It wasn't rain water!

[simon131]

So, spent all day cleaning the Abarth today in preparation for the Classic Cars photo shoot in the New Forest tomorrow, and decided that after all of my hard work I'd take her for a spin - as you do

Got home and lift the bonnet to be squirted in the face by a leaking water pump . That's all I needed at 5pm! I have a water pump 'in stock' but I couldn't tell you where so I tasked the wife with a quick ring round of the local spares places to see if by some stroke of luck they had one - and Whooppee Motor factors in Cove did. Dispatched the missus to get it and she even got discount - and lots of it. Turns out the manager in the place is the husband of one of the wife's friends at school. Result.

So, out with tools and start stripping....

[kev131]

Btw your tax is out of date in 2 days time Simon! 

[simon131]

Excuse the baldy head but Wendy thought as she hadn't seen me working on the mechanicals on my cars for the last ten years or so she'd like a picture of it

Still, I bent a screw driver getting the pulley bolts out, but I'm glad to say that in the end everything went fairly smoothly. Total job time was three hours but that included more than hour trying to remove an air lock!

I'm certainly very glad that Fiat and Abarth used plenty of items from the standard 'parts bin'

[simon131]

Tax purchased 'on-line' earlier today Kev

(Didn't think you'd comment on my engineering prowess )

[kev131]

(Didn't think you'd comment on my engineering prowess )

but at the time I posted you had only opened the bonnet and undid a pipe... ...okay ...well done.

Where's the picture of the successfully completed job..??

[simon131]

You're so impatient Kev

The closest pics I have are of me tightening jubilee clips. Is that OK for you

[simon131]

Apparently I now smell of 'old cars'  My favourite fragrance!

[eugene]

Looking at that water pump,i'm sure it's the same as in a Lada Niva .Maybe djape1977 can confirm .
Simon,it was well that the water pump gave out now.Can you imagine if it gave out in central France .and trying to explain in French the problem .Eugene

[sid131]

well i think that car needs a bit more work before going on the 3ma, Simon what you doing putting the used hose clip back on dude?? in fact get all replaced & the hoses as well mate, only trying to help.

[theredx19]

I would change that cambelt and tensioner as there is a worrying looking line along the belt and the tensioner doesnt look too healthy there as I doubt the factors have 16 valves for a 131...

[djape1977]

doesn't fit from lada. i tryed. simmilar but not same.

[keith m 131]

Hi Simon,

Where did you get the water pump from and do they stock lots of goodies for 131's, cos parts are getting harder to source.

Cheers

Keith

[simon131]

For all you mechanical 'worriers' out there a quick update on the state of my cam belt.

Took the cover off last night and inspected the belt. No sign of the line showing in the pics above, prnbably a water mark of some kind. The belt looks to be in very good condition - as it should be for one that's done about 6,000 miles. Tensioner looks fine too, so no worries in that area, so it's good to go

Took the rear nearside spring and strut out last night to see whether the NOS 131 Sport springs I have would, by some fluke, fit as the Abarth appears to be getting lower and lower at the back. Unfortunately the Abarth springs are a lot shorter and appear to be stiffer than the Sport ones, so I had to put everything back as before.

Now I'll be on the look out for a set of NOS Abarth springs and dampers when we're in Italy - and I bet these aren't going to be 'off the shelf'

[sid131]

Well Simon good luck on the trip & have a good one! plenty of pics please,
Seamus (sam22) is looking to but some springs for his sport.
http://131mirafiori.com/smf/index.php?topic=2238.0