Who made Fiat Spider Pistons?

[pope]

Hi,
Does anyone know which company made the original Pistons for a 1981 Fiat spider F.I.
Are they forged or cast?
I think they are 8.1:1 compression.
Are they good pistons or just OK.

Thanks
Pope

[So Cal Mark]

I'm not sure who the oem mfg was, but they are good quality pistons. But your question is a little vague. Good for performance? or quality? or longevity?

[Midwest124]

Fiat used primarily pistons made by either Mondial (now owned by Mahle) or AE. They are cast aluminum, not forged. US Spec 8.1:1 CR pistons are "ok" but are relatively low compression (due to US emmissions requirements). They are non-interference as far as piston-to-valve contact.

They are not performance pistons in any way but they are fine for absolute stock use.

Jon Logan
Midwest-124, Ltd.
http://www.midwest124.com

[racydave]

Hi Jon, Welcome to the site, glad to have you here!

[Danno]

...Jon Logan
Midwest-124, Ltd.
http://www.midwest124.com

bout time you showed up here...geesh. Welcome aboard.

[pope]

Hey Guys,
The reason I ask this is of my plans to go Super with the F.I. engine. Although 8.1:1 compression is on the low side normally, it will be perfect for a supercharger. Those pistons were then built by quality companies, good to hear. The one thing that I have been reading about forged pistons is that even though they are much stronger than cast, they expand more than cast under heavy load by use of forced induction. Even though I am not going to extreme HP, I think the cast will suffice. Maybe get a ceramic coating on the tops.
Thanks
Pope

[bradartigue]

FIAT used the 8.1:1 pistons (Spider 2000) with a spacer in between the block and head to lower the compression for the Volumex supercharger. You may want to research that motor (1985 Spider VX) as 8.1:1 may be too much compression for a supercharged Spider.

[pope]

Brad, your the man...you know all this stuff!

Pinninfarina did things kinda bassackwards with their Volumex. Of course that is hindsight, as this was the beginning of production supers. It was an off the shelf conversion from Lancia Abath Super. They only produced 500, so there was no money for research to improve the Lancia version. Anyways, they knew the Cadillacs were coming. After 4 years of only fuel injected Spiders, they went back to a carbbed version for the Volumex. The sealed carb was before the volumex, so the gas traveled through the Supercharger, which can cause headaches with the gas condensing.
Not exactly apples to apples, but the carbbed 2.0 produced about 82hp and the F.I. 2.0 got 102hp. So they lost 20hp going backwards and had to product 20 more just to get back to F.I. specs. The Volumex produced about 135hp, using 7.6:1 CR, on 5.7 psi of boost. So the Volumex did a good job of producing power, its just that the starting line was pushed back.

Everything nowadays is fuel injected and hopefully intercooled. The Supers are Generation 5 and 6 and 8.1:1 is a great compression to run a Super.

[bandit]

I herd that Borgo also made the pistons for Fiat at least for a while not confirmed just what i
herd from PBS years ago .


Daniel

[Danno]

I've heard several references to PBS, Who be dat? and don't tell me "the Channel that broadcasts Sesame Street"......

[bandit]

They are a company that used to make parts, do custom work on Fiats have moved on
since and no longer have any parts for Fiat or an interest in the market .


Daniel