Rebuild this Weber or...

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I'm starting my '70 Fiat Spider I got a few years ago. I am pretty sure replacing whole pieces like the distributor with a known good one will be ultimately cheaper than trying to rebuild. The math for the carb:

Rebuild it: $80 kit and I'll cad plate everything

Chinese knock-off: $100

Real Weber: $500

Empi: $300

I'll enjoy the rebuild, get to tumble the body, but I'm concerned there's enough corrosion that it's a losing proposition. Also against the Chinese knock-off.

Just want to get it running until I do dual Webers next year with cam.

What would you do?

[onewhippedpuppy]

Not sure how far gone is too far gone with a Weber, but that looks to have some pretty heavy corrosion. Might not be worth the trouble.

[Zeke]

If you're going dual spend as little money as possible? I'd like to see the tumbling results should you do that. Soda blast?

[rfuerst911sc]

Based on your scenario rebuild what you have . Go easy on the cleaning , maybe skip the plating and get her running .

[wilnj]

What’s the end goal for the car?

$500 for a solid part so central to reliability on a car you want to run perfectly isn’t much.

A knock around toy, maybe rebuild?

[A930Rocket]

I like tinkering with stuff like that, so I would tumble and cad it.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Good responses, thanks. I think I will try to restore it. I will (hopefully) determine whether it's good or not when I start to tear it down.

Wil, I didn't properly finish my thought on the end goal and dual Webers. Car has the original 1438 motor which is said to be perky but my guess is glacial is a better description. If I enjoy the car this summer my plan would be the much vaunted 1608, that motor I could see doing hicomp pistons, head work, cams matched with dual Webers for a solid 150 hp. If a K swap kit is a available, I could see doing that but haven't researched it. Or I could just get it running nicely, detail it and then sell it next spring. But I would love a little convertible this summer to drive to the Cape or north shore for whole belly fried clams or just ice cream with gf.

[Scott Douglas]

I'd do it the old fashioned way. Take it apart as far as is possible, soak it in good ol' fashioned carb cleaner, blow it out good and rinse it, then put it back together with a kit.

[greglepore]

I came here expecting a grill thread...

[Rot 911]

That two barrel Weber is it relatively simple carburetor. That was a typical replacement for the SU carburetors on the MG. If it was me, I would take it apart, put it in the sonic cleaner and then see what you have.

[Alan A]

I’d buy the 100 dollar one so I can drive the car while I’m doing stuff to that one.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by greglepore

I came here expecting a grill thread...

I was smart enough to get a new Blackstone recently instead of trying to restore someone's poorly kept griddle. Could not be happier.

[herr_oberst]

I'd decide after I'd disassembled it. Hopefully get away with a good soda blast like Zeke mentioned. You, out of all of us, know how far metal can corrode before it can realistically be brought back to life.

What's in the kit? 80 bucks is a lot! Do you get more than just gaskets, needle and seat, diaphragms, o rings?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by Alan A

I’d buy the 100 dollar one so I can drive the car while I’m doing stuff to that one.

That was a thought too but I've got the timing belt, fuel pump, distributor and so much magnesium Cerakote work to do just to get it running, driving is over a month away after replacing the brake master cylinder and most likely every caliper on the car. It sat for over 30 years.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

I'd decide after I'd disassembled it. Hopefully get away with a good soda blast like Zeke mentioned. You, out of all of us, know how far metal can corrode before it can realistically be brought back to life.

What's in the kit? 80 bucks is a lot! Do you get more than just gaskets, needle and seat, diaphragms, o rings?

That was my estimate for the kit and then the air cleaner.

[p911dad]

You could also consider sending it off to a Weber carb shop for rebuilding. Maybe you know some guys in your Fiat group that could direct you.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I never give anything to anyone if I can help it. No one does a good job these days.

[herr_oberst]

You do, Shaun!

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Thanks, I try, which is the foundation for my rationale: no one even tries anymore. Achieving excellence, in anything, has become passé.

I am enthused about the car. My ultimate goal is to create a Fiat version version of a 69 Ferrari GTS. One sad thing about my car is it's a '70, pretty rare, so that means I can't do a Ferrari or Alfa boattail. Fiat's rear end is not so pretty.

[herr_oberst]

The Fiat Duetto also has that beautiful tail treatment but yeah, the Spider isn't that.