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Fiat 128 Story
Posted: March 13th, 2013, 7:47 pm
by philippe74
I started racing in historical french championship in 1998.
I started on a Ford Cortina as co-pilot for rallye and as pilot in a rallye and hill climb.
Later, unable to use this Fortina in competition (this car was not mine... my friend sold it) I bought a Alfa Romeo 2000 GT Veloce group 1 with whichI did rallies and hill climbs in the French championship of historic racing cars
After 3 years of pleasure I replaced by an Alfa-Romeo 1600 GT Veloce group 2
Great satisfaction with that Alfa! Very funny to drive and very powerful in its class.
Unfortunately I stopped competing for a few years and when I could return to this passion, I wanted to drive an original car not be seen in races in France.
When I was young I had a lot of fun to drive a Fiat 128 and I remembered that this model, sedan or coupe, had a nice results in competition.
So why and how began the history of my Fiat 128.
I looked on the internet long enough to find a model in good condition, not too rusty !!
Finally, I found one in Germany (thanks to the Internet) In France, all cars I founded was unfortunately very bad
After this purchase, the work of dismantling and preparation could begin.
Some pictures of this sweet green during disassembly and body preparation
***
Re: Fiat 128 Story
Posted: March 13th, 2013, 8:12 pm
by philippe74
If you are interested with the following story ( Engine, gear-box and suspensions preparations ) I can continue tu upload few pics ?
For the engine, you easily imagine I follow a lot informations I got on Guy Croft Forum !!!!
Philippe
Re: Fiat 128 Story
Posted: March 14th, 2013, 10:46 am
by Guy Croft
MODEL POST!
Good work Phillippe!
I really enjoy these step-by-step posts on car/engine and this one has plenty of interest and color!
I look forward to seeing more!
G
Re: Fiat 128 Story
Posted: March 15th, 2013, 11:57 pm
by philippe74
Thank you Guy !!
Now, few comments about suspensions
I will not go in the details ..it will be too long and not necessary because everybody knows what to do on that type of car :)
Rear Suspension
Shock Fiat Ritmo Abarth 125 modified to fit the top of the chassis. Polyurethane upper stops
Adding a leaf spring (3 total)
Adding spacers to lower the car
Nota: I began with 3 cm spacers then after few races I noticed it was better with 5 cm
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Spacers
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Re: Fiat 128 Story
Posted: March 16th, 2013, 12:00 am
by philippe74
Front Suspension
Rear Shock Fiat X 1/9 1500. Modified ends support to fit on the car
Suspension springs custom made by a company in Marseilles. Wire diameter increased, turns pitch reduced, increased stiffness
Triangles with polyurethane bushings
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Re: Fiat 128 Story
Posted: March 16th, 2013, 12:02 am
by philippe74
Brake
Identical to the original ….but new for sure !
Front discs and pads from EBC (Yellow compound DP4116)
Goodridge lines
Pressure limiter Summit Racing
Motul racing brake fluid
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Re: Fiat 128 Story
Posted: March 16th, 2013, 12:10 am
by philippe74
Gear box
4 original but short end ratio 11/53 (the smallest FIA approved)
Note: The first gear is too short, but it's good enough for the other 3
I had not enough money to buy a good set of pinions ...unfortunately
I had to modify the housing at the end of the box to allow room for a screw at extremity of shaft.
So I had to adapt a dedicated housing
Gear bracket is reinforced
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Re: Fiat 128 Story
Posted: March 16th, 2013, 12:15 am
by philippe74
Cylinder head
Inlet valve 40 mm
Exhaust valve 35 mm
- special, fully-shaped racing-spec 21-4N steel valves made in UK,
- 7 mm valve stem (chrome-plated)
3 angle seat cut
- reinforced valve springs
- lightened steel retainers
- chamber volume 26 cm³
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restrictor for oil in the camshaft box
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Re: Fiat 128 Story
Posted: March 16th, 2013, 12:22 am
by philippe74
Re: Fiat 128 Story
Posted: March 16th, 2013, 12:29 am
by philippe74
Re: Fiat 128 Story
Posted: March 16th, 2013, 12:36 am
by philippe74
Re: Fiat 128 Story
Posted: March 16th, 2013, 7:58 am
by philippe74
Exhaust
Collector 4x2x1
Custom exhaust pipes custom in stainless steel
Summit Racing Glasspack mufler
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Tail pipe ..But after 2 races I add a silencer
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Re: Fiat 128 Story
Posted: March 16th, 2013, 8:54 am
by philippe74
Miscellaneous:
Inlet manifold (similar to Alquati) + Weber 40 DCOE (2x)
CATcams camshaft 1900203 (299 / 299°) but I think it’s not aggressive enough ..
Vernier Pulley CATCams
Nippon Denso alternator (light)
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Aluminium spacer: this thin part is between cylinder head and camshaft box in order to move it up.
Due to the new length of the valves, I did'nt found correct thickness shims to adjust the valve; so I add this 1,5mm spacer
This part has been machined by water cutting. I copy the profile of camshaft housing on a paer, then I took dimensions on it to make my CAD drawing
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Throttle system made with a cable:
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*******
NOta: When engine has been finished, I put standard ram pipes but results after few races was not so good
So, I changed them for full radius models ..it was better. I keep them during one season of races (2011)
In 2012, I got interesting informations and I decided to make my ow, rampipe.
First, I machined auxiliary venturi
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I got a special rampipe for Citroen compétition and I copy internal shape
Also, I found my books in college when I was young .....:) ....and I applied some formulas
This allowed me to determine a profile that seemed interesting
I made the model according to that results
The inner profile of rampipe is exactly aligned with the shape of the auxiliary venturi.
I have no idea if this profile is" perfect" but I wanted to have fun and customize a little my work.
Primary outcomes were very good! I increased my max speed of 300 rpm and revving is more effective
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This is a view with rampipes I used during one year:
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Re: Fiat 128 Story
Posted: March 16th, 2013, 9:27 am
by philippe74
I use this 128 for 2 years now in the French Historical hill climb championship
I really enjoyed and got good results and correct standings results; I finished 5th in 2011 and 7th in 2012. There are many "big" car listed in this category, but a 128 is so easy to drive and can go quickly, especially if the track is complicated.
Thank you very much Guy Croft because I found many answers to my questions by reading this forum regularly
Below are some photos of the finished car in competition
First race in 2011:
I still have Yokohama tires
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Few months after, with large Toyo tires and intermediate rampipes (not final one)
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On that picture, you can see the car still stable on the front.With these suspension springs, this 128 is working very well!
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Last year, in Turckkeim, I used Michelin slicks and I have the custom rampipes since the third race of the year
Incredible results ...Engine was running very well
I noticed that it's not necessary to run over 8400-8500 RPM ...I have no more power
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