Fiat 126 Bis Tuning... here we go again?

[poxxxy]

Hi everyone...

So I have a 1991 J reg bis which needs some work doing to get it going but tomorrow it should be fired up for the first time on re-assembly of the skimmed cylinder head with a nice new copper gasket from Germany:). Apparently its had about .3mm/12 thousands of an inch removed...

I drive a 200bhp tdi golf as my current daily driver that i've had a few years... having previously owned seicento's and loved them... however were still talking a different ball game with the stock 26hp. I miss my RWD MR2 and the 126 seems an amalgamation of a few of my favourite things. Small cars and RWD .

I did see a lovely Vtec conversion in Latvia on youtube that is awesome with a photoset on facebook, but I lack the space/facilities to perform such a crazy conversion. I'd rather keep the stock engine!

Whilst waiting 24 hours for my head to be skimmed, I ended up ordering a CC700 head with the 35mm inlet valves from Poland for a bargain price that I couldn't resist. Earlier in the week i'd ordered a weber carb on ebay that seemed to be cheap at £14.99 to. A 32 icev which I thought might be a possible option? What other options... hmmmm... I heard fuel injectors aren't great on the twin barrel head design .

I love smallcox's turbo build and also the great supercharger work going on. I envy the north and they're industrial, machining background. I would love to have been around such an environment... seems to be where every fabricator comes from .

I remap modern ecu's but this is really my first old school engine to tune... I kind of wish it was an aircooled. But principles are the same. Parts like rocking horse **** but having a couple of Polish friends seems to be helping sourcing a few bits!

[Hazey-n-Marc]

I think different carbs might help, the Weber 32DGf is hopeless, I have the fos 2h on mine, bit better but still not great. Keep toying with the idea of a sidedraught conversion, just not sure if there is enough space to let it draw air well, it would also need some serious heat shielding. I think the easiest way to get more power out of a bis is an engine swap, but I don't want to go that way with this car.

Marc

[poxxxy]

Is that the 30 s2h? Thats whats on mine, but I heard they weren't great due to plastic breaking somewhere inaccessible . I also thought the output on that carb was the same as an early basic 30 dgf?

I did find an awesome link showing a table of webber carbs used in cinq's pandas etc listing venturi size bis carbs before in a table but can't seem to locate it anymore .

[Hazey-n-Marc]

Yep, 30 s2h. The inaccessible bit broke last week, now fixed with an electrical connector and liquid metal. The power is about the same, just seems more consistent. I think the fragile choke actuator is the only weak point on it, the Weber was a nightmare on mine, vacuum linkages and units were rubbish.

[poxxxy]

Hmm... and there was me thinking the fos was a right off from the off. Not that hard to repair after all then? .

I think the 32 ICEV I bought randomly is for a panda 45, uno, 127/128, or lancia y10. Single barrel carb as appose to progressive. Probably end up sitting in the shed so will have to stick it back on ebay while I figure out what to do!

[Hazey-n-Marc]

If it will fit easily it might be worth a go before you sell it. It might surprise you and be better than either the standard Weber or fos.