Berlina breed, thought extinct, discovered in wilds of Santa Clara County

[Andrew]

So on another thread, I pulled out the engine from the 78 Spider, only to discover a cracked block and bellhousing. The block was not readily repairable, so I sold all that with the 78 Spider, and the 74/81 engine out of the Berlina, to someone who thinks they're going to get that car back on the road. I dragged home a 74 Spider this morning, from a friend in Berkeley, who bought it in Spokane a year ago (from a BB ad), drove it home, and attests its engine and trans are good. So the plan now is to drop this car's guts into the Berlina, then sell or give away the remainder.
Here it is. The 2x4 bumper is so I could use my towbar.
Andrew

[Andrew]

Here are pics of the previous, failed, engine donor, a black 78 Spider from a tow yard in Sacramento. Also the cracked block, and ruined front driveshaft bushing. This car is now sold.
Cracked block and bellhousing likely from (1) lack of alignment pins, (2) loose attachment bolts, (3) loose flywheel bolts, and (4) vibration from flailing donut/driveshaft bushing. All an unpretty picture.
Also see BWAs off this Spider, likely going on the Berlina.
Andrew

[tdskip]

Rims look good, probably worth what you paid for the car right there.

That crack is nasty, never seen that before.

Thanks for the update and pictures.

[Andrew]

The BWAs were the primary reason I was willing to gamble on buying it; we didn't get good compression numbers, or getting it running, when I looked at it. But it ran and had good compression once I sorted it at home. Alas, the crack goes all the way to the rear main bearing. Maybe worth the effort to fix on a GTA or 8C 2900, but not on a smog-era Spider. I've never seen a driveshaft bushing so fooked as this one.
Andrew

[archeologist]

Did I mention how much it tickles me to see spiders donating parts to a Berlina, after going the other way for so many years?
I hate to admit I drove a CA '74 Berlina through a Michigan winter to spare my '71 Spider back in about 1993. The Berlina ran great (except for a brutally cold week when it wouldn't start) and ended up with Dean Russell at Trail Auto where I believe he parted it out. After just one Michigan winter the rust was noticeably worse. Sigh...

[Andrew]

Good point Ian. 75-81 Spiders are the nadir probably of 105/115 cars.
APE doesn't even want them without some decent valuable stuff. Larry Jr says they can't sell any pieces off them beyond LS diffs and known-good engines and transes, which are pretty rare.
Andrew

[tdskip]

Wow - I would have though people would grab then for the body/panels at least...

[Andrew]

We're gettin' pretty good around here at pulling Spider engines. Got the mystery engine/trans out of the Spokane Spider today, and will clean up and get it ready to go into the Berlina. I say "mystery" because it's got no stamped engine number, generally an indication that it's a factory replacement block, probably from back in the day. But it does come with an attestation from the PO that it worked fine, and it did make to here from Spokane, with some running around in Seattle. It's got a new WP and Spica belt too.
The Spokane Spider is pretty much now a rolling shell. The PO took the whole interior, and the exterior trim. I took the engine/trans, and some other stuff, and Conrad S took the LSD and both doors. It's headed for a new home. If you want it for free, let me know.
Andrew

[Bill S]

Out in Californee thar just throwin away perfectly good Spiders!

[archeologist]

Andrew would the shell make sense for someone on the east coast / rust belt to build up?

Relatively rust free spiders might be common on the west coast. Most midwest spiders are swiss cheese with nice interiors.

[tdskip]

What year is the Spider shell?

[tdskip]

Never mind - she's a 1974 as mentioned earlier in the thread.

[Andrew]

As mentioned, I seriously considered buying this Spider a year or two ago when it was for sale here on the BB. I couldn't get good enough info out of the seller to make the 1200-mile gamble worthwhile.

I would not have started it down the path to stripped-shell status; my friend did to support, guess what, the beige Spider he bought from me last year, plus another one he has. But once the car was a roller with a good engine and trans, it made sense for me to provide a drivetrain for the Berlina. Yes, it could have been revived pretty easily, but by the time I got it the entire interior was gone, all exterior trim and lights, some mechanical pieces, and the top is shot. Its body is better than probably half the Spiders on the East Coast. Floors need some patching around the bungs, and the left rocker is poor, but otherwise it's straight and solid. Not what I would have done, but to each his own.
I can't imagine it's worth transporting to the East Coast. It's free if someone wants to come take it away, the sooner the better. Rolling shell with front suspension, two gas tanks, steering, radiator, no-gears non-LS rear axle. Can include good main exhaust section if you want. Has an ID title and rear ID plate. Windshield is cracked, alas.
Andrew

[archeologist]

I'm sure someone would love it as a Lemons/Chump car.

[Andrew]

Tom, replied to your PM; send me an email at andrew dooooot watry aaaaaaaaaaat lexisnexis dotttttttttttttttttt com