Technical Identifying 850 engine

[sizzles]

Hello all,

Wondered if you could help me identify the engine in my Fiat 850 Sport? Unfortunately I don’t have much history with the car but it was recently restored, perhaps with this replacement engine(?) and a sporty exhaust. The engine has a spin on oil filter rather than the usual centrifugal job. On the left of the engine are The numbers 100GL and Seat, 1975 and D. On the right of the engine it says Seat and the firing order 1342 on the head, as well as 4874514 and D on the block. Looking at some of these threads I guess this might be from a 127? Grateful for any thoughts.

 

[timmycm850]

What car do you have, coupe or spider/year water pump type etc.

if its restored its likely that the external numbers on the block wont tell you whats been altered inside the engine, are you sure its actually a Fiat and not a Seat.

send a couple of images onto here as that might help.

Tim

 

[sizzles]

Hello Tim,

It’s a 1971 Fiat 850 Sport Spider. Imported from Belgium in 2019 and then restored.Some pictures attached in case that helps. I guess lots has changed over 50 years… Thanks for looking, Warren.

 

[timmycm850]

Yes I spotted this spider for sale a while back.

The engine is likely 903cc but to reverse the rotation for this application would need a camshaft from an 850 and the oil pump drive gear to be changed. The oil system is stronger this way. Difficult to tell whats inside due to it being rebuilt but should be somewhere between 45 and 52hp.

Tim

 

[timmycm850]

I trust you are enjoying ownership

 

[sizzles]

Hi Tim, thanks for the useful info. Am enjoying the car and the learning journey needed to keep these cars going!

Warren

 

[timmycm850]

Hi Sizzles.

I think I spotted your car at Brooklands but didn't get to catch up with you.

Tim

 

[sizzles]

Ah sorry to have missed you Tim. A fun day.

 

[timmycm850]

It was busy at times.

 

[FiatTrofeo]

I could be a SEAT 133 special (SEAT 900 LS) engine. They were marked with 127 GL and had a spin on oil filter. What is the engine number on the end of the engine?

 

[sizzles]

I could be a SEAT 133 special (SEAT 900 LS) engine. They were marked with 127 GL and had a spin on oil filter. What is the engine number on the end of the engine?

Hello,

Thanks for the reply.

On the right of the engine I can see 4274614. There is a ‘D’ and at the back it says 0895.

On the left I can see 1975, 100GL and SEAT.

 

[FiatTrofeo]

The Engine number is stamped on the end of the engine near the fuel pump.

 

[Como]

Hello Tim,

It’s a 1971 Fiat 850 Sport Spider. Imported from Belgium in 2019 and then restored.Some pictures attached in case that helps. I guess lots has changed over 50 years… Thanks for looking, Warren.

Hi Sizzles, i know this was posted quite a while ago and you probably wont respond, but i just got my hands on a fiat 850 spider and it has got the exact same engine as yours. Do you have any more info on the engine by any chance? Is it a stock engine that was in the fiat 850 or is it from another car? Anything can help.

 

[timmycm850]

Hi guys.

Its becoming more likely that you've both got seat 850 spyders so its likely you have seat engines instead of Fiat.

 

[Como]

Hi guys.

Its becoming more likely that you've both got seat 850 spyders so its likely you have seat engines instead of Fiat.

Hi Tim, that's a pretty interesting theory, i aslo saw that Sizzles'850 was originaly from belgium, just like mine. Thanks for the help!

 

[Como]

Hi Tim, that's a pretty interesting theory, i aslo saw that Sizzles'850 was originaly from belgium, just like mine. Thanks for the help!

Just a little note, it says on the car papers that it's a fiat, so i guess mine was just engine swapped with a seat 850's engine

 

[timmycm850]

50 odd years of history so who knows for certain

 

[348azeus]

The thing you can be sure of is that they are not the original engines. Seat tended to stamp the year of production on the block which means the engine probably came from a 127. It’s a lot easier to change an engine than a chassis number. I’ve got an original 850 1971 sport engine which has a centrifugal oil filter, aluminium sump , twin choke carb and the black top valve cover.