Short Background:
Picked this little beauty from a neighbor who was moving. He had a better story than I. He drove a Fiat 124 as a young man and decided to rebuild another. I've never set foot in a Fiat before. It was only after a the purchase did I start hearing all the Fiat jokes come out.

Current State:
Mileage: 149K
Rustage: Some in the front part of the rear right wheel fender. Others in places I haven't seen.

Goal:
Get her running smoothly, first. Likely start a rolling restoration as I acclimate myself to it.

With a lot of help from the folks on this board, my '82 is now starting up. I have until May 2014 to get it to pass smog while I have my temp registration. I do not like to "fix thangs that ain't broke". I am afraid my inexperience may cause me to break things that don't really need my special attention.

I'd like to get advice on what to do next:

1) Flush Radiator
2) Change timing belt
3) Replace air filter
4) Rebuild front brakes
5) Get all interior re-installed
6) Replace all hoses (I don't want to do this, but was advised to)
7) Seafoam treatment (if it helps smog)

If something is more important, please send me off in the right direction.

I would definately replace the timing belt if you don't know when it was last done. Take off the plastic cover, a lot of people will write the date of last re placement inside for reference. If you have a belt failure you stand a very good chance of damaging your valves and piston surfaces.

Look at your brake fluid, it should be clear with nothing floating around in it, if you have good breaking and pedal feel you could probably put it off for a while, but when in doubt........also check pads and lines.

Check your coolant by looking at the color, use a hydrometer to check for coolant mixture.

The rest of the items are good to do but keeping the car running...and more importantly stopping are Priorities!!

By the way........great looking car!!

[quote="Arod2051"]With a lot of help from the folks on this board, my '82 is now starting up. I have until May 2014 to get it to pass smog while I have my temp registration. I do not like to "fix thangs that ain't broke". I am afraid my inexperience may cause me to break things that don't really need my special attention.

Hi Alfred,

I was in the same situation when I bought mine. I had a mechanic take care of passing smog while I was on vacation. . The original Cats aren't highly regarded (at least my mechanic doesn't think so..) He ordered up this one that he likes. Better flow than the original. He made some FI air adjustments and got mine to pass smog.

I had tuned it with new plugs, wires, timing, cap and rotor. It failed smog as a Gross Polluter. The mechanic did his thing and it passed easily.

From an earlier post:
Unfortuneately, I still don't know the manufacturer. Maybe you can tell by the part number or picture (I've been meaning to ask my mechanic...he might not want to disclose ,,,,because then he would know that I know he overcharged me ) EDIT: I did some Internet sleuthing. It's a Catco #65003 universal fit and CA legal. About $100 on-line.

He has a long history with Fiats. This is the cat he swears by....free flowing and passes Ca smog! The rest of the system is stock. It has a nice tone and comfortable volume.

These folks aren't too far and might be helpful with the smog issue.
They've been doing Fiat work for a long time.
http://www.fandjautoimports.com/