modified 1971 124 Spider
Posted: April 8th, 2007, 5:47 am
I bought this 1971 124 Spider in 2003 after my 1970 model was totalled in an accident.
It ran, but barely, and needed every form of maintenance imaginable. It was totally stock and had a tired 1608cc Twin Cam. Since then I had slowly modified almost every major component of the car.
The exterior was repainted white and the rectangular US market sidemarker lights were deleted on the rear and substituted by round sidemarkers/turn signals on the front. I like a clean look so the luggage rack and all emblems were removed and the holes filled.
The interior received new carpet, a vinyl covered/stitched dash, Abarth steering wheel and Abarth-ish seats.
I had a "1985.5" Spider parts car, so a lot of parts got transferred to the 1971: steering rack along with the different steering column and its support to position the steering wheel at a more horizontal angle; dead pedal; short shift lever; 250mm brake discs (stock 124 is 227mm) with better calipers.
Suspension modification include 14x6" Maserati Biturbo wheels, 25mm front swaybar, 15mm Toyota Celica rear swaybar, and crossmember braces (see steering rack pic). The stock 4.3:1 rear end gears were substituted for 3.9:1 ones along with a Hungarian made LSD. I am
originally from Hungary and know people there that rally Ladas, which used the same differential as a 124, and they make their own LSD.
I removed the 2000 engine form the wrecked 1970 model and rebuilt it with 8.9:1 CR pistons and decked the block 1.25mm to get 9.8:1 CR. It has Total Seal gapless piston rings, a ported head with 43mm intake and 37.5mm exhaust valves, and 40/80 cams. Right now it breathes through a 32/36 Weber carb, but future plans include programmable FI with throttle
bodies. The exhaust was difficult, as the stock downpipe or aftermarket header does not clear the steering rack. I found a 4 into 1 Fiat 131 header that fit and cleared the 'framerail' box section by a few mm and mated it to a custom 50mm diameter system with a resonator and a universal
ANSA muffler. I tried it without the resonator, but it was too loud for daily driving.
Future plans include a custom made 4-2-1 header.
I live in Texas where it's over 35 C from June to September, so a custom made A/C system was fitted. I never liked the underdash units, so I put a HVAC box behind a 124 Coupe upper console, as that had 2 round vents. A universal Sanden AC compressor was mounted on an aluminum bracket, which workks with a universal high efficiency condenser, along with an aluminum radiator and universal fan to better deal with the heat
load from the engine. The drier is behind the right headlight, so the only thing in the engine compartment is the compressor with a hose going forward and one going to the firewall, which gives a much cleaner look than the dealer installations. This AC system took about 4 months to build, it's a lot easier to describe than to build! It added less than 20 kg to the weight of the car if one includes the weight savings from the aluminum radiator and aftermarket fan.
Right now I am building a new 124 gearbox with 5th gear from a Polski Fiat, which will give a 0.80:1 5th gear insted of the stock 0.88:1. Ih had to have a few things machined, but it's almost ready to be put back together. When the old gearbox comes out an aluminum flywheel will be installed, along with an aluminum crankpulley that has an underdrive for the alternator/waterpump, and an overdrive for the AC.
Future plans include a custom made rollbar, programmable fuel injection, and storage compartments instead of the rear seatbottom.
All the work was done by me except for machining operations.
thanks,
Csaba
It ran, but barely, and needed every form of maintenance imaginable. It was totally stock and had a tired 1608cc Twin Cam. Since then I had slowly modified almost every major component of the car.
The exterior was repainted white and the rectangular US market sidemarker lights were deleted on the rear and substituted by round sidemarkers/turn signals on the front. I like a clean look so the luggage rack and all emblems were removed and the holes filled.
The interior received new carpet, a vinyl covered/stitched dash, Abarth steering wheel and Abarth-ish seats.
I had a "1985.5" Spider parts car, so a lot of parts got transferred to the 1971: steering rack along with the different steering column and its support to position the steering wheel at a more horizontal angle; dead pedal; short shift lever; 250mm brake discs (stock 124 is 227mm) with better calipers.
Suspension modification include 14x6" Maserati Biturbo wheels, 25mm front swaybar, 15mm Toyota Celica rear swaybar, and crossmember braces (see steering rack pic). The stock 4.3:1 rear end gears were substituted for 3.9:1 ones along with a Hungarian made LSD. I am
originally from Hungary and know people there that rally Ladas, which used the same differential as a 124, and they make their own LSD.
I removed the 2000 engine form the wrecked 1970 model and rebuilt it with 8.9:1 CR pistons and decked the block 1.25mm to get 9.8:1 CR. It has Total Seal gapless piston rings, a ported head with 43mm intake and 37.5mm exhaust valves, and 40/80 cams. Right now it breathes through a 32/36 Weber carb, but future plans include programmable FI with throttle
bodies. The exhaust was difficult, as the stock downpipe or aftermarket header does not clear the steering rack. I found a 4 into 1 Fiat 131 header that fit and cleared the 'framerail' box section by a few mm and mated it to a custom 50mm diameter system with a resonator and a universal
ANSA muffler. I tried it without the resonator, but it was too loud for daily driving.
Future plans include a custom made 4-2-1 header.
I live in Texas where it's over 35 C from June to September, so a custom made A/C system was fitted. I never liked the underdash units, so I put a HVAC box behind a 124 Coupe upper console, as that had 2 round vents. A universal Sanden AC compressor was mounted on an aluminum bracket, which workks with a universal high efficiency condenser, along with an aluminum radiator and universal fan to better deal with the heat
load from the engine. The drier is behind the right headlight, so the only thing in the engine compartment is the compressor with a hose going forward and one going to the firewall, which gives a much cleaner look than the dealer installations. This AC system took about 4 months to build, it's a lot easier to describe than to build! It added less than 20 kg to the weight of the car if one includes the weight savings from the aluminum radiator and aftermarket fan.
Right now I am building a new 124 gearbox with 5th gear from a Polski Fiat, which will give a 0.80:1 5th gear insted of the stock 0.88:1. Ih had to have a few things machined, but it's almost ready to be put back together. When the old gearbox comes out an aluminum flywheel will be installed, along with an aluminum crankpulley that has an underdrive for the alternator/waterpump, and an overdrive for the AC.
Future plans include a custom made rollbar, programmable fuel injection, and storage compartments instead of the rear seatbottom.
All the work was done by me except for machining operations.
thanks,
Csaba