Just bought a Bambino a few days ago, 16 years after I lost my last one to an accident - (it dive-bombed a Landcruiser!!).
This Fiat was advertised as having an ABARTH motor but on seeing it there was nothing stamped Abarth on it.

I live near Sydney and found that on the way home, when it was running well, that it had considerably more ‘go’ than my old one with standard 500 motor.

This one has a 650 motor. ‘AK84M’ is stamped above the ‘650’.
It has ALQUATI stamped on the Carb manifold as well as ALQUATI stamped on the Sump.
The carb is a large Weber. Fo the very short time it ran well it showed a lot of power however it mostly backfired and cut out after every 15 to 20 kilometres.

I did a google search on ALQUATI and found very little except that Camilo Alquati was a Fiat Tuner. How do I check whether this motor is special rather than one with just a bigger carb, sump and a named manifold.
By the way it also has a special exhaust with dual pipes. So I guess it has a number of older bolt on stuff.
Is it rare or sought after or a run of the mill engine with some bolt on goodies. Interesting that it has 4 things that Alquati tuned ‘500’ had.
Thoughts??

Bambino55 said:

Just bought a Bambino a few days ago, 16 years after I lost my last one to an accident - (it dive-bombed a Landcruiser!!).
This Fiat was advertised as having an ABARTH motor but on seeing it there was nothing stamped Abarth on it.

I live near Sydney and found that on the way home, when it was running well, that it had considerably more ‘go’ than my old one with standard 500 motor.

This one has a 650 motor. ‘AK84M’ is stamped above the ‘650’.
It has ALQUATI stamped on the Carb manifold as well as ALQUATI stamped on the Sump.
The carb is a large Weber. Fo the very short time it ran well it showed a lot of power however it mostly backfired and cut out after every 15 to 20 kilometres.

I did a google search on ALQUATI and found very little except that Camilo Alquati was a Fiat Tuner. How do I check whether this motor is special rather than one with just a bigger carb, sump and a named manifold.
By the way it also has a special exhaust with dual pipes. So I guess it has a number of older bolt on stuff.
Is it rare or sought after or a run of the mill engine with some bolt on goodies. Interesting that it has 4 things that Alquati tuned ‘500’ had.
Thoughts??

Click to expand...

Can you add some pics of the motor.

I would say it has been built with the Abarth spirit of tuning the small engine and making a small car go faster than original but not necessarily Abarth parts inside.

Bambino55 said:

The carb is a large Weber. Fo the very short time it ran well it showed a lot of power however it mostly backfired and cut out after every 15 to 20 kilometres.

I did a google search on ALQUATI and found very little except that Camilo Alquati was a Fiat Tuner. How do I check whether this motor is special rather than one with just a bigger carb, sump and a named manifold.
By the way it also has a special exhaust with dual pipes. So I guess it has a number of older bolt on stuff.
Is it rare or sought after or a run of the mill engine with some bolt on goodies. Interesting that it has 4 things that Alquati tuned ‘500’ had.
Thoughts??

Click to expand...

As you say finding out anything about ALQUATI seems impossible. My interest started when a pal alerted me some years ago to a 795cc that came up for sale. The engine was part dismantled and was last used in the mid 1980s. Not cheap but I went for it and it sat in my garage for years until I finally stripped it down earlier this year so it is an ongoing project. Over the years I tried to find out what I could about ALQUATI. I am more than happy to be corrected but as far as I know Camilo Alquati was the force behind a racing team renowned for getting the max out of the Fiat 131 twin cam engine and the humble two cylinder 500R & 126 unit. The ALQUATI secret was in the camshaft profile design that were machined from steel rather than from a casting that Abarth were using in 500s. I was lucky enough to get some receipts that show the work carried out on my engine in 1984 , initially by Italtune in London then later by Lanciana also in London. By chance I had a conversation with an Italian guy that lived in the UK and traded in Fiat parts. He was able to tell me that one of the ALQUATI team came to work in London and would have carried out the conversions. Following any lead that I find I have had some email dialogue with one owner in the UK that also has a complete engine running in a 126. He knew of one other engine not running. I also know of one other that has the chacteristic ALQUATI manifold topped by the Weber 30 DIC. That was the original carb on my engine but the owner was a part time racing driver who liked his toys and switched to the Dellorto FZD which he said he preferred. So with only 3 maybe 4 ALQUATI conversions in the UK. Could one have found its way down under?
Cam comparison, ALQUATI machined to standard cast.

^^

Hi Dave,

If you have access to a couple of 'V' blocks, a dial test indicator + stand and a 360 degree protractor, you could plot the valve timing figures for the Alquati camshaft
(so that we can copy the timing figures :devil: )

If doing this, remember to check what the valve clearance figure for checking valve timing is (might be in the official workshop manual, it's often different from the normal valve clearance settings) and position the DTI plunger this distance from the base circle of the cam lobes.

AL.

Here are some pics. Hopefully they will show.

That is the 30 DIC Weber

Common on Fiat 850 sport coupe

(I have a box full of them in various states of repair)

I bought a rebuild kit from Axel Gerstl but Fiatorque will probably have one.

If you find yours is very worn let me know and I can see what I have.

Cheers Geoff

Hi Geoff
Thanks mate for the offer. I only have the carb to do now and to loose and re-torque down the head bolts and check the timing. Can’t think of anything else to do. My new fuel pump arrived so will do that too. Process of elimination eh!!
I will check with Ross re Carb kit. If ever you’re coming up the Hume you can cut off on Mittagong via Colo vale turnoff after Mittagong and come o my place in Buxton. A cuppa and some Bambino fun is what I offer. Ha

Bambino55 said:

Here are some pics. Hopefully they will show.

View attachment 191496

Click to expand...

Really unhappy seeing that plastic fuel filter so close to the exhaust If that car was mine that filter would be removed pronto, as it is it’s bonfire looking for a location

Thanks for the advice.
I will add removing filter to my list when i put new fuel pump on.

1500500 said:

That is the 30 DIC Weber

Common on Fiat 850 sport coupe

(I have a box full of them in various states of repair)

I bought a rebuild kit from Axel Gerstl but Fiatorque will probably have one.

If you find yours is very worn let me know and I can see what I have.

Cheers Geoff

Click to expand...

Those carbs are not so easy to get here. I did get one from New Zealand at one time. From memory there are about 11 different versions and the one to avoid is the one made for the US market as it has a load of emission control bits on it.
This is one set up I have been trying. The manifold is a flatter type sold by 500 mania. The Bakelite spacer is a modified one from a Giardiniera.

Hi regarding your cutting out. My 500 L with a 650cc engine was cutting out after about 5 to 10 miles then restarting straight after. I had a filter fitted after the pump and a none return valve after I was getting a problem starting after it had been stood for a day or two thinking the fuel was running bacy to tank. After many other things I took the filter and the valve off. Now runs like a dream. So it seems to me the pump must be a very low pressure one . I notice you have two filters could that be it. I now will travel much further distances .

Bambino55 said:

Here are some pics. Hopefully they will show.

View attachment 191496

View attachment 191497

View attachment 191498

Click to expand...

Totally off beam comment, but I’m scratching my chin wondering what the spare split pins could be for? :shrug::chin:

IanEmery said:

Totally off beam comment, but I’m scratching my chin wondering what the spare split pins could be for? :shrug::chin:

Click to expand...

Great observation there and a mystery to me also. I could not zoom in on the original pics for some reason but now I can see that the carb is not an early series Weber 30 DIC as it has the 23 /23 venturies as opposed to 21 / 23. There should also be a Bakelite spacer under the carb as a thermal barrier to keep the carb cooler.

Thanks Phoenix
I went to the local auto shop yesterday and bought a length of fuel line so that I could run it straight from the pump to carry without the need for the tiny fuel filter. My new fuel pump has arrived and I will be fitting it and the new line some time today. Will post about the outcome later today.

Thanks Toshi
About your observation. Any idea where I can get one of those Bakelite spacers from. Makes sense to me to have one knowing the amount of heat in the engine bay. I will make a few changes today and start the Bambino and hope all the changes makes a difference.

Has anyone had any success with using one of the electronic ignition kits on offer in the UK? I know this conversion has made to many classic cars. Is it worth doing on the Bambino? Is the result as transformative as advertised.

F123C said:

^^

Hi Dave,

If you have access to a couple of 'V' blocks, a dial test indicator + stand and a 360 degree protractor, you could plot the valve timing figures for the Alquati camshaft
(so that we can copy the timing figures :devil: )

If doing this, remember to check what the valve clearance figure for checking valve timing is (might be in the official workshop manual, it's often different from the normal valve clearance settings) and position the DTI plunger this distance from the base circle of the cam lobes.

AL.

Click to expand...

That could be a job for later in the year. I was thinking of building up an engine bottom end complete with new timing chain and checking the lift at the cam followers. Would that work?

Bambino55 said:

Thanks Toshi
About your observation. Any idea where I can get one of those Bakelite spacers from. Makes sense to me to have one knowing the amount of heat in the engine bay. I will make a few changes today and start the Bambino and hope all the changes makes a difference.

Click to expand...

I would think your best bet might be to see if Geoff had a spare one. Some of the Italian suppliers sell them for about €15 but the postage will probably treble that. You would be better off making one or get one made locally. The spacer is the same profile as the gasket.

Yeah Toshi I’m happy to have a go at making my own. What kind of material do you suggest for the spacer?

Lindon

Bambino55 said:

Has anyone had any success with using one of the electronic ignition kits on offer in the UK? I know this conversion has made to many classic cars. Is it worth doing on the Bambino? Is the result as transformative as advertised.

Click to expand...

Hi bambino55 I’m building a sports tuned 650 at the moment and have the 123plus ignition. The motor is pretty much done and I’m now waiting for the body work to be completed. The 123 system is expensive but is available in Australia. I’m pretty sure the guy shipped it for free. As for how good it is I can’t tell you to hopefully October although I believe it is tuned by Bluetooth. PM me if your after any details.