Cooling System Overhaul - Fiat x1/9 [Ep 8]

The unreliability woes continue with my little Italian car. Thinking all problems were sorted once I got the engine running smoothly, it then occasionally started overheating while driving hard and sitting in traffic. So in this episode I overhaul the cooling system, swap in an aluminium radiator, and replace the old bulky and inefficient radiator fan!
CONNECT WITH REVTEK
Facebook ► / revtek
Instagram ► / rev.tek
Email ► [e-mail]
MUSIC
It just makes me happy - DJ Quads
/ it-just-makes-me-happy
Every Morning - DJ Quads
/ every-morning
Cruise Around - DJ Quads
/ cruise-around
SUBSCRIBE
bit.ly/29uVOnk

[@RevTek]

It gives me great satisfaction upgrading components on this car to a more modern setup for reliability, while keeping the car looking mostly period correct! I have more changes in mind for better cooling capacity, stay tuned ;)

[@michaelorlando6159]

The thermostatic switches fail more on 124s and other fiats due to the absence of a relay to handle the current of the fan...im glad yours had a relay. Also the same goes for the headlights no sure on the x but many fiats the lights current passes thru the switch gear and even the ignition switch ...installing relays so the switches an the ignistion switch is turning on relays will make her much more reliable...the ignition switches burned out alot especially with higer output bulbs . Plus the lights will burn brighter with a properly installed fused relay circuit. They even sell high amp relays 100 200 amp capacity that you can have the complete output of the igniton switch solely controling the relay. If you open the ignition switch you will see the contacts are very small in comparison to the liad it carries causing high resistance. As always use fuses proper gague wire neatness and always gromets when passing wires through bulk heads and fire walls ...most fires are not started by gas its the electrical system 95 percent of the time

[@thewholls7176]

Good job mate looks bloody good I used to have one of these cars you’re not the only one going through all this drama….. When I did my radiator I was advised to keep it because it was 100% copper and apparently that’s a rare thing and a good thing for cooling so they just rodded it out….. One thing that you could do is take the engine cover off and underneath there’s a rain tray you can drill out the rivets and remove the rain tray so that from the top those slots are completely open……. If it’s a Sunday driver and you never drive in the wet I would do that and get a hold of a second one as a spare so that if it is wet you can just bolt that on the night before…… it’s four nuts it’s nothing

[@RevTek]

And that's exactly what I did! However I created a retracting rain cover so you can have it open or closed without removing it entirely. Haven't put the video together yet, but it works great and definitely helps in summer keep the engine cool.

[@yves3560]

Forgot to mention : There´s an upgrade thermostatic switch that kicks in 5°C earlier, helps as well.

[@tremere613]

Awesome video! Thank you!

[@diagnozavolant4014]

Nice work, keep going ;-)

[@joelkerper8128]

Dude this gives me so much inspiration to rebuild the one my aunt has!! Any tips before I dive in?

[@RBLoweVide]

Did it work? We had a gorgeous silver X19 with leather seats and it continually overheated.

[@zg8626]

I was always intrigued as to why the radiator had studs for 2 fans but the car only had one. I acquired a 2nd fan from a scrap car and fitted it to the other position, wiring it to a manual switch in one of the spare switch points in the dash - probably in a not too dissimilar circuit to yours. This was before I had much understanding about current (or anything, really) and whilst it really did seem to help when stuck in summer traffic hell, I suspect the root cause problem was more likely a gunked up cooling system and sticky thermostat. It is likely that I blew a few fuses by asking too much of the (appallingly awful) original wiring loom. If someone gave me one today (Lido please), I think the 1st thing I'd do is completely re-wire the whole car using connectors that actually work and cables that conduct more that just water. That and a glass panel sunroof for the few occasions that it was raining too hard to drive with the roof off. Oh, and strip the whole thing back to "metal" (or at least the 50:50 steel:iron oxide mix that they were made from) and galvanise the whole thing. And fit an Ansa exhaust because it's rude not to.

[@clayjones2370]

I think it's setup for two fans for air conditioned cars. Mine has A/C (not working, of course) and has two fans.

[@pete9110]

Great video! You should do one on the brakes

[@RevTek]

The standard brakes are actually quite capable, but I'm sure they will get upgraded in the future :D

[@travismoberg1497]

Great vid please post an update on the 037

[@RevTek]

There hasn't been much in the way of progress on the 037 and won't be for a while, but rest assured we are formulating big plans for the build!

[@michaeloxman6572]

I'd like to install bypass switch like yours for when my car gets a little too hot for my liking. Can you link to the splitter you used to come off the relay? I can't picture any setup that would give you the connection spade and allow the relay to properly sit in its holder. Thanks for another great video.

[@michaeloxman3820]

Never mind - I see now you never plugged the relay back into the holder.

[@stevephillips8719]

Where did you source the radiator. I've fitted a new core in mine at a cost of $805au. The other car needs a new rad too.

[@RevTek]

It is the Texas Heat Aluminium Radiator from Vicks Auto in the US, it was under $500 AUD delivered to Australia!

[@yves3560]

Hello again my friend. Sorry but, I must say turning the fan upside down does not change the main direction of the air flow. It "scoops" the same way, only the fin´s airfoil is opposite. OR did you have the fan turning in the opposite direction as well ?? (forgive me if I am "teaching" you, it just struck me right away) Great job you´re doing btw :)

[@RevTek]

Flipping the fan over does indeed change the direction of airflow (swaps between pushing or pulling air) as it states in the manual, and I also tested it :) Thanks!

[@yves3560]

@@RevTek Okay, makes it easy then. Here´s a post on evans cooling for those interested :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYOviX6NZ9WbZtk