Rusted Out 1970 850 Spider Fix-Up

[Daniel Gibson]

Don't recall what you're using for an air cleaner. If you want to run stock, you can switch the top lid with the 30DIC.

I modified one of these to fit the 30 DGS

AIR FILTER<br><font color=''red''>1053</font>

AIR FILTER SU HS2 MG AUSTIN 7 X 4 1/2 X 2 1/2 1053

www.piercemanifolds.com

Guaranteed 30 HP increase.

Sold! With that, and some flame decals, I will have doubled the horsepower!

 

[Daniel Gibson]

Yoo-hoo! I’m back. I like to blame my daughter’s old mustang for not posting, but the reality is that freakin carb has had me stumped. My new DGS would work, but no one has the correct “primary jet solenoid” for it. Following the advice I got here, I spoke at length with the rep at Pierce, and they thought this might work.

It didn’t fit. I have looked high and low, and I have not found one for the DGS carb. So today I said “forget it, let’s make one”. Worst case scenario is it won’t work. I do have the correct jets, so let’s see what we can do. And I apologize up front to all you machinists out there.
Here are my raw materials:

Short ones too short, nylon wrong thread pitch (they were a gamble).
Drilled out the ends of the longer bolts. The first one I went a little too deep. Looks like this.

Here is the second one with the jet jb welded in. I aligned it by putting the jb weld on and screwing it in. So I know the jet is seating properly.

An “o” ring oughta seal it up. Will it work? I dunno. Let’s let the jb weld harden and try it out!
I did ponder what to do if and when it clogs. A single strand of wire and carb cleaner outta do it!

 

[Daniel Gibson]

Whaddya know….it seems to work. No leaks!

Fiat on new carb

1970 Fiat 850 running on the DGS carb.

rumble.com

 

[dllubin]

Whaddya know….it seems to work. No leaks!

Fiat on new carb

1970 Fiat 850 running on the DGS carb.

rumble.com

Pretty cool. Does the JB Weld get exposed to any gasoline? If that becomes an issue, you could get a brass bolt and solder the jet on to it.

 

[Daniel Gibson]

Pretty cool. Does the JB Weld get exposed to any gasoline? If that becomes an issue, you could get a brass bolt and solder the jet on to it.

According to jbweld, it is impervious to gas once cured. We shall see! I like the brass bolt idea!

 

[Daniel Gibson]

Oh man, someone gave me a thumbs down on my 8 second car running video! I am so sorry! I will work on higher production values next time!

 

[Daniel Gibson]

Seems to be running pretty well, so I washed it and took it up to the park for a few “glamour” pics.

It is still a hard starter though…it wants to flood. Baby steps!
Edit: after I needed a jump start to get home, I took a deeper dive into the starting issue. Timing was wrong. Seems happier now.

 

[ramona300]

JB Weld is fine with petrol.

 

[Daniel Gibson]

I have a surprise for everyone today. New wheels! I bought these several months back, and had them polished, but I have been waiting to install until I was sure the car was gonna be driveable. They had been sitting for sale on marketplace for months. Not great pics, but don’t they look nice? Supposedly Shelby Diamondbacks, but who knows? Still trying to decide on what center caps to use. Oh, and thanks, recycle truck, for the big wet stain you dumped on the street today!

 

[Daniel Gibson]

Well, I am pleased to report that with multiple drives under its belt, the DGS carb with the homemade jet holder has cured 90% of my cars issues. Idles fine, starts right up, no fouled plugs, and no clogged jets. I will never, ever use a DICA carb again, intentionally.
Next up are the front brakes. Starting to drag, and then be mushy. I guess it is time to deal with those 52 year old calipers. Sheesh!

 

[Daniel Gibson]

Look at me! Over a month with no problems. Just driving it!
Also, I forgot. It has been a little over three years since I started working on it.
Happy Birthday!

Also, does anyone have one of these cars with the antenna up near the windshield on the right front fender? If so, have you ever removed it? I can’t figure out how to get to it without cutting out the front fender!

 

[Loren Field]

Hi Daniel - I saw on a different post that you were looking for a tonneau cover - I saw that Dave Bishop has one for sale - he is at dgbishop30@gmail.com if you are still interested.... your car is looking great! ljf

 

[72Fiat850]

Look at me! Over a month with no problems. Just driving it!
Also, I forgot. It has been a little over three years since I started working on it.
Happy Birthday!
View attachment 61560
Also, does anyone have one of these cars with the antenna up near the windshield on the right front fender? If so, have you ever removed it? I can’t figure out how to get to it without cutting out the front fender!

Mine is there, seems like it can be accessed under the dash.

 

[Daniel Gibson]

So we are in month two of a major heat wave, so the Fiat has not been getting any use. Anyone ever install AC on one?
I did pull the cover off early this morning and took it for a drive when it was only in the nineties. After it got gas, it ran like a champ. Not bad for sitting for weeks! I have discovered it starts a lot easier when the timing is retarded back just a smidge.
Oh, and I see a little rust coming back in the doors. Anyone have a pair of rust free doors for sale? Is there such a thing?

Thanks for reading!
Oh, and my daughter’s mustang in front of it has been the latest car project. It is time for it to go home and back to my cars.

 

[kmead]

So we are in month two of a major heat wave, so the Fiat has not been getting any use. Anyone ever install AC on one?
I did pull the cover off early this morning and took it for a drive when it was only in the nineties. After it got gas, it ran like a champ. Not bad for sitting for weeks! I have discovered it starts a lot easier when the timing is retarded back just a smidge.
Oh, and I see a little rust coming back in the doors. Anyone have a pair of rust free doors for sale? Is there such a thing?

View attachment 64163
Thanks for reading!
Oh, and my daughter’s mustang in front of it has been the latest car project. It is time for it to go home and back to my cars.

I smile everytime I open one of your posts and see that car and think about what you were able to do with it. Just amazing.

Drive on.

 

[Daniel Gibson]

I smile everytime I open one of your posts and see that car and think about what you were able to do with it. Just amazing.

Drive on.

Thanks Karl. Honestly, what with all the help and encouragement I have gotten from this group, I feel like I have done it as much for you all as for myself!

 

[NM850]

So we are in month two of a major heat wave, so the Fiat has not been getting any use. Anyone ever install AC on one?
I did pull the cover off early this morning and took it for a drive when it was only in the nineties. After it got gas, it ran like a champ. Not bad for sitting for weeks! I have discovered it starts a lot easier when the timing is retarded back just a smidge.
Oh, and I see a little rust coming back in the doors. Anyone have a pair of rust free doors for sale? Is there such a thing?

View attachment 64163
Thanks for reading!
Oh, and my daughter’s mustang in front of it has been the latest car project. It is time for it to go home and back to my cars.

I have some doors. I’ll get some pictures for you. They’re from the desert southwest so as rust free as it’s gonna get.
Shipping from New Mexico…..I’ve had luck with Greyhound as far as shipping cost if there is a stop near you for pick up
Or pick em up and they would be free.

 

[Daniel Gibson]

I have some doors. I’ll get some pictures for you. They’re from the desert southwest so as rust free as it’s gonna get.
Shipping from New Mexico…..I’ve had luck with Greyhound as far as shipping cost if there is a stop near you for pick up
Or pick em up and they would be free.

That would be…AWESOME! Thanks!

 

[NM850]

Took a while to get to my storage, sorry. Doors have some surface rust and some bondo. From what I can see inside the damage must be minor. There is no rust through in the bottoms. They came off a car that sat in the New Mexico desert for years, probably as rust free as you’ll find. I was going to use them on my 67 but decided instead to repair the original doors.

 

[Daniel Gibson]

Time to dot some “I”s and cross some “t”s with this car! I have kinda half heartedly tried to sell it recently, and didn’t get much of a response (not really surprised) so I figure, if it is staying with me, let’s get some more stuff done! First up, the darn idle was not idling again. Yup…primary idle circuit plugged up. But this time it was not the jet, but in the carb body! Blasted it out with compressed air and that fixed that. Next up: the air cleaner. As you may recall, I put a DGS carb on this car. Here is the throat on that carb:

I could not find an air filter anywhere that would fit that. My last attempt at hooking it all together failed miserably, so this time I spot welded two hose clamps to the bottom of the original air cleaner, and reused the plastic ring that came on the top of the carb when I bought it. There were a couple of small gaps that I filled in with caulk. Here it is all painted up. I tighten up one of the clamps, and it is not going anywhere!

Beautiful? Nope. Does it work? So far.

Next up: idle jet clogging issue. I think that jb weld I posted about a while back may not be as “impervious” as they say. Or the car magically sells. Stay tuned!