I'm about to buy a completely original Fiat 124 Spider Turbo 1981 (1995 cc).
The current owner says it's fine but it lacks a little sports car's power, now it has around 135hp. (Which is usually HP).
I want to buy this specific Spider to because its a turbo. Normally, you can usually get a lot more hp than a suction motor.
Anyone ho have any good tips and hints to get the 200 hp or more out of this engine?
Is there a need to change;
For another bigger turbo? (Which one?)
Mount a intercooler or can I drive it like now without?
Replacing the original downpipe or is the original ok?
Exaust is to day a super sprint? (The catalyst is already mounted away)
I was thinking of using it for a few trackdays a year.
(Excuse my poor english)
124 Turbo upgrade performans
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narfire
- Posts: 3959
- Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 2:14 am
- Your car is a: 1980 124 spider
- Location: Naramata B.C.
Re: 124 Turbo upgrade performans
The spider guru's here will tell you that 200HP is doable, but the tranny and rear end, suspension, brakes will or should be up graded. The honda S2000 had about 200 hp and engineering to match.
My opinion is the potential 125 hp or so from the turbo'd engine will give it spirited driving and all the other components won't have to be mucked with. ($$$$)
Enjoy regardless
My opinion is the potential 125 hp or so from the turbo'd engine will give it spirited driving and all the other components won't have to be mucked with. ($$$$)
Enjoy regardless
80 FI spider
72 work in progress
2017 Golf R ( APR Stg. 1)
2018 F350 crew long box
72 work in progress
2017 Golf R ( APR Stg. 1)
2018 F350 crew long box
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MarkKrieger
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Fri Feb 22, 2013 1:43 pm
- Your car is a: 1972 Fiat 124 Spider sold long ago
Re: 124 Turbo upgrade performans
Hello,
I've owned a new 1972 Fiat Spider with 108 hp. I also owned a 1974 Porsche 914 2.0L FI, with about 100 hp. The Fiat was my daily driver for years, the Porsche was a track car, used in the later 1990's; it was also as a weekend car when the weather was nice, with different wheels and tires.
According to wiki on spider's, the Fiat with turbo puts out about 120hp. If I compare that to the experience on the track with my 914, I would say that is plenty of power for casual track day use. We could go onto the track with the Porsche club, the 911's would pass in the straights, but the 914 would pass in the turns. You can go plenty fast. Even though the Fiat is not mid-engine like the 914, it is very nimble, and with the turbo, you have 20 more hp than my old 914.
What you need to do is to get rid of the bumpers to lose weight. Then plan on spending money on:
a. rollbar or rollcage: We would not go on our trackdays (or were not allowed, sorry I forget) without the rollcage. not only makes it safer, but makes the car much more solid.
b. track tires and wheels.
c. making sure your brakes and suspension are perfect so you do not crash.
d. ceramic brake pads. I do not know if the spider brake system will be ok on the track, others can comment. maybe change the brakes.
e. upgrade the suspension. we put in fancy torsion bars, not sure what is out there for the spider.
f. you could think about racing seats. otherwise your back will hurt, at least ours did without them.
g. Then, if you are not having enough fun, think about more hp.
good luck with it, and enjoy.
Mark
I've owned a new 1972 Fiat Spider with 108 hp. I also owned a 1974 Porsche 914 2.0L FI, with about 100 hp. The Fiat was my daily driver for years, the Porsche was a track car, used in the later 1990's; it was also as a weekend car when the weather was nice, with different wheels and tires.
According to wiki on spider's, the Fiat with turbo puts out about 120hp. If I compare that to the experience on the track with my 914, I would say that is plenty of power for casual track day use. We could go onto the track with the Porsche club, the 911's would pass in the straights, but the 914 would pass in the turns. You can go plenty fast. Even though the Fiat is not mid-engine like the 914, it is very nimble, and with the turbo, you have 20 more hp than my old 914.
What you need to do is to get rid of the bumpers to lose weight. Then plan on spending money on:
a. rollbar or rollcage: We would not go on our trackdays (or were not allowed, sorry I forget) without the rollcage. not only makes it safer, but makes the car much more solid.
b. track tires and wheels.
c. making sure your brakes and suspension are perfect so you do not crash.
d. ceramic brake pads. I do not know if the spider brake system will be ok on the track, others can comment. maybe change the brakes.
e. upgrade the suspension. we put in fancy torsion bars, not sure what is out there for the spider.
f. you could think about racing seats. otherwise your back will hurt, at least ours did without them.
g. Then, if you are not having enough fun, think about more hp.
good luck with it, and enjoy.
Mark
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ChristerH
Re: 124 Turbo upgrade performans
Your suggestions will be followed.MarkKrieger wrote:Hello,
What you need to do is to get rid of the bumpers to lose weight. Then plan on spending money on:
a. rollbar or rollcage: We would not go on our trackdays (or were not allowed, sorry I forget) without the rollcage. not only makes it safer, but makes the car much more solid.
b. track tires and wheels.
c. making sure your brakes and suspension are perfect so you do not crash.
d. ceramic brake pads. I do not know if the spider brake system will be ok on the track, others can comment. maybe change the brakes.
e. upgrade the suspension. we put in fancy torsion bars, not sure what is out there for the spider.
f. you could think about racing seats. otherwise your back will hurt, at least ours did without them.
g. Then, if you are not having enough fun, think about more hp.
good luck with it, and enjoy.
Mark
When the car will be used on the race track, it will run on R tires. Lowering springs or if you can find it becomes coilovers, upgraded brakes with race pads. We will have to remove the bumpers and mount the older bumpers. If it gets a roll cage I do not know yet, that we will see. But upgrading turbo engine will certainly occur.
On my last Spider 1975 (12 years ago) it had a upgraded engine to about 190hk but it was very expensive to get so much hp out of a suction motor. Mordern turbo engine is usually cheaper to tune. With the 190 hp Spider the car was incredibly fun to drive. This car had not upgraded to the (131) gearbox or rear axle. (In that time a friend said that my 131 gearbox could do up to 300 hp. Yes i had the 131 gearbox) However, bumpers were removed away like Abarth, change to better brake pads, stiffer lowering springs & retro race seats etc.
I never drove it on the track with it but well little inspirendande rides and it was really fun. Unfortunately it was run only around 2000 km with this car when it was crashed by another car while it was parked at my mechanic for some adjustments.
(Excuse my poor english)
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djape1977
- Posts: 985
- Joined: Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:08 pm
- Your car is a: 1970 fiat 124bc
- Location: Belgrade, Serbia, eastern Europe
Re: 124 Turbo upgrade performans
if you plan on upgrading the engine than you should definately change the rear axle, but not one from 131 but from fiat 132. it's much stronger diff
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ChristerH
Re: 124 Turbo upgrade performans
Is the 132 rear axle bolt on to the Spider?djape1977 wrote:if you plan on upgrading the engine than you should definately change the rear axle, but not one from 131 but from fiat 132. it's much stronger diff
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djape1977
- Posts: 985
- Joined: Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:08 pm
- Your car is a: 1970 fiat 124bc
- Location: Belgrade, Serbia, eastern Europe
Re: 124 Turbo upgrade performans
upper trailing arm mounting points are diferent so you'd need to cut off ones from a spider axle and weld them on a 132 axle. everything else is plug&play.
also, earlyer 132's, up to 1977 had discs in the back while later models, 1977-1981 had rear drum brakes. you'd be better off with an axle from 1972-1977, less modifications needed, but even if you find one with drums, it can be converted to spiders rear discs. calipers and discs themseves are the same, just the anchor plate is diferent.
if you can find a rear axle from fiat argenta 1981 to 1985 it's the same as on 132 but turbodiesel and volumex had discs in the back, like early 132.
you also need to be aware of transmission ratios
132 1600-1800 with discs - 4.1/1
132 2000 with drums - 3.73/1
132 2000 i.e. with drums - 4.1/1
argenta 2000 - 3.73/1
argenta VX - 3.43/1
argenta diesel/turbodiesel-3.43/1
by the way, 131 rear axle also needs repositioning of upper trailing arm mounts since they're simmilar but not identical to 124
also, earlyer 132's, up to 1977 had discs in the back while later models, 1977-1981 had rear drum brakes. you'd be better off with an axle from 1972-1977, less modifications needed, but even if you find one with drums, it can be converted to spiders rear discs. calipers and discs themseves are the same, just the anchor plate is diferent.
if you can find a rear axle from fiat argenta 1981 to 1985 it's the same as on 132 but turbodiesel and volumex had discs in the back, like early 132.
you also need to be aware of transmission ratios
132 1600-1800 with discs - 4.1/1
132 2000 with drums - 3.73/1
132 2000 i.e. with drums - 4.1/1
argenta 2000 - 3.73/1
argenta VX - 3.43/1
argenta diesel/turbodiesel-3.43/1
by the way, 131 rear axle also needs repositioning of upper trailing arm mounts since they're simmilar but not identical to 124