348 - rebuilding a burnt Spider

Here, check this out on our 358 race car. Note the windscreen gasket.
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First start!!
http://youtu.be/9J2hsvEpATM

Ignition lock was melt so turning the key didn't work. Had to do it car thief style!😄

Any ideas if some Fiat etc. part would fit?

 

Very cool that you started it but be careful, you guys can easily kill yourselves leaving a car on indoors like that....that's a lot of carbon monoxide you're breathing....

 

I think I was smiling as much as you were watching the video! Great to see this.

 

just this:

 

treedee, fortunately one of the walls is open from the top with 3ft of wire mesh, so it's not a completely closed space. Still, gotta be careful!

I just noticed that pics I've posted from my cell aren't visible in the thread on computer, bummer. It's so convenient to post using tapatalk from the garage.

 

I don't think I have ever seen someone look so happy before! LOL

A big well done - looking forward to seeing the first drive

 

My congrats Juhani!

 

Great work buddy!

 

x 1

 

The car is finally fully assembled! I had to make some adjustment to lights to make the car pass the mot inspection, US spec lights are not legal in EU. Daytime running lights have to be white, side indicators have to be visible from rear 3/4 angle etc. My friend (pictured here drilling a hole to the fender) is a mot inspector so he gave me a helping hand to make the car pass the regulations. EU style side indicators installed, doesn't look bad! Also got my 3 month driving permission (white temporary licence sticker) while I'm waiting to get the vehicle tax resolution from customs. After paying the tax I'll get my plates, I bought SP-348 plate for the car

Only problem remaining is with the brakes, don't have any at the moment. I started another thread about that and I'm troubleshooting to find a solution and get finally my proper first drive. I drove around in the parking garage a bit just to get a feel, warmed up the car, checked engine oil level etc. Hopefully I'll soon have more stoping power than just the handbrake and will get on the road!

A wash and polish wouldn't do any harm either... oh, and I'm still waiting for my new ingition switch to arrive from Eurospares. Well, hotwiring works just fine to get her started
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Looking great - bet your really excited now! So near but so far..... LOL

 

amazing...what is missing exactly for the brakes? What parts do you need?

 

Not missing parts, I'm missing brake pressure. Fronts worked at first, had problems with rear brakes, couldn't bleed them as no fluid was coming through. Then on my test drive at the car park I had no brakes at all. Now I'll check every part of brake system to find the reason for this. Might have air in master cylinder, stuck valve for rear brakes, faulty abs pump, faulty pressure switch, faulty abs ecu, some electric problem... that's plenty to choose from. I'll do some testing later today.

 

Looking good! What did you decide on regarding the ignition switch? I know you were looking for something from a Fiat. It would be good to know if there is a substitute out there. Keep up the good work.

 

Didn't find a substitute. Nowadays no one knows about parts based on looks, you always need to have model number to find a spare. Seems like if you even mention you're looking something for a Ferrari, spare parts guys just give up. Damn, these cars are made of same nuts and bolts as any car, nothing too exotic!

I ordered the switch that was available at Eurospares, it wasn't that expensive anyway.

Now my brake problems are hopefully solved, I'll have to find a abs pressure switch replacement. A Ford part should fit... tomorrow it'll be part hunting time!

 

Glad it's working out. I can't wait to see the video of you blasting away from your garage.

 

nice to see, that one more 348 Spider ist saved. these are great fun cars.
i have mine (97377) for 13 years now and still love it.

what s/n is yours?

 

What an amazing restoration project. Nice Job!

 

Michael, mine is s/n 13743.

Got the brakes sorted and passed mot last friday, so I've mostly been busy driving and haven't had the time to sit down and post on the forum.

I found out that Saab 9000s from the same era as 348 share same brake system components, so I thought there must be some Saabs around because they were made in Finland at the time. Found a Saab with the Ate ABS system at scrap yard and bought the whole brake unit for 50€. I was dismantling the brake unit in rain in a scrap car that had another car on top of it, comfy job to be head first in the footwell. That paid off, got the part I needed and half an hour later I had my brakes bled and functioning as they should. No warning lights anymore! Drove off to have the car checked and registered, passed clearly the tests! Even emissions were spot on despite race cats

 

At the garage on the first night after getting the car registered and driving for a few hours. Finally got her out from behind those doors!
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I decided to have a proper road test and drive to a meeting some 250km away on sunday evening last week. I had the meeting on monday but I thought to make sure I'll get there in time even on a tow truck so I left on the night before. She looks pretty nice parked in front of my parents' house. I also took my grandma for a ride, I think that was quite an event for a 85 year old lady whose life is usually pretty quiet. The car worked without a glitch!
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Today I went for a picnic with my fiancee to a nice outdoor area about 50km away of which 30km is really nice curvy road. That car is just so much fun to drive! Weather was pretty good, probably one of the last days this fall to enjoy driving the top open. Spotted some swans and Hanna had her first drive on the way home. Quite a happy girl!
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Wow, what a change from the "before" pictures. She looks great (the car, although the fiance looks pretty good too)! A Herculean effort. You should name your car Phoenix, it certainly arose from the ashes.

 

My congrats, mate! I'm still in the process...