1978 Fiat 124 Spider Restoration Mod

1978 Fiat 124 Spider Description

Seeking a motivate enthusiast to finish this project.This has been my project for thepast 3 years. I'm not sure where to begin with the description.. The car is a project and should only be purchased by someone willing to bring it to 100%.I have thousands of dollars and man hours put into the restoration. Please read the entire description before making an offer or purchase.

I will help coordinate pick-up of thevehicle. I highly suggest a private, flat bed truck or similar. The car is low and will need an experience driver to transport. Example, I had a private truck transfer from Dallas to Austin for $600.

The car will be sold as-is, no warranties or mechanical aid after purchase. No returns and a deposit is required. The car is currently insured for the amount listed - and cost around $500 a year. The Fiat comes with a clean titleand will need to be inspected / registered (respectfully). I will include a small descriptive memo on how the car generally operates and a box of specializedtools / manuals, spare parts, etc. Not to mention, a new set of drivinggloves!

Here is a few FAQ's before you investtoo much time reading below;

• Is the car show room ready?Absolute not - and never will be. That was not my intent. The car needs work and always will...
• Any rust?Yes, what 42 year convertible car has no rust? The body it self was pretty minimal when it was repainted.. the interior had some damage (most convertibles do). Extra sheet metal was added to the floor boards and the interior was covered in sound damping material.
• What is the red switch in the center console?Passenger ejection seat - just kidding!! This is an electronic cut-off valve for the exhaust.. allowing the car to run open header. Very loud. Very fun. And can be removed easy.
• Is the car scary to drive?Depends on who you are. Lets face it - no air bags, practically "show only" bumpers.. minimal seat belts, etc. Let's just say50 mph is fast enough!
• Does the car run?Yes, on a charged battery.. cranks right up. Idles great... but should be tuned. The original carburetor was replaced with a larger Weber.. and needs final tweaking (adjustable fuel pressure gauge already installed under hood and I am including several sets of jets).
• Why am I selling it?Something bigger has come into my world!
• MileageI was told the car had 40-50k miles.. The speedometer cable was broke when I purchased. Not sure how many miles and dont really think its important.

Here's how to finish the project...and make it become part of your own:

• Replace dashboard and center console.This is relatively easy to purchase and installed. At the moment, a dash cap and carpet is installed for the dash... and a center console cap. To finish the interior, both should be replaced.
• Pull the engine.The car runs and idles, but it could use some final love touches... For instance, the motor has never been pulled (or at least since I have owned it) there is an extremely slow oil leak at pan. Like a few small drops after driven only. Ideally, the new owner should pull the engine and rebuild the gaskets, and paint the block. This will push the car to the finish line.
• Replace the clutch:Might as well do it - if you pull the engine. All gears do engage, 3rd is a little sticky... but she still is ready to drive. Also pretty easy to obtain and install.
• Braided fuel lines:I replaced the entire fuel system.. and wished I ran solid lines versus braided. Why? Because the braided lines off gas a bit and you can smell the fumes in the interior if the top is closed for days at a time. Not a big deal - but wanted to share. Also remember - the emissions system was removed from this car and vents into the atmosphere at the fuel tank.
• Polish or replaceWindshield:This never really got to my list and not too big of a deal
• Fuel Gauge:All the gauges were replaced with aftermarket. The fuel gauge needs resistors installed to accurately read the amount. When low, the warning light will turn on. This was never a big deal - because I normally drive the car in the neighborhood hood and to local restaurants only. Never more than 20 miles in one drive. I have the original gauge installed in the trunk for now - so that there is some type of metric.

Exterior

• New paint and body work (dual stage) *Some minor imperfections in paint and body*
• New convertible vinyl top w/ new handles
• Misc weather stripping
• New Vick Auto 15" wheels and lock-nuts and wheel studs
• Nitto tires
• Restored 1800 badge (wanted to keep original)

Exterior - Front

• New Hood (79-up double bubble) painted on both sides and misc weather stripping
• Gas powered strut conversion to prop hood
• Heat shield applied to underside of hood
• New wiper cowl
• New wiper cowl vents
• New wiper arms (chrome) and new blades
• New windshield washers (chrome)
• LED headlight (fan cooled) with integrated turn signal
• New headlight chrome rings
• New LED fog lights, black, behind grill
• Custom upper and lower billet grill (powder coated black)
• New chrome front bumper
• New lower bumper valance
• New hood emblem
• New hood latch and cable

Exterior - Side

• New aftermarket side skirt (heavy steel)
• New side skirt chrome
• New chrome door handles and gaskets
• New chrome window trim
• New locking mechanism inside passenger door (extremely rare)
• New front and rear side markers (light blubs removed)
• New door guides
• New door strikes
• New drivers mirror

Exterior - Rear

• Trunk was completely stripped, primed and painted on all sides and misc weather stripping
• Polished trunk lock and new mechanism
• New chrome rear bumpers with grommets
• New trunk emblem
• Custom LED is trunk area (light when lid is opened)
• New tail lights (with LED conversion) and gasket
• New chrome license plate lights (with LED conversion)
• New gas lid and chrome door handle
• New chrome convertible hooks

Interior

• Complete Dynomat (about 200 pounds in weight) on all panels in the interior and trunk.
• New Procar seats (adjustable )
• Custom rear seat by Procar
• New seatbelts
• Custom Short shifter
• Custom shift boot
• Custom dash (laser cut from CAD) comes with extra stain
• Custom Shift glow gauges - 7 colors (Techometer, Speedometer- GPS based, Voltmeter, Fuel, Oil Pressure and Engine Temp) Can change color
• Custom steering wheel
• Dash mat
• New Emergency Brake cover
• Ash trey delete
• New rear view mirror
• New chrome convertible strap and hooks
• New door panels with chrome kick plates
• New arm rest
• New door handles and window cranks
• New clutch, brake and gas pedal
• New top straps
• New carpet
• Custom floor mats

Interior - Electronics

• Pioneer touchscreen - connect to smartphone (Spotify, Pandora, etc)
• Back-up camera
• Brown Wire Fix
• Heater valves converted to speakers - New 3.25" Pioneer
• Front 6.5" Pioneer component speakers in kicker panels
• Rear 6.5" Pioneer speakers in rear panels (with Dynomat)
• Kicker 8" subwoofer (under passenger dash) with equalizer knob control
• New antenna (manual)
• Custom toggle switch panel (Headlights, Fuel cut-off, Radiator Fan, Reverse light)
• USB charging ports
• Viper 2-way alarm with glass break sensor, tile sensor and ​
• New blinker flasher relay
• New Ground Cable

Engine

• Weber K518 carbonator from Redline (jetted -comes with several other variation for tuning) from Redline, with poly spacer (de-smogged)
• AEM Air Fuel narrow band gauge (near key ignition for easy monitoring)
• Vick Auto complete stainless exhaust (4-2-1 header w/ heat wrap, cat delete, muffler, gasket, etc)
• Custom electronic exhaust valve with switch (can be removed by owner - VERY FUN!)
• Custom zinc plated oil pan guard
• Allison Auto aluminum radiator and custom aluminum reservoir
• Oversized electric radiator fan
• Allison Automotive distribitorless ignition and spark plug wires
• NGK spark plugs
• Aluminum camshaft, water pump and alternator pulleys + timing belt​
• New gear reduced alternator
• New water pump, thermostat, water neck, timing pointer and hoses
• Custom water tee
• New high performance starter w/ Brown wire fix
• Custom aluminum wiper reservoir
• Polished valve covers, anodized distributor block, Custom oil cap (with new gaskets)
• Oil catch can with flame resistor
• Heater core bypass with radiator burp valve
• New Yellow top optimum battery (with quick disconnects for easy removal)
• New sender units in head (temp)
• Timing chain (30 miles)
• New gas tank (complete assembly, includes sending unit, gasket, float, hoses, etc)
• New Russel fuel stainless braided fuel lines (with return)
• New Facet high performance fuel pump
• New fuel pressure regulator (with gauge)
• New high performance fuel filter (easy to clean)
• Locking gas cap

Suspension and Brakes

• New rear upper and lower trailing arms (including bushings)
• New pan hard bar (including bushings)
• Lowered front and rear coil springs
• New upper and lower control arms
• New ball joints (all)
• New tie rods and hardware (3 pcs)
• New sway bar bushing and hardware
• New fender liners (mod to allow lowered suspension and wider tires)
• New disk brakes
• New brake calipers (complete new assembly, includes speed valves, springs, clips and pads)
• New stainless brake lines, new rubber hose connections and all new fittings
• Rear proportion value delete
• New master cylinder
• New brake reservoir
• New brake pedal springs
• New shocks and hardware
• New emergency brake (complete new assembly, includes cable, hardware, l-arm, etc)