Matt Brannon - Midwest Bayless
Mad.Matt
I've had this conversation with a couple of new and prospective new owners lately, so I figured I'd start a thread about it.
So you're considering the purchase of an X1/9. Let's say it's a 1980 1500, 5-Spd...
The ad and the seller says "Runs and Drives Great!"
However, starting in a 65 degree garage and making it twice around the block is way different than a worry free drive to another state and back with your significant other in the passenger seat...
Unless that car has a stack of maintenance records, you can't trust anything to be highly functional for long. Worst case scenario, you have to assume that most significant "consumable" parts on that car are 40 years old and may be near the end of their service life.
Anything that carries fluid (Fuel, Brake, Coolant) is suspect regardless of mileage. At or above 60K miles, electro mechanical items (Starter, Alternator, Switches, etc.) and mechanical (suspension, brakes, driveline, clutch) may start to come into question due to a combination of use + age.
So, as a new owner of a poorly maintained 40-year old car, you have two choices to make:
Further, this place right here, www.xwebforums.org has 20 years of accumulated knowledge and tech posts to help you. Just about everything you will need to do to the car has been photo documented here by multiple owners. Xweb is an adjunct for the factory service manual.
In most cases if the car you're purchasing can make it around the block a few times, you’re looking at $6K of parts or less to do a pretty comprehensive mechanical refurb.
That is in-line with most 80's domestic car part prices, and a pittance compared to the same items on vintage imports like BMW, Porsche, Mercedes, or Jag
If you’re starting with a rust-free car, and you're able to turn all the wrenches, and you commit to the "full magilla" as they say for preventative maintenance, then you'll have a car that will be worth as much or maybe more than you've invested it, in most cases.
If your FIAT needs a complete interior, has rust issues, needs a paint job, an engine rebuild, or new trans then yeah, you'll be "upside down" investment-wise, but still doesn't mean it's not worthy of such effort. Dozens of other desirable 1980s sports cars are in the same boat.
Again, let me repeat:
The biggest disappointment for classic FIAT ownership is hoping against hope that its old parts won't fail.
...And then getting stranded 2 or 3 times a season because old parts did fail.
...And then getting mad at the car about it.
Just bite the bullet and plan to do it all.
Below is the laundry list of what is likely to need replacement after 40 years. Red is usually for 60K miles and higher
FUEL SYSTEM
So you're considering the purchase of an X1/9. Let's say it's a 1980 1500, 5-Spd...
The ad and the seller says "Runs and Drives Great!"
However, starting in a 65 degree garage and making it twice around the block is way different than a worry free drive to another state and back with your significant other in the passenger seat...
Unless that car has a stack of maintenance records, you can't trust anything to be highly functional for long. Worst case scenario, you have to assume that most significant "consumable" parts on that car are 40 years old and may be near the end of their service life.
Anything that carries fluid (Fuel, Brake, Coolant) is suspect regardless of mileage. At or above 60K miles, electro mechanical items (Starter, Alternator, Switches, etc.) and mechanical (suspension, brakes, driveline, clutch) may start to come into question due to a combination of use + age.
So, as a new owner of a poorly maintained 40-year old car, you have two choices to make:
- Start driving it, and fix things as they break. The first 30-40 days may be bliss. You'll say to yourself "man, I got a screaming deal, this thing is awesome, just needed some fresh gas and new tires!". Then you get stranded. Then you fix the thing that stranded you. Two weeks later, you get stranded again. You fix the thing that stranded you. Then you start cussing the car as a piece of s#*t FIAT and get a bad attitude about it. The problems persist, not because it's a FIAT, but because it's a 40 year old car that has been mechanically ignored by its previous owners and minimally supported by YOU.
- Bite the bullet and commit to a complete mechanical refurbishment. Keep in mind that in most cases, an engine build / rebuild is not necessary.... And the refurb doesn't have to happen all at once, but in sections, one after another. Knowing that the odds of break-down are reduced with each completed section. But until you get it all done, you should bet on needing an occasional tow, and it's best your girlfriend or wife NOT take an afternoon ride into the boonies with you unless they have a good sense of adventure.
Further, this place right here, www.xwebforums.org has 20 years of accumulated knowledge and tech posts to help you. Just about everything you will need to do to the car has been photo documented here by multiple owners. Xweb is an adjunct for the factory service manual.
In most cases if the car you're purchasing can make it around the block a few times, you’re looking at $6K of parts or less to do a pretty comprehensive mechanical refurb.
That is in-line with most 80's domestic car part prices, and a pittance compared to the same items on vintage imports like BMW, Porsche, Mercedes, or Jag
If you’re starting with a rust-free car, and you're able to turn all the wrenches, and you commit to the "full magilla" as they say for preventative maintenance, then you'll have a car that will be worth as much or maybe more than you've invested it, in most cases.
If your FIAT needs a complete interior, has rust issues, needs a paint job, an engine rebuild, or new trans then yeah, you'll be "upside down" investment-wise, but still doesn't mean it's not worthy of such effort. Dozens of other desirable 1980s sports cars are in the same boat.
Again, let me repeat:
The biggest disappointment for classic FIAT ownership is hoping against hope that its old parts won't fail.
...And then getting stranded 2 or 3 times a season because old parts did fail.
...And then getting mad at the car about it.
Just bite the bullet and plan to do it all.
Below is the laundry list of what is likely to need replacement after 40 years. Red is usually for 60K miles and higher
FUEL SYSTEM
- New or Rebuilt Carb
- Fuel Injectors
- Fuel Pump
- Fuel hoses including filler neck hose
- Drop the fuel tank, check internal condition, replace if needed, along with new sending unit
- Cap
- Rotor
- Plugs
- Wires
- Ground cable at battery
- Ignition switch (miles dependent)
- Starter or Alternator (miles dependent)
- Timing belt / tens bearing
- V-Belt
- Oil pressure sending unit
- Temp sending unit
- Breather hose
- Gaskets and Seals as needed
- Valve adjustment
- Motor mounts (miles and oil leak dependent)
- Exhaust manifold / Header / Muffler (miles dependent)
- Cooling hose main set x 5
- Thermostat
- Expansion tank (unless its already stainless or a good condition plastic with no bulge or rusty cap bung)
- Water pump
- Water pump return tube
- Heater valve
- Radiator
- Undercar tubes (as needed, especially if coolant mix has been neglected, regardless of miles)
- Blower fan switches
- Struts x 4 (78 and earlier always replace, 79-on are miles dependent)
- Upper strut mounts x 4
- Radius rod bushings
- Tie Rod ends (miles dependent)
- Steering rack inner bushing
- Control arms if needed (miles dependent)
- Wheel bearings as needed (failure is caused by potholes, not miles)
- CVs and boots
- Clutch Pack
- Clutch Master
- Brake Master
- Clutch Slave
- Flexible Brake Hoses
- Rotors
- Pads
- Reservoir Hoses
- Reservoirs if needed
- Calipers if needed (miles and storage condition dependent)
- Trunk / Engine Cover release lever cables
- Speedo Cable(s)
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