Hi all, I have joined as I am the owner of a Fiat 238 camper that I bought and ran for a bit last year. Previous owners had let it go a bit (well a lot to be honest) and I am trying to make her work again.

These are a very rear sight in the UK and I am desperately trying to fix her.

I had the head rebuilt by a so called reputable firm, which then when refitted decided to drop a valve and put some nice holes in the port that had just been made all nice and new looking...

I really need some advice /help here.

Engine number is 131AZ 0C.0

Head number is 4349151

The engine was fitted to the 238 but the head number relates to the 131 mirafiore!

Me confused lol

Anybody any ideas, advice, contacts etc I would be very appreciative.

Surely someone must know someone who would know something about these vans?

welcome. i have moved you post down here to other fiats hope some one now can help you.

ive seen the photos in the social group and it looks a lovely van

I know with the 241 vans they used the single cam 1.4 engine out of the fiat 1500 so chances are the same single cam might have been used in the the 238 or a later unit has been put in its place. There is quite a bit of info out there in internet world for the 238 campers.

Hi. I have a Fiat 238, it also has a 131 engine number. I'm pretty sure they all do. Do you know its capacity? Early vans were 1.2, later 1.4. Mine has a 1585 mirafiori engine (to confuse matters more). I and an Italian 238-owning friend reckoned there may have been a few 1.6 run-out models supplied to Germany in 1978m, but this a guess. The previous (German) owner of mine had it 12 years and was shocked when I told him it had a 1.6 as he'd always thought it was a 1.4. I fond out when I changed the head gasket.

PM me if you need any more info. I'd love to know where yours is - there can only be two or three in the UK.

I am the owner of a 131 1585cc OHV engine only - no car. I'm in Canada but bought it from someone in New Zealand. They didn't sell any vehicles in North America with the 131 1585cc OHV engine, just the twincam versions. No 238s here either.

I bought the engine for use in an 850 coupe (Abarth actually). I have collected a few rebuild parts for it now like pistons, bearings and oil pump. Today I just found a new cylinder head for it on ebay Italy, but it was listed as being for a 238 which totally confused me (has correct number on head). This thread helped me confirm that it was the correct one I wanted.

Does anyone know where I can buy parts for the 131 (238 too I guess) 1585cc engines? Also, does anyone know if performance parts exist for the 1585cc OHV engines? Like say a camshaft or large valves?

Regards,
Gil

Hello from Greece..I'm Nikolas and i just got a 238..
In good codition in general but i'd like to know where i could find some
engine,transmision or other parts for her..

Nice to meet you all..

Hi there,

Me and a friend are the proud owners of a fiat 238E (1980), 1.4 imported from the south of france to holland where i live. We also have engine problems we are trying to solve but are on our way. For good parts here in holland i have a relyable supplier who is also able to send parts abroad... Could maybe be of anyone's interest here. Not expensive and wide variety of parts available. If something is not on the list contact the man himself:

search for martin willems car and parts specialist and you will get what you are looking for. Sorry as i justed registered myself for this topic the administrator told me i am not allowed to post links.. ???

regards!

I bought my 238 Weinsberg camper in Germany in 2009. The previous owner had owned it for 15 years, believing it to be all-original, with the 1.4 motor. However, I changed the cylinder-heard gasket last year and discovered the van is fitted with the 1585OHV from the 131. I contacted the previous owner and he pretty-much just didn't believe me.

Anyway, the van runs like a dream and is a keeper. It was featured in Practical Classics last year and has been in a few mags and books since.

Edit: sorry. Didn't realise I'd posted that already

Hi, new member here. Have been talking to a seller of a FIAT 238 about possibly buying. Bodywork is pretty bad, but engine runs OK. Not sure about the rest of the mechanicals yet. Just looking for a bit of advice.

Is it worth buying a 238 with elevating roof as a restoration project. He's not looking for much money for it. Have worked on classics plenty, but no welding experience as yet, but am keen to learn. Are panels easy to source? Would I be better off importing a decent one?

Any advice gratefully received,

Alan

Hi Just bought a 238 camper, sorry Alan I think its the one you were talking about. We have another project at the moment but hope to start it after Xmas

Had a proper look around the 238. One sill completely gone including chassis legs, back end pretty bad, holes in 2 wings, inside has been gutted and inner wings in holes too. Strangely the rest of the underneath is perfect.Cockpit dirty but possibly mint underneath the dirt. Starts on the button and drives perfectly. All electrics seem to work. Only 1700 miles on clock?

Sorry for the late resurrection of this thread. On the subject of the 1.6 lump, the early 238s, up to 1978, were all either 1.2 or 1.4. Many later 238Es, the one with the plastic grille and black bumpers, had the 1.6 1593 OHV. Mine has early details - grille, bumpers etc - and the 1593 engine, so it appears there was a crossover in production. An Italian 238-owning friend thinks Fiat may have supplied 1.6-engined runouts to the German market for camper conversions, but this is a guess.

The former-owner of mine refused to believe the van had a 1.6 when I told him a year or two later. He'd owned it for 15 years believing it was a 1.4.

Hi can i ask you something. For how much you guys bought Fiat?
Thanks for answers