Presentation and questions Fiat 131 Abarth volumetrico

Competition engines and ancillaries - general discussion
232R10
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Presentation and questions Fiat 131 Abarth volumetrico

Post by 232R10 »

My name is David And I live in Spain, Seville, but I am of Granada. I am new in this forum. I would like to greet all the users of the Forum and to thank Mister Guy for providing me with the entry in your forum.

I have a Fiat 131 Abarth volumetrico and I want to prepare it to run in circuit, I would like to know what would be the adequate preparation to enter in circuit.

I would also like to general collect information and engine manuals for this car.

I ask forgiveness for the possible grammatical errors, I use google translator.

For reasons of work I can only connect at night, after closing my restaurant, I am not a vampire...

I wish you all users a merry Christmas and a happy new year!!

Many thanks and a cordial greeting to all users!!
GC_131
Guy Croft
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Re: Presentation and questions Fiat 131 Abarth volumetrico

Post by Guy Croft »

Welcome!

First I recommend you post some photos of the car & engine and tell us any alterations (tuning etc) that have been made..

Some people will not have seen one before, including me - I have only seen photos of the 8v supercharged 131 (Volumetrico)...

I have no idea of the history of those cars or why they were produced..

G
Guy Croft, owner
232R10
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Re: Presentation and questions Fiat 131 Abarth volumetrico

Post by 232R10 »

Ok, in the coming days I will ascend some photos to the forum. Also contribute with the information that I have on this model of car.

Regards, David.
GC_131
Will01
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Re: Presentation and questions Fiat 131 Abarth volumetrico

Post by Will01 »

Be interesting to see. Good luck in the search for info and build/preparation of the car.
Will
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Heli1996
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Re: Presentation and questions Fiat 131 Abarth volumetrico

Post by Heli1996 »

Hello 232R10,

I have just joined the Forum and I have an Abarth Volumetrico 131 2000cc 2P. This seems to be the official name from the advertisement I have seen. I understand that this model was created to deal with a small number of 131 Racing models that had remained un-sold in the dealer network. The cars were marketed by a few Italian dealers via a distribution channel run by Abarth's Sales Office. The model was produced by the addition of an Abarth kit which included the R10 Volumetric compressor of the production version of the Lancia Rally SE037. The use of this Abarth kit was then extended to a number of 4 door 131 Supermirafiori with a number of these being sold to the Portuguese police. I have seen various figures for production numbers which suggest 200 four door cars and 25 two door cars were produced. My car is from 1980. I am un-decided as to whether to make it a circuit racing car. It would have to be able to produce a minimum of 220bhp. My plan is firstly to fit some really nice alloy wheels as the standard ones are Fiat Strada ones with a different offset and not to my taste. I have bought a set of Cromodora CD68 style wheels from Group4 Alloys with Toyo R888R 195 50 15 tyres.
My car as it is now.  Bit of an ugly duckling.
My car as it is now. Bit of an ugly duckling.
IMG_3836.JPG (372.02 KiB) Viewed 35702 times
The Abarth kit for the Volumetrico.
The Abarth kit for the Volumetrico.
IMG_3839.JPG (381.81 KiB) Viewed 35702 times
Picture of a nice 131 Racing with CD68 wheels.
Picture of a nice 131 Racing with CD68 wheels.
14188635_1076461419055941_6570494332738998028_o.jpg (368.58 KiB) Viewed 35702 times
Brgds,
Simon
GC 133
Guy Croft
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Re: Presentation and questions Fiat 131 Abarth volumetrico

Post by Guy Croft »

MODEL POST!!!

Welcome to my forum Simon, thank you very much for joining as a paid member.

In a world where everything is expected to be free by the great 'illiterati' of this modern world I do wish a few more would! Not for the money, but just to say that it's worth it to get fact not guesswork or 3rd party hearsay...

The photos of your EXTREMELY rare 131 Volumetrico are super - esp the one with the forest backdrop - and I am very pleased you've asked one of the former owners of a very reputable Lincoln-based Alfa specialist firm to work on the car...

Look forward to more...

Very sincerely,

GC
Guy Croft, owner
PumaPhil
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Re: Presentation and questions Fiat 131 Abarth volumetrico

Post by PumaPhil »

That is one special car! Good choice of wheels too - although I am biased ;-)

Phil
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'If you think experts are expensive, you should try amateurs!'

A redline run my GC's engine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80nEhsJbH2w
Heli1996
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Re: Presentation and questions Fiat 131 Abarth volumetrico

Post by Heli1996 »

Hi Guys,
A little bit of progress. The car looks very different with the replica Cromodora CD68 wheels from Group 4 wheels.
IMG_4506.JPG
IMG_4506.JPG (651.93 KiB) Viewed 35402 times
The car is being serviced and made roadworthy as a first step and then we will get it on the rolling road to measure the performance as a bench mark before we do anything.

Brgds,
Simon
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Heli1996
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Re: Presentation and questions Fiat 131 Abarth volumetrico

Post by Heli1996 »

Hi Guys,

The car is now MOTD, Insured and taxed in the UK. I have taken it out on A roads and the motorway and it is a pleasure to drive. The car accelerates easily in any gear from 2000rpm and accelerates hard when you get to 4000rpm with the standard red line at 6000rpm.
The boost gauge doesn't seem to indicate any higher than 0.4 bar under hard acceleration.
I am taking the car for testing on the rolling road I use to get some benchmark torque and power curves. I will let you know how I get on.

All the best,
Simon
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Heli1996
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Re: Presentation and questions Fiat 131 Abarth volumetrico

Post by Heli1996 »

Hi Guys,

Here are the standard car test results:
image1.JPG
image1.JPG (125.68 KiB) Viewed 32825 times
image2.JPG
image2.JPG (98.6 KiB) Viewed 32825 times
image3.JPG
image3.JPG (103.62 KiB) Viewed 32825 times
Brgds,
Simon
GC 133
Guy Croft
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Re: Presentation and questions Fiat 131 Abarth volumetrico

Post by Guy Croft »

power and torque seem very low?

G
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Heli1996
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Re: Presentation and questions Fiat 131 Abarth volumetrico

Post by Heli1996 »

Hi Guy,
I think that the boost should be 6psi. I am only getting 4.5psi boost. With 6psi boost it should produce the claimed 138bhp/158ftlb. I am checking for obvious leaks like the boost gauge plumbing and the pop-off valve. The pop-off valve was gummed up and a suspected cause of a leak. It has been thoroughly cleaned, new o ring, new spring and lubricated with the correct oil.
I can confirm that the crank pulley has 29 teeth and the Volumetrico Supercharger pulley has 32 teeth.

Brgds,
Simon
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Guy Croft
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Re: Presentation and questions Fiat 131 Abarth volumetrico

Post by Guy Croft »

Hi Simon

have no wish to cause embarrassment but for the record your power and torque as shown are less even than and standard Lancia Volumex unit (VX for short) from the day, never mind a GC prepped one, and that with just a Volumex blower which did give about 5-6psi boost tops (depending on cams etc) - see OE curve for the Fiat Argenta 8v 2 liter VX unit attached. The Argenta, btw was a little bit more powerful than the Lancia Beta VX but only because it had a different blower drive ratio..

Please correct me if I am wrong (because I have never worked on a Volumetrico 131 - or even seen on except in photos..) but doesn't it have a larger blower than the VX units - capable of around 15psi boost?

I seem to recall putting member Eric Weston in touch with a Canadian client years ago from whom Eric bought a Volumetrico blower (as such, not an 037 one) and it was a much bigger unit than the VX... EW is the only person I know currently using that big blower on an 8v TC...

Eric and good friend and expert Tom McGaffigan in USA might like to help on this please? It was from Tom that I actually got the attached Fiat manual extract many years ago!!



((PS - I get so little free time these days, this written at home after a usual long and tiring day, I hope I haven't missed the point here and completely misinterpreted/misrepresented something. I can do that quite well.....!!))

Thanks,

GC
Attachments
VX standard curves - solid line.jpg
VX standard curves - solid line.jpg (1.07 MiB) Viewed 31581 times
Guy Croft, owner
Heli1996
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Re: Presentation and questions Fiat 131 Abarth volumetrico

Post by Heli1996 »

Hi Guy,
Thanks for your comments. The manufacturers figures I have seen for the 131 Volumetrico are 138/140 bhp. As you say, the power is well down but I am keen for realistic figures to be published. I think the rolling road I am using is conservative based on the results for other cars.
I am sure you see exaggerated figures all the time in racing and the manufacturers exaggerate somewhat too. Anyway, the engine is completely standard at 45,000KM and I think the plot is a good bench mark to start from. No embarrassment whatsoever.

Interesting that the Argenta was using 5-6psi boost. I was told that I should be getting 6psi boost and I am getting a maximum of 4.5psi.

The 131 Volumetrico blower (R10?) is quite a bit larger than the VX blower(R30?) and the bearings are lubricated with engine oil from a tapping next to what looks like the low oil pressure transducer (southwest of the breather). It is under-driven at 29:32 so rotates at 5438rpm at 6000 engine rpm.
I have read of a Volumetrico blower being spun at 8000rpm at 7200 engine rpm and working well.

The Volumetrico engine comes as standard with a low compression ratio of 7.5:1. My plan is to spin the Volumetrico blower at 8000rpm at 6000 engine rpm and control the boost in the manifold with a modern dump valve. I can change the maximum boost by changing the spring in the valve and I have three to choose from. The pulley ratio will be 29:23 and the new supercharger pulley will be finished in a week or so. I will then get the car on the same rolling road and let you know the result.

All the best,
Simon
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Heli1996
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Re: Presentation and questions Fiat 131 Abarth volumetrico

Post by Heli1996 »

Hello Guy,
Just a quick update before the dyno run on Tuesday this week.
Old and new supercharger pulleys:
IMG_0026.JPG
IMG_0026.JPG (96.02 KiB) Viewed 30898 times
New pulley,new 94 tooth belt (99 tooth before) and new tensioner pulley:
IMG_0029.JPG
IMG_0029.JPG (126.77 KiB) Viewed 30898 times
Guts removed from the pop-off valve and modern dump valve with various springs to limit boost:
IMG_0032.JPG
IMG_0032.JPG (141.84 KiB) Viewed 30898 times
New Bluetooth distributor to change ignition settings from your iPhone while sat in the car:
IMG_0024.JPG
IMG_0024.JPG (137.13 KiB) Viewed 30898 times
Boost has increased from 4.5psi to just under 10.5psi:
IMG_0030.JPG
IMG_0030.JPG (100.67 KiB) Viewed 30898 times
Spark plugs replaced with plugs that are one step cooler.

Fuel is Shell VMax with tetraboost added to get about 105 Ron.

Brgds,
Simon
GC 133
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