Drove the car to school today. Put it on the lift and gave it a good once over. Here is what I noticed in the 39year old 34k mile car!.
1. the front wheel bearings were a little loose (adjusted)
2. The upper control arm bushings are not that good (going to replace all bushings)
3. The tie rod end boots are deteriorated, no major play (replacing all tie rod ends and center link)
4. Ball joints are in great shape (replacing anyway)
5. The front brakes! (Where do I start)
a. the brake pads were original! , say FIAT on the backing. Never been changed.
b. rotors blued. very glazed.
c. calipers, i decided to pull the dust boots and look, They were like gum! no visible leaks, but the brakes had a little drag.
d. the stopping power of the car was maybe 50% of what it should be. If there was to be a panic stop, the only PANIC would be the driver.
(going to upgrade the front brakes, to vented rotors and modern calipers. Going to rebuild and keep all the original parts, stainless braided hoses)
6. Rear Brakes
a. the rotors look like the front, blued and glazed
b. the pads are original
c. the drivers rear caliper is weeping from the back, no pedal loss
(going to replace the rear calipers, rotors, pads with greenstuff, stainless braided hoses and hand brake cable, just because)
7. brake compensator, (just going to replace because, why not)
8. Brake master cylinder (just because)
under the car!
9. noticed a transmission leak, may be from the front seal, the speedometer drive appears to be leaking and the rear transmission seal. (I will pull the transmission, and reseal it and refresh the GL1. Also replace the rear main seal)
10. the rear transmission mount is toast. (replace the mount)
11. The doughnut looks good, but it is 39 years old (replace)
12. replacing the shocks, just because. Saving the original ones
13. the prior owner replaced the fuel pump, filter and fuel tank. he broke the rubber mount for the filter retainer and lost the filter bracket. So i will source them and replace them. (the paint on the new tank is already coming off)
14. the exhaust! this is horrific. cobbed together center muffler and who knows exactly what happened to the rear muffler, the internals are all loose. and it appears to have exploded or been bent or who knows! (ordered an ansa center muffler and I have a excellent ansa rear muffler from another car, so i will be putting them on.)
under the hood!
15. coolant hoses are not original, there is bulging in the short water pump hose. Thermostat functions perfectly, has been replaced. (replacing them with silicone hoses)
16. timing belt is original! 39 years! ( replacing that, tensioner and water pump and all the front seals)
17. the radiator was replaced at some point. or someone bought a plastic drain plug. But looks perfect inside. they were chasing a over heating problem. The problem was a bad sending unit, the overheat switch activated way too early. and they did not know how to bleed the system)
18. the oil pan has no scratches on it! wow!
I know this list sounds extensive but it is what i feel is necessary to bring this up to date on service and a better brake feel. I want to really say that other than the muffler and weak brakes the car runs and drives perfectly. I am a bit obsessive, or so I have been told. I am keeping all of the original parts so if one day it makes sense to put it back as original, I will be able to.
I will also be servicing the engine. Already replaced the plugs, cap and rotor (the original marelli parts were still there) plug wires. pickup and vac advance. I will be adjusting the valves as im sure that has never been done. Pressure washing under the hood and general clean up under the hood.
Then I will address the very minor imperfections in the interior. I am thinking about installing a oil pressure gauge from a pininfarina, to replace the non functioning clock.
