Hi

I'm a happy owner of a little red Autobianchi Cabriolet.
This vinter i'm going to clean up the engine, tottaly newbee, but I have to learn it some how

A bit more power could be nice, not going Abarth crazy, just a bit.
I'm considering 540 cylinder upgrade, and my question: will a new exhaust help me or is i just a waste of money?

Tips for boosting the little thing are welcome

I believe that some if not all of the Autobianchi cars had modest upgrades to the engine in terms of compression and carburettor, possibly camshaft. Probably be a shame to mess with it too much. I would try and research exactly what the specification is for the engine you have, assuming it is the original. Easiest thing to check is the code on the carburettor for a start. Normal tuning basic package would include carb, camshaft, cylinder head & exhaust.

A lot of the earlier Autobianch cabs were fitted with the 500 Sport engine easy to tell as the engine number is 100.004
basically similar spec to the later F/L engines about 21-22 bhp

A very mild camshaft with more lift will give you easy extra torque, and therefore ridability (made a big difference on mine). Skimming the head can be done without problems, the engine was made to run on something like 68 octane back then, minimum is over 90 now... otherwise, an electronic ignition (e.g. 123), nothing as comfortable on an old car as a reliable good spark.
I tink this is the cheapest way to get some extra useable power, while maitaining the original character (and sound).

It is the Sport engine mine is 110F004

Rcl said:

A very mild camshaft with more lift will give you easy extra torque, and therefore ridability (made a big difference on mine). Skimming the head can be done without problems, the engine was made to run on something like 68 octane back then, minimum is over 90 now... otherwise, an electronic ignition (e.g. 123), nothing as comfortable on an old car as a reliable good spark.
I tink this is the cheapest way to get some extra useable power, while maitaining the original character (and sound).

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About the camshaft, wich engine, the old 479 og the newer 499 sport version?

I believe the carb should be a rare Weber 26IMB5

Toshi 975 said:

I believe the carb should be a rare Weber 26IMB5

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My precious little car is stored away for vinter, so I can't find out right now.
But its the plan to bring the engine home and clean it.

Vikingsen said:

About the camshaft, wich engine, the old 479 og the newer 499 sport version?

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Sorry, mine was a bog Standard 500(F/L) engine, camshaft was found in a donor engine. When checking which one had the most wear, i noticed it had over 1mm more lift, camprofile/shape was near original, maybe even tame.
It gave hardly any noticable top end, but a lot more mid-power.

Vikingsen said:

It is the Sport engine mine is 110F004

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I don't know the spec for the 110F004 but I would presume it is an enhancement over the std F 110f engine... as clearly using the 004 extension implies it is higher spec...


I have asked someone who would know.....
If anyone has this it would be interesting to know....
(I found one translation that implied it may be 600cc)

Bigvtwin996 said:

I don't know the spec for the 110F004 but I would presume it is an enhancement over the std F 110f engine... as clearly using the 004 extension implies it is higher spec...


I have asked someone who would know.....
If anyone has this it would be interesting to know....
(I found one translation that implied it may be 600cc)

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I have this info about the 3 Autobianchi Cabriolet series from a FB group:

"First Series the Frame Nr Beginns with 110B and the Engine Nr 110.004,the Second Series begins with 110DB and the Engine 110D004,and the Third Series begins with 110FB5, and the Engine with 110F004."

Vikingsen said:

I have this info about the 3 Autobianchi Cabriolet series from a FB group:

"First Series the Frame Nr Beginns with 110B and the Engine Nr 110.004,the Second Series begins with 110DB and the Engine 110D004,and the Third Series begins with 110FB5, and the Engine with 110F004."

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when I get time I will pull up all the Eden Roc/Autobianchi model numbers etc

Vikingsen said:

It is the Sport engine mine is 110F004

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the only difference to a std 110F engine is the carb, apparently there is no power difference or anything else...

Bigvtwin996 said:

the only difference to a std 110F engine is the carb, apparently there is no power difference or anything else...

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After some consideration, I decided not to do any tuning to the engine.
Its the engine the car was born with and both the Autobianchi Cabriolet and the sport engine it comes with are quiet rare and its should stay as original as possible. If I'll do anything I switch the ignition with a 123 electronic ignition, easy to switch back to the original-ignition if I fell the need for going old-school.

That sayed..... If I sometime I the future want more power anyway, I'll switch the complete engine, and store the original away so it can stay original.

Vikingsen said:

That sayed..... If I sometime I the future want more power anyway, I'll switch the complete engine, and store the original away so it can stay original.

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That is something I would always agree with... it is so easy to swap and engine for one that you can do what you want to, keep the original or even restore and keep on a shelf and a car of original spec is more easy to sell...