My new project: 68 850 Spider

[kmead]

Spare headlight buckets in place. Lights even work!

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Also excellent advice about the parts and so on from Jeff, as always.

 

[Austin]

Thanks very much for the input on the parts.

Definitely keeping the doors and engine lid, but the other sheet metal is just taking up space. Will also keep the tonneau cover, though I'll have to add snaps to the new doors to use it.

There's so much more that you can't see: windshield, generator, starter, brake pads, water pumps, radiator, exhaust - it's just endless. Most is useless, as they're worn out or rusted.

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Also excellent advice about the parts and so on from Jeff, as always.

Google photos is killing me. I've shared this album multiple times, and then added photos to it without issue, but THIS time, it had to be reshared. No idea why, but thanks for pointing it out.

 

[Jeff Stich]

There's so much more that you can't see: windshield, generator, starter, brake pads, water pumps, radiator, exhaust - it's just endless. Most is useless, as they're worn out or rusted.

These days, even the "useless" stuff can be worth something to someone else out there. Don't throw it out just yet, post photos of it all here & we can help you sort it out.

For an 850 owner, items like the starter & generator are always good to have a spare of "just in case". I myself took that one step further & had one (or more) of each of these items rebuilt by a competent rebuilder NOW (while the really knowledgeable guys are still around & do it affordably), so if/when the need arises, I'll have a good one ready to go onto a car at a moments' notice (I own multiple 850's). Same thing can be said for a spare radiator, especially with todays' rate of good old-timer radiator shops closing up for good.

Something like a spare windshield...to me, it's far easier to simply keep one wrapped up in an old blanket & stashed away with the spare body panels (not taking up much additional space), than it is to (later, if needed) source a good one via the internet & then have to worry about shipping (packaging & possible breakage). Cheaper, too!

 

[kmead]

I would like to reinforce Jeff’s comments.

A rebuilt alternator is @300 on ebay and no guarantees, a radiator is similar if you can find one. Water pumps are also expensive and you can’t go down to Autozone to get any of these parts.

Break pads and consumable parts you don’t need to keep but having a set of new ones on hand is a great thing to do.

Clearly you need to evaluate if the parts are actually good or rebuildable but just having access to some of these parts is a huge leg up.

For example years ago I had bought an 850 radiator (which I found was actually different from the one my Coupe uses), a few years later (like 10-12 years later) my existing one started leaking. I was able to take the one made for a Spider, remove the mounting and put the radiator itself into my Coupes mounting frame. I went from stressed out about trying to find a replacement to happy after looking at nd reworking my “wrong” part...

Anyway, we are just saying evaluate carefully, old cars and old parts are not things you can just grab a replacement for when you need them. Jeffs advice about rebuilding some of them now is very good advice, you might even consider taking the ones on it off, and sending both the one you know is good and one you are not as sure of to be rebuilt and then you are starting from a known point on everything.

As for your headlight lenses, you could make flat lexan ones for the time being to keep the water out. There is a much more scratch resistant version of lexan available as well but you will have to look for it.

 

[motoTrooper]

I was wondering if a lens from an older new model mini cooper might fit (with some trimming)?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/6312275187...wnada2NSk:sc:USPSPriority!94306!US!-1&vxp=mtr

 

[Austin]

I was wondering if a lens from an older new model mini cooper might fit (with some trimming)?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/6312275187...wnada2NSk:sc:USPSPriority!94306!US!-1&vxp=mtr

Interesting thought. Might keep a tape measure on hand and skulk around parking lots to see...

I would like to reinforce Jeff’s comments.

A rebuilt alternator is @300 on ebay and no guarantees, a radiator is similar if you can find one. Water pumps are also expensive and you can’t go down to Autozone to get any of these parts.

...
As for your headlight lenses, you could make flat lexan ones for the time being to keep the water out. There is a much more scratch resistant version of lexan available as well but you will have to look for it.

Totally not dismissing the need to keep hard to find parts, and trust me - I understand the value of original parts vs. poorly made reproductions (when even available). But when the former owner (or owner's husband in this case) could have lead a course on hoarding, there are some things that don't need to be kept. Like his 15+ handwritten notes comparing various Mopar ballast resistors to Morelli ones. Like the water pump that was so choked with sediment it wouldn't turn. Like the dime-a-dozen VW rear view mirror in the box that the very desirable dealer accessory day/night mirror came in. Like the dozens, maybe hundreds, of fuses.

I am strongly considering trying my hand at a plexiglass lens for the time being. What I can not figure out, though (and this will apply to the correct glass lens when I save up enough for them) is how they are held to the light reflector bucket. Are they glued? No visible means of fastener that I can see.

 

[kmead]

I believe the lens is held in by bent over tabs on the ring to the body of the headlamp.

Have a look at this site, it may have a few clues:

http://www.lambomiura.com/rest25.htm

 

[Austin]

I believe the lens is held in by bent over tabs on the ring to the body of the headlamp.

Have a look at this site, it may have a few clues:

http://www.lambomiura.com/rest25.htm

WOW, thanks. That answers that, though the 850 had normal headlights in the bucket (at least the US spec one did) instead of the bulb/reflector assembly. Fascinating to see all the parts though.

 

[JimL]

This guy made plexiglass replacements and might still have some, according to his video.

 

[Austin]

Finally found a reasonably priced gas cap

Thank you, Jeff Stitch, for the pointer.

Here's the crazy homemade gas cap it replaced

The former owner's husband was a bit of a Fiat MacGyver.

 

[Jeff Stich]

Finally found a reasonably priced gas cap. Thank you, Jeff Stich, for the pointer.

Cool! Good to hear my parts-referral worked out for you!

 

[Daniel Gibson]

So, almost two years later, how is the car coming along?

 

[Frank L. Di Gioia]

Great choice and find! Covered headlight Spiders are the most sought after. After playing with 850's since 1969-70 I'm glad to see they're still appreciated. I'm hopefully near the end of restoring my fourth '67 Spider so text me if there's anything I can possibly help with.

 

[Jeff Stich]

So, almost two years later, how is the car coming along?

FYI - Austin sold this car quite some time ago.

https://xwebforums.com/forum/index.php?threads/early-1968-850-spider-for-sale-sold.35474/

 

[Daniel Gibson]

FYI - Austin sold this car quite some time ago.

https://xwebforums.com/forum/index.php?threads/early-1968-850-spider-for-sale-sold.35474/

Thanks Jeff. I hate it when a thread that was so promising just stops mid air. Now I know the rest of the story!

 

[WOOM]

Thanks Jeff. I hate it when a thread that was so promising just stops mid air. Now I know the rest of the story!

My brother purchased the car from Austin on my behalf as he lives in San Diego and I am in Wisconsin. I had it shipped to me this past summer and managed to put a couple of hundred miles on it before putting it away for the harsh midwest winter. It was kinda funny to me that Austin and my brother both chose not to drive it due to concerns about the brakes. Having owned several 850 Spiders over the years I am happy to report the brakes work fine and it stops as Fiat intended. My plan is to drive it around town this summer/fall while I work on my 71, once completed, the plan for this one is for it to get the full restoration it deserves.

 

[NM850]

Hopefully you will document that here

 

[Daniel Gibson]

My brother purchased the car from Austin on my behalf as he lives in San Diego and I am in Wisconsin. I had it shipped to me this past summer and managed to put a couple of hundred miles on it before putting it away for the harsh midwest winter. It was kinda funny to me that Austin and my brother both chose not to drive it due to concerns about the brakes. Having owned several 850 Spiders over the years I am happy to report the brakes work fine and it stops as Fiat intended. My plan is to drive it around town this summer/fall while I work on my 71, once completed, the plan for this one is for it to get the full restoration it deserves.

Well how cool is this! Will the circle be unbroken? I guess not!

 

[WOOM]

Hopefully you will document that here

You can count on that. I have a couple of motorcycle projects in front of it but will post pics of the 67/68 around town and the 71 when I get started on it.