Fiat 126 - BEC

[MonsterMouse]

Hello All,

Thought I would post you some pictures of my car being built, this project started in my head about 2 years ago, when I had a good look at several bike engined Minis, but I tend not to follow the crowd so started to look about for ideas for projects, I shortlisted Fiats 500/600 , nearly bought a Zastava Fiat 600 copy, considered a Hillman Imp, then set my heart on a Fiat (Mouse) 126.

I eventually secured a very nice "Barn find" - a 1974 126 , an air cooled example in white. The car was purchased online without me seeing it, and collected by Retropower, who I had asked to build it.


My engine is a Honda Blackbird unit with a Rotrex C30-84 running direct off the end of the crank, dry sumped, balance shafts removed , and while not brimming with certifiable history, was built as a spare engine at great cost for a guy racing Radicals. Rumour has it , it was dynoed at 330bhp.

The chassis is spaceframe , with unequal length front wishbones/coilovers/ Wilwood 4Pot calipers, Cortina Uprights. Escort 2.4 turn rack.

Main roll hoop is 45mm cds, while everything else is 38mm cds.

Rear trailing arms were custom made, the wheelbase being extended 50mm in the process, the car will have a Ford Escort track width, with a slightly longer 126 wheelbase.

The engine will be managed with a DTA S60 ecu, gearshift will be a mix of a Pingel shifter & Flatshifter Pro running from buttons on the steering wheel.

My intention is to use it on trackdays, and hopefully to take part in sprints and maybe if I have the bottle a hillclimb !

I realise I will end up in Sports Libre class, but this for me is more about fun than anything else.

So go easy on me , and look forward to seeing some of you in 2011 at one of the events.



Ivan

[minitici]

Hi Ivan,
Nice project - I often look at similar cars on Youtube competing in Italian autosolos and hillclimbs.

[Ian Johnson]

good to see something different

[redturner37]

Tasty looking project, and looks well engineered. Join a local club and get straight into speed events. You dont need big balls, just good eyes to see the hard spots that will hurt.....

[MonsterMouse]

Thanks for the replies and advice re a club, once its up and running, and back up North I will join a club.

I live Northumberland which is great if you like hills, sheep & snow, but motorsport events are thin on the ground.

Prescott/Elvington/Olivers Mount are most likely my nearest venues, I think Teesside autodrome has the odd sprint.



The Italian autoslalom cars caught my eye a while ago, after speaking with a Polish guy building a Lada hillclimb car, he pointed me at a Polish website which once I had seen them I wanted one...

Various donor cars were looked at, Imps, Zastavas, Fiat 500/600 (expensive scrap) and eventually a 126 was my choice.

It was bought online without me seeing it first, turns out to be a very good car, probably too good to do what we have done with it.


http://www.motonews.pl/forum/?op=fvt&t=121769&c=0&f=25


Most of the italian cars are modified standard shells, mine is a bit more trick with a full spaceframe.


Still look and sound great though..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-F4YLYpkaE

[redturner37]

[QUOTE=MonsterMouse;45011]Thanks for the replies and advice re a club, once its up and running, and back up North I will join a club.

I live Northumberland which is great if you like hills, sheep & snow, but motorsport events are thin on the ground.

Prescott/Elvington/Olivers Mount are most likely my nearest venues, I think Teesside autodrome has the odd sprint.
QUOTE]This time of year, all motorsports events are thin on the ground, however there are plenty of motorsports venues near you and Teeside is a must, a great track and well worth a visit. Prescott, unless you know differant is long way from you.....

[AndyMil]

Surely must mean Harewood? great to see something different

[MonsterMouse]

Originally Posted by AndyMil

Surely must mean Harewood? great to see something different

Yes I mean Harewood !! Only just over an hour from me ...


Also I did not realise Teesside was so good, thought it was karts with the odd sprint thrown in...


I spectated a sprint at Elvington, which I enjoyed but its more to take part in than watch. Next time I want to drive it.


We still have loads to do , I am spending money like its going out of fashion, next big purchases will be coilovers, wheels ,Kirkey seats, tyres and a dyno session, and whatever catches my eye at the Autosport show in January.

So while I may have the car in my garage in April 2011, there will still be plenty to do.


Here's Nat fabricating the rear trailing arms, he designed them himself, the plate is 4mm with added strengtheners inside the box. Sierra rear hubs, Mk4 Golf Calipers& handbrake with Mintex 1144 pads.

[The DOA]

Looks very similar to a project I have been saving for myself till after University so I will be watching this with interest!
Just wondering though, will you be putting any triangulation across the front end upper wishbone and shock mountings and across the front of the roll cage? I only ask as the rest of the frame looks pretty stiff but those areas will not be in their current layout but realise this is pretty early in the process.

[MonsterMouse]

Yes there are more stiffeners for the front end, and a further horizontal tube across under the scuttle area.