Fiat 131 Manifold on my 79 Spider

[sehovarter]

So, i have read just about every post on this awesome site discussing the joyous benefits of dumping all the 79 emissions crap and the stock carb and intake manifold and replace it with a 32/36 DFEV and a 1800 intake manifold. My carb is dying, so i am forced to make the upgrade, and excited too boot. The problem however, is 1800 manifolds are getting hard if not impossible to find. My locAl Fiat guy (has been my go to guy for the 26 years I have owned this car) has a manifold, with the smaller intake ports. Part # on the bottom is 132AC.1C.0000.40/5. Its in perfect shape, looks hardly used. My web research has found this is from a 131 - do i care? I live in Golden, CO, where the air ia thin, and have been reading all kinds of stuff on port matching, blah blah - all i want is a carb that works and any additional HP for my Fiat. Perhaps this is a question for Mark but anyone else who knows this intake and can tell me if I am ok before i purchase the carb and install, i would appreciate it. The attached link is exactly what i have ready to, only mine is in much better shape.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fiat-131-COUPE- ... 0983915168

Let me know - spring is just around the corner and i plan to have the car ready to go! Thank you

[BEEK]

holy! 340.00 for a 1800 manifold, i cant even think of the hundreds i threw away years ago. couldnt sell them for 35.00 go figure

[narfire]

Yes, that price is way out of line compared to what I had paid and sold in the past. I bought a 75 parts car that has complete running gear, doors ect... for less than what he is asking. I bought it for the engine and tranny.
$50-70 has been the price for a single plane last time I was paying attention a few years ago.

[sehovarter]

Yes, the price is laughable, but the link was only to show what i purchased here in Denver for $100. What i need to know now is are there any concerns or issues using the 131 intake with the small ports on my 79?

[BEEK]

the ports from a 131 and a 124 should be the same size as far as i remember. if they are very small, a little grinding will fix that. just remember make sure the manifold is a little smaller than the head or an exact match

[sehovarter]

Thanks Beek. The are slightly smaller than the head, and i have been reading up on port marching but might just bolt it on and see how much better it runs without worrying about that detail. My exhaust is already 4-2-1 and the engine only has around 20k miles since the rebuild. Last summer was filled with heat related problems for the car, when i drove and stopped on hot days, car would not restart until it fully cooled. Realized the fuel line brass fitting would loosen up when hot (it actually fell out on me!). That is when i started researching and found my setup is the worst of all fiats. If the new carb does not fix the heat issue, my next step is an electric fuel pump in the trunk, but i have a brand new mechanical pump as of last summer so i am doubtful fuel delivery is the culprit. We will see!

[Weelan]

I had a lot of issues getting my 79 to stop overheating. I had build up in my block and head, but you just did a rebuild so that should be fixed.

Do you have the heater core plumbed in still? If so that could be causing air bubbles and bad coolant flow. The thermostat could be holding air in.

I certainly don't know as much as most guys, but I don't think the intake will solve it.

[So Cal Mark]

I'm not aware of the 131 intake being smaller but it should work just fine. It's been quite awhile since I've taken apart a 131

[Daniel]

I'm not aware of the 131 intake being smaller but it should work just fine. It's been quite awhile since I've taken apart a 131

Its the same manifold! 100% Spider or 131