More work done...

Not too much time lately, but we've got a few things done:

- Drained the stale gas, removed the gas tank, and got the rust and sludge out of the tank. We used the old "put a chain in it and shake it" method, which seemed to get the job done. It's amazing how much crap was in there. Runs much better now.
- Converted the dual-point distributor to single points. Still need to time it.
- Finished removing the front bumper shocks.
- Replaced clutch cable. Much better now!

Next up: front suspension rebuild, timing belt, V-belt, measuring for the roll cage, and more.

More work done...

Tonight, we removed the heater core, plumbed in a coolant flush tee to ensure that the cooling system is properly bled, filled up the coolant, replaced the spark plugs and plug wires, warmed the engine up to temperature (the water temp gauge works!), changed the oil (Shell Rotella 15W-40), and ran it for a while.

We made a video of the car running - click here to watch.  It makes an awesome noise!  Note that the smoke from the headers is from spilled coolant, and it went away after a couple of minutes of running.

Next up: remove the front suspension and crossmember.

First post!

This is the blog site for Scuderia Pollo Fritto, a blog for the 24 Hours of LeMons team based in Durham, North Carolina.

We're going to be running a 1978 Fiat 124 Spider, affectionately named Gina, that we purchased for $200.  A guy outside Charlotte posted her up on Craigslist with seven other parts cars.  Apparently he used to have forty or fifty of these little cars stored in a warehouse, and he's been selling them off for the last couple of months.  By the time we got there, three of the cars were already sold, but this was the best of the five that were still available.  When the guy heard what we wanted to do with it, he let us have it for $200 and offered to deliver it.  It didn't run at first, but that turned out to be a bad mechanical fuel pump and a clogged pickup tube in the fuel tank.  Gina has more than 140,000 miles on her, but after a little work, she seems to run pretty well.  Thanks to a bad clutch cable and an empty brake fluid reservoir, we haven't gotten to drive her yet.

Over the next few months, we're planning the following:

- Rebuild the suspension.  Gas shocks are $17, ball joints are $12, and there are all sorts of various bushings that haven't been changed since the car was new.

- Do some basic engine work.  Change the fluids and belts, check the bearings and rings (we think they're OK), and remove all the emissions stuff.

- Strip down the car and install a roll cage.