Decided to get my 850T camper restored with a view to being my everyday car - it'll soon be off to the body shop to get it stripped down and see what condition it's really in. It's got me thinking whether I should put a slightly beefier engine in it - not for high performance but to be a good solid drive. Any suggestions? Is there anything that's a reasonably easy swap out? My engine guy reckons he can boost the performance of the existing engine (he builds engines for grass track and performance Minis) but thought I'd investigate all avenues while I have the time.

Hi
See these threads to get you started:
https://www.fiatforum.com/850t-900/430714-more-power-pandora.html
https://www.fiatforum.com/850t-900/425913-900t-brakes-upgrade.html
https://www.fiatforum.com/850t-900/431712-electronic-ignition.html

I had originally thought about an engine swap, as much for parts availability as anything else. In the end I've opted to swap out a few bits to 850 Spider spec (4 branch exhaust and 2 barrel weber) and a few other bits (electronic ignition, electric fuel pump, octane booster, secondary electric fan, etc.). Everything just simply swaps out without any major reworking of the chassis etc.

They are all still sitting in the garage, along with the engine waiting to be refitted, sometime over the summer. As the Spider was quoted at around 55BHP and the 900T is 35BHP I'm guessing that I should reach the heady heights of around 45BHP with the changes.

Not huge by today's standards but hopefully just enough to make our camper happier on a long run and in day-to-day traffic.

Importantly, the insurance companies haven't expressed any concerns when I explain what I wanted to do - so premiums should be okay.

If you do opt for an engine swap please record your progress on the forum. As I'm sure many of us would be interested for the future.

Cheers
Gary

Cheers Gary. I'll start posting updates as and when they happen...

Well, she's finally out of the garage and on her way to the body shop for a prelim strip down to see what condition she's in...

A beauty.
What does that badge say? Does it mean that it was converted to a camper in Italy?

I was hoping someone might be able to tell me! The interior looks more UK than stylish Italian...

The badge says .... Carrozzeria FIAT Suzzara...

Carrozzeria is coachbuilder/bodyshop/factory (take your pick) and Suzzara is the town in Lombardy where your van was built. Suzzara was the location of the factory of 'O.M.' which was a subsidiary of Fiat who built commercial vehicles - I think the 600T and early 850Ts where also badged as OM as I have a spare tailgate with that exact badge, but with 'OM' instead of Fiat...

I believe all the 600/850/900T & 900E were built at Suzzara...OM eventually disappeared into IVECO. The Suzzara plant is still live, building Iveco Dailys...