Club126UK
Welcome to the CLUB126UK Forum => Introduce Yourself => Topic started by: duckmonkey on August 10, 2006, 02:21:06 PM
-
Hello Fiat fans!
I don't own a 126 but I am looking to acquire one for a project I’m very excited about. I want to make an electric car and I think the 126 would be ideal – it’s light, well built, and of course it has bags of character! I'm hoping to find a 126 whose engine is kaput but that is in otherwise good condition – it would be great to get to get it back on the road. I'm no mechanic but I'm eager to learn and told that the 126 is a nice and simple car to work on. If anyone knows of one that might meet my needs for sale (or free!) let me know please!
-
Hi and welcome to the forum!
Your best option would probably be the Bis water cooled model they are notorious for blown engines due to lack of servicing.
You should be able to pick one up very cheaply if the engine is u/s.
I am sure I have read about a previous conversion of a 126 to electric? Sounds an interesting conversion.
C
:)
-
nice and green!! what about converting the engine into running bioethanol or equivalent? Are you aiming for going green or want specificaly an electric car?
i dont think the 126 is all that light really, you are looking at 620kg with engine in, this could be brought down with fibreglass panels? Have you looked into Robin reliants they are quite a bit lighter.
interesting project
regards
Chris
-
Perhaps you've seen this one:
http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/781
To be honest, Chris, I just don't like Robin Reliants! My initial plan was to build/buy a Locost as this would be the lightest option (I bought the Ron Champion book and everything!) but using a 126 is just more practical. Robert Chew's 126 will go 15km on one charge which is enough for my daily commute, and I think I can improve on that anyway.
I am mainly doing it just for the fun and "because I can" (hopefully), but I am trying to be green too.
-
Did it really say
Conversion Cost $7000 :shock:
-
im not really known for my 'green ' credentials.............but.........do the greens know where electricty comes from in most of uk/europe?????????
lots more to it than a 13amp plug............................we live right next door to cape de la hague nuke reproccesing /generating plant,a constant threat to the channel islands...............i'll stick to hydro carbons thank you
-
Your electricity doesn't have to come from nuclear or coal. Good energy (http://www.good-energy.co.uk/) source all their electrickery from renewables. And I reckon I will easily save the difference in price between them and a "normal" electricity supplier by using no petrol on my commute.
As to the $7000, I'm not sure if thats Aussie dollars or what, but I certainly don't have that to spend. Mind you he has solar panels on the roof and what-not.
-
just walk
-
I biked it once. Nearly killed me!
-
i think thsi electric thing is a good idea, dont let anyone put you off mate,
the fact is you can generate your own electricity but not enough to power a car.
if its been done and it works go for it.
Chris
-
i agree chris..........problem is,its against the law here to generate your own power...........fact,my dad was arrested by the occupying german army(1941) for making a wind powered generator...............my mate was cautioned for doing the same (1999) by the liberating/occupying british government.......freedom?????????.
so,if you need to use the 'grid',you are using coal/oil/nuke power my friend...............'nowt for 'nowt................................
oh,and most greens get to their tree hug meetings by car..plane......train.............lol.........some even have leather shoes..................
all meant in the best way of course,a full lecky 126 i applaud....but totaly green?..........................nah
-
i just hope this electric conversion has allowed for a boost in power to about 150 bhp , the last bloke to convert a 126 was using hot air.....good luck hope it works keep us posted . by the way daves car runs on kronenbourg.......he he
-
Good luck with the plan mate.I have to agree with Dave on some things.It's the likes of councils jumping on the "green" band wagon,for example Belfast have just replaced their fleet of busses (poor old dears I miss them) with a fleet of "green" ones,the dam things are ear splittingly loud with great big cooling fan roaring away in the back.Sounds like the shuttle taking off (and thats not green) :roll:
-
Well, car-wise at least, what *is* good for the environment is saving a car from the scrapyard. :)
There are degrees of being green - its not all or nothing! Best to be a slightly hypocritical tree-hugger than not trying at all...
Anyway. The $7000 126 EV had 8hp and could reach 60mph (downhill...) The motor I'll be using has 15-34hp (depending on what you read). Of course, I'll probably only be able to get to the end of the road and back :wink:
What bhp does the 126 have anyway?
-
hi, the 126 BIS has 26bhp compared with the early model that had 23.
With fuel prices soaring i think its a smart move. Personaly i am into the bio fuel avenue. but wouldnt combining a bio fuel and electric hybrid be cool!
They used to mix parafin in petrol for petrol cars, bioethanal is made from sugar i believe.
keep looking into it, the only way you can get somthing to work like this is to let it dominate everything you do. i.e. time and money.
regards
Chris
-
my mate here at work is trying to make his own bio-diesel at home - collecting used fat from chip-shops i think... :roll:
Oh and I'm already obsessed with the 126-E idea. My poor missus - I talk about nothing else.
-
I'm already goin down bio fuel road as in if some punter misfuels his car (petrol into diesel) I drain the tank and dispose the fuel in a green way aka my fuel tank :lol:
-
that is a green way Paul and i feel sorry for your wife! :lol: the money you will save will give her more spending money, (make sure you tell her that)
I bought a manual on making your own bio diesel at home, theres a misconception that it can just be chucked into the car, yes it can be if you mix it say 50/50 with diesel but thats not being green thats being tight, its alot more complex than just a quick filter, the problem is it needs to be heated a few times to make it thinner, then methanol needs to be added along with a potasium hydroxide. Takes ages. if its not done in that way you will clog up the injectors, and if thats not enough you still have to pay the government 50p tax a litre!!!!!! :x but how do they know how much you put in? :lol:
Chris
-
Looking at the news this week looks like the government is going to slam the motorists again, more congestions charges planned for the future :evil:
So electric or lpg may be the way to go I know they are exempt for London congestion charges.
-
Tell me about it Chris :lol: .Cooking oil thats the way.Now this is true I've done it,If you have an old diesel car (as in pre hdi) strain the old bits of chips out and lash that into the tank it runs ok,you will smell like a mobile chippy but it works :lol: :lol: :lol:
-
haha cool, yer it says that in this manual - you can run diesel engines on pure cooking oil if they arnt HDI jobs.
did it run ok Paul?
regards
Chris
-
It ran better but I was starving when I got out with the smell :lol:
-
i hope i did not come accross as too negative.......i think its a great project,my mind has already been thinking of bits you could chuck away to lighten it some.......without that crazy little engine trying its very best to escape out the back,there is loads of metal you could lose.
mods to the wheels/tyre,choose the early italian 126 (the lightest)etc tetc etc etc
i work with electric wheelchairs and have a healthy interest in any thing like this..........
-
Are the earlier ones lighter then?
-
lighter?marginaly,less underseal etc and i think,slightly thinner gauge metal..........sounds trivial,but your going down the same route as i have,im looking for the last 1/2 bhp from my motor,and have spent time making the car as easy to propel as possible=more performance.
so you'll be looking for good used wheel bearings,not new,500 size wheels and tyres,running slightly higher pressure maybe,brakes(drums,discs have more running resistance) meticulously set up and maintained,steering geometry spot on(tracking etc)and loads of sound insulation..... to dump!!!.when you get your car,keep all the items you remove,then weigh them,you'll be suprised!
all small things to make the most of both our feeble power units!!!its tuning in another direction
-
ive heard the italian steel was thinner, and its true, i can feel it in the bonets they bend and wobble, the polish ones dont so much.
but what ever you do dont use an early italian one! :lol:
regards
Chris
-
reply to mick,my car does not run on kroeneburg,its merlot only, otherwise it pinks like hell,i tried cote de rhone but same prob..........and i've not found anything better for engine/gearbox oil than purest virgin olive oil(with infused herb aditive).
i also can my flatulance to use in my tyres,makes them lighter (tuning secret) you know.
as for my 'golden rain'(registered) brake fluid , i'll leave you to work that out (tuning secret) :wink:
-
Ha ha ha ha ha :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
-
you really are going green Dave :lol:
-
This does sound like a very interesting project. I remember reading about a chap who did the same to a 126 in one of my copies of 'Parliamo' (the Fiat Motor Club monthly magazine). I think he was from New Zealand and did it on a budget, but the work looked very professional. I will see if I can find the copy. Obviously, tis true that electric cars ultimately use fossil fuels etc. but at least all the pollution/fumes etc end up being centred on single points, so is certainly step in the right direction on the green front :D
-
did you chaps know the Poles experimented with a 126 diesel?I came accross it one day by accident on the net.Basicially it was a a/cooled with a modified head and mount for injector pump.Neat.