Book available in a hardcover version

[hayesbd]

Shucks I just put it on the droid today

I didn't mean to suggest that the book is disappointing. Far from it! I recommend it highly!

[bradartigue]

Brad,

I received your book as a Christmas present and it's a welcome addition to my stash of info. However, I have found something you might want to look into regarding the cooling system. On page 172, you mention that all cars later than 1969 had the external thermostat. However, this does not appear to be the case for the 132 series engines. I have the official shop manual and it shows for my 1973 USA version 1592cc (132 AC.040.3) a cross sectional view that very clearly shows the in-head thermostat. It also shows different coolant passages in the head for all of the 125 engine variants with the external thermostat. My shop manual doesn't go beyond 1974, but the 1974 132 A 1.040.4 (1756cc) also shows the internal thermostat. Perhaps all the 132 engines have internal thermostats? Mine even has the oddball integral thermostat-in-housing arrangement.

I would be reluctant to switch to an external thermostat if the cylinder head does not have the additional passage to the area once occupied by the thermostat on 132 engines. What are your thoughts?

My car does not overheat at all, but there are some odd temperature fluctuations when using the heater that do not occur otherwise.

Thanks,
Brian

You're correct, I need to make an update. I honestly didn't know FIAT reverted back to the in-head thermostats, but apparently they did for the 1592 engine in 1973 and the first year of the 1756cc in 1974. From what I'm looking at this morning:

1966 - 1969 1438cc in-head thermostat
1970 - 1971 1438cc in-head or bypass thermostat*
1972 - 1608cc - bypass thermostat
1973 1592cc - in-head thermostat
1974 1756cc - in-head thermostat
1975 - 1985 - 1756cc and 1995cc - bypass thermostat

* 1970 and 1971 are a bit confusing here; the cars appear to have been delivered with an in-head thermostat up to engine number 176338. An updated head was also made available, and if you follow the parts books you would have replaced the head with the new one and added the bypass thermostat. There isn't a specific instruction for this except in following the numbers, but it makes sense - my 1438 had a serial number in the 138000 range, with the head replaced and a bypass thermostat.

FIAT tended to make references like "from head 176338" in the service manuals, and then in the parts books you won't find that number, but a reference to a spares number, or a reference to the part number. It can be terribly confusing if you're seeking cold stock originality.

There likelihood that a bypass or in-head thermostat will make much of a difference is small - these changes were made to address a problem with the cars blowing head gaskets. If you look at the service letters you'll get an idea that at the same time FIAT was cautioning dealers on not correctly torquing gaskets, installing them wrong, etc. There are heat differences in the head if you use one or the other, but whether those really were the cause of overheating and gasket failures isn't something I know. If anything I like the bypass thermostat because the in-head one is a bit hard to get to and the head is very soft - many have been stripped. I say go with the original configuration for your engine and you'll be happy.

Thanks for the info and if you want to continue the conversation please email me; posting on this forum isn't something I do often any longer, though I do check to acknowledge errors/etc in my diagrams and books. Thanks for buying a copy of the book, I hope it helps keep your Spider going.

[gandyrail]

Yep I am enjoying the brouse as well especially reading the stuff on FI closely