Look what followed me home...

Copied over from GRM (who is wholly to blame along with this online community for said car):

Well after looking for the better part of a year, and passing on an 850 which proved to be too much of a wreck and unsafe to dolly I was close to giving in when my wanted add on CL landed me an email from a father/son 72 Fiat Spider project who had bought and thought it was previously amateur restored 6 years ago. The transmission popped 4 years ago and it sat in their garage until last year when they put a reman in from IAP (got the paperwork $$$!). By this time though the son was in college, father didn't have the time to deal with it and wanted it gone, same sad story. I checked the engine it's a 125BC000 ~ 1608 with some sort of Weber, don't know yet as I'm still learning a lot about the mechanicals on this thing, feel free to chime in if you recognize it. The chrome bumpers were removed and the fascia filled and smoothed before the restoration respray (original color), but I have all the bumpers and they're really nice (no rust) for 38 year old's and the chrome is still good. I'm planning on putting them back on sometime down the road. Believe it or not I got this at a VERY challenge price so I may just drive it down as is for giggles (after I rewire it and sort the miss but it runs and drives!). Anyway, time for some pics, will have more in Reader's Ride section:

Anyone know what type of wheels these are? They are at least 2 piece as those little black rivets are indeed real fasteners.

As I dig into the car, I'm finding it's more original (good upkeep / garaged) and less restoration at least the body, the dash is custom and the header is an alfa romeo (or so I was told), there is some rust in corners but minimal, but the underside has been under body coated at some point in life and the pans are fantastic. The only parts that need help are the bottoms of the door. I've only found about 4 spots of bondo and it was to fill dents, two of which were on the hood, no real rust repair.

I have a roll bar if you want it :)

Alfa Romeo header! LOL. It's amazing anyone can get anything done these days on the internet with all of the mis- and disinformation. Great condition for a fairly early Spider. Interesting bumper delete look. Make sure they didn't take the easy way out and filled those cavities with bondo only. Do you intend to continue the customizing of the previous owners or return to near stock?

Coupefan,

Yeah I didn't think so and as soon as I got it home and looked around could tell it wasn't but I have to look these things up as I don't know much about this car yet, and since there's plenty of non-stock 'mods' to it, it's confusing what is and isn't original, plus I've only ever seen a later model spider so I just don't know and am learning slowly. As for the front bumper, i've poked around and so far I can't feel any bondo spots, making me think it was welded but I can't find any grind spots, it's unusual, I'm going to have to remove the valence to actually figure it out.

I honestly have no idea what to do, I want to fix the corner/edge rust spots, or at least seal them for now, the doors need to be addressed however so that may get priority. After that I'm going to rewire the whole car, I just don't trust 40 year old wires or barrel fuses, waaaay too many problems, and I need to check timing, do a compression test and figure out if I need to do anything with the valves or if the carb needs another rebuild (PO claimed they did).

I want to put the bumpers back on but I need to see.

The valance is welded on. You're not taking it off.

I'll repeat it here too; don't rewire the whole car. There is no need. I have the EXACT wiring diagram for that car in a nice big readable size in one of my books I can copy for you.

ddavidv wrote: The valance is welded on. You're not taking it off. I'll repeat it here too; don't rewire the whole car. There is no need. I have the EXACT wiring diagram for that car in a nice big readable size in one of my books I can copy for you.

Why must you crush my dreams?

I guess I'll be sticking my head up in there instead, that sucks, I'll take the diagram, PM me here or on GRM, does it differ much from Artigue's?

As for the wiring, like I posted on the other side, there's alot of spotty splices in the dash due to the relocation of the gauges + aftermarket stereo + brittle wires in the engine bay + partially melted fuse block, I'd say if any vehicle warrants a rewire, this is it, besides, I've done it before it's no big deal...

The external thermostat on the car is a later design than 1972, if I recall correctly. The engine itself may have been changed or just the plumbing. It looks like the original color was yellow and the paint is fresh. The wheels may be Fiat Volumex style. It is a good find.

Cheers Ron

Chromed steel wheels, they aren't Volumex alloys Ron.

rconlon wrote: The external thermostat on the car is a later design than 1972, if I recall correctly. The engine itself may have been changed or just the plumbing. It looks like the original color was yellow and the paint is fresh. The wheels may be Fiat Volumex style. It is a good find. Cheers Ron

I was wondering that about the yellow color under the black paint (which I've read that was from the factory rustproofing?), so thanks for that tidbit. And yeah the wheels aren't anything special, 13", multi-piece

rconlon wrote: The external thermostat on the car is a later design than 1972, if I recall correctly. The engine itself may have been changed or just the plumbing. It looks like the original color was yellow and the paint is fresh. The wheels may be Fiat Volumex style. It is a good find. Cheers Ron

I was wondering that about the yellow color under the black paint (which I've read that was from the factory rustproofing?), so thanks for that tidbit. And yeah the wheels aren't anything special, 13" multipiece chromed steel wheels, I'm hoping the manufacturer info is stamped on the inside, and when I get the tires replaced shortly I'll see if they're 2 or 3 piece. How big a wheel and tire combo can fit on these spiders at stock height before they start rubbing?

Aftermarket wheels are available in a variety of sizes. Combinations that fit well and are close to stock are: 185-70-13 185-60-14

Other sizes are also used but the original bolt pattern is 4X98 which limits choices. Cheers Ron