I'm trying as so many of us are to plan out a larger displacement build, and "fiats500sport(dot)com" has several great and inexpensive engine kits... If they're good. Haven't been able to find a single review anywhere. Anyone here done it? What's your verdict?

After near 100 views and no replies, I got a pic of the set I'm considering. Has "Nanni" printed across... a brand perhaps? It's a 650cc kit for the 500, costing 1098 euros. Still hoping someone out there has experience if it's a quality set.

Nanni Ricambi is a quite reputable Fiat specialist based in Bologna. You can shop them directly, but I've had mixed luck with responses. They make good stuff though.

Alex;
"Nanni Ricambi" does produce some good stuff, but outside Italy he is a bugger to deal with! Luckily, I have a good friend in Italy who can get round this little problem for me. The problem with fitting a 'bigger barrels' kit is that the engine has to come out, be completely stripped in order that the crank-case can be machined out to allow the new barrels to be fitted. Living where you are,it shouldn't be too difficult for you to obtain another 500 (type 110) engine. Having a spare engine to modify will allow you to continue to use your car, whilst working on the up-rated engine as time (and money) allow. If you can lay your hands on a 652cc 126 engine and gearbox(Mk 2 '126') even better--it is almost a straight swap. The only major difference. work needed wise, between the 500 gear box and the 126 gearbox is the length of the drive shafts---you HAVE to fit 500 drive shafts to the 126 gear-box--not a difficult job. "Passione 500" also do up-rate kits as do "500 Mania", "D'Angelo Motori" "Lavazza Techno" and "Mortillaro Tuning"---all Italian companies.

I recently brought a new exhaust from D'Angleo. Good experience. The web site is way ahead on Nanni's version. Good communications and shipping. They do some beautilful pre built engines (expensive!) and similar priced engine kits.

Have a look.

Cheers
Rob

Hi Alex,
I too have had very good service from '500 Mania' and 'D'Angelo'. The on-line experience from both is good with parts sent out rapidly. I would council you to look around at what you need and take your time getting the parts, don't just go for a kit because it may work out MORE expensive. Tom the hobbler is correct, get a spare engine and build that up - you will enjoy the experience
Ian.

Thank you all. The big issue I face is exporting- I am in Italy until 2021, then going back to the U.S. One car will be shipped back for me, but it must appear original and have original matching numbers on the engine (crank case). That is the only reason I am not just using a 126 engine. I plan to have all parts ready for a rebuild before engine removal, and a machine shop expecting my crank case and head as soon as they are removed for minimum down time. I am trying to avoid an expensive build as I plan to do a much more potent built after a while back in the U.S. I will definitely check out all sources recommended though, as I do want a fun and reliable experience for the next two years here.

I forgot to mention- mine already has a 126 synchro box, and 123 ignition is going in tomorrow.

Alex;
I understand your predicament---why not get another 500 engine, build it up and fit it? You can then use it until you have to ship it back to America. The engines are so easy to remove/refit that you then refit the 'proper' engine for shipment, and organise to have the tuned engine shipped back separately. Other than the engine number, it would take somebody who knows what they are looking at to realise the engine change---externally, there is no way you can tell what the capacity is.
Alternatively, get a local garage to give you a bill for changing the engine due to the original engine 'blowing-up' and have the Italian paperwork for your car changed accordingly. I would not be surprised if a large percentage of the 500s running around Italy have had to have their engines replaced--continually driving a 500 "Italian" does tend to have a detrimental effect on the life of an engine!

Tom, Alex is coincidentally my brother's name. Haha- mine's Andrew. I've been told by the government service which will ship the car that even a professional certified engine replacement at original spec is not allowed. It's absurd. They will not be inspecting with Fiat specialists though, so there is much I can still get away with. For the long term goal, I want this tiny car to have gobs of power to which even the insanely expensive 110 builds come far short. Not a sportbike engine build though, I want more torque and longevity than they offer. So a second 110 engine may be wasted money, although it would be far easier and more like the original.

It may be important to note why I want ludicrous power- if I were able to stay in Europe, 50-60 hp would be plenty. Many tight twisty roads to enjoy it on. In the U.S., it's much more of the wide lanes and long straights. Rare to find good twisties without a hoarde of patrol cars.

Andrew; first of all, my apologies for mixing you up with your brother---I should know the difference as you and I have been communicating directly! comes of writing e-mails late at night. Although I sort of understand your desire (need?) for more power, you don't buy a Cinquecento to go fast--just have fun driving it and pissing off the Ferrari owners at car shows---more people will speak to you regarding your car than all the Ferrari owners put together. If you want to look at a way of putting a LOT more power into a 500, and it still look standard from the outside (i.e. you can still shut the engine cover) look at a 'U-tube' film entitled "Fiat 500 with Subaru engine". This conversion has been done a number of times, and even using the 'non-turbo' engine, you will have a car that goes one heck of a lot faster than anything that a '110'or '126' engine can come up with. Remember, if you are going to do a lot of 'street' driving, reliability is more important than outright speed. Also, the 500 is a short car---putting massive amounts of power into it makes it very difficult to drive, as a number of very powerful bike conversions have discovered, to their dismay.
Putting a much more powerful engine into any car is only the start of a (usually!) expensive road---you will have to up-rate steering, brakes and suspension and often put some strengthening into the body.All doable, but not cheap!

Hutbed said:

Tom, Alex is coincidentally my brother's name. Haha- mine's Andrew. I've been told by the government service which will ship the car that even a professional certified engine replacement at original spec is not allowed. It's absurd. They will not be inspecting with Fiat specialists though, so there is much I can still get away with. For the long term goal, I want this tiny car to have gobs of power to which even the insanely expensive 110 builds come far short. Not a sportbike engine build though, I want more torque and longevity than they offer. So a second 110 engine may be wasted money, although it would be far easier and more like the original.

Click to expand...

Hutbed,
This is not entirely correct. When I bought my 500 in Italy, I failed to do enough research prior and bought one with a 126A5 block. After learning of the import rules, I paid a local mechanic to put a 110 engine in it so it'd match the original VIN series. So long as the serial of the block matches the VIN (not exact, but type of engine = original spec), you'll be good.

It was a 2000EU mistake on my part, but I wound up with a spare 126A5 motor and gearbox that maybe, someday, I'll build up. Oh, and they shipped all my spare 500 parts (motor, trans, tinwork, spare tires, etc...) back in my household goods shipment.

JumpJet,
That's got my gears turning... haha. I should just stick with the original engine though to save money for now. If I plan it out right the car shouldn't be down more than 2 weeks... theoretically. I may look into that though, thank you!

Andrew, if you do decide to tune a 500 (or 126) engine, don't forget to carry out the 2 modifications recommended by Abarth regarding securing the exhaust. The inserts into the head for the manifold bolts/studs and the bolts and studs that secure the exhaust silencer brackets. Both mods are in the info that I sent you. If you have any problems obtaining the head inserts (for the manifold bolts/studs) just let me know and I will pop some into the post to you.
Also, don't forget to pack the oil-pump with petroleum jelly (vaseline) prior to refitting the oil pump.

Thank you Hobbler. I may do the exhaust mod now, as I need to repair a broken off stud already, and I have just installed a Record Monza exhaust last night due to the original breaking. Side note, just installed the 123 electronic ignition as well, and it is SMOOTH!

After some chatting and further research, I am abandoning the plan to put a potent 4 cyl in after I get the car to the states for the following reasons: loss of the Fiat 500 soul, extreme difficulty to control (I was planning well over 100hp/tq), cost, and difficulty in reverting back to original (which I would like to be an option at the least). So back to the original post topic, now I'm taking a more respectable approach to planning a 650-800cc build. Can anyone suggest a source for high compression pistons larger than 540cc? Those are the only high compression pistons I've been able to find so far.

Evening Andrew;
For a sensible, reliable, useable but 'tweaked' 500, I wouldn't go above 695/700cc. Too much above that capacity and you run the risk of the engine running hot. Being that you are in Sicily, I would suggest that you look at finding a complete Mk2 '126' 652cc engine, and tune that engine whilst you continue to run the engine in the car at the moment.
Going the '540cc' route is the easiest way to give yourself a bit more grunt, not a lot I will concede, but definately more. Just increasing the bore size will raise the compression ratio; whilst the head is off for the conversion, have it skimmed slightly (but it is important that you leave the 'exhaust-blow' ring on the head intact). Abarth never went above 10.5:1 compression on his 595/695 models---I would suggest that you go no higher. As well as fitting the slightly larger pistons/barrels, fit a 28IMB carb--comes off a Mk2 (652cc) 126.
If you want a list of the people that can supply 695/700cc conversion kits, contact me direct and i will give a list of suppliers of such kits.
Also, when you take the car back to the USA, it will be a 'foreign' car, with not a lot of back-up there---reliability will be more important that outright performance.

Tom, if the car is fitted with the oil cooler and larger pan then is it still likely to run hot? And 10.5:1 is higher than I intend, I'd prefer no higher than 10:1 to ensure I can run it on whatever pump gas is available even with the 123's timing advance. I'd like to skim as little as possible from the head to allow a future skim if needed years later. The 28IMB is already on my shopping list, got a local spot selling it for 180 euros. And yes, reliability will be important as the American cruises are typically much longer than Sicilian ones.

Hi Andrew, I don't know where you are in Sicily, but I know of a supplier of 500 parts from Randazzo on the northern side of the mountain, I'll look his details up for you. Also we have stayed near Zafferana on the east of the mountain a few times and have always seen a Giannini 500 outside an old looking parts shop down the main street !! It may be an idea to cultivate an association with the local Fiat 500 club in Catania as there are several engine and race builders around there, they may be able to assist you in the engine build ??? As always how you spend your money is your business, but for an engine tuning or 'improvement' project on any size of engine I would council you to check that the crankshaft and the associated bearings are all in top condition, if necessary, buy the best bearings you can. All these modding kits are good, but they don't consider the crankshaft and bearings. The last thing you need is worn bearings to be made worse by working on the top of the engine at the expense of the bottom !!!!!
Ian.