After my 1980 CS2 SCCA E Prepared spider rusted out in the late '90s, I moved on, not really thinking about Fiats at all until I stopped at my local new Fiat dealer. They had an original condition '82 on the showroom floor, and I couldn't stop thinking about it.
You know what happened next, right?
So I'm now the semi-proud, semi- disgusted with myself owner of a 1982 CS2 with FI. It's a one owner, almost completely rust free, straight body with an excellent interior and worn out running gear. The throw out bearing is clicking madly, although the P.O. says the clutch was changed 30k ago, the exhaust smells of blowby, and the cam covers are weeping.
Here's the thing. I like the twincam motor. Set up correctly, it's a beautiful thing to listen to it sing as it rips up to 8000 rpm. But I keep asking myself if it's worth all of the headaches to do a stock rebuild and keep it as original as possible. I have two other viable options.
A) Stick a JDM motor and trans in it. The Honda S2000 has a wonderful 4 cylinder, rear drive configuration making somewhere in the 240 hp range. Customization and install would be a pita, but no more than a rebuild, and fairly comparable in price to a modded fiat twincam with high compression pistons, cams, valves, springs, performance clutch, etc. For comparison, I can get a JDM setup including a running motor with fuel injection, alternator, starter, computers, wiring, sensors, and fuse box for about $3500. I figure another $500 for install parts, and maybe $500 for exhaust, radiator, etc.
B) Go electric. This is getting out of my realm of expertise, but it seems fairly straightforward, if more expensive than the other options, and I do have a friend who works on electric railway cars ( light rail), who says he can do it.
C) Find good running gear (probably from this forum), drop it in, and go. This is the cheapest option, obviously, but it leaves me trusting the P.O. As to condition, etc., and it also leaves me with 30 year old parts and technology.
Any opinions?
