Repair or Replace...

nicdelucca · Post by **nicdelucca** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 4:51 pm

Oh...Say it isn't so...I do believe I blew the engine on my 1980 Fiat Spyder 2000 Convertible...God...I love this car!!! I can't believe, nor do I even have a clue as to how/why this happened...But I need advice...

Is it better to try to buy a replacement engine or to try to rebuild the one that's in the car...What's more economical...What makes better sense from a mechanical stand point...I need some help guys...

manoa matt · Post by **manoa matt** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:02 pm

Hard to say without knowing what went wrong with the current engine. There could be a lot of different things that can go wrong with an engine and its still good for a rebuild. The lower half of the engine is pretty strong, you would have to throw a rod and have the rod punch through the block before scrapping the block.

Its possible you just blew the head gasket between cylinders 3 and 4. $20 for the gasket and $20 for the t-belt.

1980, carbed or fuel injected? What are the symptoms?

nicdelucca · Post by **nicdelucca** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:09 pm

Fuel injected...Had a small oil leak in the head gasket, but really small...Driving down the highway...Stereo blaring... at about 4500 RPM in 5th gear...Started to lose, power on accelerator...Didn't notice the sound until the vibration got to be too great to miss...Vibrating, knocking sound...Thought it was the tranny until I turned the stereo off......Engine kept running until I turned it off...Then nothing...It makes a small (very feeble) groan like it might turn over, but that lasts a second or two and then...nothing...

pope · Post by **pope** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:12 pm

By the way...I dont think you have to include the word Convertible or 2000 after the word 1980 in your description. LOL

Are you saying that when you try to start it, the engine does turn but not start? My thought was that you had a crankshaft bearing go on either a connecting rod or a main cap. Need more info. How much oil do you think there is in the engine, is it low?

nicdelucca · Post by **nicdelucca** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:30 pm

It might have been down a quart...I doubt anymore than that, but who knows...Maybe the leak got worse...The engine wasn't knocking or anything before this though...No...It doesn't turn over, it just makes a minute sound like it wants to...It only lasts a second or two tops, but it's there...Kinda like a little heart beat or groan, letting me know she's not completely dead...The tow truck driver said it was better than nothing, but I think he felt almost as bad as I did...

racydave · Post by **racydave** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 6:24 pm

I agree with Matt. If you could pull the spark plugs and try to turn it over, it might turn if it was full of coolant in the cylinders.

nicdelucca · Post by **nicdelucca** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 7:19 pm

Actually...I just got it to start, and even drove it a few hundred feet...The problem starts at about 2000 RPM...It sounds like a lifter or something...The rattle is on the driver's side...No smoke coming out of the engine or the exhaust...So...That's considerably better than a ceased engine...But still...

pope · Post by **pope** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:32 pm

Just the fact that it would not turn over for a while when trying to start it, still makes me think it is in the lower end. When it cooled down, you got it to start and run a little.
A fairly easy thing to do would be to take the covers off the cam boxes and look at the camshafts for cracks, chips, valves and springs. That is like a 10 minute thing.

Check to see if you are missing antifreeze fluid in the radiator, from blown head gasket.

mdrburchette · Post by **mdrburchette** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 9:48 am

I would also drain the oil to see if there's excessive metal in the oil or to see if there's antifreeze mixed in the oil. Is there a way for the aux shaft timing to jump? Just trying to figure out what's on the left side of the engine that would make a knocking noise.

nicdelucca · Post by **nicdelucca** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 11:56 am

Thanks for the advice guys, but I just had back surgery...I can barely drive the thing, never mind work under the hood...No...She's most likely gonna end up in the hands of what will probably be an unskilled (in the sense that they're not familiar with Fiat) mechanic, since good Fiat mechanics are hard to find down here in Ft Lauderdale...Hence the original question...With this type of engine problem will I be better off repairing it, or replacing it...

pope · Post by **pope** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 12:06 pm

And your going to replace it with a 30 year old (new) fiat engine of questionable heritage? I dont know the auto parts store that you can order one from. What ever you replace it with will probably have to be rebuilt also! Rebuild makes it reliable and only replace parts that are broke/cracked. These engines are pretty straight forward to rebuilt. You are in situation that none of us can help you with, being held hostage to a non fiat rebuilder.

Good Luck

Europa · Post by **Europa** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 1:50 pm

nicdelucca wrote: since good Fiat mechanics are hard to find down here in Ft Lauderdale...

There is a very good FIAT/Lancia/Alfa mechanic in North Miami who's been in business for over 20 years. I used him when I had my '79 and happened to go by his shop recently. This is the same mechanic who worked on the 1981 Spider that Johnssi from Georgia just purchased. I can get the information for you if you're interested.

Edit: Here's the information on the FIAT/Lancia/Alfa garage in N. Miami. HTH...

Auto Veloce Inc.
1470 NE 130th St
North Miami, FL 33161
305-891-9556

nicdelucca · Post by **nicdelucca** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:54 am

Thanks Europa...I'll give him a call...

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