Cripes - anything over 120kph in one of these would terrify the life out of me .....

Chris

good work
i have a fiat 500 l with a 650cc engine fitted with some tunning too

650cc
35/75 camshaft
28 - 35,7 valves
lowered 2mm
4kg flywheel
record monza replica exhaust

it reachs 115km/h and i'm still testing it.
I'm using a 28 imb weber but i'm not happy with that. i'm thinking in install a weber 32dmtr or maybe a 32dcof or even a dellorto like yours, i'm just out of money for now

Good work in your car

Thanks for the compliment.

Have you looked at the Weber 30DIC. It's a twin throat downdraft carburettor which, with some modification, will fit, though I've not done it myself. I've attached a photo - it looks like a tight fit with not much room for an air filter ....

My engine ended up as -

695cc
3.5L alloy sump
35mm inlet valves
29mm exhaust valves
43/77 camshaft
Twin pipe sports exhaust
Standard crank with all reciprocating parts balanced
Dellorto 32/28 FZD with inlet tract bored to suit
123 ignition

with the rest of the car -

4 speed standard 650 gearbox
Standard differential

Front disc brakes
Rear 650 drum brakes

12" 4x98 pattern steel wheels shod with 145/70 radials - if I can afford some nice alloys, I'll fit them.

Suspension lowered about 25mm all around.

Body painted Ferrari racing red after a complete stripdown.

I've fitted a tacho cable driven from the distributor and will soon convert the instrumentation to suit.

The engine starts easily and idles smoothly. I've yet to have it tested on a dyno, but it certainly has more torque and power than the standard 650. The exhaust has a real bark and my wife has nicknamed the car 'Angry Boy' even though he still looks very happy and brings a smile to everyone who sees him.

The car is now badged as an Abarth replica and I'm very happy with it.

Chris

wow, the build is looking great. thanks for all the help you been providing on this forum.

Thanks - only too happy to help where I can.

Chris

I've decided to purchase a new Polish 650 motor and syncro transmission. I should have them in about a month and plan to replace the 500cc motor and crashbox in my 69 500L. The new motor includes the starter but I understand the starter on the 650 is the solenoid type as opposed to the pull type on the 500. I've heard that the easiest thing to do is add a pushbutton for starting but was hoping to keep the lever as the means of starting the car. Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated. If the pushbutton is the only way to go any thoughts on wiring that up would be appreciated as well. I also haven't found much info on hooking up the heating ducts other than having to bend one a bit to make room for the starter motor. I'm trying to get all the info I need for the swap in the month I'm waiting for the engine to arrive. The engine is supposedly complete (gearbox, clutch, starter, driveshafts, ignition, fuel pump, carb, alternator, etc.). Thanks in advance.

When I put a BMW 700 engine in a 500 many years ago it had a combined starter and dynamo, which necessitated a button for the starter - I just ran a wire up the tunnel that contains the gearchange rod (and brings the hot air from the heater) and put the button beside the base of the hand brake lever. The BMW engine made an incredible noise so it was quite amusing to see people's reaction when - for no apparent reason as the button was practically invisible - the engine suddenly roared into life.

Good luck with the project.

You can just use an ignition switch with a "start" position. I have a Fiat 125 ignition switch in my '69 500F with solenoid starter and Polish 650cc motor. It is pretty easy to run a wire down the left hand side with the main wiring loom and hook into the starter solenoid. The 125 / 127 ignition switch fits straight into the dashboard and looks just the same as the original. I used a late 126 heater duct which just screws in place and has a recess to clear the starter solenoid. All pretty straightforward really- plenty of people here who can help if you get stuck...

Ditto on the starter switch only I used an aftermarket item.

You will also have to wire up the alternator.

Chris

Thanks for the quick responses and useful info. I'm going to look for a 125 ignition switch. I usually get my stuff from Mrfiat.com but they don't carry it. Do you know of any place I can get one? I may tinker with rigging up the pull lever to a button that would activate the solenoid but I would like to have the ignition switch on hand in case that doesn't pan out. I think I read a post somewhere about someone doing this but now that I'm doing the upgrade I have been unable to find that post or any info. Also, is the electrical control box still necessary with the 650 motor and if so does it get wired to the new motor the same way?

Have a look here - maybe he's just out of stock.

http://www.mrfiat.com/part.php?item...l and Ignition/Fiat125SIgnitionSwitchNew.html

As to the alternator - it's not hard to wire up. I've attached a diagram.

The old voltage regulator is not required so I stripped the interior and reinstalled it on the rear firewall basically using it as a wire binding post.

Chris

Thanks again. I'll see if mrfiat.com has that part number in stock (I realized when I emailed them I asked for a 126 starter and not a 125 so that might have been the problem) The wiring diagram should be very helpful and is greatly appreciated. I should be in good shape when the engine arrives.

jcang0408 said:

Thanks again. I'll see if mrfiat.com has that part number in stock (I realized when I emailed them I asked for a 126 starter and not a 125 so that might have been the problem) The wiring diagram should be very helpful and is greatly appreciated. I should be in good shape when the engine arrives.

Click to expand...

Where you located? Where you getting the engine from?

I second the last post as to where you are getting your motor from. I am about ready to buy a 650 motor from Mr.Fiat to pop in my 500 and was curious if that is where you are getting yours from. I will keep the Panda headed frankenmotor and tinker with it as a spare if I do.

If so, did you have to special order yours since you are getting gearbox and all?



As far as the one poster who Bambino mentioned a weber 30 to, I can say it is very tight with the Panda head and the weber30DGF I have. Mine even had a spacer between the carb an intake manifold making it even tighter than the picture Bambino posted.

I found a source in Poland after much hunting around and considering mrfiat.com. You can email [email protected] and tell him what you need. He was able to sell me a complete brand new motor (same specs as mrfiat.com sport engine), gearbox, clutch, starter, carb, etc for substantially cheaper than mrfiat was able to do (I'd rather not disclose the exact amounts). I should have everything by the end of the month. I was a little nervous when he told me it would take about 30 days to recieve but I paid with paypal so if it doesn't show up, I still have 15 days to dispute with paypal. He seems legitimate though. I'll keep you posted. I asked if he carries other parts but he only deals with drivetrain. btw, if anyone is interested in purchasing my 500cc motor and/or gearbox, I'm looking to get rid of it once I get the new stuff.

Hi Chris, I'm new to the forum, and having just purchased a 126 engine and fzd carb am looking to build a very similar engine to the one you have built here for my 500d. I assume you have now run the engine - sorry if I have missed other posts on this - and wondered if you had any comment on whether your choice of 35mm/29mm valve size combination "feels right"? Cheers Roger

Hi Roger,

Sorry to respond so late but I've been away bushwalking (tramping, you'd call it) and have not had access to a computer or phone for a couple of weeks - good feeling really

The engine runs very well and is quite responsive - no doubt due to the valves, camshaft and slightly raised compression ratio.

If you are going to convert your 500D, you'll need to fit a 126 transmission as well because the bellhousings are different.

Let us know how you get on,

Chris

Chris,

Could the setup you have be used in everyday traffic on a daily driver, or is it more suited to a car you'd just want to take out for a blast? Does the camshaft you've fitted need you rev the engine quite a bit?

Cheers,
Matt

Matt,

The engine was designed as a daily driver, not as a racer. The cam profile is mild and the car idles well even when cold - I guess it's what could have happened if Fiat had developed it a bit more.

There are many more 'go faster' bits all the up to a fully blown Abarth motor tuned for racing.

I guess you'd call my engine a 'sports' model

Chris

Thanks Chris, that's what I was hoping to hear. I'm thinking of building an engine similar to yours, but, like yourself, wanted a manageable, sporty setup for daily driving, rather than anything too racy.

Cheers,
Matt