Hi guys, mate in work has a 1.2 engine and been looking through for some info on the 1.2 8valve swap. Got a few questions:
1. Do the coolant hoses from the spi Sei fit?
2. Has anyone had any luck sourcing any oversized Pistons? (Did See something about 1.4 16v may fit if the blocks bored out to 72mm)
3. Theoretically will the ecu run the engine if I manage to oversize the bore?
Engine will need to be fitted with my head due to it having been polished ported and skimmed.
Any help or info will appreciated, it will be a slow build due to also building a 2ltr golf rally car but will be done none the less.

John

1. Yes
2. You can swap pistons and rods (different gudgeon pin sizes) but any 16v pistons will give you a very low compression ratio on an 8v engine. The 1.4 8v pistons and geads are a different shape -- not really worth the effort.
3. Theoretically, yes. But as above, it's a pretty pointless exercise.

Thanks.
Any other bits and pieces you'd recommend I could do whilst re building the engine, already planning on lightening and balancing flywheel and crank and getting all Pistons the same weight?

You might look at bigger TB (1.2 16v can be made to fit) and a tubular manifold.

But the biggest issue with tweaking the MPI cars is the ECU (which is why n/a folk go for the SPI engines).

Is the ecu easy to be remapped or is it best to get a separate one just for engine management? Can anyone give any good reviews about mani's nothing custom as that will push the budget to far.
Already looking at cams, did think about bike carbs or throttle bodies but that may be for another day, definitely will be blueprinted.
Will the 1.2 16v TB work with spi Sei because I thought they were mpi's or will they need to be split and mate together?

ecu, no not easily, if you want decent easy mapping available either aftermarket ecu or megasquirt ir a good piggyback like the DET3.

manifolds, look for Supersprint item, you will want one for a 1242 rather than a 1108 if it will bash your sump with a 1242 fitted. I have read John Ashley modified his punto manifold so they would fit a cento (previously clearance issues with slam panel) but i can't 100% guarantee that, perhaps ask them...

cams, look at C&B ones, it is really hard to find a decent 866 (punto75) cam these days but keep your eye out for one, will be much cheaper.

TB's, a member on here, sparky5, makes 40mm converted TB's - i recommend doing that.

Thanks for the list, was thinking aftermarket cam rather than the almost impossible to find 866 one especially in the west, but currently haven't looked at prices and everything for them.
Have seen many people going for the supersprint manifold but had a look the other on the eBay and the only one I could find was the one for the 1.2 16v, any links would be very much appreciated.
Definately going to message sparky5 about the tb.
Haven't really got a budget for the build but don't want to be scrapping cash together to get parts

Thanks for the link blu

Anyone know where I can get every single seal/gasket, big end bearings and piston rings on-line or do they only come from fiat/fiat certified part supplier or can they come from motor factors? If it's a fiat only part anyone got a rough guide on price?

I will be building the engine to as high of standard as possible due to wanting to get as much power out of it as possible. I'm hoping to get 80-90bhp (hopefully a bit more) with all the mods+an ecu remap on a rr.

Sorry for the constant questions but the fiat trained bloke who I work with isn't exactly being helpful about the engine due to only suggesting turbo it or not bother with the 8v and go 16v.

ring, email or skype Big Mick at EuroCarCare.net

There is some sense in what yer man says. A 16v lump will be cheaper than messing about with an 8v and give a fair bit more power.

To turbo well will be expensive.

Still, I've always liked the 1.2 8v SPI in Cinqs -- easy to tweak, torque everywhere, easy to work on.

yep, just a 1.2 8v cento is more what the car should have been. They are not hugely fast but they are really nice to drive when compared with a 1108cc.
I think i preferred my old cinq when it was a 1242 8v than when it was a 16v, it was not as fast but I found the 16v to just be a bit lacking when it came to just driving about, yeah it was faster (by quite a bit), but going fast was the only thing that improved - i think in every other way it was better as an 8v.

Of course all this is just my personal opinion from my experiences.. Don't get me wrong here, i liked my 16v alot and its a good engine, just as an all round package i preferred the 8v

I have toyed with the 16v idea, almost bought a Sei with the 1.4 16v lump already in but had a knock so was going to do a direct swap but the bloke took too long to get back to me.
There's definitely a personal preference to the engines, main reason for my choice in the 8v lump purely because of the fact there's nearly no one who has it or willing to have one in they're cinq/Sei when they can have more power from the 16valvers. And the other reason I want it is because of a policeman looks at it he won't really be able to tell if it's the 1108 engine or 1242 engine

to be honest, back in the day 1242 8v cento's were commonplace. spi and P75 conversions, there was loads of them. People think its a waste of time now but really it isn't a waste, its just not going ot make the fastest cento.

To many spec whores and not people building cars that are just nice to drive in my view.

I'm a big fan of the 8v engine it's simple to work on most parts are interchangeable with the 1108. Lucky for me because I replaced the alternator last Wednesday.
Been looking at getting some reinforced hoses using the guide on here to match my wheels but only few manufacturers make green hoses but for £105 isn't to bad.

I'm doing a similar engine build to you. I had a 1.4 16v drove it a tiny bit decided I didnt like it and have gone to 8v suits my uses much better of country lane driving as well as being cheaper and more reliable I was going to get a 1.4 8v but the complications with them I decided against. Engine is a mk2 punto mpi specs wil be

4kg flywheel
Crank and fly balanced togeather
Pistons,rods and big end caps matched
Ported head with bit removed from combustion chamber and a good skim off the head (need to calculate the right ammount)
P75 inlet, injectors and tb (eventually going custom as I've no heater and want longer runners for low end grunt)
Aftermarket cam (not sure which),poss a vernier if needed

Engine will be run off a det3 piggyback ecu

I know what you mean about country lane driving, I have to travel 30-40 miles before I see a motorway or something. My seicento I can keep it flat on most of the roads but having driven a range of cars I came to the conclusion that 1.4 8 v or 16 v and higher they require to many gear changes for corners.
Thanks for the idea of what your doing, the engine I'm getting is a p60 but I'm going to talk to a few ecu remappers to see if they can be bothered to do the ecu, purely to see if it will save some for some other bits I need.

1242 8v mpi for the win. my Cinq 75 was one of the best car I have ever owned and I would have another in a heart beat, don't think I would ever go 16v as they just don't pull the same.

Good luck with it mate and hope you build the car you really want.

These turned up today, picture does the colour no justice

well its... erm... different.
Looks like you are going to have plenty spare to me..