New Member - Elk Grove, CA 1970 124 spyder

[JohnMc]

Nice to be part of group.
Only had this one for 3 months or so.
This is my third 124 Spyder:
First was 1969 when I was 18 in 1972. Loved the car. Never had done anything on a car before. Rebuilt the engine - got it done in 6 weeks including pistons from Italy through the Fiat dealer in Walnut Creek, CA. Sold after college, needed money.
Second was a fuel injected 1980 in 1986. Sold to buy engagement ring.
Working on the 1970 with my 20 year old son. What a project. Pulling engine now, broke off alternator bolts - had other issues so was going to do it after summer anyway. Pulling head first really helped getting to the starter and tranny bolts.

So much info on line - it is great. Had some great tips from this site. Look forward to asking questions from you guys.

[Redline]

First was 1969 when I was 18 in 1972. Loved the car. Never had done anything on a car before. Rebuilt the engine - got it done in 6 weeks including pistons from Italy through the Fiat dealer in Walnut Creek, CA. Sold after college, needed money.

Welcome!

Ah, the good old days of engine rebuilds after only a few years. What was wrong with it at that time? I can relate (but with a decade's difference), as I also bought a fairly "new" car in Canada for my first one, blew it up, then rebuilt it in the pre-internet days by telephoning various places in the US and the UK, mailing away for catalogues etc. to get parts for its Kent motor. Sold after university to generate (a very small amount of) money.

[JohnMc]

It was foolish, the car smoked a bit when starting up and did use 1 qt of oil every 300 miles. Thought I could solve that - but no. New everything and it still used the same amount of oil and smoked at start up.
I bought the 1969 with about 45,000 miles for $1,800 and sold it with 85,000 miles for $1,450. Cost $600 in parts to do the full engine rebuild and clutch. but such a simple high revving engine.