tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229546141332426972023-11-16T10:35:41.566-08:00i4 Cyclonic Surge1971 Fiat 124 Sport Spider - The second best shape in ItalyVikram Ambrosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00477624241225886643noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722954614133242697.post-19136000409231661172015-07-06T17:47:00.002-07:002015-07-06T17:47:57.744-07:00On the road againAfter many delays and false starts the car is finally "done". As in it can be driven on the street safely. Its taken exactly a year from the time I pulled the engine. It took a while because I spent about 5 months not doing anything and I spent about a month fighting various brake fluid leaks from banjo bolts.
Here is a summary of all the major things I've done since I purchased the car;
1. Vikram Ambrosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00477624241225886643noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722954614133242697.post-42358373732772676502014-12-05T16:31:00.000-08:002014-12-05T16:34:06.733-08:00Manifold studsI needed to replace a few exhaust manifold studs so I started looking online to see if I can find the right m8-1.25 double ended studs for the Fiat 124. I found quite a few automotive specialists selling some very expensive stuff. About $4/stud+nut. Which I thought was just ridiculous so with a bit of perseverance I eventually found an affordable source for manifold studs.
The part is Dorman #Vikram Ambrosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00477624241225886643noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722954614133242697.post-4184240332832035462014-10-02T23:41:00.000-07:002014-10-02T23:41:27.563-07:00All metal clutch release bearingI purchased a clutch release bearing from AutoRicambi and later realised it was made of plastic whilst the original was an all metal construction.
I set out looking for an all metal bearing and found that International-Auto sells the all metal ones.
The part I received is an CORAM C0013. I also found that it interchanges with quite a few different part numbers.
VALEO - 264969
SACHS - Vikram Ambrosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00477624241225886643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722954614133242697.post-29497080483653514272014-08-28T00:55:00.002-07:002014-08-28T00:55:40.525-07:00Timing belt tensionerTricky thing to install but managed to get the spring installed using a set of pliers. Interesting to note that the new belt I got from AutoRicamb was longer than the old belt I took off. Once on the tensioner you don't notice it much but it was interesting to see nonetheless.
Vikram Ambrosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00477624241225886643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722954614133242697.post-80365243036172950412014-08-17T02:29:00.001-07:002014-08-17T02:29:13.024-07:00Camshaft HousingStarting to look like an engine again now that the camshafts have been installed.
Vikram Ambrosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00477624241225886643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722954614133242697.post-87287528206462738582014-08-12T02:20:00.002-07:002014-08-12T02:26:47.584-07:00Cylinder HeadsI got the heads back from the machinist and they look great! Makes me want to send him the cam boxes too as they look really horrid in comparison now.
Interestingly enough while installing the head gasket from the engine gasket set I got (branded "Guarnitauto"), I noticed that one water hole in the block does not exist on the cylinder head. The head gasket seals the hole in the block too so I Vikram Ambrosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00477624241225886643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722954614133242697.post-37268069606892240962014-08-02T23:10:00.002-07:002014-08-02T23:13:11.506-07:00Pistons InstalledLots of cleaning, oiling, more cleaning and more oiling. The pink stuff is Redline assembly lube.
Vikram Ambrosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00477624241225886643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722954614133242697.post-48666134969625149352014-07-28T00:05:00.002-07:002014-07-28T00:11:12.381-07:00Painting the BlockGot the engine block back from the machinist after he cleaned it up, honed the bores and replaced a couple of freeze plug (not sure why he didn't replace all of them). I used a wire wheel with an electric drill and knocked off the loose rust and then washed the block with light soapy water. I then used some wax & grease remover in preparation for paint but noticed that I was still getting Vikram Ambrosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00477624241225886643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722954614133242697.post-3752410565298693602014-07-18T02:29:00.000-07:002014-08-28T01:01:11.275-07:00Bottom EndThe discolouration on the crank webs are due to heat treating done to the crankshaft for hardening.
Main bearings look like they're done. Connecting rod bearings look perfect. Bores look OK.
Vikram Ambrosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00477624241225886643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722954614133242697.post-89618795141454026372014-07-04T22:53:00.000-07:002014-08-17T02:32:46.952-07:00Engine with Transmission Removal I needed to replace the clutch and there were a lot of oil leaks so I decided to pull the engine and spruce it up a little.
I followed the instructions in the Haynes manual mostly but I also removed the alternator and intake manifold for extra visibility.
I used the factory lifting eye on the passenger's side cam cover and I used one of the intake manifold studs on the other side. I know some Vikram Ambrosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00477624241225886643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722954614133242697.post-51948764038605218912014-06-28T00:23:00.002-07:002014-07-04T22:53:43.291-07:00Removing Shifter Lever ExtensionThe trick to this is not to try and pull up on the lever while wedging the clips closed. Instead, put a small screw driver between two of the ears and pull the clip down while holding the lever.
Vikram Ambrosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00477624241225886643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722954614133242697.post-63261303792226327582014-05-25T01:50:00.001-07:002014-05-25T01:53:21.445-07:00Repairing Top Catch ThreadsOne of the screws on the driver's side top-catch was missing so I took off the other screw and measured it to be an m5-0.8 x 16mm. I bought 4 new replacements but on the driver's side they wouldn't go in. It looks like the previous owner once cross threaded something in there and has either damaged the threads or left broken threads in the frame. This could have turned into a major repair but Vikram Ambrosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00477624241225886643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722954614133242697.post-9841975789434319302014-05-25T01:46:00.001-07:002014-05-27T21:31:38.372-07:00Oil FilterFor anyone interested, the correct oil filter for a 1971 Fiat 124 Spider 1600cc (and likely many others) is a Bosch #3402. This cross references to an AC Delco #5579164. Which is used on GM cars.
Vikram Ambrosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00477624241225886643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722954614133242697.post-76796134766207916532014-05-25T01:44:00.005-07:002014-05-25T01:51:39.293-07:00Oil Pressure SenderThe oil pressure sender had been leaking so I decided to change it with a new one from AutoRicambi.
Getting the old one off wasn't too difficult but having a stubby 22mm wrench (old sender) and a stubby 17mm wrench (new sender) will make the job easier.
The car never registered great oil pressure to begin with but after changing the switch its reading a steady 0. Taking a closer look at the newVikram Ambrosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00477624241225886643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722954614133242697.post-89729792473368812292014-05-17T01:28:00.001-07:002014-05-17T17:43:01.766-07:00Transmission Oil ChangeAfter two days of fighting with one of the nuts on the transmission cross member with a small piece of hacksaw blade trying to cut it off without damaging anything, I finally got the damn thing off today.
I needed to lower the transmission a little to get better access to the oil fill plug because trying to get it off with a 17mm spanner started rounding off the corners. I needed to put a properVikram Ambrosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00477624241225886643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722954614133242697.post-47847999949325425072014-05-16T02:34:00.001-07:002014-05-16T02:37:59.835-07:00Differential Oil ChangeTried to change the oil in the gearbox but there is no clearance to get a socket and wrench onto the 17mm fill plug and my spanner started rounding off the corners of the hex bolt. So I decided to lower the gearbox a little but got stuck with one of the transmission cross member nuts. Which just kept spinning without coming out. I'll need to cut it out so I gave up for the day and decided I'd do Vikram Ambrosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00477624241225886643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722954614133242697.post-12043850604701516582014-05-10T22:15:00.001-07:002014-05-10T22:16:57.951-07:00Transmission Mount
When doing the driveshaft rebuild I noticed that the transmission mount was quite perished and would need replacing. I ordered a new mount from AutoRicambi but found that the replacement was quite different from the one on my car.
The total length (longest dimensions) for my mount is only 4-5/8", whilst the AR mount is 5-1/2".
After a few trial fitments it became clear that this Vikram Ambrosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00477624241225886643noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722954614133242697.post-17647517080403657012014-05-03T22:31:00.001-07:002014-05-04T14:43:44.645-07:00Drive Shaft RebuildDuring a test drive I noticed a knocking sound from underneath the car. Sounded like a bad U-joint initially but was a bit loud. I thought if I'm going to replace a U-Joint I might as well rebuild the entire drive shaft with new flex disc and centre support bearing.
Removing the drive shaft wasn't difficult. I probably spent most of the day getting the car supported properly. I didn't even Vikram Ambrosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00477624241225886643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722954614133242697.post-83057608074321189302014-04-18T01:14:00.000-07:002014-04-23T22:46:40.341-07:00Brown Wire FixAfter further troubleshooting of the no start issue I came to the conclusion that the "brown wire" fix was the way to go.
I don't really understand why but this is how I decided. The voltage at the battery is 12.32v and the voltage on the thick black
wire going to 30/1 on the ignition switch is also exactly 12.32v - so no
drop from the battery. But the brown wire reads 11.34v. That's almost aVikram Ambrosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00477624241225886643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722954614133242697.post-11657332945415413682014-04-12T00:56:00.000-07:002014-04-19T11:42:52.534-07:00Ignition Switch and Starter ReplacementI noticed that the car had an intermittent stall. No hesitation, no funny sounds, nothing. And it wouldn't restart sometimes. After a bit of research online I found that these cars have troublesome ignition switches. One day it stalled and just wouldn't restart. Replacement wasn't expensive so I bought a new Lada ignition switch unit.
When I withdrew the old switch (no photo), it literally Vikram Ambrosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00477624241225886643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722954614133242697.post-35751195647916169162014-03-19T00:22:00.000-07:002014-04-19T01:04:12.179-07:00Heater ValveWhile messing about in the car trying to figure out how everything worked, I pulled the heater lever and poof a cloud of steam engulfed the car as boiling coolant filled the passenger side foot well. Oh come on! I switched the engine off and had a closer look to find the heater valve had let go and dumped all the coolant into the car.
All that fibrous sound deadening was ruined. I had to rip Vikram Ambrosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00477624241225886643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722954614133242697.post-37902505994531705502014-03-19T00:15:00.000-07:002014-04-19T01:03:37.564-07:00Coolant HosesFirst thing was to make sure this would withstand Californian heat. The radiator hoses were all soft and bulging. The amount the top hose expanded when the water temp came up was frightening. So I knew I had to change all the hoses. I eventually pieced together a hose kit (later I found that some suppliers sell it as a kit already), with a new thermostat and installed the hoses.
When I removed Vikram Ambrosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00477624241225886643noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722954614133242697.post-9440052357321805382014-02-24T00:06:00.000-08:002014-04-19T01:26:23.188-07:00In the beginningIt's difficult to recall exactly now, but I think I was browsing CraigsList for something British (MG I think) and came across an advert in which the poster was selling multiple cars. One of them being a Fiat 124 Sport Spider. Embarassingly, not knowing what that even was, I googled for photos and when I saw this - I fell for it instantly.
Perfect proportions. Beautiful shoulder line. And Vikram Ambrosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00477624241225886643noreply@blogger.com1