That's right, my X is back among the living... Finally finished up installing the new motor and foxed the rad. leak... Still need drive axles to drive her, but man she sounds great!!! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

I broke the throttle cable trying to set everything up, but I have one on the way already... Pictures at eleven, or as soon as DMV says she legal again!!! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Sure can't wait to cruise her down the road... Been 9 years since I last drove my X...

<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
1980 X1/9 "Celeste"
1978 Spider


This ain't Skydiving, you get a second try!!

Hello:

I am getting ready to start working to put my '76 X1/9 back on the road. It has been parked for something over 10 years. Before I parked it, it had been losing power and running poorly. it has about 100,000 miles. At about 50,000 I had a full overhaul and the exhaust valve stems had carbon deposits that almost completly choked the engine. I am assuming that I have the same problem again. I am not worried about the head work. I am mostly interested in some sort of checklist of what parts will need to be replaced because of the time it has been parked. Brake cylinder overhaul comes to mind because of the rubber seals. Does anyone have any experience with what other things I need to check?
Also - the car is underpowered - it always has been. What are the easiest, least expensive, high reliability modifications that I can make? I have started watching Ecology (junkyard) for Fiats because I think the first major modification should be a 5 speed tranny if I can find one at a reasonable price.
In a few years the smog check requirements will go away and then I may try something radical, but for now I would just like a reliable daily driver.

Ralph Dilts

redilts

<blockquote id="quote"> face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redilts
Hello:

I am getting ready to start working to put my '76 X1/9 back on the road. It has been parked for something over 10 years. Before I parked it, it had been losing power and running poorly. it has about 100,000 miles. At about 50,000 I had a full overhaul and the exhaust valve stems had carbon deposits that almost completly choked the engine. I am assuming that I have the same problem again. I am not worried about the head work. I am mostly interested in some sort of checklist of what parts will need to be replaced because of the time it has been parked. Brake cylinder overhaul comes to mind because of the rubber seals. Does anyone have any experience with what other things I need to check?
Also - the car is underpowered - it always has been. What are the easiest, least expensive, high reliability modifications that I can make? I have started watching Ecology (junkyard) for Fiats because I think the first major modification should be a 5 speed tranny if I can find one at a reasonable price.
In a few years the smog check requirements will go away and then I may try something radical, but for now I would just like a reliable daily driver
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

I have an extra 5 speed laying in my parts pile. If I were you though I would change the lower end to a 1500 at the same time as the tranny swap. You can have the head work done on the 1300 head and install it on the 1500 block for a gain in CR and that nets you some nice HP. If you are looking for performance go to PBS's website... better take a larger check book with you too.

As far as the list of needed things for the rebirth, I would completely go through the brake system. Calipers, rotors, rubber hoses, and MC... I only say this because this is the one system that will save your life daily. You need to pull the radiator and check the tubes under the car aswell. Replace all the belts and hoses. Most important thing to change motor wise is the Timing belt, on a 1300 if the belt brakes the valves and pistons WILL contact... on a 1500 they won't. Carb rebuilt, CV joints checked, wheel bearings, replace all vacuum hoses. plugs, plug wires, cap, and rotor. All of what I have mentioned is just to make sure it runs decent... Wait til you look under and around it for rust and such...

I removed all of my smog crap already and love the new look and ability to work on the little car.

B)


1980 X1/9 "Celeste"
1977 X race X (bare shell)

"Real men love hugging tight curves"

Thanks for the advice. I am in California, so the smog stuff will stay on for a few more years. The smog requirements end when the car is 30 years old - 3 years from now - unless they change the rules. Probably no engine change until then, but hopefully a change to a 5 speed gearbox.


redilts

Mr. X

I noted in another list that someone - perhaps you - said that they were putting Honda Civic seats in their X. What kind of effort did that involve? What kind of seats were they? The last time I visited Ecology (a remove-it-yourself boneyard) the best seat I found was a leather upholstered Eagle Talon (Mitsubishi Eclipse) item. It was obviously an upgraded optional interior, only the passenger seat was in good shape, and I would have to store it for a while, so I did not purchase it. I am curious how the Civic seats fit into the X. Do you mount the Civic seats on the X frame, or bolt the civic sliders to the X floor pan?



redilts

The easiest way is to bend the Civic seat rails to match the floor pan of the X. I still have the factory seats in my X and I have a pair of Mazda seats that I am thinking about adapting to fit, but not sure if I should stay pure or not...

A friend of mine has put Civic seats in his X and actually used the sliders from the X seats and had a welder friend of his mount the seat tub to the sliders. Doing this way helps keep your interior looking clean and in order.

Hope this helps, albeit a bit late...

Later Daze,
Eric Flowers
1980 X1/9 "Celeste"


"Real men love hugging tight curves"[}]

MR X How do you Identify the 1300 and 1500 blocks/heads? Can you put a 1500 head on a 1300 block? I've got a bunch of parts, 2 different timing belts and can make neither fit! One is short, the other long. This car is my latest chalenge in the never ending quest of infernal combustion. Any reference sites would be appreciated! Val

This is for redilts. I have a 1979 fiat x19 1500 carburated with a/c. when i bought the car it had been sitting since 1986. i bought the car in 2003. The gas tank, radiator,fuel lines, brake lines, and cat. con. need to be checked. if you left antifreeze in the system while it was sitting then the lines should be alright. However the anti-freeze will have turned into jello so you must flush the lines. send me a pm if i can help you anymore. Thanks

Richard


Richard