1979 Spider 2000 abarth style

[divace73]

If you looked the pictures carefully, you probably noticed that I also have a gr4 bonnet for this. I'll try to fit it someday.

Car looks great, nice job and you didn't waste anytime getting it done.

I don't know what a GR4 bonnet is, but I saw the picture and I'm guessing its the one with the 2 big mounted headlights. Yup, that's what your car needs, more lights up front, like a real one.

Finish up those projects over the winter and you'll be ready to roar next spring.

there is Group4 bonnet available for sale on Australia, I image freight would cost a lot..

[grasshopper]

Great job. Where did you get the Abarth bumperettes and the white marker lights ?

[Eejii]

Great job. Where did you get the Abarth bumperettes and the white marker lights ?

Cheers! Abarth bumperettes came from spiderpoint.com Germany. Indicators I found from ebay. Look for fiat 124 berlina indicators, or for example here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/FIAT-124-INDICA ... 19f285e1f4 . You can also find them from Midwest-Bayless. Old Lada used same indicators too, but I guess Lada is not very common in US. Actually not in here either. Russians purchased almost all Lada's back in the 90's. Even the lousiest ones.

Group 2 bonnet I got from Ricambi rosso corsa: http://www.ricambirossocorsa.it/en/214- ... rossocorsa
They have also other Group4 body parts. Fenders and the abarth hardtop.

Last weekend it was a nice weather here for a while. Managed to drive a bit more.

[Eejii]

Couple of new pictures of my Spider:










and a memory from my cars US years in my windshield:

[RRoller123]

Very cool!

[Eejii]

Project goes on again. I purchased new front arms because the old bushes were bad. I also found a decent set of coils&shocks from here: http://schiminsky.de/zen//index.php?mai ... ts_id=1868
I hope to get better handling with these than my old shortened springs and standard shocks.

Here they go in place. Some cleaning and painting will be done here also.


I also found two rust holes at the driver's side which need to be welded..

[Eejii]

The front is ready now. The front end seems to sit few centimeters higher than before. That is actually good, because I had some issues last summer. The exhaust was scratched few times...


Next is the rear end. The rear axle is very dirty and rusty, so I decided to take it off for cleaning and painting. I will also replace the pinion seal as it is leaking. I am also checking the brake lines and bushes.


The new rear spring looks quite long compared to that old one. I hope it soft enough so it sits nicely when loaded

[Eejii]

The rear axle is ready. It was really dirty, but it is quite good now. Funny part was when I started to paint it, the Stones started to play Paint It Black on the radio...

Before and after:


Rear axle, coils and shocks installed:

[spiderdan]

Suuri muutos
Teette hienoa työtä Eejii
Kiitos jakaa

[777ism]

I'm a new member having just bought a 1968 Spider but with a 1600 engine from a 131. I've got the Pininfarina hardtop with it as well as a tatty soft top. I like your restoration and I plan something similar for mine. I'll take out the engine and replace gaskets, cam belt, etc. The cam covers look great. Do you have contact details for the exhaust manifold manufacturer in Finland. I live in Scotland so not too far away for sending. My car will probably need a total re-wire as the current wiring looks a bit suspicious. When you painted the engine bay did you strip everyone out to spray it? Lastly, I notice the battery is in the back. Is this normal on a later car? I'm thinking of relocating the fuel filler to the centre of the rear deck and maybe a new tank. All suggestions gratefully received.

[whiteonyx]

hello from Southport, West Lancs, whereabouts are you based in Scotland?
There is only 85 - 86 Spiders in the UK, PM me if you are after some parts as i have quite a few bits collected over the last couple of years.

[BEEK]

the springs you are taking out have been cut, so they are shorter than the replacements

[Eejii]

Sorry, I didn't notice your questions before yesterday. The phone number of RR-Exhaust is +358-405127412. I don't have their email address, but I would suggest you to purchase it from Mopo-Sport http://www.moposport.fi/pakosarja-fiat- ... -6-2-0-4-1 Their email is asiakaspalvelu@moposport.fi

Before painting I removed everything except the steering rack, brake booster and wiring. Just masked them with tape, aluminium foil and newspapers. The painting was done by rattle can. First primer and then the red color. The most difficult edges I used also brush. It was pretty easy to get decent paintjob done. Of course if you want it perfect you should remove everything out of the way.

Yes, the battery is in the trunk in the later models.

The cutted spring were shorter and more stiff than those new ones. I think the car sits about an inch higher now. It looked better with the old springs, but I hope it is safer to drive now. The road here are not very smooth. A lot of bumps and rails, so now I can avoid hitting the oilpan and exhaust pipe anywhere. Let's see how is the handling. Now I just have to wait until may to try it on the road...

[grasshopper]

Great job. Where did you get the Abarth bumperettes and the white marker lights ?

Cheers! Abarth bumperettes came from spiderpoint.com Germany. Indicators I found from ebay. Look for fiat 124 berlina indicators, or for example here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/FIAT-124-INDICA ... 19f285e1f4 . You can also find them from Midwest-Bayless. Old Lada used same indicators too, but I guess Lada is not very common in US. Actually not in here either. Russians purchased almost all Lada's back in the 90's. Even the lousiest ones.

Group 2 bonnet I got from Ricambi rosso corsa: http://www.ricambirossocorsa.it/en/214- ... rossocorsa
They have also other Group4 body parts. Fenders and the abarth hardtop.

Last weekend it was a nice weather here for a while. Managed to drive a bit more.

Are the front white lenses just lenses or is there a light assembly behind the lens?

[Eejii]

It's the full assembly. Like this one:

I also got a rubber gasket/housing which is not seen in the picture.