'73 Fiat Abarth 124 Rally - project

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miro-1980
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Re: '73 Fiat Abarth 124 Rally - project

Post by miro-1980 »

Charles,

Thank you very much indeed !

I have send an email to the seller , to make sure this will fit my US version.

If he confirms I will take these panels for my 124 !

APPRECIATE YOUR HELP

Miro
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miro-1980
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Re: '73 Fiat Abarth 124 Rally - project

Post by miro-1980 »

TomLouwrier wrote:Miro, good to see you back!

Just did a quick search and find OMP lists roll cages for the 124 Abarth. They have dealers in Germany but 2 in Poland as well.
Haven't found a German producer though. Will have another look this weekend.

gr
Tom
Tom ,

Thank you my friend. If you find Polish dealers this will be fine as well.

They may sell it with a bit of a markup but at least this is done locally ,and if there is a problem it will bve easier to deal with.

Miro
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Guy Croft
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Re: '73 Fiat Abarth 124 Rally - project

Post by Guy Croft »

I heard from Mick Wood FIA are increasing the tube size for cages, check it out..

G
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miro-1980
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Re: '73 Fiat Abarth 124 Rally - project

Post by miro-1980 »

Guy,

This is very important. Will check it out and report

In the mean time ... alu door panels
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Thanks Charles.

Miro

PS: will put the roll cage on hold until the new FIA policy is clarified
M
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miro-1980
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Re: '73 Fiat Abarth 124 Rally - project

Post by miro-1980 »

Since we are at it ,

Anybody knows if alu fuel tanks ( replicas of early originals of gr 4 ) are available anywhere >
gr 4 .jpg
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replica.jpg
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Rgds

Miro
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TomLouwrier
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Re: '73 Fiat Abarth 124 Rally - project

Post by TomLouwrier »

PM about OMP roll cage for 124 and agents in Poland sent, Miro

:-)
Tom
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miro-1980
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Re: '73 Fiat Abarth 124 Rally - project

Post by miro-1980 »

Hi friends,

Here is a small project status update.

We have collected most of the parts and are on good track to obtain the rest.

Key parts we are still working on are the gr 4 tank and the gr 4 hard top (both currently ordered) . The 1.8 engine is already it will be build early January. The gear box will be original ( the regulations require original housing and original gear ratios) and but much reinforced for rally conditions.

The aluminum skins for the doors are absolutely fantastic. Perfect workmanship!!! Very high quality indeed!!!
For safety reasons we will fit onto the doors honey comb bars to reinforce ot and protect the crew from a side impact

We have all switches and gauges for the dash, too. So the dash is currently build planned and will be build starting after Christmas.

The car was recently stripped form all interior in preparation for body work to include: lowering seat mounts, replacing parts of rusted driver side floor plates , fitting a new current FIA specs safety cage, fitting of the hard top, old style rear lights, aluminum door skins, body weld reinforcements, fitting of the gr 4 fuel tank, relocating the battery, etc, etc.

We will replicate the original gr. 4 suspension arms to install copies. The originals will be hand in a garage wall as as decoration. (Recently one suspension arm "X reinforcements" on 131 Abarth was diagnosed to be half cracked. We fixed weld it before a rally but it reminded me these parts are all original and after so many years of being subject to normal rally "wear and tear" should be used with utmost care. We will also replicate the ones on 131 and use copies hanging the originals as "trophies" on the wall.

The current plan for the car to be rally ready at the end of March. This is very ambitious, but if you are not ambitious you never finish the project. Even if we get it ready a bit later than we currently plan we should be able run half of the 2016 rally season on this car.

Incidentally, all signs on the sky indicate we will have a Poland Historic Rally Cup with at least seven rallies each season. After several years of trying to get it under way is actually seems we will have it in 2016.

The rallied will be organized in FIA European Historic Rally Championship fashion the same categories same scoring and classification rules with two extra categories one for cars modified in excess of strict FIA historic car rules and one for so modified Polish and former COMECON block cars.

The rallies will require basic national rally sporting license. The rules, however, are written in such a manner ( I wrote them !) to allow for demonstration drives [for those who do not have such licenses and do not want to get them] as well as to allow earning such licenses for those who do not have them but would like to get them. [They will have to run six rallies without time measurement and pass a standard license exam.]

We have collected a nice group of 70 crews ready to start in this new rally series with cars between 1931 and 1990.

Among most interesting cars already enlisted there are such beauties as gr3 Lancia Fulvia Coupe 1300 of 1965, a gr 1 SAAB 96 V4 1500 of 1977 , gr 4 Ford Escort Mk2 1979 , as well as gr 2 Mercedes 280 CE "Ingvar Carlsson" replica of 1980, MGA Coupe of 1957, gr A Subaru Legacy 4WD turbo of 1990 and gr 4 Audio Quattro (short) of 1976.

I am not mentioning scores of Polski Fiats 125 and 126, Polonez as well as Wartburgs , Dacias, Zastavas, Fiat 500 Abarths, Fiats 128 coupe rally, etc, etc, etc.

What surprised me the most is how quickly our rally series became popular among rally organizers ( even before the formal decision has been announced !) We planned 5 rallies a year and now I have to choose from between 15 which want to run our series.

The series is historic not only in name. We want our and international and Polish rally masters and people of special importance to Historic Sports to appear as Star Guests at reach of our rallies. I hope that Guy Croft will accept such invitation one day.

At the end of this "short" update let me post a recent picture form the last rally of the season in Poland ( St. Barbara Rally) and wish GC as well as all of friends on this forum Very Merry Christmas and the Best Sports Season in The New Year
St Barbara Rally.jpg
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Miro
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Guy Croft
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Re: '73 Fiat Abarth 124 Rally - project

Post by Guy Croft »

well, dear Miro

I liked your update, so at least two of use still read the site!

Seasons Greetings my dear friend,

very sincerely,

G
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cormac
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Re: '73 Fiat Abarth 124 Rally - project

Post by cormac »

I read the site almost everyday and hope to use all the information gleaned from all the posters on the site...the only hurdle is monetary for my sons resto mod (1976 Fiat Spider), I have the shell (rust free), rotisserie all designed and cut, just waiting for welding, twin 45 DCOE's in hand and in process of rebuilding, choice of 4 engine blocks, and a bunch of great ideas

I do have until his college graduation in late spring of 2017 so am still not discouraged...just arrive home Sunday from a drive Syracuse NY, about 2800 miles to Oregon...my son attends Colgate University in NY and wanted to bring his car home (a 1987 BMW 635CSI, bought with is summer earnings 2 summers ago for $4000, 90K original miles), we left Syracuse Friday last at 4 PM, had a 6 hour stint in the snow averaging 25 to 40 MPH and a 26 mile stretch of snow storm in Oregon on Sunday (about 20 mph with a 6 mile 6 degree descent to finish off snow), otherwise uneventful...a 48 hour drive from door (bus station where he picked me up) to home, giving his Mom a hug

it is going to be a good Christmas...he will be going to NZ, doing a semester abroad at U of Otago beginning Feb. (computer science)

sorry about the travelogue...started out wanting to let Guy know I check the site pretty much daily and appreciate wholeheartedly all who contribute especially GC ((hey Guy, sorry I did not send radiator "T"s, did not have the funds and too embarrassed to ask for shipping $$, I know, silly of me : )

Happy Holidays all,

Dave
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Guy Croft
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Re: '73 Fiat Abarth 124 Rally - project

Post by Guy Croft »

Thank you for your nice note Dave

warmly appreciated, in the spirit it was sent,

very sincerely,

G
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miro-1980
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Re: '73 Fiat Abarth 124 Rally - project

Post by miro-1980 »

Friends, If some was looking for a targa hard top for his 124 spider - look no more.

Building a gr 4 replica forces me to get rid of my finest possession related to my 124 spider : the 124 Kobler targa type hard top.

For 900 Euro plus shipping I will part with it.with much regret .... and replace it with a replica full gr 4 hardtop.

Hate doing it , because it really is the part I enjoyed the most .
side targa.jpg
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Along with it goes my half cage ... ( 400 euro). It is a roll bar with supports to rear wheel arches, crossmember for belts and a diagonal support. (will post pictures later this year (!)

The reason I am not putting this on "for sale" is to offer the fans of this project the first shot at it.

Rgds

Miro
side top  targa.jpg
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miro-1980
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Re: '73 Fiat Abarth 124 Rally - project

Post by miro-1980 »

Destroy and rebuild !

This recently popular (here) motto is something I would almost believe having recently seen my car being prepared for a gr 4 conversion popular.

The last time , juts before leaving this at my mechanics it looked like this:
before .jpg
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and now it look like it is completely demolished :

There a hole instead of a fuel tank:
after5.jpg
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There is no roof and no half cage I recently had custom made :
after4.jpg
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There is no seats , no central console and the dash looks mutilated:
after 3.jpg
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But looks worse is my "new engine" :
new engine 3 .jpg
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new engine 5 .jpg
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The only good news is the engine casting number :
new engine 2 .jpg
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Well, what does it tell you? Does it have to get worse before it gets better?

No , not at all. It just points to the fact that the actual work on the car conversion to gr 4 has just begun (after a year of collecting parts).


The new parts additions are: a gr 5 hard top (complete with polycarbonate rear window) and a VDO speedo (from OBR).

Re speedo; In 131 I have put en electronic speedo and it keeps failing . Not the electronics , mind you but the sensor which is on the tunnel and reads off of a magnet located on the short shaft. During every rally the sensor is shaved of by the shaft(magnet) and the speedo works no more. Need for a speedo is obvious ( required by law) . I could do without it as the car has a lifetime MOT , but I have no senses of the speed I am driving and obeying the speed limit on open roads between special stages is not easy without a speedo. Andrzej Jaroszewicz 124 Abarth had a standard 124 spider speedo mounted like this :
jaro speedo.jpg
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My speedo is like this :
new  speedo..jpg
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.

It is a bit smaller ( only 80mm diameter) and should fit nicely placed centrally under the dash. It does not have integrated turn signal control , lights on and high beam indicator lamps. These will be placed on the new dash. But is has a daily mileage counter and an integrated "zero" knob, making it pretty small and easily fit where I want to put them .

I am also looking at a power assisted steering set ( from 124 ). I am credibly told this set was taken off a 124 spider. I know with 100% certainty that no 124 spider had a power steering ever , so this must be some sort if conversion. I am however willing to look at it consider it based on my 131 Abarth experience. Turning a steering wheel in this car requires the strength of two mules and an elephant ( and I humbly submit - I am neither). I do not mind problems in parking the car but when you have to turn the wheels quickly during a special stage - no can do. NO way can it be done quickly. The 124 spider on 205x13 tires delivers a similar problem. I am very anxious to see it. When I get my hands on it I will post some pictures and we will figure out what it is and if this will do the trick.
I know that hydraulic power steering can take up to 4 horsepower but the electric power assisted steering is out if the question. If the assembly is, however form pre -1991 period I might consider it.

I will also have to so something about my 131 hard turning without destroying its historic setup - if possible ( or start working out in a gym ...

Happy New Year everyone!

Miro
Last edited by miro-1980 on December 30th, 2015, 10:09 pm, edited 4 times in total.
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Guy Croft
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Re: '73 Fiat Abarth 124 Rally - project

Post by Guy Croft »

"the ugliness of your "beloved targa hardtop" and American "uber-bumpers" ... is matched only by the ugliness of the wheels dear Miro!

I am sure the view from the driver seat is better!

The sooner you turn this "ugly duckling" hybrid into a Gp4 replica the better!!

G
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miro-1980
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Re: '73 Fiat Abarth 124 Rally - project

Post by miro-1980 »

Dear Yankee Lover,

See that your British adverse partiality to the American Revolution has interfered with your sense of beauty...

See my post placed in between ... Ugly Ducking no more ...

BTW : the targa hard top is the best thing to have on a 124 spider if you do not ruin your car by converting it into a gr 4.... and the wheels you do not like so much are the best looking 14" wheels for a "civilian" spider. These are original magnesium Cromodora CD 31.... ( also will go on sale , however...)

Rgds

Miro

PS: On a serious note : is the oil pump on an 1800 the same as in 2.0 ? I have two 2.0 oil pumps ready for conversion, just want to make sure this will do. Also, my 1.8 block is "132" so the spider sump I have ( brand new) has the holes exactly in the same spots as for 2.0 which means my 124 sump will work. Plan to ship it it to you first week of January.

thank you
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Guy Croft
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Re: '73 Fiat Abarth 124 Rally - project

Post by Guy Croft »

... is the oil pump on an 1800 the same as in 2.0 ?

Nope

G
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