Technical 500 Giardiniera

[Julian67]

Greetings,

Just bought a '73 500 Giardiniera which I have not started yet!

Curious to find out if anyone has fitted a more powerful engine / brakes which would simply fit without too much modification.

If not, can I fit an alternator on the existing engine?

If so, type + part no?

Sure I'd like to keep it fairly original but would like more power!

Many thanks

 

[Toshi 975]

My knowledge of the Giardiniera is limited to what I have read on the forums. There have been a couple of threads on upgrades. I did supply a Fiat 126 Bis bell housing to one owner as I believe they fit the original engine and facilitate the fitting of an uprated clutch. I have another spare in my garage if required

 

[gordinir8]

According to the link below you can update to 650cc. I know that they run hot so maybe a oil cooler installation will be nice to have. A guy in here has put one using electric oil pump. This is pretty much I know for this car.

https://webshop.fiat500126.com/en/e...50-ccm-_500-block_-with-pistons_rings-premium

Thomas

 

[giardini]

A modification that will "simply fit" is a bit of a contradiction itself

A forum member (Hobbler I think it was) has in the past redirected to http://www.ilmotore.de/index.php?FIAT-Modelle:FIAT_500 for Giardiniera performance enhancement.

 

[the hobbler]

I have to put my hand up on this one---it was indeed me that came up with "ilmotore.de" (Torsten Hanenkamp) as somebody who tunes Giardy engines. Firstly your brakes-- the Giardy was fitted with '600' brakes, so your brakes are already an up-grade on normal 500 brakes. If you can find them, the disc assemblies from the old Fiat 850 Coupe and Spider models will fit straight on.
Engine-enhancement-wise, you can take the Giardy up to 652cc, BUT NO MORE. The reason for this is that if you open up the crankcase (which you will have to do for the larger barrels) for any larger barrels, you will lose the gasket 'lip' on top of the crankcase that the barrel sits upon. Sports camshafts and exhausts are available from a variety of sources including "500 Mania". It is also possible to obtain larger venturi-bore carbs for the Giardy (a side-draught carb), although a Dellorto carb is available which is basically a side-draught FZD--the OVC 35/30D (it must be the 'D' variant--it has an accelerator pump--other versions don't)---you would however need to have an inlet manifold made for you (not difficult). Larger inlet valves can be fitted and (most importantly) the head 'ported' to give better flow. My source for this information? The parts van that we ran at "Radbourne Racing"---an Autobianchi van version of the Giardy which had a 'Nardi' 652cc kit fitted. Around London it was brilliant--small and darn nippy!

 

[fiat500]

...you want a fast one? I was startled at the speed and the gearchanges in this 700 Giardiniera that was posted on Facebook the other day. Presumably 700cc as it may have a completely different engine?

[ame]https://youtu.be/3rLvPkyTozs[/ame]

 

[the hobbler]

You're right Peter, that is one darn quick Giardiniera! This one is however a "Steyr Puch" and uses a 683cc version of their 'boxer' engine (like a BMW bike engine). The saloon versions of their cars are very quick for their size.