Opinions on the 1438 DOHC engine

[AquinoFR]

I know that thier have been endless discussions about the various engine sizes amongst the various 124 spider series but I wanted to see what your opinions/experiences have been with these engines.

I currently have a 1969 Fiat Spider with the original 1438cc. When it was time to rebuld the engine I considered getting an 1800 or even the 1608. However, I was so impressed with this little engine that I decided to rebuilt it from the bottom end up.

Therefore, this is what I currently have set up...

Bored .040 over
New rings
Stock Cams
Rebuilt head
32/26 DFEV carb
Electonic Distributor from a 79 Lancia Beta (direct fit)
Stock exhaust (soon to install a dual tip sport Ansa muffler)

So, my question is how much HP do you think I'm getting. I believe stock was rated at 94 HP? I know that the 1438cc lacked torque compared to the later engines....

Any other recommendations at this point if I decided to make the little screamer faster.. As of now, the engine is pretty peppy considering its size.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

John

[azruss]

a high performance exhaust might give you a little more. not sure it would be worth the money as the factory system is decent for that motor. The big issue with that motor is lack of torque. Anything you do to give you more horses is at the expense of torque. Adjustable cam pulleys would allow you to fine tune the motor if you are willing to go to dyno tune.

[wmausbach]

John,
Good for you. My third Fiat was a 69 Coupe and I raced it with good results. I've had all the sizes and still love the 1438 as it is enjoyable to run it it up to 7000 rpm.

I have one now that I going to rebuild as a gas mileage car as I will be doing minor performance mods like higher compression. One thing that I have budgeted is coatings to reduce friction and increase HP a little bit. I'm putting it in my 81 spider and I going to run the stock injection.

The mods you have planned are very good but I agree the adjustable cam gears you need to get top performance. You can reduce the overlap and get better torque for everyday driving. Thats my plan so I can pull the higher gear I'm installing to maximise gas mileage.

Wayne in Houston

[So Cal Mark]

I doubt you're seeing any more than the stock rating and may even be a few hp less than that rating. Start lightening that car as much as possible and try to lessen the rolling resistance and keep away from steep hills unless you're headed down

[AquinoFR]

Where could I get the adjustable cam gears and how much of a difference will this make on a 1438 in your opinion.. I would be willing to get this.

Thanks all..

[fiatfactory]

.

[spiderrey]

Sorry, but I dont believe that the 1438 was rated that high anywhere. I had one and I cant believe it was detuned for the U S market at such a huge loss in power.

[Redline]

It was most certainly 90ps in Europe.

[fiatfactory]

Sorry, but I dont believe that the 1438 was rated that high anywhere. I had one and I cant believe it was detuned for the U S market at such a huge loss in power.

you're a twat

[wmausbach]

Steve is right. I have an original manual with the North American supplement. The hp is 90 DIN. As far as a stock car, the 1438 had the fastest 0 to 60 time (Car & Driver) until the F.I. 2 liter. Now it took using the full rev range as max hp was at 6500 with redline at 7000. It was also helped with the closest ratio gearbox of all the 124 series. If your 1438 didn't preform it was not up to spec's.

The 1608, 1756, and the carbed 2 liter had a combination of extra weight, poorer manifolds, and emission tuning to restrict performance in the stock specification.

Wayne in Houston

[spiderrey]

I got my car from the original owner. I dont think the engine was ever out of the car till I removed it and sold it. It might have been a lil tired. But it ran fine didnt leak or smoke. I had to rev the crap out of that thing to get it going fast. I read an article where they compared the 1438 to a 1608 car in 71, and the 71 was faster , not by much though. It might of had a high hp rating, but the torque rating had to be dismal.

[Redline]

As far as a stock car, the 1438 had the fastest 0 to 60 time (Car & Driver) until the F.I. 2 liter.

Ah, but that's because you didn't get our nice 1608 with twin IDFs.

[fiatfactory]

.

[Daniel]

....or the cams, or the compression, or the inlet valve size of the 125BC.000 engine...

and don't try and tell me the cams are "all the same" as that's just incorrect... some guy did a cam comparision based on a sample of two and now the 26/66 euro cam is a myth ....

SteveC

All the cams are the same that made it over here in the US I've checked the only TC Fiat cam that had more
anything were the early 1438 a tad bit more duration not all of them only the first generation Cams. As for Euro
Cams I couldn't tell you because we never had them but It's not important to me factory spec is blah if you want
more power go with better profiles from companies that know how to shape a cam lobe! 1960s technology was very
limited vs 1980-90s I'm assuming this is when companies stopped developing profiles for the Fiat 131, 124 and
Lancia cars.

[djape1977]

in fact, i've just installed cams from 1999. lanchia HPE 1.8 into 1970. 1608 engine...