticed the trunk looks like a 74 or 75. From what history I can gather the car was brought to a body shop for work...not sure why? The boyfriend showed up and was upset about the estimate and signed over the registration to the owner of the body shop. The mechanic in the shop next to his wanted the car so they made an agreement that he would pay off the body work required with mechanical services. This was 25 years ago and barttering was common. At any rate the mechanic is the person I bought the car from and told me he picked up a Spider which he found in a field and combined the 2 cars. He had to pull the parts car out of the mud! He restored it and drove it for 1 year and then put it into storage because him and his wife had a baby and needed a family car.I bought the car last year and it has been stored since 91.
I have the fuel pump on the workbench and will see if it works. My problem now is trying to tell the parts supplier what
year fuel pump I will need.
Based on the VIN your Spider was made March or April of 1972, which would make it a 1972. However many detail on the car, like the tube bumpers, the tag lights or the holes in the rear trunk panel show it to be a 1975 or newer Spider. I wonder if someone switched VIN plates... the VIN should be stamped into the body on the horizontal part of the box section in the upper part of the firewall.
Csaba
'71 124 Spider, much modified
'17 124 Abarth, silver http://italiancarclub.com/csaba/
Co-owner of the best dang Fiat parts place in town
Vandor the vin stamped on the body of the firewall is (0055864). Like I said in my previous post this car was in a body shop and is the product of 2 cars combined. I will speak with the PO and see if he can shed anmore light on this cars history.
As a newbie at mechanics I have a few questions. I had removed the gas tank to have it cleaned and learned it had pin holes in the bottom. Form reviewing this form the best solution is to purchase a new tank. Can someone tell me the names of the parts indicated with arrows in my trunk picture? I do plan on purchasing a new tank and fuel sending unit from AR. Also will replace hoses. Are the hoses a special type for gas? What size and length will I require? Should I replace any other parts? How can I tell if the fuel lines are still good or need replacing? How do I do this? 
