My late mid-life crisis 77 Spider

[RRoller123]

I can't wait to see the progress you have made on your car at the Raynham Dog Track Cruise next Summer! I am in Plymouth now, but I easily can make it as far as Raynham, a reasonable distance. I am not sure I am going to make the Millis cruise very often, though. Awful far from here.

Pete

[Nanonevol]

Sure, I could make it to that. Too cold out to work in the garage as you know but when it warms up I plan to rebuild my stock adf32, brake calipers, new pads, maybe cut my springs or try some type of clamping device to shorten the springs. Car sits a bit high and I'm careful about avoiding potholes. Having a lot of fun with the car though. Goal is for simply a reliable, mechanically sound summer toy. It's nice to see people restoring their car to the point you could eat off of it but that won't be me. I like my faded emblems.

[RRoller123]

That's the beauty of driving an inexpensive classic. Have fun with it your own way. Exactly.

[jdeight]

Thanks for all the great pix. I'm having one helluva time just getting the 19mm bolts connecting the ball housing to the block loose. The ones at the top are impossible, but I can't even knock the two lower ones loose! Bought an HF impact wrench last weekend, but even that didn't do the trick. I'll head to a proper tool shop Monday morning for higher quality u-joint and upsize everything to 1/2 instead of using the 3/8 adapter.

[Nanonevol]

You're doing the clutch? Excellent! I'm glad my photos are helpful. I also found this u-tube video useful:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8calc6xV2JM
Good luck!

[Nanonevol]

If anyone is interested in this heretical procedure - here is where to cut a hole in your floor for access to the starter and top drivers side transmission bolt.

[PhillySpider]

unfortunately FIAT means FIX IT AGAIN TONY. However, that's part of the fun in owning a "vintage euro sports car". For example," geneo" (my '78) has been running great for the last couple of weeks(LOL) when yesterday I backed it out of the garage and heard this really loud "BANG" from the rear of the car got out looked under it but didn't see anything so started driving down the driveway and hear this knocking. Called my mechanic who said it didn't sound good and to limp in to his shop. As it turns out that my rear-end had gone out. So had to order a (new one) well not new since they don't make them anymore. Called around found an inspected used one at Midwest Bayless for $661 including freight. I has just spent $140 on 14" rims and $300 on new tires and was looking forward to calculating speedo difference. OH well, like I said part of the fun of owning a "vintage euro sports car".

Gene
North Carolina

Best tire comparison on the web...plug in stock vs current tire size and it'll calculate variation from 5 to 55mph.
https://tiresize.com/calculator/