Spaghetti Western - Making A Fit(ter) Fiat 128

Happy new year, it's that time again to drop the weight and build power. I even picked up a wrench and it didn't bite me. Go figure.

[@alman6581]

Great repower choice. Interesting. Will follow

[@rivenmotors7981]

Cheers and thanks for your comment!

[@lukespears6038]

I think the popped head was an omen that the Fiat needed a more lively power plant!

[@rivenmotors7981]

It was meant to be!

[@christopher4162]

I have the European version of the fiat. It doesn’t have the side markers or the big bumpers. And mine has a 1.1 L engine. It feels quick but it definitely isn’t fast. The sound is lovely but at higher speeds it’s very very noisy. I’m scared to take it more than 80ish km/h because faster than that it feels like the engine is going to blow up.

[@ShadowsOnTheScreen]

Hmmm…I don’t know if the fiat valve issue looked fatal. Is there going to be room next to you other car for an eternal project? I thought the 128 was going to be a get it going and have some fun car?

[@rivenmotors7981]

Hey, thanks for your comment! Yeah, on the surface just a broken valve wouldn't have decided it. I didn't share the deeper issues... -when I first got the car the cambelt was snapped/frayed and the airpump belt's cogged teeth were stripped. I was able to get the crank to break loose before taking off the head everything seemed to be okay. I had squirted oil into the sparkplug holes and I did my best to time the camshaft so that the valves wouldn't interfere with the pistons. (1300's are interference head engines) I took my big drill and put the socket on it to keep rotating the engine and see if it would circulate the oil in the sump. All good until the broken off valve head moved in the cylinder and crashed between the head and the piston abruptly locking the engine and yanking the two handed drill out of my hands. Then I tore the top off the engine and saw the broken valve popping the spring and retainer higher than the rest. Perhaps it was all my fault but the fact that the cam belt was destroyed before I started pointed in the direction that something wasn't right.

[@ShadowsOnTheScreen]

Gotcha. Thanks for explaining the motor situation better to me. I get what you are up to now. Please take us along for the ride!