My 1978 "restoration" project.

[YoukaiMori]

I don't know how fully I'll actually be able to restore this because of my budget but it's not only my first fiat, but my first classic and my first project car so let's see how this goes!

Paint isn't in the best condition.


Interior?

Not in the best condition. Ignore the center radio panel being upside down I just wedged it in there to get it out of the way while I was cleaning, it was just sitting on the floor originally.

Top is in pretty good shape!

I think one of the previous owners spray painted the trunk black, plenty of spots look like he didn't sand down the old paint properly.

Under the hood.

Came with some service receipts from 2016 with a new starter and alternator installed so that saved me a lot of trouble, didn't even know that before I bought it!

And here's as far as I've made it, only had it a few days but I'm slowly making progress.


Cleaned her up a bit, got those wheels off gonna take them in for new tires since 3/4 of these were completely ruined and the 4th wasn't in much better shape.

Next thing I need to figure out is some electrical problems, only seems to have one working turn indicator, and previous owner said one headlight goes off with high beams on. Was also told it "pulls in one direction when braking" but he didn't remember which, the brake pads and calipers were new in 2016 so I'm guessing hoses? Will have to get those changed soon too.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Looks like a good project for a restoration, and thanks for sharing! Let us know how it progresses.

And what's up with that bad-ass bullet muffler hanging down? Must sound totally righteous at full throttle!

-Bryan

[YoukaiMori]

I don't know what's up with the exhaust, a lot of people have pointed that out. Assuming a previous owner took out most of the exhaust pipes and threw that thing that I'm told is a "Cherry bomb" onto it.

It sure does sound nice though....

[aj81spider]

You have a ways to go before you're testing the braking, but I had a Spider that pulled when braking and it was worn bushings in the front end, not the braking system at all. Your brakes probably need some work, but keep an open mind, especially if they seem to be stopping you OK, but just pulling to one side.

[YoukaiMori]

It seems to have drained the battery, or maybe I just didn't charge the battery enough so I haven't been able to take it for a test drive after getting new tires.

Speaking of, new tires!

It rained all day and even with the poor paint condition it sure looks nice with those new tires on it after sitting on jack stands the whole week I've owned it.

During a break in the rain I started to take a look at the electrics since I need to get these lights working, and I'm gonna have to go through and clean every single connector, aren't I?

Started raining again before I could get started but that seems to be the next step while giving the battery a few days to charge and see if it holds it or see if the car's what drained it.

Still, making some progress!

[18Fiatsandcounting]

During a break in the rain I started to take a look at the electrics since I need to get these lights working, and I'm gonna have to go through and clean every single connector, aren't I?

Awesome so far, Youkai. Yes, sorry, you will have to go through and clean up the connectors, as the vast majority of Fiat electrical problems are bad grounds and poor connections. And those "vampire" clamps on the wiring for the rear taillight are not original, so you might have to figure out what the previous owner did or didn't do....

An easy way to check for a drain on the battery: Disconnect one of the battery cables (it doesn't matter which one), and put a 12 volt automotive bulb between the battery post and that connector. If the bulb glows, something somewhere is turned on. The brighter the glow, the more current is being drawn. You might see a very dim glow from things like clocks, radios that draw some power for their memory, anti-theft devices, etc. If you see a brighter glow, something larger is running. Remove the fuses one by one to see if you can track down which circuit it's coming from.

-Bryan

[YoukaiMori]

During a break in the rain I started to take a look at the electrics since I need to get these lights working, and I'm gonna have to go through and clean every single connector, aren't I?

Awesome so far, Youkai. Yes, sorry, you will have to go through and clean up the connectors, as the vast majority of Fiat electrical problems are bad grounds and poor connections. And those "vampire" clamps on the wiring for the rear taillight are not original, so you might have to figure out what the previous owner did or didn't do....

An easy way to check for a drain on the battery: Disconnect one of the battery cables (it doesn't matter which one), and put a 12 volt automotive bulb between the battery post and that connector. If the bulb glows, something somewhere is turned on. The brighter the glow, the more current is being drawn. You might see a very dim glow from things like clocks, radios that draw some power for their memory, anti-theft devices, etc. If you see a brighter glow, something larger is running. Remove the fuses one by one to see if you can track down which circuit it's coming from.

-Bryan

Oh very interesting I hadn't heard about the light bulb trick, I'll definitely try that I think there were some loose bulbs that looked in good shape I found under the seat. I was originally going to do the whole "Charge it for a couple days, let it sit for a couple days see if it's still charged" thing but that seems quicker.

And yeah I can tell a previous owner did some wiring, especially because they installed an LED light bar above the license plate and I can't for the life of me figure out why he'd do that instead of just fix the plate lights.

That being said.... I'm contemplating a cheaper alternative to buying replacement front turn indicators, since the pair I can find is $200... But I can get some brand new headlight + indicator combos for less than half the price.... The problem is do I really want "halo lights" on the spider?

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Oh very interesting I hadn't heard about the light bulb trick, I'll definitely try that I think there were some loose bulbs that looked in good shape I found under the seat. I was originally going to do the whole "Charge it for a couple days, let it sit for a couple days see if it's still charged" thing but that seems quicker.

Yep, take one of those spare light bulbs (assuming it's good), turn everything off in the car (don't forget the courtesy light if a door is open), disconnect one battery terminal, and hold the pointed center end of the bulb contact on the battery post, and hold the battery cable against the outer contact. Bulb doesn't light = you don't have a parasitic electrical drain, and it could just be that you have a weak battery or alternator. Bulb glows = something is on.

As for modifying the front lights, I'll leave that up to you. I've always just enjoyed the cars for what they are: four or five decades old, classic styling, with all the quirks (and annoyances) of cars of that era.

-Bryan

[YoukaiMori]

Well I think the battery is proper fucked but we'll see I put it back on the charger, just gonna leave it on there for a couple days.

In the mean time... Wiring wiring wiring wiring it's a damn mess down here there's so many loose connectors and cut wires gonna have a hell of a time figuring out what goes to which. I'm currently just in the search for GETTING THE TURN SIGNALS TO WORK.... I know it goes from the steering column switch, to the hazard switch, to the lights. So that's a start!

[YoukaiMori]

I usually wouldn't double post but I'm curious...

What is this weird bag? Translating the text doesn't tell me much, and I couldn't find it in the owner's manual in fact in the pictures in the manual I was reading the space that it's in was empty. So I'm really curious/confused as to what this is, my guess is some maybe... coolant? But it has a radiator so that wouldn't make sense either.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

What is this weird bag?[/img]

Youkai, that's the windshield wiper fluid "reservoir'. For reasons unknown, Fiat decided to use a bag rather than a solid plastic tank for this.

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[YoukaiMori]

What is this weird bag?[/img]

Youkai, that's the windshield wiper fluid "reservoir'. For reasons unknown, Fiat decided to use a bag rather than a solid plastic tank for this.

-

Okay, but what makes that even stranger is that my '78 fiat has no windshield wiper fluid dispensers on it.... Maybe it had a hood replacement?

[18Fiatsandcounting]

What is this weird bag?[/img]

Youkai, that's the windshield wiper fluid "reservoir'. For reasons unknown, Fiat decided to use a bag rather than a solid plastic tank for this.

-

Okay, but what makes that even stranger is that my '78 fiat has no windshield wiper fluid dispensers on it.... Maybe it had a hood replacement?

Weird... The windshield fluid squirt nozzles are on the front cowl, the same metal piece as where the windshield wiper shafts are mounted. The nozzles are about 1/2" high, and 1/4" diameter. They often get plugged up.

-Bryan

[aj81spider]

I blew up a couple of your pictures. It looks like you have holes in your cowl where the washer nozzles were. The nozzles are an inch or two on the outside of the wipers. Your pictures show holes with no nozzle poking through. Normally there is a nozzle there and plastic tubing under the cowl area with the wiper motor that runs through the firewall to the bag.

[YoukaiMori]

Oh interesting, yeah I'm seeing what looks like it might have been hoses for the windshield wiper fluid that have been cut and crimped. There's also a belt-driven thing on the opposite end of the engine from the alternator that has no belt attached and I'm not exactly sure what it's supposed to be, air conditioner maybe?

Status:
Working and driving! Has some trouble cold starting, but that could be the battery since it's old and all I did was charge it with a cheap charger for a couple days.
I drove it down to the gas station and got most of it vacuumed out since I'm gonna be getting down and under stuff to check wires I didn't want to be breathing in decades old dirt and whatever animal droppings were left, haha.

Lighting:
Only one headlight still and only on high, presuming it's just bad bulbs I'll get around to that eventually but I won't be night driving so it's not majorly important.

STILL not sure why I've only got one turn signal. Left signal works, only the rear actually flashes but the front side might just have a bad bulb I haven't gotten around to that. Right side however, doesn't click and doesn't have dash light still, so the relay isn't getting power? Also have nothing come on at all with hazards still. I've gone around and I've cleaned contacts for all the lights so I'm guessing this problem is further in.

Any suggestions? I might make a dedicated thread in the electrical section if I can't get it figured out.