Maximum Horsepower

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wroblews
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Your car is a: 1977 fiat

Maximum Horsepower

Postby wroblews » Mon Aug 22, 2016 8:12 am

I am seeking your opinion:
What is the maximum horsepower a 1980 124 Sports Spider motor can be modified without having to upgrade braking and suspension systems? What is the best way to increase the hp?

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divace73
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Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2010 5:59 am
Your car is a: 1980 Fiat 124 Spider Silver
Location: Sydney, Australia

Re: Maximum Horsepower

Postby divace73 » Mon Aug 22, 2016 8:39 am

that is a 'How long is a piece of string?' question. The turbo model didn't upgrade brakes or suspension, however if you put in a turbo now you may want to do that for safety.
you may want to start with a budget, chasing horsepower usually ends up costing dollars.

My 2c is get you car well sorted, change all fluids, timing belt if it needs doing, proper tune, sort out suspension if bushings are worn and enjoy driving it.
Cheers David
-=1980 silver Fiat 124 Spider=-
If you want to see pics of my car (and other random stuff) >>click here<< OR
see my >>You tube channel<<

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RRoller123
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Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: Maximum Horsepower

Postby RRoller123 » Mon Aug 22, 2016 10:29 am

Check out Guy Croft and his web site, FB page and workshop manual. There is a wealth of info in there. He seems that he can typically get about 200hp out of a 2L racing engine.
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle

TimpanogosSlim
Posts: 237
Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2013 12:45 pm
Your car is a: 1977 124 Spider

Re: Maximum Horsepower

Postby TimpanogosSlim » Mon Aug 22, 2016 10:08 pm

RRoller123 wrote:Check out Guy Croft and his web site, FB page and workshop manual. There is a wealth of info in there. He seems that he can typically get about 200hp out of a 2L racing engine.


With money, much is possible.

A friend of mine has a 1984 volvo 242 turbo he's been working on for a couple years. Megasquirt, bigger turbo, manifolds, bigger intercooler, etc. He's at a bit over 300whp right now. His target is 400whp, and he believes he can get there with bigger injectors and e85, and additional tuning.

He's a doctoral candidate in mechanical engineering who's particular field of research is causes of cavitation in turbine pumps, so, I don't doubt that he'll get there.

But he's spent a lot of money.

And then there are the outfits like Boba Tuning who are getting a thousand horse out of a late 80's VW 1.8L 16v. For only the price of a pretty decent supercar you can get an amazingly fast Golf.

fiatfactory
Posts: 506
Joined: Sun Jun 13, 2010 11:22 pm
Your car is a: 1970 128

Re: Maximum Horsepower

Postby fiatfactory » Tue Aug 23, 2016 8:12 am

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Last edited by fiatfactory on Tue Jul 02, 2019 12:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
nothing to see here... move along.

Shadoobie
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Your car is a: 1979 Pininfarina Spider 2000

Re: Maximum Horsepower

Postby Shadoobie » Mon Aug 29, 2016 10:20 am

fiatfactory wrote:
wroblews wrote:I am seeking your opinion:
What is the maximum horsepower a 1980 124 Sports Spider motor can be modified without having to upgrade braking and suspension systems? What is the best way to increase the hp?


The stock factory European model of the 2litre engine makes about 122hp in EFI trim, if the standard brakes and suspension are in a good state of repair and fully functional, then at this level there are absolutely no issues with longevity and safety.

The best and most cost effective way to increase HP is to use the factory available parts from a European model.

SteveC


Why are the European cars so much more powerful? What's different about them?

Shadoobie
Posts: 113
Joined: Mon Mar 03, 2014 10:07 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Pininfarina Spider 2000

Re: Maximum Horsepower

Postby Shadoobie » Mon Aug 29, 2016 10:20 am

fiatfactory wrote:
wroblews wrote:I am seeking your opinion:
What is the maximum horsepower a 1980 124 Sports Spider motor can be modified without having to upgrade braking and suspension systems? What is the best way to increase the hp?


The stock factory European model of the 2litre engine makes about 122hp in EFI trim, if the standard brakes and suspension are in a good state of repair and fully functional, then at this level there are absolutely no issues with longevity and safety.

The best and most cost effective way to increase HP is to use the factory available parts from a European model.

SteveC


Why are the European cars so much more powerful? What's different about them?

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RRoller123
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Re: Maximum Horsepower

Postby RRoller123 » Mon Aug 29, 2016 11:03 am

Higher compression ratio, I believe. Only pathetic 8.1:1 here in the states. Fine if you are going to add a turbo, otherwise, not so much.
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle

TimpanogosSlim
Posts: 237
Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2013 12:45 pm
Your car is a: 1977 124 Spider

Re: Maximum Horsepower

Postby TimpanogosSlim » Mon Aug 29, 2016 5:23 pm

Did the european 2.0 have more valve lift in addition to higher compression?

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RRoller123
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Re: Maximum Horsepower

Postby RRoller123 » Mon Aug 29, 2016 5:51 pm

I have no idea, someone else chime in?
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle

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v6spider
Posts: 1035
Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2006 6:57 pm
Your car is a: 4.3L V6 Powered 1972 124 FIAT Spider
Location: Mount Vernon WA

Re: Maximum Horsepower

Postby v6spider » Mon Aug 29, 2016 6:33 pm

Or you can do an engine swap if you feel adventurous...here's the engine in my Spider..
Image

Cheers!
Rob
http://www.v6spider.com
4.3L V6 Powered 1972 124 FIAT Spider

djape1977
Posts: 985
Joined: Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:08 pm
Your car is a: 1970 fiat 124bc
Location: Belgrade, Serbia, eastern Europe

Re: Maximum Horsepower

Postby djape1977 » Mon Aug 29, 2016 9:29 pm

TimpanogosSlim wrote:Did the european 2.0 have more valve lift in addition to higher compression?

no

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seabeelt
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Your car is a: Fiat Spider - 1971 BS1
Location: Tiverton, RI

Re: Maximum Horsepower

Postby seabeelt » Tue Sep 13, 2016 10:13 am

Less emission hp robbing motor additions
Michael and Deborah Williamson
1971 Spider -Tropie’ - w screaming IDFs
1971 Spider - Vesper -scrapped
1979 Spider - Seraphina - our son's car now sold
1972 Spider - Tortellini- our son's current

fiatfactory
Posts: 506
Joined: Sun Jun 13, 2010 11:22 pm
Your car is a: 1970 128

Re: Maximum Horsepower

Postby fiatfactory » Wed Sep 14, 2016 3:16 am

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Last edited by fiatfactory on Tue Jul 02, 2019 12:08 am, edited 1 time in total.
nothing to see here... move along.

TimpanogosSlim
Posts: 237
Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2013 12:45 pm
Your car is a: 1977 124 Spider

Re: Maximum Horsepower

Postby TimpanogosSlim » Wed Sep 14, 2016 3:10 pm

Properly managed EGR can actually help your horsepower goals by preventing pinging. I know hotrodders who have installed EGR systems on smallblock V8 engines that were built with too high compression for specifically this purpose.

A 35 year old catalytic converter, in most jurisdictions, can and should be replaced with a modern equivalent that will flow better, both because it's not got 35 years of particulates in it and because it's just better.

Manifold air injection does cost basically nothing in terms of power. And on our spider engines where it injects right into the exhaust port where the exhaust gasses are still incandescent hot, it probably even works. Other systems that inject air later in the exhaust system are just diluting the exhaust.

I admit the smog pump hardware can be a hassle.


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