Intake and carb upgrade

[Tas131]

Tristan why should I worry about the cam lift?

If you're going to increase breathing with a carb and exhaust upgrade, then increase compression as well, to make the most out of the work, you need to upgrade your cams. Personally, I think shaving the Fiat head to increase compression is pointless, the small increase in compression is not worth the effort. Shaving the head also alters the cam timing, the more you take off, the further the cam timing will be out, necessitating a set of adjustable cam gears. If you want to increase compression, a smaller chamber head or domed pistons achieves better results.

[Tristan]

Simple.....more lift generally equals more power! Once you haven't got odd-ball pistons , which might touch the valves if they don't have cut outs.

[Tristan]

Tristan why should I worry about the cam lift?

If you're going to increase breathing with a carb and exhaust upgrade, then increase compression as well, to make the most out of the work, you need to upgrade your cams. Personally, I think shaving the Fiat head to increase compression is pointless, the small increase in compression is not worth the effort. Shaving the head also alters the cam timing, the more you take off, the further the cam timing will be out, necessitating a set of adjustable cam gears. If you want to increase compression, a smaller chamber head or domed pistons achieves better results.

I would disagree slightly there matey , we always shaved the heads on our race engines , and they ran "sharper" , and we didn't use vernier cam pulleys either..... we measured it , the amount it changes the cam timing , by skimming the head is bugger all . And seeing as there is about 17 different head castings over the years , between Fiat and Lancias , it can be hard to find a definite small port head.

 As an aside , the best head we ever found , standard , came off a Fiat Regata that was rotting in a ditch , box stock 1.6 , an 85(?) super IIRC . HUUUUGE valves , waisted stems , small chamber , everything that a normal "competition" head would have! When it was put on our 1.8 block it was a screamer... ah the good old days.....

[Tas131]

I would disagree slightly there matey , we always shaved the heads on our race engines , and they ran "sharper" , and we didn't use vernier cam pulleys either..... we measured it , the amount it changes the cam timing , by skimming the head is bugger all . And seeing as there is about 17 different head castings over the years , between Fiat and Lancias , it can be hard to find a definite small port head.

 As an aside , the best head we ever found , standard , came off a Fiat Regata that was rotting in a ditch , box stock 1.6 , an 85(?) super IIRC . HUUUUGE valves , waisted stems , small chamber , everything that a normal "competition" head would have! When it was put on our 1.8 block it was a screamer... ah the good old days.....

I stand corrected, only quoting what I've heard and read over the years, I've never measured it. The sought after head over here for performance upgrade is from a Regata 100S, 1600. Big valves, best port shape for flow work and small chamber, you can still pick them up from a wreckers for $100 to $200.

Cheers,

Mick.

[Tristan]

you know , it might have been a "100" head , to be honest I can't remember, as it's over 5 years ago.... beautiful standard head though , aren't they? I had one bent valve , took it to a mate who rallies a tuned Ford Pinto Escort , and he refused to believe it was a standard valve! 

[FIATCAN]

Well its been quite awhile, and has mentioned at the beginning of this thread I said the car was ready for the body shop. Well the body shop was not ready for Me and so I took the intiative to strip the car myself, and now I'm days away from delivering it to them. In the mean while I had upgraded the carb and exhaust along with a full mechanical inspection which My Italian mechanic (ALfa specialist ) was very surprized with the overall condition of the car. Not more so than myself when I started stripping the car. I am really happy with the overall body and structure. As you can see by the pictures there are not very many rust issues, the only serious area  being the rear of the drivers flloor which has not gone through. The cars performance is much better now without all the emission restricted components and the Carb/Intake and exhaust manifold change. I still would like to replace the rest of the exhaust system from the down pipe back as it is still original.
Well hopefully it won't be another 6 months before more progress is done and I would like to have the finished product done before the new year.

I will post more pictures as changes are made.

thanks
FIATCAN

[FIATCAN]

more.........

[FIATCAN]

more.....

[FIATCAN]

another

[FIATCAN]

another one

[FIATCAN]

not finished yet

[FIATCAN]

sorry one at a time , files to large?

[FIATCAN]

I'l haver to reduce the size of the others.

thanks
FIATCAN

[djape1977]

hi. did you measure the diameter of channels on intake manifold? what's the dia. of intake valves? on my 1.8 intake manifold is 42mm, valves 42, and carb is weber42/42dgv. revs like mad, LOTS of low rev torque. if i understood corectly, all should be the same diameter for optimal performance.
first time ever that i saw 4-1 exaust manifold on fiat twincam! over here 4-2-1 was standard. your car looks very good, rust damage is hardly worth a mention. think you should fit some wheel spacers. it makes a world of difference for handling.

[FIATCAN]

Hi djape1977,

I couldn't tell you the intake measurements, but I did notice a good improvement in performance. I propablly will do some more engine upgrades, but my mind and wallet are to getting the car painted and back together agian. The exhaust used to be 4-1 which was stock item here also.

thanks for the comments

FIATCAN