Just brought home a 79 Spider

[79spider124]

Hey all. I just picked up a '79 Spider with 86,000 miles. A little cold out right now and I'm dying to put a few miles on it. I'm curious if anyone has a recommendation on a service manual? I found the Shop Manual PDF's on-line but would like to know if it's worth picking up the Clymer or Hynes manuals (even though neither seem to be applicable to my model year)? If anybody has a favorite please let me know.

[TulsaSpider]

Greetings and congrats! These are fun cars to won and drive! I do not think the Haynes is anyones' favorite, but I don't really know which one is preferred! Post pics!

[meangreenspider]

The people on this site are far better than any service manual I have ever had.

[2ndwind]

Congrats on the new baby. Get yourself a new or used workshop manual from IAP plus download the manuals you need from the very generous Brad Artigue here: http://www.artigue.com/?page_id=3

I have not bought a Haynes or Clymer manual in years. I found them to be incomplete, usually when I was in the middle of a repair. I'd have to wing it (often breaking something) or go get a more comprehensive manual.

[baltobernie]

While I agree that the Haynes and Clymer manuals are not the equivalent of the Fiat shop manual, they do provide all of the specifications, including fastener torque, bearing clearances, etc. The Haynes was all my machine shop needed to rebuild my engine. These general-purpose manuals provide a good jumping-off point for the new owner as well, IMO.

[79spider124]

Thanks for the warm welcomes! Drove Lil Italy in to work this morning. 25 degrees with a few holes in the top made for a chilly commute. But loved it anyways. I downloaded the Brad Artigue document. That's some heady stuff. Will peruse it tonight.

I'll get some exterior pictures soon. I did take some of the engine. The previous owner says the heater core is leaking and so bypassed the heater. It seems like I may be missing a couple of hoses (see the pictures). Any thoughts as to if these are heater related? Seems odd that they arent plugged.

[tonyfromjersey]

The Haynes manual, in true British fashion, likes to understate the complexity of some jobs. It also like to use terms like, "installing is the reverse of..."

The pictures and diagrams are sometimes helpful, however. If you can find a cheap used one it can be of some help. The people on this forum are the best resource you've got.

[donm]

It's hard to see what arrows 2 and 3 are really pointing at but I can tell you that arrow 1 is the connection point for a flexible hose that directs heat from the manifold to a pint on the air cleaner housing to help with cold weather drivability. I have an '80 with the same set up and haven't bothered replacing my missing hose because I don't drive the car in the winter.

Don

[wikkid]

Here's a guide for interpreting a Haynes manual, lifted off a bike forum:

Haynes: Rotate anticlockwise.
Translation: Clamp with visegrips then beat repeatedly with a hammer anticlockwise.

Haynes: This is a snug fit.
Translation: Clamp with visegrips then beat repeatedly with a hammer.

Haynes: This is a tight fit.
Translation: Clamp with visegrips then beat repeatedly with a hammer.

Haynes: As described in Chapter 7...
Translation: That'll teach you not to read through before you start. Now you are looking at scary photos of the inside of a gearbox.

Haynes: Pry...
Translation: Hammer a screwdriver into...

Haynes: Undo...
Translation: Go buy a tin of WD40 (giant economy size).

Haynes: Retain tiny spring...
Translation: PINGGGG - "Where the hell did that go?"

Haynes: Press and rotate to remove bulb...
Translation: OK - that's the glass bit off, now fetch some good pliers to dig out the bayonet part (and maybe a band-aid or two).

Haynes: Lightly...
Translation: Start off lightly and build up till the veins on your forehead are throbbing then clamp with visegrips then beat repeatedly with hammer.

Haynes: Weekly checks...
Translation: If it isn't broken don't fix it.

Haynes: Routine maintenance...
Translation: If it isn't broken, it's about to be. Be warned.

Haynes: One spanner rating.
Translation: An infant could do this... so how did you manage to f*** it up?

Haynes: Two-spanner rating.
Translation: Now you may think that you can do this because two is a low, teensy weensy number... but you also thought the wiring diagram was a map of the Tokyo underground (in fact that would have been more use to you).

Haynes: Three-spanner rating.
Translation: Make sure you won't need your bike for a couple of days.

Haynes: Four-spanner rating.
Translation: You're not seriously considering this are you?

Haynes: Five-spanner rating.
Translation: OK - but don't ever carry your loved ones on it again.

Haynes: If not, you can fabricate your own special tool like this...
Translation: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

Haynes: Compress...
Translation: Squeeze with all your might, jump up and down on it, throw it at the garage wall, then clamp with visegrips and beat repeatedly with a hammer...

Haynes: Inspect...
Translation: Squint at really hard and pretend you know what you are looking at, then declare in a loud knowing voice to your wife "Yep, as I thought, it's going to need a new one"

Haynes: Carefully...
Translation: You are about to suffer deep abrasions.

Haynes: Retaining nut...
Translation: Yes, that's it, that big spherical blob of rust.

Haynes: Get an assistant...
Translation: Prepare to humiliate yourself in front of someone you know.

Haynes: Turning the engine will be easier with the spark plugs removed.
Translation: However, starting the engine afterwards will be much harder.
Once that sinking pit of your stomach feeling has subsided, you can start to feel deeply ashamed as you gingerly refit the spark plugs.

Haynes: Refitting is the reverse sequence to removal.
Translation: Yeah, right. But you swear in different places.

Haynes: Pry away plastic locating pegs...
Translation: Snap off...

Haynes: Using a suitable drift...
Translation: Clamp with visegrips then beat repeatedly with a hammer.

Haynes: Everyday toolkit
Translation: AAA Card & Mobile Phone

Haynes: Apply moderate heat...
Translation: Unless you have a blast furnace, don't bother.
Alternatively, clamp with visegrips then beat repeatedly with a hammer.

Haynes: Index
Translation: List of all the things in the book, bar what you need to do

[CajunMike]

#2 is the air cleaner attachment for the missing hose from #1. Its not a necessary component.
#3 is part of the pollution control system. Not needed either unless you live in a emission restrictive state. They connect directly to the head via some valves that screwed into the head between the sparkies. If you have a look there the po most likely plugged the holes with some oil drain plugs. On my car I just removed the air cleaner attachment and covered up the hole with a piece of sheet metal painted black.

If you haven't already figured it out the 1979 carbed model is the worst stock performance model year due to the emission control stuff and the puny carburator(don't feel bad mine is also a 79). If you live in a state that is easy on emission standards take advantage and upgrade the carb and intake manifold for a nice increase in performance that isn't intrusive or very expensive.

[baltobernie]

Here's a guide for interpreting a Haynes manual, lifted off a bike forum:

Haynes: Rotate anticlockwise.
Translation: Clamp with visegrips then beat repeatedly with a hammer anticlockwise.

I love it!

[CajunMike]

I've got a Clymer manual. It's got pretty pictures and mine has oil all over it and has pages falling out. It's not bad but you are correct that the 79 carbed model doesn't get much attention in the manuals but most of the stuff for the 79 can be figured out. Just ditch the 28/32 carb and intake and it more closely resembles a 78.

[Exit98]

"Haynes Manual Guide"

Perfect!

[79spider124]

Thanks for all the input.

Wikkid, that Haynes posting was hysterical.

CajunMike, I'll start researching the carb and intake manifold replacement. Definitely could use a little more performace, especially on the hills.

Headed to a junkyard today to pick through an '85 Spider that is supposedly on site.

[GChuk]

Oops I found the answer