Technical Distributor installation on 900cc OHC engine

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Technical Distributor installation on 900cc OHC engine

FiatFire1108

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I am a newbie on here and also a newbie to fiats in general.

I posted a similar query earlier in the technical section and was informed that the Uno section would be a better place to ask... so here goes...

I am wanting to use a 0.9l engine from a sciecento to drive a generator, saw bench, oat roller, threshing machine and some other bits of kit. The engine will be running on wood gas created by partially burning chunks of wood. The engine will be started on petrol through an old SU carb but will be switched over to running on the wood gas once the gassifier has got going.

I am wanting to use the Sciecento engine as it is a simple little thing, small and light and readily available quite cheaply.

The one thing I want to do is to install a distributor for the ignition side of things. It seems the hole in the block is there ready to take it. The head is a bit different but I can machine a bracket to mimick the piece of the head that holds the distributor. I will fit an old pointsless system with a crank trigger so just need a distributor to send the spark to the right place.

As far as I can tell I need a distributor and the oil pump drive shaft, with a spline on the top, from an earlier vehicle.

I don't know the fiat development history of this engine. It seems there are a few variations with some rotating the opposite way and maybe other variations I don't know about.

I am not sure if the distributor and oil pump drive shaft I want would come from an early uno?

Can anyone cast any light this?

Kind Regards

Rob
 
Interesting use of a pushrod engine!!

The Uno / Panda use the 903cc engine the Seicento and Cinquecento use a modernised derivative in 899cc guise.

For the UK I believe FIAT dropped the 903cc engine from the Uno August 1992 when cat converters and single point injection replaced carb for emissions reasons.

It appears that the Cinquecento used a version developed for emissions compliance, but as well as loosing 4cc I guess the power and torque was lowered too so it was no longer up to pulling an Uno?

The 903cc Uno seemed so much more of a car than the 899 cinq. Both 899cc cinqs I’ve driven were so flat in comparison.

I have a 903cc Uno distributor that's not been used for about 16 years (y) I don't remember there being a bracket on the head - streight onto the block IIR, but it's been a long time.

But have you thought of trying to get hold of a full 903cc with distributor already attached? You may find one over on Turbo Collective as the guys take the low power shells, bin everything in the engine bay when utilising the shell for a turbo... http://www.turbocollective.net/phpBB3/ not sure if one anyone has a lump ATM.

One benefit is that you won't be looking to replace the rocker box as soon as you start the 899 engine to rid yourself of noisy hydraulic tappets as the Uno is non hydraulic with adjusters :yum:

You'll also have carb with choke and mechanical fuel pump. Not sure on a pickup for the ignition – All 903cc Unos I’ve seen have points.
 
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Thanks for the reply.
That helps some.
From what you say I have an 899cc Sciecento engine here and that I should be looking for the distributor and drive from an Uno or Panda with the 903cc engine.

I have seen distributors and drives available in either direction and wondering if it is just a distributor thing or if the crank turned the other way in some historic instalation?

I am looking out for a complete 899/903cc engine. There is one on ebay now but is a zillion miles from here.

Rob
 
I don't know what's inside the 903 / 899 engine - maybe something was removed from the 899 casting?

I'd guess that the Uno / panda / seicento / cinquecento engines all turn the opposite way, perhaps something with rear engine went the wrong way :confused: the 126bis perhaps? :confused:
 
I am a newbie on here and also a newbie to fiats in general.

I posted a similar query earlier in the technical section and was informed that the Uno section would be a better place to ask... so here goes...


Kind Regards

Rob

Hi Rob,
fascinating about the wood gas..!!,

the UNO section is pretty slow whereas the Classic Panda's are pretty popular on here - try there..!!,
I remember a little about the earlier 903's , my 1991 X-reg had some spectacularly poor castings,
the L O N G Spline drive for the distributor was snapped off down the bore ..REALLY difficult to get the timing right and driving..!!

don't recall anything about the oil-pump drive though,
GREAT engine back in it's day as they were Unleaded compliant back then + VERY cheap motoring,

good luck, Charlie
 
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