Tuning bambina race replica

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Tuning bambina race replica

danbro

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Hi all im dan, i am currently building my own road going bambina circut car replica after finally finishing the panel work on my mate rodgers abarth d which you have all been following recently in this forum ,his car is just out standing in the flesh and is inspirational to anyone interested in bambina sportmodel history,like rodger i to have a 126 donor car and have just done the rack conversion using 126 parts only .to rodgers disgust i have almost rebuilt the body work on my car in a matter of weeks being a panelbeater and xmas holidays helps ,i will post some photos shortly but i am after some advice please .do 10inch rims fit on 126 hubs or do i have to use my 12inch 126 rims and is there any clearance issues with 6inch wide wheels, and i do have a lovely fat (rather expensive)wheel arch flare kit for it ,it is also great when your mate has put in all the research time and money restoring his one and you can pick his brains /spares and get all his left overs cheers rodger :)
 
Hi Roger;
!0 inch wheels are regularly used on the racing '500s'---look at the videos on the 'Lavazza Techno' site. The controlling factor is the wheel bolt spacing--98pcd. Also to remember is that the overall diameter/rolling radius of any tyre/wheel combination will affect your gear ratios. There are sites on google where you can compare wheel sizes regarding diameter/tyre depth/rolling radius (try:- kouki tech--visual tyre size calculator). Let us have some pictures of your project.
 
Thanks i was aiming for a high profile tire on the 10 inch rim or a low profile on the 12 inch rim there is not much difference in size , i would not mind it being a little lower ratio for around town any way alittle nippier
 
Hi Danbro;
Had a thought regarding your interest in using 10inch wheels---look at your brake options prior to making a final decision. It is reasonably easy to get disc brake conversions for 12inch wheels, but conversions for 10inch wheels might be a lot harder to find---try contacting the Italian companies who race in their 500/700 series (Lavazza Techno, Gattegna Racing are 2 good sites). You may find if you do decide to go for 10in wheels that you can build something up using old mini-cooper parts (they used 10in wheels). Whichever way you do go, let us know and let's have some pictures please.
 
Hi Danbro;
The web-site I was trying to find is:- Historic challenge.it This site has lots of pictures/contacts regarding the 700cc Fiat 500 racers. Another company that might be able to help is:- Gozzoli--they have a vast range
 
Hi Dan , I am just back from guzzling a few cases of Monteiths in the sunshine down there but back in the cold & wet now.
Not sure if this will work but I will try to cut & paste a posting from the club126forum
.

10 Fiat 126 Chat / Tuning & Customising 126 Models / 10" wheels and disk brakes on: June 22, 2012, 05:09:39 PM Just posted this up on the Fiat forum website in answer to somebody asking if its possible to fit disk brakes under 10" wheels. I thought it may interest the folks on here as well:

It is indeed possible to do a disk brake conversion with 10" wheels, i've just done a conversion myself. There are two ways of doing it, the first is to buy a kit off the shelf,Nanni's do a kit but its expensive:
http://www.fiat500sport.com/brakes/fiat-500-10-12-wheels-brembo-front-brake-rotor-conversion-kit-0182.html

The other way is to make your own kit which is what I've just done. I think I have spent about £300 doing mine but its not an easy job. There is very little room inside a 10" wheel so first you need a very small disk. I used Citroën GS rear disk. The calipers are from a Ducati Paso 903 and the hub was custom made by the same guys who made the wheels for me. The mounting plate is custom made by me.

It all only just fits into the wheel with about 3mm to spare! The other thing that needs doing, if you want a decent inset on the wheels, is the arms in the kingpins that the track rods fix to need shortening so that they sit inside the wheel, I have seen some racers in Italy cut and weld them at 90 degrees but that would change the Ackermann angle.

wheels1


wheels2


brakes1


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brakes3



There is not a massive difference in diameter (17mm) between a 10" wheels with a 165 70 10 tyre and a 12" stock wheel but the choice in tyre compounds is much more extensive as its the same size as a classic mini.

Some people like the chunky look of the 10" wheel others prefer 13" wheels with lower profile tyres, its a matter of personal taste...

Hope that helps a little

Nigel
 
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Thanks i was aiming for a high profile tire on the 10 inch rim or a low profile on the 12 inch rim there is not much difference in size , i would not mind it being a little lower ratio for around town any way alittle nippier

Here is a picture guys the app is guite hard to get use to
 

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Ok I have finally done some more work on the car ive had the front and rear suspension reset a few times in and out to get my perfect ride height (i had a nice reverse eye 6leaf made up )first problem done next was clearance all four wheel arches cut and rewelded front inner wheel wells hammered back and flat not to much tho.i have also rewelded the back rest of my 126 seats to straighten up the seating position massive difference and a worthwhile mod .as well as widening my flares by 30mm to cover the wheels better .I have even found a perfect lower chin spoiler off a 911 it fits perfect minus alittle shortening in the centre .what else yes exhaust cutout ,rear bootlid reversed hinged,126 master cylinder fitted with cutout in battery panel and pedal box fitted . 126 front top suspension arms fitted and raised 50mm so they are angled right .....more to come
 
Here are some photo's
 

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Some more photo's
 

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Thanks for the photos Dan, it looks excellent. I like using the original engine cover hinges. It looks much neater than the after market brackets bolted to the air intake panel, that you can clearly see it was not meant to.

Is the dash hand made too?

Also, i assume the 126 MC a dual circuit one, when you get a moment, could you please take a pic, so that I can see how much it protrudes past the front bulkhead panel?

cheers, Steve

Btw your track width is insane! ;) ;)
 
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Hand made giannini replica dash housing 126 cut down speedo cluster to make wiring easy .126 brake pedal box requires main hole widening and extra mount hole drilled , the 126 cylinder actually does not break thru into the battery tray panel you cut a inspection hole to hook up the pipes and plug the end wires onto the cylinder just like on a 126
 
I will post a photo tomorrow of the brake conversion , the wheels are force racing 6.5inch ... 2.5 inner 4 outer yes they look pretty cool with yokie aoo8
 
I will post photos of my 126 rack conversion to tomorrow
 
Here are some photos you need the hole to actually get the 126 cylinder in position because of its extra length
 

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