Race motor

[DriftFiat]

Hi everyone im new to the boards and i just bought a 77 fiat spider that im turning into a drift car. Now before the flaming starts i want to say that this car is actually a very suitible car for drift other than not having powersteering but if your driving right you shouldnt have much of a problem with that. But back to the question im running dual down draft webers and a long tube 4-2-1 header and i am still looking for more power i am about to get a pretty aggressive cam and i was wondering for how much this engine is revved close to the redline or past it should i get a set or connecting rods and while im in there a set or race pistons. And on that note where do i get them?

Sorry for the long post
Austin Leiphart

[htchevyii]

Welcome to the site, all that I know is what I've seen on tv, but doesn't a drift car need to turn pretty sharp? My fullsize truck turns sharper than my Spider. How much power is required? Although they are ]fun cars and more powerful than MG's and such, they really aren't that fast. Might need to do an s2000 swap? Guy croft racing or midwest124 are you best bets for highpo Fiat engines.

[MNspiderman]

You realize with ballz to the wallz your gonna be lucky to get 200 horsepower out of a fiat engine right? And that will cost a small fortune itself. Well I hope it works out. I am no expert but I don't think the rubber gublios (u-joints) are gonna hold up to the constant grip and no grip a drifter endures. But hopefully they will. 30 yr old technology doesn't work that good in todays world. Example. your not gonna win a skate board contest with a 1970 skateboard. Your gonna get your ass whipped if you show up to a dirtbike race with a 1986 Honda CR250R factory race bike. You will never get it over 10 feet off the ground. a 75 fiat spider will never outdrift a 2005 nissan 350z. Just some truthful criticism here, not trying to be a dik or anything. Good luck, post photos

[manoa matt]

http://fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=9121

[DriftFiat]

i knew this would happen i might swap a 12a rotary out of a first gen rx7 and these cars are pretty good for it ive seen worse cars pull it off nicely(like volvos) so this is going to be a drift car and if you hate it dont post or just dont be an a**hole about it. but back to the point what is the weakest link in the enigne and what id the weakest in the trans

[manoa matt]

Well I was trying to save you a bunch of grief and money, and didn't feel like I was being an A-hole. Ask anyone on this forum and they will tell you I'm a straight shooter and very helpful. But since you insist, then here it is:

If you want a "full spec drift car" then you might need to do a complete drive-train swap, engine, trans, driveshaft and rear diff. The stock units will not handle the forces of drifting. You will basically have a fiat shell. Provided you do all the fabrication needed to install the motor, trans, and diff, the weak points will then be the front suspension, the forward/rearward weight distribution, and the 30 year old, metal fatigued body shell. Despite the fact you have a 1977, almost every component on the car was designed in 1966. A limited slip diff unit is out there, but for the price it would make more sense to find a stronger diff that is already limited slip and modify it to fit the fiat chassis.

classicricambi.com for the LSD and urethane bushings. Search the suspension section for coil over shock installations.

In bone stock form spiders had 98 hp, with your current mods you might have 110hp. 140hp will be costly to get to, and the limit of the stock trans and diff. Above 140hp and you need to source a trans from a Fiat 131, and likely shorten a Ford rear diff. To get above 140hp plan on spending serious money in the range of 6-10k for the motor alone. There is ONE guy in the wold that could get a Fiat motor to 200hp, but if he picks up on the fact you will be drifting the car, he will not even reply to one question. Redline for a stock engine with cast pistons is 7200rpm

If you insist on drifting a fiat spider, you better have a chromoly tube full roll cage, you will need it if the front suspension tears apart in the middle of a turn, the windshield will fold over like paper. The shock towers/fenders are notorious for collapsing inward upsetting the suspension. Unlike the coupe, the spider does not lend itself well to a front shock brace as the shock towers sit very low, and not much room between the engine and hood, dual carbs will make it even harder. You will need a high efficiency aluminum radiator and an oil cooler since you will be high in the rev band, putting a lot of load on the engine, and going sideways does not provide good air flow through the radiator.

The real important question is: What other types of cars are you going to be competing against? If you are competing against triumphs, MG's and other vintage cars, you might have a chance. A miata will beat you, and if competing against jap cars they will leave you in their wheel smoke. A lot of money, and still no chance at a win.

I stand by my previous comments, as my principle interests are: your safety, your pocket book, your time, and Fiats public image. The few guys that know the answers to the questions you want to ask are either going to dissuade you from the project, or not answer, so expect more flack. Good luck on your project!

[maytag]

i knew this would happen i might swap a 12a rotary out of a first gen rx7 and these cars are pretty good for it ive seen worse cars pull it off nicely(like volvos) so this is going to be a drift car and if you hate it dont post or just dont be an a**hole about it. but back to the point what is the weakest link in the enigne and what id the weakest in the trans

dood....
You're off to a bad start here. Maybe we should back-up a little, and take a look at how defensive you are.
Manoa Matt is one of the most willing people on this forum, when it comes to helping out others.
The fact that you say "I knew this would happen", and some of your others posts in other threads leads me to believe that you aware of the stigma that "some" people associate with drifters. You may be responding to other things you've heard, or think you've heard, but I saw no offense in Matt's post. Later I'll start a thread that you can really get offended by; or you can post-up your difference of opinion (my preference)

For now: the bottom end of the fiat TC motor is stout. But in full-blown trim, with a small-fortune to invest in the motor alone, you're still looking at 200hp... tops.

But ehre's the deal; there are MANY, MANY cars better suited to drifiting... yet you chose this one. that speaks to your taste in cars (if not in sports ) so while most of us will probably roll our eyes at what you're trying to do... you are still very welcome here.

But you'll get a lot more flies with honey, when dealing with the more knowledgeable crowd on this forum.

[So Cal Mark]

for what it would cost to get 200hp from the Fiat TC motor you could probably buy a prepped-drifter. 140 is pretty do-able, but even that level is pretty costly.

[MNspiderman]

Nobody's telling you that you can't or shouldn't do this. But were just telling you that you would have a better chance with a lawn mower engine. The fiat engine isn't a high reving torque monster that you want to build, and it wont hold up. Just like an air boat you can't just hook up a propeller to any engine crank, mount it and use it. You can, but it will last about 30 minutes before that propeller rips the crank right off your engine. weather it has 100 or 800 Hp. As for the body structure, you would have to literally build a racing frame then simply mount the fiat body on top of it. Now that would work just fine. Here is a link to the extent that you would have to go. This is an Alfa Spider but the exact concept i think your thinking of trying to achieve. http://www.twthieme.nl/Alfa-Romeo-Resto ... der-1.html This guy is installing a mustang gt drivetrain.

[rmalicki]

This sounds like one heck of a task! So i'll chime in a little here...I've done a lot of mods research and these guys are right just call midwest and you'll learn its not cheep. I mean i can get 800hp from my vettes 350 for 200hp from this fiat. So this is what i did. I bought the Fiat for some fun, good mpg's, the awsome design, then i decided to take my 1982 corvette to the next level which will take me awhile. But i'll have my cake and eat it too! and the fiat is a blast as u know with the little power it has. But as you probably are i love to go out in the vette and tear s#!+ up on the track and play very rough. But hey to each his own so go get you some and you'll get no grief from me but just do it safe bro for you and everyone else! Keep the shinny side up!!! YEAH!

[DriftFiat]

im sorry if i came off as trying to insult him i just wanted to get the info on this and i hate it when people say that it wont happen. where im at and the level of competion here its not the car that wins it its the driver again sorry i just was being a jerk Now i know i might get beat but ill go for this project anyway im supporting the front suspension by using tubes that go through the firewall and connect to the roll cage and is there anyway to increase the steering angle in this car it turns less than my 240sx but i like the direct feel of the road.Does anyone have info on the chassis of the abarth rally car and how was it reinforced again sorry for being a jerk thank you for trying to nock some sense into me but i love this car and i love what i do

[So Cal Mark]

All of the power in the Fiat tc motor is in the cylinder head. You will need extensive porting and valve work, and have to raise the rpm range of the motor. That will mean custom pistons, rods, crankshaft and oiling system. For starters, I'd suggest you find a copy of Guy Crofts' book and read it thoroughly. He provides dyno charts for various engine combinations after modifications. It will give you a much better idea of what it will take to make the power you're looking for.

[DriftFiat]

thank you but i might just swap in a 12a rotary from a first gen rx7. On another note has anyone ever turboed a carbed motor?

[htchevyii]

Check out turbo124.com for all your turbo questions.

[adrians]

A 2.0 engine can produce 260HP and higher, however you'll also need a 16V head, which these days are hard to come by !
The car thats pulling that power has a space frame front end and a modified drive shaft and rear end.