Brand new to this forum!

I turned 17 a few months and I just picked myself up a 1980 X1/9 Bertone. I would like to swap the engine out for something with more power and less worry that its going to break on me.

I've read a lot of articles but I guess I'm not really sure where to start. Money isn't really a big issue, I'm willing to put plenty into this project. I'm decent with cars and technical stuff but I want to get a feeling for how much this is going to be. My end goal is to get a new engine in it, so if paying someone to do it for me is a better option, I'm open to considering it.

I've looked at a lot of articles and it seems that the B18 is going to be my best bet for a swap. I'm trying to get a feel for how big of a project this is going to be. Is it something that I can invite my college buddies over to do in a weekend? A week?

Does anyone have any advice for me before I start this process?

Needless to say I'd like as much guidance as I can get seeing that I really love this little car and I'm new to all of this.

Thanks in advance.

Welcome to the fiat forum. How did you come by your x1/9?

Just keep the original engine if it's ok. It was designed by Aurello Lampredi a Ferrari engine designer. The engines are very strong and when looked after pretty reliable. Look at installing luminition or other electronic ignition timing. You can also fit a modern ecu to control the engine and improve efficiency and power but this is not easy.

Engine swaps take bloody ages and it will spoil the originality and value of the car. The 1.6 punto sporting/tipo engine was the last generation of the 124 sohc. You can fit this engine with the same mounts and exhaust etc but it's still a lot of work. Trust me I've done it ☺

Look at the uno turbo conversion. There Is lots of info out there.

What is this b18 engine you speak of???

Have you owned a fiat before? Fiats strongest asset is usually the little revvy engine imo.

X-1/9 for a first car? :worship:

As above the Punto 90 has the distributor feed on the oil pump and plenty of space for bike carbs.

The reason I bought my Bravo HLX is because it has the 1.8 version of the 128 block with a 16V head and the inlet manifold splits in half so you can mount a bank of carb's to keep things simple.

115hp standard but if you take off the AC and power steering pumps 130hp with no modifications.

I have seen X-1/9's with Fiat Coupe (Lancia) engines but the main issue you're going to have is insurance.

As soon as you do any engine conversion it will be ridiculous.

lynyrdskynyrd said:

Brand new to this forum!

I turned 17 a few months and I just picked myself up a 1980 X1/9 Bertone. I would like to swap the engine out for something with more power and less worry that its going to break on me.

I've looked at a lot of articles and it seems that the B18 is going to be my best bet for a swap. I'm trying to get a feel for how big of a project this is going to be. Is it something that I can invite my college buddies over to do in a weekend? A week?

Does anyone have any advice for me before I start this process?

Needless to say I'd like as much guidance as I can get seeing that I really love this little car and I'm new to all of this.

Thanks in advance.

Click to expand...

being in the US , there will probably be virtually ZERO access to 90's FIAT engines.

any "other" engine is going to be hundreds of hours.. so not really practical if you're paying for an engineer to do the work.

what shape is the car in..?

does it currently run reliably , oil and watertight..??

Charlie - Oxford - UK

purf said:

What is this b18 engine you speak of???

Have you owned a fiat before? Fiats strongest asset is usually the little revvy engine imo.

Click to expand...

view at 2:30 says it all really HEAVY ( and unbalanced):yuck:

the original Lampredi engine could be lifted in by hand