1973 Fiat 124 Sport Coupe 1800
Discussion
Hi scottos. Maybe have a look at my Lancia Beta thread also - another version of the twin cam, and debates rage forever as to whether Fiat or Lancia had the best Lampredi. Alfa used the engine also, and even Morgan had a go at it. I think that its last iteration was in a Lancia circa 2000.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 9th July 09:32
Breadvan72 said:
The dude's London geography is also weird. He says that Fiat's London base was on the Great West Road, the A4, and it seems that he drove to the M4 and went off to Wales, but he also mentions Madame Tussauds, which is on the A40 in Marylebone (and looks to have been there for many years), some way off his route. Maybe Tussauds used to be located on or near the A4.
He is relating two different journeysFiat UK HQ is currently indeed on the A4 but in Slough, specifically 240 Bath Road, about half a mile north of the M4 at that point. Note he then says he drove *into* London past Madame T's. Maybe from Slough. I will agree that Slough is not London but companies say all sorts of things about London, as do airports.
On the way out again:
Westway to just past Latimer Road tube, then left down to Shep Bush tube station roadabout, then Goldhawk Road -> Chiswick High Street -> straight onto the M4.
Edited by Lowtimer on Thursday 9th July 10:10
You are right!
Note the comment about no oil pressure. This is true! Often shows zip, but the warning light does not come on. Rarely shows beyond below half way on the dial. No sign of overheating or mayo (clean, bright oil on the impossible to find dipstick), but a slight waft of burned coolant when the (good) heater is on.
I wonder how shagged the top end is after 115,000 miles. Due a rebuild, maybe. Perhaps I can SPAFF at Middle Barton on a "fast road" do-over, but those dudes will charge the big bucks.
Note the comment about no oil pressure. This is true! Often shows zip, but the warning light does not come on. Rarely shows beyond below half way on the dial. No sign of overheating or mayo (clean, bright oil on the impossible to find dipstick), but a slight waft of burned coolant when the (good) heater is on.
I wonder how shagged the top end is after 115,000 miles. Due a rebuild, maybe. Perhaps I can SPAFF at Middle Barton on a "fast road" do-over, but those dudes will charge the big bucks.
[quote=Breadvan72]Here is a random picture of Michael Caine and Britt Eckland to remind us of just how super cool the late 60s/early 70s were. Until last Sunday I had a lockdown hairdo that was pretty much as Mr Caine's in the pic. Yesterday i drove the Fiat while dressed in a vintage 1970s brown Leather car coat (remember those?) not dissimilar to the one that Caine is wearing in the pic, plus a long collared and lairy floral patterned shirt. Slim jeans and Italian brown suede driving shoes*. I looked like a tool, but I felt great.
*Good idea, the Fiat has small pedals placed close together. Not a car to drive wearing clumpy boots.
Thank you for the picture of Britt Ekland (and Michael Caine).
My friend was a mounted policeman - I forget the name of his horse.
On Cannock Chase he happened to meet Britt Ekland (and Patrick Lichfield).
She stroked his fetlock.
*Good idea, the Fiat has small pedals placed close together. Not a car to drive wearing clumpy boots.
Thank you for the picture of Britt Ekland (and Michael Caine).
My friend was a mounted policeman - I forget the name of his horse.
On Cannock Chase he happened to meet Britt Ekland (and Patrick Lichfield).
She stroked his fetlock.
Breadvan72 said:
You are right!
Note the comment about no oil pressure. This is true! Often shows zip, but the warning light does not come on. Rarely shows beyond below half way on the dial. No sign of overheating or mayo (clean, bright oil on the impossible to find dipstick), but a slight waft of burned coolant when the (good) heater is on.
I wonder how shagged the top end is after 115,000 miles. Due a rebuild, maybe. Perhaps I can SPAFF at Middle Barton on a "fast road" do-over, but those dudes will charge the big bucks.
The carburation needs sorting but as for the core engine internals... I'd just keep an eye on the oil consumption, and hopefully that will be within reason, and as far as I could see it's not smoking signficantly either under power or on the over-run. It was super-smooth above a fast idle when I saw it and doesn't make any nasty clatter or knocks, so if there's nothing horrible in the oil when they drain it I'd say then I'd leave the guts of the engine well alone for a year and see how you get on.Note the comment about no oil pressure. This is true! Often shows zip, but the warning light does not come on. Rarely shows beyond below half way on the dial. No sign of overheating or mayo (clean, bright oil on the impossible to find dipstick), but a slight waft of burned coolant when the (good) heater is on.
I wonder how shagged the top end is after 115,000 miles. Due a rebuild, maybe. Perhaps I can SPAFF at Middle Barton on a "fast road" do-over, but those dudes will charge the big bucks.
Carter, Michael Caine's character in the super gritty and intense 1970 crime thriller in which Carter must be got (a film that has one of the best opening sequences and theme tunes of any British film), is so keen on the character played by Britt Eckland (she is the girlfriend of Carter's boss, a London Crimelord), that he ..... [SPOILER]
gets himself killed over her (but mainly over other things - business before pleasure).
gets himself killed over her (but mainly over other things - business before pleasure).
Breadvan72 said:
Carter, Michael Caine's character in the super gritty and intense 1970 crime thriller in which Carter must be got (a film that has one of the best opening sequences and theme tunes of any British film), is so keen on the character played by Britt Eckland (she is the girlfriend of Carter's boss, a London Crimelord), that he ..... [SPOILER]
gets himself killed over her (but mainly over other things - business before pleasure).
We're digressing here, but you're right, the film has the best opening sequence ever and Roy Budd's score is earily spot on. That publicity photo you posted was taken in the summer of 1970 while they were shooting Get Carter, it's funny how a film shot at that time of year can look so bleak on the screen. I've seen it so many times now the entire film is pretty much etched into the old grey cells. More than thirty scenes were cut from the film before Mike Hodges was happy with it, including a couple featuring Britt down in London. Another scene that was cut was an extra piece filmed of the train leaving Kings X, a long drawn out shot of it departing the platform and entering Gasworks Tunnel at the regulation 8mph, if it had been left in, it would have changed the pace and feel of the whole title sequence. One of my grandad's drinking buddies in the Bull's Head in Barnes was Bernard Hepton who played Thorpie, I met him a couple of times in the '70s and he looks a lot taller in real life!gets himself killed over her (but mainly over other things - business before pleasure).
''You're a big man but you're in bad shape, with me, it's a full time job, now behave yourself'' (apologies, I couldn't finish this post without slotting that one in....
)
Edited by P5BNij on Thursday 9th July 12:35
citizensm1th said:
Arguably my names best film, way better than some old tosh about a mini
Get Carter, Hannah and Her Sisters, The Man Who Would Be King, Sleuth, Alfie, and (my fave) The Ipcress File are all waaaaaaaaay better than the (overrated) Italian Job. See also Without A Clue (spoof Sherlock Holmes), and Caine's sinister villain in Mona Lisa.
Recently a Lancia Montecarlo sold at what looked to me like a very reasonable asking price on carandclassic. It had a (lairy) period bodykit and a Guy Croft fast road engine. I was sorry to miss it but I would have needed to stretch a bit at the price. I would have removed the bodykit.
Middle Barton look good, and are only 30 mins drive from me, but I am sure that they are quite pricy!
Middle Barton look good, and are only 30 mins drive from me, but I am sure that they are quite pricy!
Breadvan72 said:
You are right!
Note the comment about no oil pressure. This is true! Often shows zip, but the warning light does not come on. Rarely shows beyond below half way on the dial. No sign of overheating or mayo (clean, bright oil on the impossible to find dipstick), but a slight waft of burned coolant when the (good) heater is on.
I wonder how shagged the top end is after 115,000 miles. Due a rebuild, maybe. Perhaps I can SPAFF at Middle Barton on a "fast road" do-over, but those dudes will charge the big bucks.
Re oil pressure: Might be similar on the Beta too. I think the sensors/ poor connections etc can lead it to read a little pessimistically. Maybe a new sensor and a check over of the other parts will give you something more reliable. But where would the fun be in that?Note the comment about no oil pressure. This is true! Often shows zip, but the warning light does not come on. Rarely shows beyond below half way on the dial. No sign of overheating or mayo (clean, bright oil on the impossible to find dipstick), but a slight waft of burned coolant when the (good) heater is on.
I wonder how shagged the top end is after 115,000 miles. Due a rebuild, maybe. Perhaps I can SPAFF at Middle Barton on a "fast road" do-over, but those dudes will charge the big bucks.
Watched Get Carter a couple of weeks ago. Great film. It's grim up North! Between films like that and the "Rough pub stories" thread, I almost feel like I have missed out by being born at the tail end of the eighties.
Breadvan72 said:
Recently a Lancia Montecarlo sold at what looked to me like a very reasonable asking price on carandclassic. It had a (lairy) period bodykit and a Guy Croft fast road engine. I was sorry to miss it but I would have needed to stretch a bit at the price. I would have removed the bodykit.
Middle Barton look good, and are only 30 mins drive from me, but I am sure that they are quite pricy!
Was that the red Montecarlo on c&c, in RHD with split rim alloys...? I thought the price was fair too, but I made the mistake of buying another bloody Mini instead.Middle Barton look good, and are only 30 mins drive from me, but I am sure that they are quite pricy!
Lowtimer said:
The carburation needs sorting but as for the core engine internals... I'd just keep an eye on the oil consumption, and hopefully that will be within reason, and as far as I could see it's not smoking signficantly either under power or on the over-run. It was super-smooth above a fast idle when I saw it and doesn't make any nasty clatter or knocks, so if there's nothing horrible in the oil when they drain it I'd say then I'd leave the guts of the engine well alone for a year and see how you get on.
Cheers, wise Yorkshire Porsche and Merc bothering fella. If you want to spice it up a bit, the simplest way is to acquire a 105 or 130TC head, it has larger valves, peakier cams and is nicely flowed. Add it to twin 40 downdraughts and you'll have 120ish bhp from the 1.8.
This is the route I'm heading down with my Spider, fortunately it had twin 40's fitted when I bought it, and my hoarding of Strada bits over the last 3 decades has left me with enough to build another 130TC head. My Spider being a US model, is low compression so I'll also need to change the pistons to make the most of the other mods. Fortunately Vik Auto (in Texas) are a great source of Spider bits, and new hicomp pistons and rings are inexpensive.
Guy Croft was deemed to be the twin cam guru, I haven't used him, but I know he far from cheap and getting on a bit. I suspect Middle Barton will be a bit top end too, but are highly credible.
On the oil pressure, the best bet is to replace it with a mechanical gauge. I've an elec one in the Spider and mechanical in the 130TC and I know which one I trust as it doesn't move when I tap it.
edit: There's a pair of twin 40's with an inlet manifold on ebay at the mo - look up "Fiat 124 waffle inlet manifold"
https://www.vickauto.com
https://www.midwest-bayless.com/Fiat-124SC-0_p-120...
This is the route I'm heading down with my Spider, fortunately it had twin 40's fitted when I bought it, and my hoarding of Strada bits over the last 3 decades has left me with enough to build another 130TC head. My Spider being a US model, is low compression so I'll also need to change the pistons to make the most of the other mods. Fortunately Vik Auto (in Texas) are a great source of Spider bits, and new hicomp pistons and rings are inexpensive.
Guy Croft was deemed to be the twin cam guru, I haven't used him, but I know he far from cheap and getting on a bit. I suspect Middle Barton will be a bit top end too, but are highly credible.
On the oil pressure, the best bet is to replace it with a mechanical gauge. I've an elec one in the Spider and mechanical in the 130TC and I know which one I trust as it doesn't move when I tap it.
edit: There's a pair of twin 40's with an inlet manifold on ebay at the mo - look up "Fiat 124 waffle inlet manifold"
https://www.vickauto.com
https://www.midwest-bayless.com/Fiat-124SC-0_p-120...
Edited by Dunk130TC on Thursday 9th July 18:53
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