engine types..help

[italianxrays]

  Can any member please help me with a simple guide to the various twin cam engine types by model ? Guy Crofts book does not cover all twin cam models ?
I know ebay sellers often do not know what car an engine came from ie Strada, Argenta, Regatta or from 131 or a 132. Is it fairly simple to identify by the stamped reference codes ? Also gearbox's have stamped codes.
What is an engine with 132CB 1AO on the head, gearbox 131AB AND 131BB
 

Just looking seems to be from a racing - yellow cam cover, am I right ??
as per this listing :

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110592142152&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

My thanks for any help

[sam22]

hi try this link it gives a pretty good for fiat engines http://www.sportingfiatsclub.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2577

[106usj]

You must be thinking of getting a quick bargin on that ebay engine.
Where the guy is saying it is an Abarth engine !!

[italianxrays]

 :)Thanks Sam, I think the Abarth stamp on gearbox may have swayed him into thinking the engine is also Abarth ??  Thanks again

[simon131]

As we all know  this engine for sale is certainly not an 'Abarth' engine as it is an 8 valve rather than a 16v. The gear box is not an 'Abarth' box either - it is merely the shifter that is 'Abarth' - the rest is basically the same as in the 132.

In my opinion (and experience) I'd say that the engine looks like a 131 B2.000 from a 131 Sport/Racing (therefore a 1,995cc Twin Cam) and that the gearbox also came from a 131 Sport - but whether they came from the same car is another matter.  The best thing to do though (whilst it won't definitely tell the story, but could lessen the doubt) is ask the seller to remove the dizzy cap and send you a pic of the internals. If it contains points and condenser then it's likely to be a smaller engine, as all 2,000TC has electronic (contactor-less) ignitions.

Ian, do you know if the engine is in good internal condition? It's not worth much if it's seized - same for the gearbox, even an 'Abarth' one

[mirafiori76]

Simon,

Looking at the dizzy it's seems that this one has points. It's a small cap and on the dizzy itself there's a black rubber where the green wire runs. And there's no white wire. So again, I think this is not an electronic unit.

[david]

That distributor looks like standard bosch electronic ignition distributor which is standard fit to 131 sport, The points marelli cap is higher and has a square cut out into cap where the wire goes in, so this engine and box (abarth top) looks like standard 131 sport.

[Thotos]

131 Sports, in the UK at least, came with either Bosch or Magnetti Marelli electronic ignition. My 131 Sport has the electronic ignition system by Magnetti Marelli and so did my old silver Sport. In fact most of the Sports I've seen had the Magnetti Marelli system. The two litre twin cam  in my Trevi, on the other hand has the Bosch electronic ignition system. I think you are right David, that looks like the Bosch electronic ignition distributor.

[david]

Where as all the 131 sports I and a friend of mine have had always had bosch electronic ign although I have seen them with marelli electronic ign.
Must admit I am not so keen on the marelli system as all the mk3 supers I have had with the marelli electronic ign had a fault with the insulation on the two wires inside the distributor going to the pickup being perished.

[Thotos]

... a fault with the insulation on the two wires inside the distributor going to the pickup being perished.

Yes that is a very common problem as is with other Fiats with the Magnetti Marelli electronic ignition system (e.g. Strada 105/125/130) and even more of a common problem on the Maserati Biturbo range due to the extra heat produced my the Masers. But it's a ?20 part and easily changed so best to change it before it fails and you'll be fine. By the way, if you are Biturbo owner you can pay a Maserati dealer ?120 for one of the pickup wires or pay your Fiat specialist parts supplier ?20 for a Strada 105TC pickup wire.