Wise words from an original Fiat tech

Maintenance advice to keep your Spider in shape.
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Odoyle
Posts: 440
Joined: Mon Dec 01, 2014 10:06 pm
Your car is a: 1983 Pinafarina Spider
Location: CA

Wise words from an original Fiat tech

Postby Odoyle » Mon Mar 26, 2018 2:39 pm

When I bought my 83 in 2014, I took it to the last factory-trained Fiat mech in Los Angeles, (still there). And there was something he said to me that stuck, and has inadvertently influenced how I look at working on spiders. There where quite a few spiders around the shop and I asked, "Are you the hands-on guy around here", and he looks at me and says very calmly, "No, I am the fingers-on guy.". I think he was suggesting that it's not like wrenching on American muscle, you have to be more gentle, and perceptive to what the car is telling you. He goes on to also say how if it works, don't mess with it. Suggesting that the less you touch and try to "fix", the better. One reason being, it has made it thus far in good working order, leave it that way, and two, the factory followed a certain sequence to things which was integral to building the car efficiently and correctly. Not the word of god, but this little concept has reminded me to be more gentle and know when to stop, and wanted to share it with the rest of you guys.

dimitridodys
Posts: 40
Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2010 1:18 pm
Your car is a: 1983 mira

Re: Wise words from an original Fiat tech

Postby dimitridodys » Tue Mar 27, 2018 3:03 pm

Amen!

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focodave
Patron 2018
Patron 2018
Posts: 704
Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2012 10:35 am
Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000 F.I.
Location: Fort Collins, CO

Re: Wise words from an original Fiat tech

Postby focodave » Tue Mar 27, 2018 10:39 pm

The old "if it ain't broke -- don't fix it" mantra.
1980 Spider 2000 F.I. (my hobby)
1970 MGB GT (my other hobby)
2008 Ford Expedition (daily driver)
2019 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Standard
2019 Harley-Davidson Iron 883 Sportster


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