Discussion
Hey all,
This is my first post on here after lurking for a while!
Here is Vinny, my 1982 fiat 126 'brown edition'. Its an aircooled 650cc.
The car has changed alot from standard, in a previous life it had been rattle canned in the two tone brown, fitted the chrome bumper, added the wooden side panels, fiat X1/9 bertone wheels, slightly lowered and fitted abarth punto sabelt seats with harnesses.
Before I owned it, a good friend of mine had it for 2 years where it sat in his garage doing nothing, and the guy he got the car off also had it for 2 years where it sat ready for a bike engine swap, but being completely solid and too good of a shape he decided to sell instead of butchering it.
So, since I've had it all I've been doing is try to get it running. In around 2 years, having covered around 200 miles, 5 trips out and 3 break downs out of the 5.
The last trip out I decided would be the last before undergoing a major transformation.
The engine was taken out, and it went a full rebuild.
This is what I started with, standard fiat 126 650cc engine, I previously installed a Dell'orto FZD 32.28 carburetor but having no other modifications it was a little over kill.
Once the engine was stripped, I had everything aqua blasted, the tin ware was blasted and powder coated also.
I had the head skimmed, ported and larger inlet valves fitted. Got an abarth spec 35/75 camshaft. Also got an abarth 3.5ltr alloy sump to aid in cooling and an abarth alloy rocker cover.
Finally this is the end result...
The engine is back in and running absolutely sweet!
I managed to find myself a set of original seats (rare as poor quality wobbly children's play pony doo doo) in Holland and got them sent over. So new seat rails welded in and the seats installed and we're pretty much done!
I'm going to just enjoy it for a while now, then when I can I'll be upgrading to a stainless exhaust and a decent electronic ignition system. Also I wouldn't mind having the carburetor properly tuned on a rolling road.
Alex.
This is my first post on here after lurking for a while!
Here is Vinny, my 1982 fiat 126 'brown edition'. Its an aircooled 650cc.
The car has changed alot from standard, in a previous life it had been rattle canned in the two tone brown, fitted the chrome bumper, added the wooden side panels, fiat X1/9 bertone wheels, slightly lowered and fitted abarth punto sabelt seats with harnesses.
Before I owned it, a good friend of mine had it for 2 years where it sat in his garage doing nothing, and the guy he got the car off also had it for 2 years where it sat ready for a bike engine swap, but being completely solid and too good of a shape he decided to sell instead of butchering it.
So, since I've had it all I've been doing is try to get it running. In around 2 years, having covered around 200 miles, 5 trips out and 3 break downs out of the 5.
The last trip out I decided would be the last before undergoing a major transformation.
The engine was taken out, and it went a full rebuild.
This is what I started with, standard fiat 126 650cc engine, I previously installed a Dell'orto FZD 32.28 carburetor but having no other modifications it was a little over kill.
Once the engine was stripped, I had everything aqua blasted, the tin ware was blasted and powder coated also.
I had the head skimmed, ported and larger inlet valves fitted. Got an abarth spec 35/75 camshaft. Also got an abarth 3.5ltr alloy sump to aid in cooling and an abarth alloy rocker cover.
Finally this is the end result...
The engine is back in and running absolutely sweet!
I managed to find myself a set of original seats (rare as poor quality wobbly children's play pony doo doo) in Holland and got them sent over. So new seat rails welded in and the seats installed and we're pretty much done!
I'm going to just enjoy it for a while now, then when I can I'll be upgrading to a stainless exhaust and a decent electronic ignition system. Also I wouldn't mind having the carburetor properly tuned on a rolling road.
Alex.
Edited by Vinny126 on Saturday 19th September 22:03
ajprice said:
I have always thought that brown cars should not exist and that with the exception of Morris Minor / Mini Travellers wood should be on the inside of a car, not the outside. But that looks brilliant 
.
The original brown for this is more a disgusting diarrhoea colour! When my friend first picked the car up it also had a wooden frame and perspex sheet for the sunroof! .Mr Tidy said:
It's great to see something like this being given some love, so well done OP. 
Fiat made some great cars in the 60s and 70s. I would have thought an updated 126 would make a great city car in today's climate - although I suppose a 500 Twin-air comes close!
There's a company that does electric conversions in london that have done a couple of classic fiat 500's and 126's. Fiat made some great cars in the 60s and 70s. I would have thought an updated 126 would make a great city car in today's climate - although I suppose a 500 Twin-air comes close!
They make a brilliant little car for the city, unfortunately with the larger size of the traffic they dont do too well up against modern day land barges!
carinaman said:
I wasn't expecting that. Love the X1/9 rims and wooden gearknob.
When I got the car, it had a large wooden almost walking stick like gearknob that had the name vinny engraved into it, with the larger seats it didnt really work but now I've got the originals back in, I think it has to go back on!
Drew986 said:
Superb thread.
This takes me back to 1984, when my mum got her 126 Brown edition, amusingly nicknamed 'Dollop' by my brother an I, as we (being 8 and 10) thought it looked like a cow pat, the name Brown didn't help mater's.
Was the two tone paint work an option?
My mum's car was a solid shade of cow pat brown.
We had some fun times in that little car, I'll be following this thread with rose tinted glasses firmly on.
Dollop is a good solid name! I call my 126 different terms of fecal matter quite often! This takes me back to 1984, when my mum got her 126 Brown edition, amusingly nicknamed 'Dollop' by my brother an I, as we (being 8 and 10) thought it looked like a cow pat, the name Brown didn't help mater's.
Was the two tone paint work an option?
My mum's car was a solid shade of cow pat brown.
We had some fun times in that little car, I'll be following this thread with rose tinted glasses firmly on.
It should be a solid dark brown (it's not even a nice brown!) But someone many moons ago decided to take a few cans of spray paint and went with the two tone on it, it looks good from a far, but it's far from good!
It's ford dove grey and rover russet brown.
Drive Blind said:
this takes me back
My uncle had one of these in about 1982. He usually commuted to work by motorbike, he bought the 126 as a cheap winter commute option.
Maybe I'm getting confused but did they have some sort of hand operated throttle control?
I know the fiat 500 had a hand throttle control/ cruise control, I think the very early 126's may of had it but I'm not sure. Are you thinking about the levers between the seats for starter and choke? My uncle had one of these in about 1982. He usually commuted to work by motorbike, he bought the 126 as a cheap winter commute option.
Maybe I'm getting confused but did they have some sort of hand operated throttle control?
I've had a couple of small issues with the 126 lately, it's taken ages to start and also when releasing the clutch in 1st gear it shudders like crazy then jumps out of first gear. Also the brass hose connection on the carb return has come loose and likes to wriggle itself free.
I took the starter motor out and replaced the brushes, very pleased with how easy that was, half hour job to get the starter out and then back in with fresh brushes. They definitely needed changing! When the car managed to fire up I got the timing gun out and adjusted that, turns out the timing was well out! Now it starts great and runs nice and smooth!
I also took the carb apart and got some jb weld onto the brass fitting, that will be going back on hopefully tomorrow, and hopefully fixed!
I havent managed to look at the clutch judder issue yet, from reading on a few forums it sounds to me like it could be something as simple as moving the engine back a touch or even making sure the gearbox mounts are properly straight. Once the rain decides to stop I'll pop under the car and have a butchers at it.
Didnt take a picture today, here's an old one from 2 years ago with the roof rack still on.
I took the starter motor out and replaced the brushes, very pleased with how easy that was, half hour job to get the starter out and then back in with fresh brushes. They definitely needed changing! When the car managed to fire up I got the timing gun out and adjusted that, turns out the timing was well out! Now it starts great and runs nice and smooth!
I also took the carb apart and got some jb weld onto the brass fitting, that will be going back on hopefully tomorrow, and hopefully fixed!
I havent managed to look at the clutch judder issue yet, from reading on a few forums it sounds to me like it could be something as simple as moving the engine back a touch or even making sure the gearbox mounts are properly straight. Once the rain decides to stop I'll pop under the car and have a butchers at it.
Didnt take a picture today, here's an old one from 2 years ago with the roof rack still on.
Ive had a lot of issues with cold starting the 126 so I decided to check the valve clearances, they were well out so I'm pretty sure that will now solve my cold start issue. Unfortunately though, when I went to put the spark plug in, it just spun and wasnt tightening up... I had stupidly stripped all the threads for one of my spark plugs. It took me an hour in the pouring rain to strip it back to take the head off.
Really glad I did this as all the threads from the head were sitting on the piston!
I've got a fantastic engine specialist shop down the road from me so a day with them and the cylinder head had a new aluminium insert and was all ready to go back in!
It's 90% back together, just a few minor things to do then fingers crossed it will start again!
Really glad I did this as all the threads from the head were sitting on the piston!
I've got a fantastic engine specialist shop down the road from me so a day with them and the cylinder head had a new aluminium insert and was all ready to go back in!
It's 90% back together, just a few minor things to do then fingers crossed it will start again!
Hello all,
it's been a fair while since I've given an update on Vinny.
After getting fed up of taking the engine apart in the cold and wet of mid winter, due to a catastrophic oil leak I gave the car to an 'Italian specialist' in Leicester.
It was presumed that from where the oil was coming from, it was the push rod tube seals that were failing. These were changed 3 times, including swapping them from silicon to rubber.
4 months later (and extremely slow progress) I got the car back, drove 0.4 miles and it broke down with a worse oil leak than when it went in!
I got recovered home and then contemplated selling him.
Eventually I decided to have a go myself again (as the weather was starting to get decent)
I swapped out the spring push rod tubes for original, these sit alot better and slot into the cylinder head and block, rather than the spring tubes that just sit on the block.
Also I had a look at the aluminium rocker cover and it seemed to be resting on the thurmostat housing at the rear (another possible cause to my oil leak)
So with new push rod tubes, I shaved down the edges of the rocker cover, a new rocker gasket. It seems that I have finally sorted the oil leak! ??
I then had a go at sorting the wiring and cleaning up the engine bay a little, so some fresh yellow HT leads, black conduit and relocating the ignition coil I'm really happy with it now!
Been out today to road test and it runs and drives faultless! I cant believe I considered selling it when I got it back from the garage!
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/T1Z5uVaa.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/qn7tSLAk" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/qn7tSLAk.jpg)
it's been a fair while since I've given an update on Vinny.
After getting fed up of taking the engine apart in the cold and wet of mid winter, due to a catastrophic oil leak I gave the car to an 'Italian specialist' in Leicester.
It was presumed that from where the oil was coming from, it was the push rod tube seals that were failing. These were changed 3 times, including swapping them from silicon to rubber.
4 months later (and extremely slow progress) I got the car back, drove 0.4 miles and it broke down with a worse oil leak than when it went in!
I got recovered home and then contemplated selling him.
Eventually I decided to have a go myself again (as the weather was starting to get decent)
I swapped out the spring push rod tubes for original, these sit alot better and slot into the cylinder head and block, rather than the spring tubes that just sit on the block.
Also I had a look at the aluminium rocker cover and it seemed to be resting on the thurmostat housing at the rear (another possible cause to my oil leak)
So with new push rod tubes, I shaved down the edges of the rocker cover, a new rocker gasket. It seems that I have finally sorted the oil leak! ??
I then had a go at sorting the wiring and cleaning up the engine bay a little, so some fresh yellow HT leads, black conduit and relocating the ignition coil I'm really happy with it now!
Been out today to road test and it runs and drives faultless! I cant believe I considered selling it when I got it back from the garage!
Edited by Vinny126 on Sunday 11th July 19:58
Hello all,
it's been a fair while since I've given an update on Vinny.
After getting fed up of taking the engine apart in the cold and wet of mid winter, due to a catastrophic oil leak I gave the car to an 'Italian specialist' in Leicester.
It was presumed that from where the oil was coming from, it was the push rod tube seals that were failing. These were changed 3 times, including swapping them from silicon to rubber.
4 months later (and extremely slow progress) I got the car back, drove 0.4 miles and it broke down with a worse oil leak than when it went in!
I got recovered home and then contemplated selling him.
Eventually I decided to have a go myself again (as the weather was starting to get decent)
I swapped out the spring push rod tubes for original, these sit alot better and slot into the cylinder head and block, rather than the spring tubes that just sit on the block.
Also I had a look at the aluminium rocker cover and it seemed to be resting on the thurmostat housing at the rear (another possible cause to my oil leak)
So with new push rod tubes, I shaved down the edges of the rocker cover, a new rocker gasket. It seems that I have finally sorted the oil leak! ??
I then had a go at sorting the wiring and cleaning up the engine bay a little, so some fresh yellow HT leads, black conduit and relocating the ignition coil I'm really happy with it now!
Been out today to road test and it runs and drives faultless! I cant believe I considered selling it when I got it back from the garage!
it's been a fair while since I've given an update on Vinny.
After getting fed up of taking the engine apart in the cold and wet of mid winter, due to a catastrophic oil leak I gave the car to an 'Italian specialist' in Leicester.
It was presumed that from where the oil was coming from, it was the push rod tube seals that were failing. These were changed 3 times, including swapping them from silicon to rubber.
4 months later (and extremely slow progress) I got the car back, drove 0.4 miles and it broke down with a worse oil leak than when it went in!
I got recovered home and then contemplated selling him.
Eventually I decided to have a go myself again (as the weather was starting to get decent)
I swapped out the spring push rod tubes for original, these sit alot better and slot into the cylinder head and block, rather than the spring tubes that just sit on the block.
Also I had a look at the aluminium rocker cover and it seemed to be resting on the thurmostat housing at the rear (another possible cause to my oil leak)
So with new push rod tubes, I shaved down the edges of the rocker cover, a new rocker gasket. It seems that I have finally sorted the oil leak! ??
I then had a go at sorting the wiring and cleaning up the engine bay a little, so some fresh yellow HT leads, black conduit and relocating the ignition coil I'm really happy with it now!
Been out today to road test and it runs and drives faultless! I cant believe I considered selling it when I got it back from the garage!
Edited by Vinny126 on Sunday 11th July 19:58
Edited by Vinny126 on Sunday 11th July 20:00
Edited by Vinny126 on Sunday 11th July 20:03
Got a couple of minor jobs done over the weekend, I now have heating! Or rather the fumes of burning oil to warm up with.
Gave vinny a well deserved clean also so took a few fresh pictures
Alex
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|https://thumbsnap.com/tFNYXsMU[/url]
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|https://thumbsnap.com/ZzJ1oP1Y[/url]
Gave vinny a well deserved clean also so took a few fresh pictures
Alex
[url
|https://thumbsnap.com/tFNYXsMU[/url][url
|https://thumbsnap.com/ChMQ44HR[/url][url
|https://thumbsnap.com/ZzJ1oP1Y[/url]I haven't uploaded on here in months! Not alot has changed really, just a couple of minor bits. I finally (after nearly 4 years) go some centre caps. I wasn't too sure on these abarth ones at first upon ordering but really pleased with how they suit the wheels and they're not in your face at all. Also I hated the standard fog light and its positioning as it was hiding the ABARTH sump, so I grabbed a chrome universal one and slapping it on the other side and now I'm chuffed with that! Also being smaller and not so boxy it suits the car alot better.
Now it's just a case of getting it out and using it alot more 😁
Alex.
Now it's just a case of getting it out and using it alot more 😁
Alex.
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