New kid on the Fiat 126 block

[Bill!]

My names Bill... pretty obvious, Id say.

Anyway, im looking for a 126.

Which brings me here. Ive been reading all the past threads about people buying The aircooled model or the BIS watercooled. And i know it might upset some people, but i'd prefer the BIS model. Just for the extra bootspace and the watercooling.

Personally im fed up of aircooled engines..... I actually ride a race tuned vespa......  its fast (75mph+) but aircooling.... not brilliant for long high rev journeys.... Heat seizures suck.

So my main question is, Is the BIS cheap? Ive seen them on ebay. And in autotrader and all that malarkey. But I just want a cheap little (rwd) runaround. To keep me happy and allow me to get rid of my Vespa..

And i have another little annoying question.... can you get 126 parts from garages/dealers??

[claire]

My local fiat garage will order 126 bits in for me as the are still in the fiat parts calogue, although it can be difficult to find a garage to actually do the work (although, im a girl with a haynes manual and i can take it apart... mines aircooled though ) The only parts that seem to be hard to get are head lights in RHD. :evil:

They're great fun though! And the bits are cheap compared to my seicento...

Main problem with the watercooled 126 is they are prone to overheating due to the size of the engine in proportion to the engine bay.

[Bill!]

So don't break a headlight then :p

Well ive had experience building scooters, so i dont think that it'll be a problem fitting parts, its just buying them i was concerned about..


And really?? the Watercooled engines overheat?? Is that a big problem?

If so is it possible to vent the engine or put a bigger/ better radiator on them?

[claire]

http://club126uk.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=660&highlight=watercooled

This looks interesting! Not sure how difficult it would be though  ::
Would mean a lot of pipe work to move the radiator...

[Gordan]

hy, and welcome. i own a BIS model, and have never had problems with cooling. I live in a mediterranean city so long uphill drives are a must and my baby hasnt given me any problems.. (yet?) okay, one time it did blow a hose but it wasnt a major problem... :wink:

only problems i can see developing is thermostat or coller swich failure but that can be avoided (buying new ones or remowing the thermostat- like i did, and installing a manual fan switch just in case - like im gonna do)

youre surely going to have to fix a few glitches now and then but all in all its a fine and addictive car...      :wink:

[Bill!]

Cool. I noticed that the Water cooled engine is also under that floor pan... if i was going to use my 126 for high speed (well... medium speed to other cars...) journeys... would it possible to cut hole in the floor pan and have cold air feeds to the radiator?

[Gordan]

Well the radiator is fitted to the side, and its pretty cramped in there, youd have to do some serious re- moddeling...

[Gordan]

if i was going to use my 126 for high speed (well... medium speed to other cars...)

well, low speed actually    :wink:

Top speed 116km/h on the bis,
0-100km/h in 33secs

110 km/h on the airc.
0-100 in 46,5 secs ??

not trying to put you off but its the harsh truth  ::

[Bill!]

if i was going to use my 126 for high speed (well... medium speed to other cars...)

well, low speed actually    :wink:

Top speed 116km/h on the bis,
0-100km/h in 33secs

110 km/h on the airc.
0-100 in 46,5 secs ??

not trying to put you off but its the harsh truth  ::

LOL..... i have no idea what is slow in KPH.....

I do know the BIS will do 72mph though.... And im quite happy with that. Since most cars only do 120 to 150mph.
I'd say it was medium speed..... Try riding a standard vespa  it will only do 57mph.... thats slow

[Bill!]

Well the radiator is fitted to the side, and its pretty cramped in there, youd have to do some serious re- moddeling...

well.. those vents in the rear quarters.... are they actually vents on the BIS model? And im sure that with a cold air feed pipe to the radiator then i could improve the cooling. Because even though its at the side, you would be able to reach it because the pipes are flexible....





But im sure the engine cant get much cool air to the radiator if its all self contained. It seems to me that the radiator would be expelling its heat into air that is probably too hot anyway, which will not be letting the cooling system work as good as it could.



Apologies for the large picture.

And for the fact that im going on about this. But im a trained engineer and automotive student.. and i have done refrigeration too..... And i have my heart set on one these amazing little cars. And i will do anything to stop it breaking down.

Now i just have to find one i can afford

[Gordan]

Thats the spirit!!!

Good luck!!! :smt023


(i study economy and still find my way....)

[Bill!]

Thats the spirit!!!

Good luck!!! :smt023


(i study economy and still find my way....)

lol....

Thank you very much... maybe one day i'll post a picture of the fastest and most reliable 126 with the BIS engine ever

[Rusty's Uncle]

Hi Bill , please do not take this personaly but I think that you will find that when it comes to the 126 air cooled / Bis debate you will find that you can chav it up as much as you like but hotting up is very much in the air cooled domain.  :wink:

[Bill!]

Chav?

LOL

I wish... I ride a 180cc racing vespa... not exactly chav

Hotting it up??

thats not a term ive heard before.

What kind of rebores will the 704cc BIS engine take?

Im sure that the aircooled engine will be easier to make it bigger capicity. But I'd rather have the BIS model. I can always up rate the cooling system, by running the Rad into the existing boot. Im not bothered about boot space particularly. Its a gorgeous tiny car.

I dont want to go car-booting in it

[Bill!]

I think this is your idea of 'chavving up' a car






But this is the look i want for mine.........





the headlights are an exception.....