zonker
Just Another FIAT Freak
As mentioned in an earlier thread, Cheryl and I decided to take a 650 mile road trip to Laughlin and back driving my freshly sorted '74 X1/9. A brief rundown of the X1/9's current state of upgrades:
Drivetrain
1300 / 4 speed intact with some mild changes:
* Open element "Henk" scorpion air filter
* 1500 euro exh manifold and oem style muffler w/ OBA custom tip.
* smog pump and fittings removed and plugged
* electric fuel pump
* pcv catch can w/ breather
Wheels/Brakes/Suspension
* Accelera Alpha tires on 15" Autoricambi Libres
* front coil springs cut 1/2 coil w/ kyb struts
Interior
* Am/Fm/MP3 player w/ spare tire subwoofer
* LED dash lamps
* Sheepskin seat covers on stock seats
* Dino Steering wheel and hub kit
Exterior
H4 style headlamp housings w/ HID bulbs
Electrical
* Brown Wire Mod
* Starter Relay
* Headlamp Relay
* Interior Power Post
* LED tail lamp and side marker bulbs
I am happy to announce that on her maiden voyage she did not skip a beat, and handled all that I threw at her. The only things worth mentioning was a slight lean surge after a hot restart but it irons itself out after 15 seconds. Also the motor, being possibly the original motor, used a 1/3 qt of oil during the weekend trip. Oh and a couple leaks from the tranny...
Pic 1: The outskirts of temecula (Vail lake) in front of one of artist Richard Beccera's many metal sculptures that litter the so cal desert landscape...
Pic 2: Some of Richard Becerra's sculptures on the hills... heading out of Temecula on CA79:
Pic 3: A stop on CA371 outside of Anza:
Pic 4: Taking some curves before reaching CA74:
Pic 5/6: Getting up in elavation (4500 ft), turning onto CA74:
Pic 7/8: CA74 heading into Palm Desert:
Pic 9: Reaching Rancho Mirage (note Tesla in front of us):
Pic 10: Cheryl being a good trooper about having her hair wind beaten...
Pic 11/12: On CA62 heading to that crazy uphill grade to Yucca Valley and the high desert... the X struggled but made it up at the speed limit
Pic 13-18: Trip detour to Pioneertown, a ghost town 5 miles outside of Joshua Tree:
Pic 19-26: Hitting the loneliest stretch of highway, CA62 east of 29 Palms...
Pic 27-29: Photo op - CA62 and Iron Mountain Rd:
Pic 30-31: "Shoe Fence" on CA62:
Pic 32-33: Heading up US95 North...
Pic 34-36: On our way to Needles...
Pic 37: Crossing Colorado River...
Pic 38-39: And near the end of our 7 hr drive, we are in Bullhead City looking at Laughlin!
Pic 40-41: We made it!!
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