What did you do to your X1/9 today ?
- Thread starter Eastep
- Start date
Splitime
Daily Driver
Good eye, it's a spread I've been working towards. As you noted, each quite different.
Seeing your signature, I also have a 78 124 in the driveway. That one need to go come spring though, I can only manage so many projects
sjmst
True Classic
What did I do? Just picked up my new X from mechanic, Ike.
All electrics sorted, new brakes, coolant flush, alignment, NYS inspection. All for less than $500. You pay $500 with a Ferrari just to say "hello" to the shop.
Ike was saying what a clean car it is. When he was test driving it people were waving. Said it was fun to drive. It is.
It has a couple of old car squeaks and creaks, and not a lot of power, but when you nail it, you feel that engine behind you and rear wheels just propel you forward! Feels like power steering it's so light. My Fiat Spider is beautiful, but it feels almost like a truck compared to this.
Just needs cosmetics at this point: Carpet, hood respray and few minor odds and ends.
All electrics sorted, new brakes, coolant flush, alignment, NYS inspection. All for less than $500. You pay $500 with a Ferrari just to say "hello" to the shop.
Ike was saying what a clean car it is. When he was test driving it people were waving. Said it was fun to drive. It is.
It has a couple of old car squeaks and creaks, and not a lot of power, but when you nail it, you feel that engine behind you and rear wheels just propel you forward! Feels like power steering it's so light. My Fiat Spider is beautiful, but it feels almost like a truck compared to this.
Just needs cosmetics at this point: Carpet, hood respray and few minor odds and ends.
zonker
Just Another FIAT Freak
Good to hear your car is turning out to be a solid one - when I drive the X I am reminded how modern the car drives for being 40 years old.
In addition, sitting close enough to the road to open the door and touch it, and wailing the little motor mercilessly at full throttle through the gears, all the time you are still driving legal speeds is a blast not even a modern car or motorcycle can give.
Nothing like driving a slow car fast
In addition, sitting close enough to the road to open the door and touch it, and wailing the little motor mercilessly at full throttle through the gears, all the time you are still driving legal speeds is a blast not even a modern car or motorcycle can give.
Nothing like driving a slow car fast
Headlight motor rework
For years I've been annoyed that Orange Car's passenger side headlight beam was low and couldn't be adjusted properly - if I turned the actuator rod in far enough to level the light it would bend and pop off the snap ring at the headlight pod end.
So two days ago carefully I measured everything, and found that the mounting for the headlight motor (structural member, bridges outer shell to inner and also mounts the horn bracket) was bent out of shape. Not completely surprising, as the right front end was damaged in a collision back in 1975, while first owner's daughter was driving.
It took a while, but i was able to get the thing bent back into position... and headlight is now aligning properly.
For years I've been annoyed that Orange Car's passenger side headlight beam was low and couldn't be adjusted properly - if I turned the actuator rod in far enough to level the light it would bend and pop off the snap ring at the headlight pod end.
So two days ago carefully I measured everything, and found that the mounting for the headlight motor (structural member, bridges outer shell to inner and also mounts the horn bracket) was bent out of shape. Not completely surprising, as the right front end was damaged in a collision back in 1975, while first owner's daughter was driving.
It took a while, but i was able to get the thing bent back into position... and headlight is now aligning properly.
sjmst
True Classic
All true.Good to hear your car is turning out to be a solid one - when I drive the X I am reminded how modern the car drives for being 40 years old.
In addition, sitting close enough to the road to open the door and touch it, and wailing the little motor mercilessly at full throttle through the gears, all the time you are still driving legal speeds is a blast not even a modern car or motorcycle can give.
Nothing like driving a slow car fast
You know that you're driving an X1/9 when you find yourself doing an extra 360 degrees through every rotary when there's no other traffic
zonker
Just Another FIAT Freak
You know that you're driving an X1/9 when you find yourself doing an extra 360 degrees through every rotary when there's no other traffic
Oh soo true
I also do my best to avoid interstates and travel only on state highways or county 2 lane roads.
rjplenter
True Classic
Totally agree
I drove to work on I-70 this morning, damned if I'm going to go home the same way! :nod:
Oh soo true
I also do my best to avoid interstates and travel only on state highways or county 2 lane roads.
I drove to work on I-70 this morning, damned if I'm going to go home the same way! :nod:
Jim McKenzie
1972 850 Spider
Frankly, not that much
There's an X1/9 under three feet of snow there (you can see my red Mazda 3 to the left). Fortunately the X is under a car cover.
Possibility of 6 more inches tomorrow. GAH!
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There's an X1/9 under three feet of snow there (you can see my red Mazda 3 to the left). Fortunately the X is under a car cover.
Possibility of 6 more inches tomorrow. GAH!
fiatmonkey
Tim Hoover
Fixed driver side headlight pod...
The pod has always had an issue where it had too much play when fully open and sagged a little which made for one sleepy eye, miss-aligned beam and a bouncy light.
I pulled the light out and discovered the little screw thing that attaches the turn buckle linkage to the inside of the pod was not fully threaded in (to the pod). Not sure if it had a washer at one point or not, but I installed I added one and that seemed to do the trick. Everything else looked good. Just a little bit of play now but I think it's a reasonable amount due to the old tensioner stops. Good news is the headlights are aligned now and no more bounce :woot:
The pod has always had an issue where it had too much play when fully open and sagged a little which made for one sleepy eye, miss-aligned beam and a bouncy light.
I pulled the light out and discovered the little screw thing that attaches the turn buckle linkage to the inside of the pod was not fully threaded in (to the pod). Not sure if it had a washer at one point or not, but I installed I added one and that seemed to do the trick. Everything else looked good. Just a little bit of play now but I think it's a reasonable amount due to the old tensioner stops. Good news is the headlights are aligned now and no more bounce :woot:
zonker
Just Another FIAT Freak
Put on my new custom plate today.
looking good!