Spider restoration blog

[grasshopper]

Hi there Fiat 124 lovers around the world ! I just joined this forum last week. Glad to be here and thanks again for the warm welcome ! I would like to document my restoration here so i can keep track of this project for myself,hopefully get some guidance in how to do some stuff that needs to be done,list any items i may need, and give a description of what i have. Thanks in advance for any help i can get !! LOL I owned two Fiat's before buying my 1976 124 Spider. I had to sell one of them to justify buying the Spider and to make room for it. I sold a sweet 1978 X1/9 to finance my buying the Spider. I also have a 1970 124 Sport Coupe in great condition.
I bought the Spider on July 29/2014.
Previous owner stripped the car,did body work and paint on it,did most of the re assembly on it,not all,but could not get it running and gave up on the project. I am now trying to put the rest of it back together and will put a new engine in it,and probably some suspension and what ever else it needs.
So far,i have installed the trunk lock and latch mechanism,started to install various chrome trim pieces and miscellaneous parts back on.
Well,here goes the first question:
I'm wondering how to install the rubber door drip deflector (triangular chrome piece with rubber) onto the back of the door? Door panel was put on already,,do i have to take the panel off to get this piece back on ?

[azruss]

I think you can slide a portion of the piece behind the panel. may require loosening the end of the panel but shouldnt have to pull it. you should have three 1/4"x1/4" square holes in the door. The plastic screw holders fit in there. Can find those from the Fiat supply houses. I wont mention that you can get them at your local hardware store as we dont want Ramzi's kid running around in bare feet.

[grasshopper]

Plastic screw holders ? I think i will take the door panel off,,,,

[vandor]

Plastic screw holders ? I think i will take the door panel off,,,,

They are not behind the door panel.

[Ptoneill]

If you are referring to the chrome piece on the door there are no interior screws.

[grasshopper]

Thanks..

[grasshopper]

Finding the time to do this stuff is the toughest part. Just installed front cowel,,greased the wiper rack first,,installed trim on floor,,trying to install chrome trim on windshield gasket,,,no idea how to do this without breaking the glass,,,

[grasshopper]

Long story short,the engine that is in this Spider has to go. I worked on the engine that will be going into the Spider this evening. It's my old 1800cc engine that was in my 124 Sport Coupe. It only has a few thousand miles on it,,,between 5-7 thousand miles i think. It was rebuilt in 97 using some Faza goodies,,,Mondial high comp pistons, 35-75- Faza cams. I pulled it out of the Coupe a few years back,,,not sure exactly how long ago but it has been a number of years. It has been sitting under some covers in the garage ever since. I hope it is still sound. I pulled it out of the Coupe because i dropped in an even hotter 2ltr in it. Tonight i took the clutch and flyweel off of the 1800 so i can replace the rear main seal. Boy was it tough to turn that crank !!! But as soon as it gave way,it was turning nicely. I need to replace front main seal and auxillary seal as well.I don't think the seals are leaking,but i want to change them just in case. The clutch looks good but i may replace it anyway and i might lighten the flywheel up as well.

[grasshopper]

Dis assembled entire engine today. Never done this before. I brought the block in to a machine shop to get cleaned and made sure everything is fine. Two pistons need work,,,rings seized onto pistons.

[grasshopper]

Machine shop confirmed that the block is toast ! Rust in the cylinders. They managed to save the seized pistons. Good thing as they are 85mm Mondial high comp pistons. Removed radiator from Spider this evening. Ordered all new bearings,gasket set,timing belt,etc,,,,Looking forward to my first engine assembly.

[grasshopper]

Its been a while since last time on this blog. I have now assembled the block. I installed the head,timing belt. Lets hope i did everything right. I guess i will find out one way or the other. Now installing a few last parts of the puzzle. If i'm lucky,i can install the engine soon.

[AndyS]

be sure to turn the engine over several times by hand to make sure there is no interference anywhere, and then line up the cam timing marks again to make sure everything is aligned as it should be.