Author Topic: Looking at a Bis, Few questions???  (Read 8845 times)

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ciaoflyer

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Looking at a Bis, Few questions???
« Reply #30 on: September 26, 2008, 11:47:49 AM »
Sorry to hear about all your probs but as others have said it has happened to all us Bis owners.  When I first bought mine I drove it from central London to the midlands and it started to overheat, mind you it got me all the way home, 120miles, and as I pulled on the drive the rad cap blew off and water went everwhere! :cry:   Turned out the fan had stopped working and on closer inspection one of the head studs was snapped so the head wasn't sealing properly.  However, now it runs like a dream, so if you rebuild you will know what condition it is in and you can keep on top of it and in the end everything will be OK.  Also you can get a thermostat kit from Ricambio that moves it from under the engine to on top of the head but it is expensive.  Have fun! :D

PS you bought the best Bis colour but them I am bias!

STUEY - how are those Burners! :D
Ciao4Now

jumpinjacks

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Looking at a Bis, Few questions???
« Reply #31 on: September 26, 2008, 12:43:42 PM »
Wish they had that here, it would be ideal.
Just been to my local motor shop and they do have a head gasket set in stock but it is the standard one, and I want a copper one really as I take it they last alot longer.
So anyone know where I can get one as its gonna have to be on the internet?
Fiat 126 Bis Owner

jumpinjacks

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Looking at a Bis, Few questions???
« Reply #32 on: September 26, 2008, 12:48:22 PM »
Quote from: "ciaoflyer"
Sorry to hear about all your probs but as others have said it has happened to all us Bis owners.  When I first bought mine I drove it from central London to the midlands and it started to overheat, mind you it got me all the way home, 120miles, and as I pulled on the drive the rad cap blew off and water went everwhere! :cry:   Turned out the fan had stopped working and on closer inspection one of the head studs was snapped so the head wasn't sealing properly.  However, now it runs like a dream, so if you rebuild you will know what condition it is in and you can keep on top of it and in the end everything will be OK.  Also you can get a thermostat kit from Ricambio that moves it from under the engine to on top of the head but it is expensive.  Have fun! :D

PS you bought the best Bis colour but them I am bias!

STUEY - how are those Burners! :D

I think I am gonna just take the thermostat out tbo.
As with the fan, I am thinking of wiring it up to the ignition so it comes on as soon as the engine is started. My friend done this to his beetle and says its loads better.
Fiat 126 Bis Owner

Gordan

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Looking at a Bis, Few questions???
« Reply #33 on: September 26, 2008, 05:42:11 PM »
Quote from: "jumpinjacks"
I think I am gonna just take the thermostat out tbo.
As with the fan, I am thinking of wiring it up to the ignition so it comes on as soon as the engine is started. My friend done this to his beetle and says its loads better.


Or you could wire it up to a switch, so you can turn it on when things get hot. Theres no need to have it run constantly (without a thermostat and the fan blowing itll take ages to heat the car up, its noisy, and it takes a lot of power from the engine....)
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fightingtorque

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Looking at a Bis, Few questions???
« Reply #34 on: September 26, 2008, 08:30:46 PM »
Getting the little babies home can be a drama -my purchase involved an unexpected night in a hotel.........

jumpinjacks

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Looking at a Bis, Few questions???
« Reply #35 on: September 27, 2008, 10:46:00 PM »
What is the differnece between a copper head hasket and a normal one ( apart from what its made out of obviously )?
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bis13

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Looking at a Bis, Few questions???
« Reply #36 on: September 29, 2008, 12:15:26 PM »
they are obviously tougher, normally thicker as most cars that are tuned tend to have had the heads skimmed and much more expensive , also quiet hard to find for the bis .

fightingtorque

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« Reply #37 on: September 29, 2008, 08:43:55 PM »
http://www.ferriday.co.uk/copper/copper.shtml

If you can't find anywhere to get one, this could be a solution for the ultimate in head sealing.  I haven't ever tried this, but this company has been around for some time and has a good rep.

ciaoflyer

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Looking at a Bis, Few questions???
« Reply #38 on: September 29, 2008, 09:18:24 PM »
I got a copper one from RICAMBIO, but you have to buy a whole set and it is expensive.  However, this was a long time ago and not sure if they still sell, give them a call:

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Ricambio-International-Ltd
Ciao4Now

bis13

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Looking at a Bis, Few questions???
« Reply #39 on: September 30, 2008, 11:32:54 PM »
the other alternative is if you cannot find a copper head gasket just buy an aircooled 126 they are so more robust ,, i am only joking dont all start! lol

Gordan

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Looking at a Bis, Few questions???
« Reply #40 on: October 01, 2008, 06:33:51 AM »
blah blah blah... then why are there way more bises than aircooleds?? (here i go...  :D  :D ) dont listen to him...  :D  :D
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Darrell

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Looking at a Bis, Few questions???
« Reply #41 on: October 01, 2008, 04:34:32 PM »
I have a BIS and an air cooled there are advantages to both.
Air cooled seems easier to get bits for. Like performance bits.
'84 aircooled 126 & 500F still in kit form
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jumpinjacks

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Looking at a Bis, Few questions???
« Reply #42 on: October 03, 2008, 07:32:00 PM »
I've ordered a copper one from axel Gerstl now with other head set.
Hopefully get this thing back on the road.
Fiat 126 Bis Owner

jumpinjacks

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Looking at a Bis, Few questions???
« Reply #43 on: October 06, 2008, 07:34:11 PM »
Hi all,
I was trying to strip the head earlier today, but it seems a right pig of a job compared to what I thought it would be like. The exhaust is a sod to get off, its still on at the minute as I've given up for a bit.
Does anyone have a step by step guide or something to taking the head off? I have the manual on cd but that doesn't help really tbo.
Also I took the thermostat housing off to drain water out and have a look, and it didn't have a thermostat in there. But one of the tubes for the pipes was quite gunked up with stuff.
Fiat 126 Bis Owner

stuey

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Looking at a Bis, Few questions???
« Reply #44 on: October 06, 2008, 09:32:32 PM »
the exhaust is little more than a few 13mm? bolts 2 at the front 2 at the back 2 on each of the exhaust primarys and one just below the rocker cover but as before the job is infitessimally easier if you remove the rear panel of the car.... just work you way round all the bolts (its also easier if you remove the carb as well....)
one resprayed and another arrives- double trouble BIS style!!