California Spider Question

[spiderbit]

I have an 81 that’s painfully slow and I’m assuming that some of the issue is because the car was first sold in California. My question is what should I loook for to de-California this car? How do I know if catalytic converter is original? Other emission parts I can change or remove? Thanks.

[JohnMc]

I had a 1980 California 124 with fuel injection. It was fast - or should I say much faster than my California 1969 - fast is relative. I wonder if some of your smog and cats are having issues.

[Odoyle]

As John said, fast is relative, but shouldn't be as your describing, +1 on check cat and center muffler +rear muffler. Could be rusted inside causing excess back pressure. Also check that timing of the distributor is set to 10 degrees ± 1 using a timing light.

[JohnMc]

Another thought - when I had my 1980 FI California 124 (in about 1986) I really screwed up and had sprayed down the engine to clean it off, like I had done with my 1969. Terrible idea - when driving it back home the car was not running well and pumping unburned gasoline into the cat. The cat heated up and melted - while shooting out hot pieces. Took to a shop that scolded me and I ended up having to get another cat put on. The car did not run nearly as fast with that aftermarket cat as it did before - but at that time the original cat was about twice as much as the aftermarket.
Now you can get cats that are much less restrictive.
So that is a good question your raise - but I do not have the answer. Sorry.

[KandJinmaine]

Our Spider was originally a California car too, but I believe they all had cats by 1980 anyhow....we were on a cruise with a large group (all convertibles, a couple of Fiats) and again we had issues with ours. We could barely keep up with the group and it was running very rough. We limped it back home and the next day I removed the cat, the ceramic like material in side had disintegrated. So I took a broom handle and knocked it all out and put the housing back in place, been that way for 6-8 years now with no grief. Of course this may not work for you if you are in a state that inspects for that sort of thing, they don't here

[TX82FIAT]

KandJinmaine, you knocked out the CAT materials with a broom handle. That says a lot about the consition of your CAT. It took be an hour with a small sledge hammer and a steel rod to punch out the center of my CAT. Car ran much better with a hollowed out CAT but had a slight tin like sound. after a few months of that I decided to replace CAT with a free flow resonator. I don't think I could have done it with a broom handle. Your CAT must have been partially disintegrated or you are the incredible hulk wielding special magical powers with a broom stick.

[KandJinmaine]

..... and the next day I removed the cat, the ceramic like material in side had disintegrated. So I took a broom handle and knocked it all out and put the housing back in ......place8)

Like I said, however I may also have employed a close tolerance adjustment tool too,