Technical Power to weight ratio in little Fiats

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Technical Power to weight ratio in little Fiats

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I am constantly surprised at how capable the 652cc engine is when transplanted in a Fiat 500. It surpasses all the encouraging recommendations that I had read before fitting it.
I was looking through the relative specifications of the cars, (actually doing even more research on my pet-subject of ignition advance) when I came across the power to weight ratios. So I did a quick calculation and then worked out the figure for a 500 with a 652cc engine:

500 with 479 engine: 23.4w/kg
500 with 594 engine: 25.1w/kg (NB. with factory fitted carb)
500 with 499 engine: 25.4w/kg
126 with 652 engine: 29.2w/kg
126 with 594 engine: 29.3w/kg
126 ELX 652 engine: 30.0w/kg
BIS with 704 engine: 30.04w/kg
500 with 594 engine: 32.4w/kg (NB. with 126 carb. and head)
500 with 652 engine: 33.6w/kg

So little wonder that my car goes like a rocket!!! It has a better than 30% increase on power to weight ratio in comparison with when it had the original engine fitted.:D

I am aware that the power to weight ratio might be seen as a crude comparator for performance and there are lots of other factors that could be taken into account. But for me this is an easy way to look at how different the performance between the cars is.

Terms and conditions:;) (must be read unfeasibly quickly ;) )Please note: all of this data is taken from or calculated with data taken from other websites and stands to be corrected. There are many variations from year to year in the specifications for the 126 so these figures may not apply to all models.
 
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^^ Even the old Citroen with only 2 HP could make it up a hill.
I know, I did it once. :)

AL.
 
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