Has anyone on this forum or any other ever done this? Thinking about it, seems like a perfect swap, just wondering if anyone of you had some fitment tips if one of you has already done it. Thanks
PS. I am very aware of the level of involvement and money that will be going into this, this isn't my first rodeo. So please no lecturers on how hard its gonna be or what have you
F20c swapping a Fiat 124
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- Posts: 46
- Joined: Sat Jun 23, 2018 11:11 pm
- Your car is a: 1976 Fiat 124 Spider
- Location: San Diego
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- Posts: 2130
- Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2014 10:21 pm
- Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider with Isuzu Turbo Diesel
Re: F20c swapping a Fiat 124
I have a high torque turbo diesel in mine and the concern is frame rigidity. Just make sure you dot all the i's and cross all the t's as far as reinforcing the frame/uni-body structure is concerned. Obviously the more solid the car is from the get go the better.
I chose to keep the boost levels low to eliminate the need for frame bracing plus I get almost 50 mpg with it setup that way.
234 hp and a 9000 rpm redline may be a bit much for street use though but could be a bit of fun if done right.
Fitment was tight due to the longer and slightly longer/taller diesel block but it did just squeeze in. The long stroke on the F20c could be an issue and may require some work arounds. Steering geometry was the biggest issue since the OEM was maintained and its a little tighter than I would like between the inspection plate on the bell housing and the center link. The shaft on the water pump had to be shortened slightly too.
Guibo was eliminated and drive shaft had to be shortened to accept the MSG5 transmission yoke plus some creative plumbing done to get the turbo in and past the steering box, etc.
I chose to keep the boost levels low to eliminate the need for frame bracing plus I get almost 50 mpg with it setup that way.
234 hp and a 9000 rpm redline may be a bit much for street use though but could be a bit of fun if done right.
Fitment was tight due to the longer and slightly longer/taller diesel block but it did just squeeze in. The long stroke on the F20c could be an issue and may require some work arounds. Steering geometry was the biggest issue since the OEM was maintained and its a little tighter than I would like between the inspection plate on the bell housing and the center link. The shaft on the water pump had to be shortened slightly too.
Guibo was eliminated and drive shaft had to be shortened to accept the MSG5 transmission yoke plus some creative plumbing done to get the turbo in and past the steering box, etc.
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- Posts: 46
- Joined: Sat Jun 23, 2018 11:11 pm
- Your car is a: 1976 Fiat 124 Spider
- Location: San Diego
Re: F20c swapping a Fiat 124
I actually don't think f20c will be a problem fitment wise (except for transmission tunnel maybe) according to some measurements I just made and dimensions of an f20c It should fit rather nicely, worse comes to worse I can just bulge the hood if it gets too tall. Actually found one with an f20c swap from an old craigslist post.
and I will make sure to get that rigidity because I plan to take it racing. And yeah this car is gonna be a LOT with those numbers, but I like A LOT.
and I will make sure to get that rigidity because I plan to take it racing. And yeah this car is gonna be a LOT with those numbers, but I like A LOT.
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- Posts: 2130
- Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2014 10:21 pm
- Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider with Isuzu Turbo Diesel
Re: F20c swapping a Fiat 124
Personally when you bulge the hood like in the craigslist picture they begin to loose their identity as a Fiat Spider Roadster. Its like it had a botched mastectomy where they gave no consideration to the poor girls feelings about the cosmetic touch-up afterwards.
Perhaps I am too much of a purist but hopefully yours will be a bit more tastefully done and not end up a gutted car with rough riveted on stuff where the body is just made passable since it will be trashed partway through the season anyway and replaced with another.
Like to see a balance where the cars are vintage raced or rallied to keep the genre going with an eye toward conservation too while making them a bit more current as far as performance is concerned.
If its going to be a pure race car have you considered using a more modern frame/suspension and just putting some 124 fenders/body treatments on it?
One car that could make that interesting would be a 244 hp 4G63t EVO1. If one could make 124 body panels work on that 4WD JDM car would make for an interesting project.
These guys are local to me and sometimes what they bring in is really tempting especially for those on a budget but with an eye for something a bit different.
https://montumotors.com/inventory/1993- ... tion-i-rs/
Perhaps I am too much of a purist but hopefully yours will be a bit more tastefully done and not end up a gutted car with rough riveted on stuff where the body is just made passable since it will be trashed partway through the season anyway and replaced with another.
Like to see a balance where the cars are vintage raced or rallied to keep the genre going with an eye toward conservation too while making them a bit more current as far as performance is concerned.
If its going to be a pure race car have you considered using a more modern frame/suspension and just putting some 124 fenders/body treatments on it?
One car that could make that interesting would be a 244 hp 4G63t EVO1. If one could make 124 body panels work on that 4WD JDM car would make for an interesting project.
These guys are local to me and sometimes what they bring in is really tempting especially for those on a budget but with an eye for something a bit different.
https://montumotors.com/inventory/1993- ... tion-i-rs/
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- Posts: 46
- Joined: Sat Jun 23, 2018 11:11 pm
- Your car is a: 1976 Fiat 124 Spider
- Location: San Diego
Re: F20c swapping a Fiat 124
Well I'm not exactly going for pure race car, I am going to race it, but Its gonna be street legal, and don't worry I don't want to bulge the hood, I only if I have to will I. This is the ideal look:
I love the abarth look and I want to keep my car looking like a vintage race car, that craigslist post wasn't an example of good
I'm definitely gonna upgrade suspension, But I think I will stick to this frame as I am not a body work man and I could never pull off a body panel conversion like that
I love the abarth look and I want to keep my car looking like a vintage race car, that craigslist post wasn't an example of good
I'm definitely gonna upgrade suspension, But I think I will stick to this frame as I am not a body work man and I could never pull off a body panel conversion like that
- RRoller123
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Re: F20c swapping a Fiat 124
Ok, so what is an F20c?
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle
- riverdadd
- Patron 2018
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Re: F20c swapping a Fiat 124
Honda S2000 engine
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- Your car is a: 1981 FIAT Spider 2000
- Location: Victoria, BC
- RRoller123
- Patron 2020
- Posts: 8179
- Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:04 pm
- Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
- Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA
Re: F20c swapping a Fiat 124
Thanks, Riverdadd
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle