Len Holland

This is Len's First MOFLO and it was really interesting to see all that he had done to this spider in such a short time. Looking forward to see what else he can think of for the next MOFLO.

Len's Story:
I bought my 1977 Fiat 124 Spider around February 2003 from a mechanic friend for $500. Drove it home on the back roads to my house. Where I started working on it...... Eyeball and seat of pants inspection I ordered and replaced: upper and lower A arms, all bushings front and rear, shocks, cut two coils from front springs and one from the rears, ball joints, new 13" Falken 205 60's reconditioned my stock rims, rebuilt stock carburetor. welded up new 1 3/4" exhaust, rebuilt drivetrain, worked on electrical, tried to compound and buff best I could, replaced front hood SIDENOTE: thank goodness for parts cars..I bought a 78 and a 80 fiat (less engines)..that I installed the steering wheel, reconditioned the Pinafarina Hardtop, electronic ignition from the 1980, along with chrome trim, front hood among allot of other stuff!

After that first phase I drove it about a month and realized allot of additional things needed to be done so tore into her again... This time removed entire interior and REPAIRED the RUST! Oh man.three words can't truly explain what I went thru...what a chore but got-er done! After replacing the rusted areas on the foorpans I didn't have any seatrails so build seat mounts and installed Miata seats with the stereo speakers mounted in each headrest (feel great). Repaired and installed 80 dash in 77, coated nearly everything with zerorust painted, then Insulation, sound deadener, new rubber gaskets, new rug, removed and I flushed out gastank, reconditioned front and rear bumpers, replaced front calipers, front wheel bearings, rotors, brakes all around, replaced rear pinion seal on rear, bought a $35 Chrome Mustang rollbar from a swap meet, cut to size re-welded then installed, three point harness seatbelts instead of lapbelts, reconditioned middle & lower console, installed stereo and rear speakers (in addition to Miata headrests). Front 1" swaybar, Rear swaybar... Drove it about a month or two then Had a friend machine wheel adapters to allow me to install my 15" Datsun 280 ZX Turbo Swastika rims on my Fiat. Mounted Falken 205 15 50's..worked great. Drove awhile more knowing all along I had to address my Transmission popping out of 2nd, 3rd, 4th gear along with grinding into 3rd..... About two months before our Mo Flo get together at Lake of Ozarks I tore into her again: This time installed performance springs all around (still want to cut a coil off of all of them...love the lowered look and feel :). Installed Headers...welded up new exhaust this time 2 1/4" out the back. Rebuilt and installed Twin 40 IDF's 13/15's with waffle intake. Then disassembled and rebuilt my transmission WOW! never did that before! Talk about fear of the unknown! Parts scattered all over my shop! Csaba at Vick's helped answer my many phonecalls to allow me to complete my task! Had those two other parts car transmissions to obtain the better of the worn gears to put together a good one. IT WORKED!! Drove it all the way (1000 miles round trip) to Lake of Ozarks Mo-Flo :). I am now enjoying just driving her! Repairing minor items but Driving her! I do need to paint her but just want to chill out and enjoy my baby!.....Although I keep on making a list of things to do....I am trying to practice self control!.....As I look across the shop at my 1969 Fiat Sport crying out Repair me! repair me! But that's another story!