General New (again) to forum

[Abarth 695]

Hiya,

I just wanted to re-introduce myself. I used to be a member when I had a new type 500 Abarth but then sold it on.

I have just purchased an original ( replica) 695 racing abarth 500 ( which raced around europe), car to be collected from Belgium.

Just wanted to say hi and wanted to know who was local to me in Nottingham?

 

[Abarth 695]

Here is a pic of the car to be.

 

[dave]

welcome back, will you have the car back intime to put it on the fiat forum stand at stanford hall next week?

 

[Abarth 695]

I am suppose to fetch it on the 2nd June so I guess not. Plus I need to MOT it and register it in the uk which may take a bit.

shame as I remember going a few years back with my new version abarth (weather wasn't that good though). I did enjoy it and wanted to do the same but did not realise it was so soon.

 

[Abarth 695]

Here are some more pics of it, I am off this weekend to get it so very exited.

 

[dave]

the forum is doing 2 more Italian shows after stanford https://www.fiatforum.com/events/299856-mitcar-2012-midland-italian-car-day.html

and Gaydon Auto Italia, so still a chance to show it with FF

 

[Abarth 695]

Dave definitely Elvaston as it's literaly 20 minutes from here. Let me know if you want me early to help out? What's the layout ? how do I book?

Shame I didn't go last weekend. The car's already insured and mot booked so should be road legal by end of next week with vintage plates. ( by the way when importing a car it's legal to drive it with no tax or plates to an mot centre!!!)

I've actually hired a transporter for this Sunday and will be driving over night to Belgium to collect the wasp.

I'll give it a once over and DE-stickering it a bit keeping the red ones.

I know I mentioned this again but is there any other Fiat 500 local to Nottingham?

 

[Abarth 695]

When's the Gayton one?

 

[Abarth 695]

Sorry that is Gaydon isn't it not Gyton .

 

[dave]

i cant find a gaydon thread yet, events team probably waiting till stanford is over, its normally early in September or late august i think.

for the other one just go to the thread and click the add me button and offer your services in there and the events team will tell you the rest. be good to have the car showing with FF

 

[Bambino]

Any chance of a photo of the engine?

It's a very nice looking car.

Chris

 

[Abarth 695]

Thanks,

Here's a pic.

I see they change the dyno to alternator. It has an '80s "racing" ignition system but still on points. I am not sure what the carb is any suggestions? It look to be double barrel.

It will need a good tidy up, may wrap the exhaust in heat wrap to minimize engine compartment heat.

Any suggestion on mode would be good.

#

The story behind it is that the Belgian chairman of the fiat 500 club there converted an F to what you see here today including making it right hand drive ( apparently better for racing). He raced around Europe then sold it to an Italian restaurant which had it on display for years. Then the current owner ( an opel garage owner and very nice chap) took it on but never did much with it. In Belgium you can't modify cars and drive them on the road so it's been sat around a while, hence the dust.

What do you reckon will need looking at considering it's been sat around?

I was going to change the following:

Engine oil, what the best one out there?
Gearbox oil again what the best one out there?
Grease the king pins
Check brakes, Steering, swap the fuel,
Probably change the brake fluid again what dot is it?

Thanks

 

[Bambino]

Interesting.

The head looks a twin port ?Panda 30 head as the tinware has been heavily modified to fit. The carby looks like a Weber 30DIC (see attached photo).

Any good mineral oil will do for both the engine and gearbox. If you can get the sump off easily, it would be worth a clean out and new gasket.
Brake fluid is standard Dot 4.

A pointless (electronic) ignition is also a good conversion.
New spark plugs and turn it over by hand prior to firing up.

Enjoy driving it - it looks like it'd be fun.

Chris

 

[Abarth 695]

Thanks for the info.

Is it a good setup then?

Where is the best place to get all the bits?

What oil i.e. weight should I use?

 

[Bambino]

As for oils I use 20W40 for the engine and 90EP in the gearbox/diff and steering box.

Given you are in Europe, there are lots of specialist dealers that stock a mixture of geniune, NOS and remanufactured parts. Talk to your local Fiat club as they should be able to tell you who is good etc.

As to whether it's a good setup or not depends on what you want to use it for. It might rev like crazy and go like a cut cat on the track but refuse to idle and be a real pain in the bum as a street car. A lot of the tractability comes from the compression ratio and camshaft profile neither of which you can assess at present. High compression engines with lots of valve overlap make great race cars if set up properly but are lumpy, mongrel dogs for daily use. Only time will tell when you start it and go for a drive.

Overall, the 30DIC is a good carby with plenty of spares available, the alternator conversion is a good idea, it looks like you might have an electric fuel pump as well - also a good idea - and the engine bay is generally clean.

Can't say much more, I'm sorry.

Keep us posted with lots of photos,
Chris

 

[Abarth 695]

Thanks, I am actually based in Nottingham just picking it up there so will be buying parts here.

 

[Bambino]

Sorry - I'm in Australia and anything north of Africa is Europe to me

Chris

 

[Abarth 695]

Actually it's my fault you did say Europe but British people say that when they mean the continent .

 

[Toshi 975]

Definately a weber 30dic, I checked it against one of mine . I guess that is an Abarth manifold which is different from the Alquati one I have. I got a complete carb service kit in the UK from Webcon for just over £20.
For engine oil I followed the advice from Middle Barton Garage on engine oil and use 10w/60 fully synth. Expensive but they say it is more robust at the higher temperatures these engines run at.
If anybody has a spare inlet manifold for the 30dic for an 850 sport coupe I have a mate who is on the lookout for one.

 

[Abarth 695]

Thanks Toshi I spoke to them but they wanted £36.46, a bit steep so I decided to wait and see if it really needs it.

Some more interesting shots of the car past and present, interesting anti roll bar config.