Technical Fiat 500 engine swap problems.

[toni794613]

Heya guys. My father has a fiat 600 from 63 (i think) but it hasnt been drivven for many years. We decided to restore it but the engine is not in a good condition so we decided to replace. We have an engine from a seat ibiza 1.0 45hp and we can fit it perfectly.The only problem is that the gaer box wont take it and it can break down. We cant find a good transmission with which we can replace it. All of the other transimissions are too big and cant fit. Please help us with some suggestions. ty. (sry for the bad english)

 

[babbo_umbro]

Heya guys. My father has a fiat 600 from 63 (i think) but it hasnt been drivven for many years. We decided to restore it but the engine is not in a good condition so we decided to replace. We have an engine from a seat ibiza 1.0 45hp and we can fit it perfectly.The only problem is that the gaer box wont take it and it can break down. We cant find a good transmission with which we can replace it. All of the other transimissions are too big and cant fit. Please help us with some suggestions. ty. (sry for the bad english)

Not sure why this is in the 500 Classic section.

Why do you think the gearbox won't take the output from the Ibiza engine? The 600D (rather than earlier 600) gearbox was very robust; the chances of finding an alternative are very small - something like a Simca 1000 perhaps, but they're quite rare and I'd just try the 6000 gearbox first.

 

[toni794613]

Well, I want to be sure before i try it because i dont know what to do if it deosnt work. It will be a waste of money. I think it wont take it because the original engine is 25 hp and with a 4-gear speedbox. The ibiza engine is meant for a 5- speed box. Finding a matchable transimission is really a problem because the car is too small. Do you think that a Vw beatle transmission could fit?

 

[babbo_umbro]

I don't see what the Ibiza's five speed box has to do with your question - the 600 weighs about two thirds of what an Ibiza must weigh so there would be ample torque with just four speeds. I had a 600D, with an engine opened out to 850cc and tuned to give about 35 bhp many years ago and never even thought about gearbox problems.

Not strictly relevant, but many years ago I swapped the engine in a 500D for a 700cc BMW flat twin - that gave something over 40 bhp against the 500's standard 18 - the gearbox gave no trouble at all. The weak point in the transmission was the splines inside the flanges on the outer end of the drive shafts - same design as the 600 - these used to strip every so often - fortunately, the flange stripped and the drive shaft was OK - so I carried a spare flange and could change one in about ten minutes.

I honestly think that by far the best plan is to try with the 600 box - after all it's cost you practically nothing ad I can't see what there would be to lose.

 

[the hobbler]

Hi Toni;
from what I remember from my days at Radbourne Racing the 600D gearbox was pretty bullet-proof and was used in most of the Abarth versions that produced a lot more power than the 32bhp that the 600D churned out. I can't remember ever having to strip or even repair a 600D 'box. If you can source an engine from a 850 (850cc or 903cc versions) the engine will bolt straight in---BUT, remember to make it run the other way! 600 engine ran clockwise, 850s ran ANTI-clockwise--it is not a difficult job to reverse the direction of running of the 850. Another option is the Autobianchi A112 engine. This engine is often used as the basis of 'new' Abarth engines. Lastly, have you tried stripping the old engine? they are very simple and if you can retain the original engine so much the better. I would not recommend the VW gearbox route as that gearbox is quite a bit larger and would require quite a lot of work to make it fit. For more advice on '600s' try the 'Other Fiats' site (it deals with the 850s) or e-mail me direct. All the best whichever way you go.