First Car- It's a Fixer Upper and I Know Nothing

[jdhughes17]

I own a 1981 Fiat Spider 2000, and it's my first car. I bought it about 6 months ago for $2000, and so far have replaced a few small parts and refilled the idler arms. That's about it. 3 months ago I was in a minor accident when the car in front of me at a STOP SIGN decided to randomly back up, which dented my hood and the molding around it. Very minor damage thankfully. When I bought this car, my intention was to paint it the factory metallic blue color (it's currently black) and replace the convertible top. Now, the two metal wires in the top have both snapped, and the velcro that was holding the roof to the metal frame has completely come off. I've never heard of another car using velcro to hold the roof, so I think the previous owner may have had this added, and simply done a horrible job with it. So now I need to replace that even more than before, because if the top is up it flares open by the back window and fills with air, like a parachute.

There are a lot of issues with my car that I need to work out, and I'm a college student with a limited budget. I went to a local mechanic and had a diagnostic test done, and these are the problems he listed, in order of importance (according to him):
- Upper and Lower Control Arm Bushings
- Upper and Lower Ball Joints
- Chasis Frame Cracked (small crack where frame and sub-frames meet. Needs spot welding)
- Front and rear shocks
- Driveshaft center support and coupler
- Brake master cylinder and reservoir
- Front wheel bearings (adjust and repack)
- Rear axle seals leaking
- Timing belt and seals
- Water pump tio thermostat hose
- Radiator thermal sensor (the previous owner had the radiator switch hardwired to under the steering wheel, so the mechanic said I should replace it with the automatic sensor)
- Radiator cap/cooling system is rusty
- Hoses to throttle body
- Valve cover gasket leaking
- Cam tray gasket leaking
- Torque exhaust manifold bolts (loose)
- Breather elbow & sep orator gasket
- Oil pressure switch loose/leaking
- Brake compensator leaks (he said this is an obsolete piece of technology that can easily be removed and replaced with a kit that you buy online)
- Distributor diaphragm leaking
- Clutch adjustment (too tight, but not detrimental)
-Fuel tank filler hose leaking (he actually broke this. After I took my car to his shop, it leaked half a tank of gas during the driver home. Now I only fill the tank halfway and it works fine)
- Transmission speedometer seal leaking
- Rear transmission mount
- Starter wiring repair & starter brush cover (sometimes the car won't start, as if there isn't an electrical charge to jump the engine. But this problem is pretty much solved, since I replaced some wiring)
- Driver door broken at bracket (the door hangs at an angle and doesn't line up with the rest of the car body when closed)
- Re-install air box & filter properly.

I know the list is really long, but my dad tells me we will be able to take care of everything. I also think the mechanic was exaggerating some of the issues, since he told me a 1981 Spider is his favorite car, of which he already owns 2, and then told me mine was a piece of junk and he would buy it for $500. I won't be going back to that shop!

Some things he didn't list, but I have noticed:
- Heater doesn't work at all, though I can hear the switches by the parking break moving things.
- Weird rattling noise, like a rattle snake, when I downshift. I have seen other posts about this same problem on this forum.
- Passenger door creaks when opened- I just noticed that it is slightly rubbing against the body of the car as I open the door.
- Doors swing open too far and can hit the fender. There are two small creases in the fenders by both doors, though I have hammered them out and will sand it down before I paint.

Things I WANT to do ASAP:
- Replace car hood (already have) and paint entire car.
- Replace old, deteriorating canvas roof with a tan vinyl top.
- Replace badges- One side badge (blue "f" with crown) was missing, so my family bought me a new one as a gift, but the one that was on the car is plastic and metal, and the one they ordered is all plastic. Which is the original badge for my model car? I also have new hood and trunk Fiat badges, which I also got as a gift. They have a silver ring as the border instead of the bronze that came with the car. An online fiat store said the silver is supposed to be on my model.



I want to do most of the repairs myself, and with my dad's help, but I don't know much about cars, though my dad has been working on them since he was a teenager. If you have any suggestions on what I should fix first, how to do it, or your own experiences with the same problems, please comment and let me know. Start the comment by copying whatever issue you are talking about from my list of problems.

This is a fixer upper, and I plan on having it for many years to come.

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Jared
1981 Fiat Spider
I love my first car, and I just want to make it better.

[RoyBatty]

In the name of safety,
First thing to do is the cross member repair or replacement.
Look here, http://www.autoricambi.us/product/SU0-4 ... --1979-85/

[seabeelt]

Jared, congratulations on your first car. First a couple of suggestions, since you are probably like my kids, being very tech savvy, do a search on this forum for any particular repair/modification you want to make. More than likely it's been done multiple times and folks have posted pictures for help and guidance as well. Second, search the topic on how to post pictures. It makes it much easier for folks to help if they can see what you are talking about. And third ( this is the father in me speaking) do the safety items first. Ya the hood has a dent, and it needs a new top, but things like ball joints, tie rod ends etc require attention first if they are in need of repair. Next trust your dad, this is a fairly easy to wrench on car. There isn't anything on your list that cannot be done with a basic tool set and a multimeter ( hint - auto parts stores are great tool loaner resources for the ones you don't have). Next check out the vendors here on the forum. In short these are the trusted parts suppliers that are going to get you the right part for your car. There are some things like fan belts that can be sourced locally but most everything else will need to be ordered, and since they have to order it, you might as well go to the source and get the correct part the first time as well as great service ( autoricambi, Allison's, international auto parts, and for some things vicauto).

I guess what I would do first on your list is to get the frame welded so that the car is solid.

Question regarding the master cylinder. Are the brakes functioning properly or do you have hard or soft pedal ( recognizing the pedal is much more firm than modern cars)? If replacement is needed this would be next on my list.

Next is a complete flush of all systems, coolant, oil change, tranny fluid change and rear differential oil change ( particularly if it's leaking at the axel seals it may be low) and change the timing belt if you don't know how long it's been on the car or the last time it was changed. ( this is a good time to replace the water pump ( if it's leaking or wobbles) and hose as well). autoricambi has a kit.

I know college folk want to go for the pretty first to impress the ladies, but it would not do well to bring her or you home banged up due to car safety items

Last thought, if you have the funds, order multiple repair parts at the same time to save on shipping costs

[stuartrubin]

As tempting as it might be to get the car looking good fast, it seems like a new top (unless it's really leaky) and paint should be the LAST thing you do. Safety first, then get it back to good running shape, and then worry about aesthetics.

I put a gouge in the paint on my hood of my 75 Spider the first weekend I had it from being careless. You don't want to ruin your paint job while doing other work.

That said, congrats on the new ride. You and your dad will have a great time with it. I'm sure that you two will make some memories and bond in a way that will stick with you forever. (Maybe I'm being sentimental since my dad died a few months ago. He wasn't much of a car guy, but we did do tons of projects together and those times were the best!)

Stuart

[cormac]

Jared -

Are you in the USA? My son just turned 20 and is restomodding a 76 spider (with my help), if only we could find the time His original plan was to get my old spider running (started as a high school senior project) after sitting (in Oregon) for nigh on 20 years, that sort of fell apart so he bought a couple of cars and parts that had been in dry storage for over 15 years. At last count we had 4 engines, 4 trannies, 3 rear ends, and 2 garages full of random parts etc. Then he realized the scope of the project and bought a daily driver for his summers home from college. Now, the goal is a restomod to hopefully be completed by college graduation (2017)

Dave

[Odoyle]

Well Jared, you've come to the right place. The items quoted by your mechanic are very similar to those I have been addressing on my 83 PF over the past 6 months. I'v got a running post I made for all the repairs I have done recently, it might be worth checking out before you tackle some of the jobs described above. http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... 30&t=29942

You will need a good set of metric wrenches, sockets, half-inch ratchets, breaker bar, and torque wrench to do most jobs on the car. An air compressor and a sandblaster from harbor freight makes for easy rust removal and paint prep as well. Also, if you plan on replacing the master cylinder or any flexible brake hoses, you'll want to buy a flare nut wrench set or you'll end up stripping most of your brake fittings (coming from the guy that just replaced every flexible brake hose on the car). Oh and get plenty of WD-40 or liquid wrench, have fun!

[SoFlaFiat]

Jared,
I will reiterate what others have said, as tempting as it is to make it pretty, make it go fast and stop fast first.
If you are dead set to get it painted, at least find the missing door stop straps (metal straps attaching over top hinge) that keep the door from opening so far it dents the fender. Not much good in painting the car when the first passenger is going to wreck it.
And, where are you located? There are many forum members happy to help and it would serve you well to take advantage of any local and willing people.
Cheers and best of luck! Make sure to keep it fun!

[jdhughes17]

Thank you for all the suggestions. Is there a way to use this forum to connect to local fiat owners? I am currently in Orange, California, and if I could get help from people who can actually meet and look at the car, that would be great.

Jared.

[4uall]

You may also want to look here

https://www.facebook.com/groups/fiatspider/

[wizard124]

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=20987

Jared, the link above takes you to the beginning of my 2-3 years of fixing mine up. Your list looks longer than my list was! I worked on function first and did paint and top last. Paint (unless you do it yourself) and bodywork is a big chunk of change.

Safety items should top your list. brake system, driveshaft, replacing fuel lines, fuel filler hoses, etc.

Try to be as efficient as possible. Replace front shocks, brake lines, pack wheel bearings, change bushings and ball joints, fix brake calipers all at the same time when everything is loose.

Sometimes it will make sense to detour and fix things while you have access. For example, you pull the console apart to clean up some PO wiring mess or to add a new radio.....so while you have all that apart, you may want to fix the heater valve or fix the fan or drop the heater core for cleaning or repair.

If this is your only ride, the problem is you will want to get it back on the road rather than take the time to fix things in an efficient way. Or, the money runs out and you can only do what you can afford to do at the time.
Harbor Freight tools is your best friend!
Warren

[DieselSpider]

Set making it stop at as a higher priority followed by steering than making it go. No point in making it go if you don't have reliable brakes and steering. As others have mentioned you do not want to end up with the most nicely painted and polished car in the wrecking yard.

[TX82FIAT]

Jared, pretty cool that you are jumping in. These cars can be ... well... temperamental when the mechanicals are out of balance. This will require some real patience. Safety first, this is a light car with safety standards at or below the standards of other cars sold in 1981. So you want to make sure what you do have works. Possibly resist pushing the car hard until you know the car inside and out. The rewards of working on this car yourself will pay dividends the rest of your life. The car will most likely break down on you at some point and friends/family may not understand given cars today rarely break down. However, the rewards of a properly functioning Spider are worth the effort. Enjoy!