Technical X1/9 Tuning
- Thread starter SirPorl
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Technical X1/9 Tuning
fiatfactory
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http://www.network54.com/Forum/12159 is where you want to be.... thats Xweb a US based X19 specific forum.
I don't think there is anyone in Europe who specialises in X19's anymore, the sohc Fiat engine is very old technology....they have newer engines in newer models that are more plentiful on the roads to play with...
PBS engineering in the USA are one place you might try.....
SteveC
I don't think there is anyone in Europe who specialises in X19's anymore, the sohc Fiat engine is very old technology....they have newer engines in newer models that are more plentiful on the roads to play with...
PBS engineering in the USA are one place you might try.....
SteveC
orestes
New member
what are you playing around with ?? 1500, 1300 ?? the simplest way to extact more power out of an X1/9 is to drop in an engine with more power, but that all depends on how much you want to spend...
a comon option is to use the engine out of a fiat uno, other options include engines out of lanica betas, it wouldn't be out of the question to use a lancia prisma or delta engine either. Basically any ritmo/strada engine variant will fit into an X1/9 with a little bit of effort
a comon option is to use the engine out of a fiat uno, other options include engines out of lanica betas, it wouldn't be out of the question to use a lancia prisma or delta engine either. Basically any ritmo/strada engine variant will fit into an X1/9 with a little bit of effort
The biggest restriction to the 1500 are the inlet ports. Getting these flowed and 1mm skimmed off the cylinder head will make very noticeable gains.
Performance cams are still readily available to the Abarth spec (10.35mm lift with 40/80 80/40 degree timing) if you don't mind loosing low down tractability.
For originality I have just gone the route of a recon 1500 fast road engine over installing the 1300 Uno turbo lump.
Performance cams are still readily available to the Abarth spec (10.35mm lift with 40/80 80/40 degree timing) if you don't mind loosing low down tractability.
For originality I have just gone the route of a recon 1500 fast road engine over installing the 1300 Uno turbo lump.
Sorry for the delay. I am playing around with a USA 1986 Bertone. I just got the car today for basically a song. The car is mechanically sound but needs a few minor cosmetic touchups. It does have the 1500 engine with some A/C. As for an Uno Turbo engine swap that sounds like the hot ticket but finding that engine in the US seems like a real challenge. I will look into your words of wisdom.
thanks again,
Sir Porl
thanks again,
Sir Porl
Hotter cam and bigger carbs are definitely the way to go these days. I say 'these days' because there are so many fast cars around, what's the point of trying to compete with a 3L twin-turbo Nissan... you should instead preserve the unique Italian character - or more correctly, give it the character it should have had in the first place if it weren't for emission control laws and production cost cutting!
Yes, the Uno Turbo has a great engine (I own one) but I wouldn't put it in my X1/9, it just doesn't have the right character and at the same time it's not the 'ultimate power' (105bhp standard) that you'd need to make an X1/9 compete with newer turbocharged cars. Yes, lots of people do it because it's an easy enough swap. And it's super-reliable and economical. But I think, by the time you've got hold of one from overseas and spent $$$ putting it in, you might as well have bought a supercharged MR2 (or something)...
With a ported Yugo 1116cc head, PBS camshaft, and twin Weber 40DCNF (or 36DCNF carbs), you'll be looking at about 120bhp - that's a nice increase over the 75bhp, but the figures are only half the story - the engine will also sound great and give a real 'zing' to the drive. A fuel-injected, turbocharged engine does not do this. I think that anyone that's heard the induction noise from twin Webers (the chortling sound at 7000RPM especially) and sensed the lack of a flywheel as they attempt a fast gearchange, will agree with me there (I had a 128 Coupe with a 1500 in this tune...)
Since you have the injection model, you already have the most powerful (and reliable) X1/9 ever sold in the USA, so you may also elect to leave it just as it is! But when these engines were designed in the sixties, I doubt that Aurelio Lampredi dreamed of electronic injection with airflow metering and a catalytic converter. Instead, he would have chosen the twin Webers and a 4-2-1 exhaust...
These are just my opinions (of course)...
-Alex
Yes, the Uno Turbo has a great engine (I own one) but I wouldn't put it in my X1/9, it just doesn't have the right character and at the same time it's not the 'ultimate power' (105bhp standard) that you'd need to make an X1/9 compete with newer turbocharged cars. Yes, lots of people do it because it's an easy enough swap. And it's super-reliable and economical. But I think, by the time you've got hold of one from overseas and spent $$$ putting it in, you might as well have bought a supercharged MR2 (or something)...
With a ported Yugo 1116cc head, PBS camshaft, and twin Weber 40DCNF (or 36DCNF carbs), you'll be looking at about 120bhp - that's a nice increase over the 75bhp, but the figures are only half the story - the engine will also sound great and give a real 'zing' to the drive. A fuel-injected, turbocharged engine does not do this. I think that anyone that's heard the induction noise from twin Webers (the chortling sound at 7000RPM especially) and sensed the lack of a flywheel as they attempt a fast gearchange, will agree with me there (I had a 128 Coupe with a 1500 in this tune...)
Since you have the injection model, you already have the most powerful (and reliable) X1/9 ever sold in the USA, so you may also elect to leave it just as it is! But when these engines were designed in the sixties, I doubt that Aurelio Lampredi dreamed of electronic injection with airflow metering and a catalytic converter. Instead, he would have chosen the twin Webers and a 4-2-1 exhaust...
These are just my opinions (of course)...
-Alex
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murcielagoGTR
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