Edit... Resto mod FIRST DRIVE

spider2081 · Post by **spider2081** » Mon May 26, 2014 7:35 am

I don't know the resistance of the stock fuel sender.

If you are using the stock fuel gauge the gauge needs to have a ground wire on it. Also the senders metal mounting ring needs to be grounded. The senders metal mounting ring needs to be grounded on most senders. On a stock Fiat the sender makes its ground by the mounting studs on the fuel tank and the tank mounting bolts to the trunk floor.

For the stock Fiat fuel gauge if it is working and wired correctly, removing the sender wire to the gauge should cause the gauge to read empty. Momentarily ground the sender wire to the gauge and the gauge should read beyond full. Do no leave it grounded or you could damage the gauge.

The stock senders other wire connection is for the low fuel warning light in the gauge. The light (and gauge) have power from fuse F. The sender switches a ground for the light when there is about 2 gallons of fuel left in the tank.

Hope this helps

SoFlaFiat · Post by **SoFlaFiat** » Mon May 26, 2014 7:45 am

Every little bit of info helps!!
I am "bench testing" more like floor testing but...
I ran a ground to both the new sender and an extra gauge. I ran power to the gauge and then connected the sender to the gauge. It went instantly to full and went back down to 1/3 when I lifted the float on the sender.
I will have to look into the idiot light wiring and review Brad's wiring diagrams.

SoFlaFiat · Post by **SoFlaFiat** » Sat May 31, 2014 10:02 pm

She's alive!!

It's been a very busy few weeks at work, but with baby steps, one or two connections a night, I have everything hooked up. I have a couple things not working right but now that I have the whole car powered up, I can start to trouble shoot!
I have to admit, I was very excited to have the whole system powered up for an hour this evening and not smell anything nasty or start any fires!

vandor · Post by **vandor** » Sat May 31, 2014 11:15 pm

Like!

fiat218 · Post by **fiat218** » Sat May 31, 2014 11:25 pm

awesome,

dmwhiteoak · Post by **dmwhiteoak** » Sat May 31, 2014 11:34 pm

Congratulations Alan. It won't be long now before it's on the road.

SoFlaFiat · Post by **SoFlaFiat** » Sun Jun 01, 2014 6:33 am

Thanks guys!!
I'm thinking about pulling the rear end parts out and getting them cleaned up today. The summers rains are starting and painting big parts outside is going to get limited.
Who am I fooling, I need a break from wiring...

spider2081 · Post by **spider2081** » Sun Jun 01, 2014 9:03 am

Did you get the fuel gauge to work??

SoFlaFiat · Post by **SoFlaFiat** » Sun Jun 01, 2014 4:42 pm

I have not tackled the fuel sender yet. Feltner Used Fiat Partz is sending me an old one to test. I'm pretty sure I can make it fit the tank.
I did take that break from electrical work today and cleaned up my rear end, springs and short trailing arms.

Baby steps

SoFlaFiat · Post by **SoFlaFiat** » Mon Jun 02, 2014 7:35 pm

And I'm taking an even longer break from the electrical stuff and hanging my rear end

I probably will not get to cleaning up and painting the long arms and pan hard until next weekend but I can start sorting the rest of the brake lines and clean up/rebuild the rear calipers...

Holshot · Post by **Holshot** » Mon Jun 02, 2014 10:33 pm

Looking great Alan! As usual the attention to detail is outstanding... I always look forward to your updates and gets me motivated to get my project finished.

MrJD · Post by **MrJD** » Tue Jun 03, 2014 2:02 am

stock spider 2k rear end?

SoFlaFiat · Post by **SoFlaFiat** » Tue Jun 03, 2014 6:51 am

Thanks Guiseppe!!!
JD, yes, it's a stock 3.9
I have not actually rebuilt the unit as I have a 4.3 ready to go and want to drive the car a bit before I make a final decision.
I posed the question in a different thread and got many opinions. Some will use nothing but the 4.3 for better acceleration while others search out a 3.58 from an automatic to have longer legs on the highway. My determination has been that with higher compression, a ported head with oversized valves and big cams, 4-2-1 exhaust and a pair of IDF44s, I should be able to accelerate just fine and am therefore using the 3.9 figuring it as a happy medium.

njoconnor · Post by **njoconnor** » Tue Jun 03, 2014 7:28 am

Between you and Steve, I'm seriously wondering if I need to go back to school for welding....and build a bigger shop! Very nice work/pix/progress, Alan!

Neil

SoFlaFiat · Post by **SoFlaFiat** » Tue Jun 03, 2014 7:16 pm

Thanks Neil!!
You do some very nice work yourself!!
Skip skool, just buy a welder and start practicing!! It's addictive!!! You'll be welding all sorts of stuff that you didn't realize needed welding...

Thanks to Paul B for saving me a trip under the 77!!
I slid the bolts in the short trailing arms last night and couldn't remember the order of washers etc.
I was going to check the 77 today but Paul just took his apart and emailed me with the correct order!
I'm sure it's not the last time I'm going to scratch my head wondering where and how this thing goes back together

Edit... Resto mod FIRST DRIVE

Re: Edit... Resto mod coming together

Re: Edit... Resto mod coming together

Re: Edit... Resto mod coming together

Re: Edit... Resto mod coming together

Re: Edit... Resto mod coming together

Re: Edit... Resto mod coming together

Re: Edit... Resto mod coming together

Re: Edit... Resto mod coming together

Re: Edit... Resto mod coming together

Re: Edit... Resto mod coming together

Re: Edit... Resto mod coming together

Re: Edit... Resto mod coming together

Re: Edit... Resto mod coming together

Re: Edit... Resto mod coming together

Re: Edit... Resto mod coming together