New teen owner, first car 1979 Spider 2000

[Shadoobie]

Hello Everyone! I am a 17-year-old kid who wound up with a Spider for my first car. I have always loved Fiats, and was given 4 Fiat 600Ds in various states of disrepair when i was 14; However, they are a far cry from a restoration at the moment, much less a starter car, considering the fact they they are total rustbuckets and have no seatbelts. I scoured the internet, Ebay, Craigslist, and every resource I could find, and managed to snag a 1979 Fiat Spider 2000 Pininfarina for $1,500. I thought I did fairly well, as it runs more or less (the brakes need to be bled and the temp runs really hot when you drive) and the body is in great shape. It has typical issues; the dash has cracks,the body panels have been removed and put back on haphazardly, the top is completely worn out beyond use, and I've just run into my first major issue: the passenger front seat's top bolt that anchors the top half to the angle adjustment has somehow dug a hole into the metal, possibly because someone jumped into the seat and abused it on a regular basis? It definitely has a ways to go, but I hope to have a wonderful ride in the end. I would appreciate any advice for a first time owner and a trick for how i can get the darn seats to adjust forward! they refuse to move.

[juvius]

glad to see you here. there are a lot of helpful people on this forum. With all their experience, getting your spider fixed up should be a breeze.

seems like the lower parts of the seat like to rust up... last one i had froze, i used some penetrating oil with the straw and squirt it the best i could up and down the tracks on both sides. it's a tight spot but i was able to get enough on there. i let it soak over night. it still took a little force for them to move, but.. they did at least move good enough to get the seats out.

[RRoller123]

Welcome aboard! You will find plenty of knowledgeable and friendly people here.

Here is a thread on how to post pictures directly to the forum:

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=21014

And here is another picture-posting thread:

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... 12&t=23084


Pete

[narfire]

Cool, a 17 year old with a Fiat as their first car. Sounds familiar...40 years ago Mine rusted out though after a few years of daily driving in Vancouver.
This is a great place for any help required, no shortage of opinions and parts, used and new from members and vendors are easy to obtain.

I've just run into my first major issue: the passenger front seat's top bolt that anchors the top half to the angle adjustment has somehow dug a hole into the metal, possibly because someone jumped into the seat and abused it on a regular basis?

Well all I can surmise there is the previous owners GF might have been, dare I say, "frisky"
Chris

[4uall]

Hello & welcome to the greatest place on earth

My Fiona is going to my son in 10 years (he will be 16). Congrats

[2ndwind]

Very Cool. Change that timing belt ASAP unless you KNOW it has been done recently.

[fiat218]

Hello & welcome to the greatest place on earth

My Fiona is going to my son in 10 years (he will be 16). Congrats

Doesn't even run lol

[spiderdan]

You nasty guy Jim

I like it!

[4uall]

Hello & welcome to the greatest place on earth

My Fiona is going to my son in 10 years (he will be 16). Congrats

Doesn't even run lol

You bastard Hopefully by then the bodyshop will have figured it out

[fiat218]

Hello & welcome to the greatest place on earth

My Fiona is going to my son in 10 years (he will be 16). Congrats

Doesn't even run lol

You bastard Hopefully by then the bodyshop will have figured it out

[FiatBen]

Welcome!! Post Pics and let us watch the progress. Working on a '79 myself right now.