1978 Spider 1800cc engine horsepower?

[fiatferrari]

What is the stock horsepower for the 1978 1800cc engine? I keep finding different answers from different sites, ranging from 118 hp to 90 hp. Also, will the 1800cc engine fit in any model spider? Will it be difficult to put it a year model it is not originally from? Thanks!

[Flatspyder]

90 hp is about right. you can upgrade to weber dfev carburetors, mark's exhaust kit, maybe you will get 100 hp. Yes it will fit any fiat 124 spider as long as you use the big bump hood. The small hood will interfere with the engine cover, distributor, etc.

yes it says 116 hp in some sources (wikipedia).. but try going over 100 mph or up an incline. These cars were cruisers, not racers.

[perthling]

Earlier and European spec 1756cc twin cams started at 118hp. For the American market the addition of more and more emissions equipment saw the useable output of the engine reduce. That's why the 2 litre ended up being less powerful than the previous 1800 model.

[vandor]

The US version (like the '78) was rated at 86 HP for the 49 state model. California models had a catalytic converter and they had a few less, 83 I think.
Yes, the Euro 1800 was rated at 118 HP. It had a larger carb, more compression, a 4-2-1 exhaust and larger diameter exhaust pipe and muffler. I may have had different cams as well.
Closest to it was the '74 only US 1800, which had a similar larger carb and 4-2-1 exhaust. However it had low compression and the smaller diameter exhaust pipe. I believe it was rated at 94 HP.

[perthling]

I'm not sure of the rated output of the US-spec 1756cc but it had a compression ratio of around 8.9:1 compared with the Euro spec which was 9.8:1.

[vandor]

It had a CR of 8:1.

[perthling]

It had a CR of 8:1.

My (US-spec) 1756cc has never felt as revvy as my (Euro/Aust spec) coupes - that certainly explains it!

Good torque in my Spider though - especially with the emissions gear removed and twin 40IDFs.

[MrJD]

Twin webers should, in theory, decrease torque but increase hp and responsiveness. You might get a torque increase over the stock smog controlled carb though... if that is what you mean.

[Flatspyder]

Anyone actually been a eurospec 1800? Is it worth getting the eurospec pistons, cams, and head if someone is rebuilding their engine?

[Tobi]

I only did the 2.0l Fi and used European high CR pistons and Mark's cams and yeah, it was totally worth it.
My car is more of a racer than a cruiser

[toplessexpat]

Anyone actually been a eurospec 1800? Is it worth getting the eurospec pistons, cams, and head if someone is rebuilding their engine?

Wasn't there a whole heap of measuring of cams that went on a few years back - with the output that the "euro cam" was a complete myth?

[divace73]

Anyone actually been a eurospec 1800? Is it worth getting the eurospec pistons, cams, and head if someone is rebuilding their engine?

Wasn't there a whole heap of measuring of cams that went on a few years back - with the output that the "euro cam" was a complete myth?

yes, I think it there may be something on Turbo124.com, MOST of the cams are the same, some are a little different but most are the same....so I have been told.....

[perthling]

Anyone actually been a eurospec 1800?

Yes, the Australian 124 coupes had the Euro spec engines. The difference is quite noticeable however my Spider's US-spec engine is not standard as noted, so I'm not making a direct comparison with the as-built performance.

[djape1977]

look, each and every european fiat 124 and 132 that came with 1756cc had 107hp with single weber, 111hp in 132 special and that engine DOES HAVE longer duration cams, clearly visible by naked eye, and 118 with twin webers.
now, you might not notice couple HP gain, but 17hp in the weakest version is more than noticeable. how noticeable? well, take a look at this one - 111hp coupled to 132 gearbox and 10/41 diff and in a car that weighs at least 150 kilos more than 124 spider. speedo is in kph https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=488sWbbhmkg

[vandor]

That's good acceleration!
However, I doubt it is heavier than the Spider. In the Fiat 124 family, the Spider was the heaviest, Coupe second, and the sedan was the lightest. The 2104 should be just a bit heavier than a sedan because of the extra glass, etc.