IDF 40 Ignorance

[jandarah]

Hi,
I have owned my Spider for a few months now. I am in the process of tidying up wiring, etc. My car a 77 CS1, runs a 1756cc 132 block, a Regatta head and twin IDF40 carbs on a 124 BC inlet manifold (so I was told by the previous owner). A turtle back air filter and Australian made washable filter provide the air. Now, I recently checked the four main jets and the four main idler jets. The four main jets are 125's, but three of the idler jets are 55's and one is a 40. I presume that this odd one out would make a difference?? It starts reasonable and runs very smooth at temperature .... idles well as traffic lights etc.

The car was imported into Australia in the late 80's from California and had a full left hand to right hand drive conversion done somewhere here (a very good job apart from the wiring --- must have had a lot of spare white wire available).

Not knowing the age of the timing belt, I have purchased a new one and idler pulley and will get that done soon. I have recently purchased a 123 Ignition brand electronic distributor to improve the running, as I was told that the old Marelli dizzies get very loose and sloppy with age.

I only intend to use it as a road car (too old and broke to do anything else), any suggestions on jet sizes etc?
Brad, I have downloaded many of your circuits and info sheets.... much appreciated.

Many thanks,

John
Queensland, Australia
77 Spider, yellow, SPD 124

[131]

Idle jets should be the same. The 40 may well have been drilled out to 55.

[fiatfactory]

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[jandarah]

Thanks Mick and SteveC,

I will follow your advice and check the info sheet. I think that when I checked, the 125 and 55 jets were ok for the setup.

Since posting, I found and watched a brilliant set of YouTube short videos on installing the IDF's into a Spider. I found out more about what bits are what than searching through stuff elsewhere. I will try and copy the link, but you may know of it already,

Thanks again,

John in Oz
1977 1756 Spider SPD - 124

[fiatfactory]

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[jandarah]

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the info. I will get back to you with the engine number. I think that the previous owner told me that the block was new when he bought it (will check some paperwork and notes he gave me). Mine has the rear mounted top dizzy. I could easily change the timing belt and pulley, but whether I could line up everything for the correct timing is questionable (never done anything like that before). Of course, when these cars came to Oz, all the Californian anti pollution gear was removed and binned. They just left all the wiring there to confuse anyone trying to tidy it all up!!!

Thanks again, I presume you are in the States somewhere?

Cheers from Oz,

John
The 1977 Yellow Terror SPD-124

[fiatfactory]

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[jandarah]

Fine Steve, on being in West Oz, I am west of Brisbane, about 1.5hrs drive. OK on being registered to do all the work on the imports. I think mine might have been done in Melbourne, but not sure. Now comes a super dumb question... On the head, the cylinders are numbered 1 - 4, front to rear, however the dizzy cap has its No 1 going to the No 4 plug and its No 4 going to the No 1 plug and the other two in between in rear to front order. As I said in my first post, I believe that the head is from a Regatta. Am I missing something here. I do have the manuals, even was given a Guy Croft book!

Damn, forgot to look up the engine number, next time.


John
124 sedan 1970 to 1976
124 Spyder 2015 to forever..

[131]

Ignition timing is set up on #4, a trap for young players. I bought a 131 for $50 from a couple of young blokes that had changed a head gasket but couldn't get it running. I got it home, rearranged the plug leads and started it up. I did feel a bit guilty, but it was full of rust, they would never have got it registered and I figured I saved them a lot of money in the long run. I scrapped it for parts.

[divace73]

the fiat Nationals in 2016 will be held in Ipswich,, contact the Queensland fiat club, they are a great bunch of guys and will be happy to help you out, well worth being a member.

A lot of aussies from all over (and even some Kiwis) all get to the Nationals somehow and it is great fun.

[jandarah]

Hi,

I have been a member of the club since I bought the car some months back. I look forward to being at the Nationals next year. Living out in the "sticks" a bit means unable to attend meetings, at least this year and other contact. Thanks for the advice, see you at Willowbank next year. At least that venue is on my side of town.

[jandarah]

Hi Mick,

Yes I did hear that the timing is done on No4 cylinder, but, does that explain why the dizzy cap says No 1, or is that just to confuse the issue like the Fiat wiring system, which, being an old radio tech, I have just about overcome. I found today that the Veglia oil pressure gauges appear to work in reverse to the cheaper oil pressure sensors that one can buy on Ebay. That is, the Veglia runs full oil pressure on minimum resistance from the sensor, while the $20 Chinese sensors provide max resistance for max oil pressure. Oh well, win one, more fun to follow!!

[fiatfactory]

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[jandarah]

Ok on the dizzy position........ how slack is that! How hard would it be???

Ok on the bible, I mean book. Sounds like a good idea re the sale and copying. I have no intention of racing...... too old and too broke! Leave all that to MTH and crew.

Cheers