Sorry, I wasn't implying you should have built another Miata. I was asking why a late 1970s Fiat Spider? To be clear, I am not saying it's a bad choice or a bad car.

I'm wondering what was it that even put that car on your radar or what attributes did you find compelling about it? I don't think that car has ever come up on a list of "cars that would be fun or interesting to own someday" that I have seen.

 

Because its something new and different. This one has NO rust... which in itself is mind blowing.

That being said... I also think its sexy

Some test fits for spacers... apparently a 1/2" socket is a perfect test spacer. 1.5" should make this almost plug and play and allow easy PCD conversion and hubcentricity.

Spacer testing:
Purty


Why? Why not


Clean up begins/continues.


List of things I can ditch...
HEAVY radiator/metal framed fan.
AC condensor/compressor (isn't hooked up anyways)
Airpump for smog stuff, ALL smog accessories

Man... I love removing crap.

 

you're putting 6UL's on there? WIN

 

15x9 6ULs

 

Very nice indeed.

Any chance you could adapt a shiny American V8 air cleaner on top? Would look ****, and they're like $20 at any auto store. That three bolt mounting system is wack yo.

 

Fixed that for you

 

He broke my trust with the first engine swap.

 

Dude... life happens! You think you were bummed... I'm the one who had all the darn parts in my garage and realized I just couldn't make it happen anytime soon

I'm going to play with this motor for now, refresh it a bit... enjoy the amazing 85hp :P.

I've already been brainstorming about swaps though... so it might go that route. Life is much improved and projects can actually prosper.

 

New manifold and carbs. Common mod, and it really wakes it up.

 

Dual Webers also sound nice.... but that setup costs like 1.2k.... for not that much more on a stock engine.

 

But.. but.. he made a sweet coffee table, bro!

Sick car man, What are your plans for power/suspension? How does it run stock?, be honest! Are we talking stock miata territory, or slower?

I ask because I have a triumph gt6 I'm going to make into a fun weekend/canyon car. I mostly restored it about 5 years ago with my dad and we never finished due to life. It's looking like I'll have time to resume the project with him.

Previously I wanted to do a motor swap with it, but thankfully with my older age my plans have changed. I just want a cool, old, and carbureted car to tinker with and blast around in. Something that sounds badass and is at least as quick as a stock 1.8 miata. I'm going to deck the head on it, throw on some triple webers, a header and exhaust, an dput a 5 speed behind it. I should be able to get between 120-150whp out of the 2.0l inline 6, and at 2050lbs it should scoot fairly good. For suspension I'm going super basic. New gas struts and some stiffer springs, I want to keep the handling original and sketchy.



Sorry for the threadjack, thought you might like to see my old baby as well. I'm subscribed to this build of oldschool glory.

 

You will need to replace the 40 year old suspension rubber parts. My friend had a GT6+ and while it was fun, it was limited by component age and technology. When my car was stock it ate up a caged GT6+ at Road Atlanta whose driver seemed somewhat unprepared. It ate it up in corners and straights on 14 inch all seasons.

I haven't seen any Fiats in HPDE anywhere yet. Maybe they can't keep them running long enough to get to the grid.

I think those wheels are way too big from the standpoint of sticking out wide, unless you are going to mangle the fenders on that perfectly straight car and add overfenders or flares. And you are going to want to minimize weight in the rotating mass when you have so few horses to play with.

 

Sheesh. Congratulations to Steve:

 

Mines actually a mk3 gt6, the gt6+ had terrible suspension problems, with rubber "rotoflex" rear suspension. These things are terrible from the factory, and WAY worse when even a few years old. The "rotoflex" part of the suspension looks like this.



Mines a mk3 that doesn't have that crap. Albeit a stock miata will still certainly destroy the gt6, even my mk3. I want to build mine to be a street car, and have some fun in the canyons, etc. My dad might take it on a track, when we go and I bring my miata, but keeping up isn't the point.

/threadjack sorry split.

 

is that a hemmroid pillow?

 

The 70's were a strange time.

 

I do not mind threadjacks at all. If i'm not updating, someone may as well be :P.

I do love the fastback on those... yum.

 

I get that a lot.

 

Flew to Raleigh to bring home another non miata...

 

Looks like a good car for those roads. I <3 my honda(integra) for winter status, I could never go back to driving a miata in the winter.

Plans for it? What does it have done?