Transmission and Clutch... weak?

[Jon]

It's been addressed in another post that the clutch cable is simple (woo hoo for guys like me!), but weak (darn). I've also noticed it said that the 124 tranny was poor and the 131 was a strong replacement after a few simple modifications.

My question is this: Are these one of the weaker points of the car that should be addressed if you're a guy who drives quite a bit in traffic and is constantly flipping through the gears? Should closer attention be paid to this than other parts of the car (electrical is a given as a constant headache, so take that out of the equation!)?

Are there solutions? Or is it every man for himself in the battle to find a 131 transmission? Any other possible substitutes or ideas for a newer transmission? If the clutch cable is weak, how would one beef it up or at least protect it?

Or... dun dun dun... are we all stuck?!

Fire away Fiat Geniuses!

[mdrburchette]

Maybe I'm lucky, but I haven't had a transmission problem in any of the Fiats I've owned and I tend to drive a little wild at times. As for the clutch cable, I've heard the same thing over the years so when we rebuilt the engine and cleaned up the engine bay, we pulled the pedal assembly out and welded the hook the cable end goes to and welded a plate to the firewall where the cable comes through.

[So Cal Mark]

Denise is right, if you don't let the systems deteriorate they will hold up under normal use.

[Jim DeShon]

I drove my 77' in bumper - bumper L.A. traffic for several years, 4-5 hours a day. I would say the only trouble I ever had was the clutch cable and timing belts. The trans finally died but, I can't blame it. Mine is out of service now but the engine is original. Have a different trans and the engine is apart for a re-build. The idler for the timing belt disintergrated one day going to work at 132,000 miles [the end] . I can't say the electrical was much of a problem. ...J.D.

P.S. Is there a difference in the 131 trans ? What's the difference ?