My 131 comming along

[simon131]

Theo, you flatter me (I think )

Oh, I forgot to mention above, that the diesel cars used for rallying, whilst they were not Abarth bodied, they did have the flared wheelarches. They were mainly built for strength, hence the 'solid' arrangement of the rear axle, but they were pretty sucessful considering that most of the cars entered into the London to Sydney that year were petrol fuel. Diesel was still very much a novelty.

[jseabolt]

James, the plastic wheel arch kit and front spoiler arrangement as used on the 131 Sport/Racing WILL fit the four door car without modification.

It's the black plastic wheel arch covers I was referring to, not the fiberglass extentions.

I don't recall these arches ever being fitted to US 131s. But I've seen quite a few on the web on European models with these. Were these an option or did Fiat start installing these on 131s after 1982? Since there are no 83+ models here.

I've wondered if these arch covers are rust traps. Are they?

[Thotos]

The plastic wheel arch covers (which were not always black) were available only on one model which was the 131 Racing (called "Sport" in the UK and - I think -South Africa) made from 1978 to 1982 (Simon will probably correct me on the dates). All UK cars had them in Black but when I once went to a Fiat dealer to buy a replacement the guy said "What colour would you like?" to which I replied "aren't they all black?" but he added "according to the microfish" (this was before computers) "you can have white, yellow, green, red, silver, grey or black". 
The 131 Sport/Racing was available with only one engine option, the 1995cc DOHC developing 115bhp. I believe the same 1995cc DOHC engine in the USA with all the emissions stuff on it developed 80bhp. Hardly a "Sport" or "Racing" sort of power and probably why Fiat never sold the 131 Racing/Sport in the USA.  But to reiterate, the wheel arch covers (which at the front must be fitted with the correct bumper/spoiler) will fit a four door car. If you decide to join us in Ireland next May, I am sure we can sort out a set for you! If you ship your car over as well we can also fit them for you in one of our "how to" workshop sessions we hope to have...

[jseabolt]

The 131 Sport/Racing was available with only one engine option, the 1995cc DOHC developing 115bhp. I believe the same 1995cc DOHC engine in the USA with all the emissions stuff on it developed 80bhp. Hardly a "Sport" or "Racing" sort of power and probably why Fiat never sold the 131 Racing/Sport in the USA.? But to reiterate, the wheel arch covers (which at the front must be fitted with the correct bumper/spoiler) will fit a four door car. If you decide to join us in Ireland next May, I am sure we can sort out a set for you! If you ship your car over as well we can also fit them for you in one of our "how to" workshop sessions we hope to have...

What does the bumper/spoiler have to do with the front wheel arches? I'm assuming the front wings are different because the bumpers are different. Did you know that US spec 131s have glued in windshields? Something about safety. The windshield in my Yugo uses a rubber gasket so I don't know what that is all about.

I was puzzled on allot of the engine options offered abroad for the 131. Like the SOHC s 1.6 liter).  Since getting engines approved in the US was expensive, there were no engine options. You took whatever Fiat gave you. So Fiat used the same engine for both the Spider and the 131. That means no diesels.

Spiders starting with the 1438 DOHCs from 68-71 then the 1608 from 71 to 73 but some 73 models had 1592 engines! I'm not sure where that came from.

Then from 1975 to 1978 the Spider used the 1800cc engine. Since the 131 was born about this time I'm going to our 131s originally came with 1800cc engines. Then in 1979 all Spiders and 131s came with the 132 series 2000cc engines. Yet we never got the 132.

1979 and 1980 131s and Spiders were fitted with the emmision choked 80 BHP 2000cc engines. However Bosch L-jet was an option on the 124 Spider for the 49 state version but standard in California which mine has. In 1981 Bosch L-jet became standard. This engine produces about 102 BHP. Still lower than the European version but the combination of mild cams and low compression makes a great turbo candidate.

The difference between my turbocharged Spider and my 131 is about 40 rear wheel HP.

There is no version of the MOT in my state and in my county which is rural there is no sniff or visual test so all that crap is coming off and a set of dual IDFs are going on.

I'm probably not going to turbocharge this car because it's got power steering.

By the way, are there any part vendors in the UK that specifically sell 131 parts? Most of the Fiat part vendors here in the US only cater to the 124 Spider and X 1/9 so I have to cross reference everything. Sometimes I can get lucky and find parts dirt cheap that nobody can sell. I picked up a new automatic shifter cover for $20 but not much of anything else.

I'd like new carpet but I can't find it. I thought about making my own set using outdoor/indoor carpet which was just like what was used in the Spiders but I'm not good at making a pattern from molded carpet.

[simon131]

I wrote a lengthy, detailed reply to this but the session timed out and I lost the lot

So here's the shortened version!

The wheel arch covers that you refer to James, as Theo said, were only used on the 131 Racing/Sport variant, which was produced between September 1978 and October 1981. These were 2-door series 2 131s, fitted with the 1995 twin cam from the 132, and were produced to celebrate the World rallying success of the 131 Abarth! The covers were NOT an option on any other 131.

131 Racing/Sport front wings ARE different, but that shouldn't stop you fitting arches to a non-Sport. They will still fit!

The front wheel arch covers are moulded so that the spoiler on the Racing/Sport just slots into it. If you intend to fit the arch covers without the spoiler you'll have to modify it, which will probably break it! Any 131 bumper can be made to fit any 131.

The 1592 twin cam engine is from the 132 '1600' produced up to 1978, after this date the 132 1600 was fitted with the 131 series 1585 twin cam. The 1608 is a 125 series engine, and when fitted to European 124 Sport Coupes and Spiders generally had twin carbs too.

The 1600 single overhead cam engine used in the 131 series 3 in Europe was not used in any other rear wheel drive FIAT, although it is very similar to that used in the front wheel drive Strada and Regata, but not the same.

As far as I know, there is no-one in Europe who specialises solely in the 131 as regards the supply of parts. If you need anything James drop a posting on this forum and we'll try to source the item you need as most of us have a huge collection for our own cars.

Cheers

Simon

[Thotos]

I did say "Simon will correct me on the dates" and he did  But let me add that the 131 Sport/Racing engine while basically the same as the 132 engine is not exactly the same giving an extra 2 bhp to 115 as opposed to the 132's 113bhp (or was it 112bhp?). Simon to correct me please... 

As Simon explained, the front wheel arch covers extend up to and connect under the front bumper and also incorporate the spoiler end-plates so they must all be fitted as a set or major modifications will be needed. I have a photo of the parts off the car somewhere so I'll look for it and post it here so you can see what we mean.

Simon's article on the 131 on the FMC site is a very good source of information. Have a read at http://www.fiatmotorclubgb.org/Cars/Sr131/SR131prt1.htm. Simon, how about a quick write of parts 2 and 3 as originally promised so we can post the whole article on this website under "About the Car" section (or words to that effect...)

[simon131]

The 132 2000TC (post 1978), as with the 131 Supermirafiori Series 3 2000TC (post Oct 1981), was 113bhp. The engine itself was exactly the same spec as that used in the Racing/Sport, just that both of these models had power steering that sapped the 2 bhp.

Theo, I can't get the link in your previous posting to work. Is this just my computer misbehaving?

Part 1 of the '131 Story' took me about three weeks to fully collate! I realise that it was a long time ago (Jan 2001 from memory) so I suppose it's time I wrote the other 'Parts'....but you know how time flies.?

I'll try and put finger to keyboard over the Christmas period, but in the meantime you could always copy and paste the original article from the FMC website and start a '131 -? History of the model' section on this site. I wrote it after all, and you formatted/edited it, so we hold the copyright don't we?

[Thotos]

OOPS!  Sorry...  The link was wrong but it's now fixed 

I'll start a '131 -  History of the model' as you suggest and we'll all be waiting for parts 2 and 3 with bated breath...
                                                                                 

[Thotos]

By the way, Simon, the session time-out period was set to 48 minutes so you must have spent a long time thinking and writing your long reply to James for it to have timed-out! It's now been extended to 60 minutes.

While I was at it I've also increased the maximum size of attachments from 128K to 256K.  Also made a few other changes and adjustments so if I've broken anything please let me know....

[jseabolt]

The front wheel arch covers are moulded so that the spoiler on the Racing/Sport just slots into it. If you intend to fit the arch covers without the spoiler you'll have to modify it, which will probably break it! Any 131 bumper can be made to fit any 131.

I took another look at the photo and see what your talking about now. The arch covers/front bumper on the Volumex Spider was this way.

[parrish]

As promised, the latest photos taken last month in Spain (my new home).
As you can see she has her big boots on! however she is sitting a little too high and the wheels could do with comming out another 30 - 40mm, all stuff to do in the future, i also need to get the mechanics sorted as the gearbox input shaft is horendously noisy. One sad point is that during shipping to Spain a spare cylinder head that was in the boot came loose and damaged the inner back panel! Ive met the local (Granada) Fiat club member already, he stopped and was taking photos of the car when i took her down town to buy a chicken for dinner!!!
More updates as i continue with the project
Steve
[img=http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/1077/mvc056sab8.th.jpg]
[img=http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/2889/mvc057szw3.th.jpg]
[img=http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/8083/mvc058sbd6.th.jpg]

[Thotos]

  Looks absolutely gorgeous! 

[kev131]

Yes I agree with Theo, Steve. It's looking good!

I must admit to having reservations when you first described the design of your unique 131 and the first pictures of a nearly finished article jarred a little with me - Especially on the original black alloys that it had and the diesel grill?

Now though. after seeing it from a few angles and with the bigger wheels it is definitely growing on me. The paint job looks good even in the photos. You'd never have as good a job done with the original silver car!

A fellow enthusiast sent me a few photos of 131s from Spain - If you are interested I'll get them posted.

Any chance you are coming on 3MA?

[parrish]

Thanks for the positive feed back guys.
The grill i agree doesnt look too right to me either, thing is though i have another LHD grill the same, all i have to do to drive in Spain is unscrew 6 screws disconnect the lights and put the other grill on all in 10 miutes, their cant be many cars around these days that are that simple to change to continental driving, the lights are standard 7" untis and they are easily available and cheap as chips as well, so chances are the grill will stay ill just black it up the same as the rest of the trim.
Sorry Kev 3MA is out as ill be here in Qatar at work but i wish you every success and if you consider doing it as an annual event im sure ill get to one some time in the future.
I have already met the local Fiat club member here, caught him taking photos outside the chicken shop (Sunday lunch) ive been invited to the next club meeting when im home (Spain) ill get some photos and post some feed back, ill drop them the www for 131 mirafiori maybe a club exchange! who knows.
Steve

[TOAD]

Hi fellow 131 drivers,
? ?That 131 in Kent is now getting a full spaceframe floor and plastic body see (se031) with Integrale engine and independant rear end.? No Flinstone floor any more.
? ?Roger.........