Engine Maintenance and Modification Bradley Artigue

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FIAT 124 Spider Engine Maintenance + Modification The block mounted distributor on Spiders made prior to 1971 has approximately 5 degrees of fixed advance with a maximum of 29 degrees of variable advance. The advance increases in a linear manner to its maximum at 3500 RPM. The camshaft mounted distributor on the 1971-72 Spider has approximately 5 degrees of fixed advance with an additional 24 degrees of variable advance. The variable advance increases in a linear manner from approximately 0 degrees at 850 RPM to 31 degrees at 4300 RPM. The 1974 – 1978 distributor has approximately 10 degrees of fixed advance with the first (starting) set of points and 0 with the second (running) set (at 850 RPM). Normal running occurs on the first of points, with centrifugal advance to a maximum 36 degrees at 3500 RPM. The running points are activated when full oil pressure is reached and the water in the intake manifold passages begins to increase. Dave Voss, a FIAT owner who took the time to disassemble and understand the differences in the 1979-1985 vacuum advance (electronic) distributors, noted the following: Given the age of these distributors, and the high likelihood that swaps and rebuilds have occurred along the way, your [electronic] distributor could be any one of 6 combinations: 47º total = 33º mechanical + 14º vacuum 43º total = 33º mechanical + 10º vacuum 33º total = 33º mechanical + 0º vacuum (failed or disconnected) 36º total = 22º mechanical + 14º vacuum 32º total = 22º mechanical + 10º vacuum 22º total = 22º mechanical + 0º vacuum (failed or disconnected) The distributor top plate, under the rotor, is stamped with the degrees of mechanical advance. The vacuum canister is also marked. Generally speaking the replacement parts available today are for the 49-state version and, unless pinging or knocking occurs during operation, the 49-state is appropriate for all Spiders. The electronic system also fits earlier models and is often found under the hood of many older Spiders. To recap, ignition advance is a crucial concept in tuning. A recommended approach is to set your engine “by the book” and, as you understand more about your vehicle and your driving needs, begin to adjust “by the ear” or to the maximum advance. FIAT distributors interchange easily between vehicles, so the advantages of an electronic system on an older motor may be appealing, or using a single-point distributor on a midyear Spider. 9.5 Ignition Electrical Diagrams Note: These diagrams are excerpts from the electrical system diagrams I have produced for each FIAT Spider model year. The diagrams are available online at http://www.artigue.com/fiat. 72
FIAT 124 Spider Engine Maintenance + Modification Figure 44: Ignition Electrical Diagram for the 1967-1973 Spider IGNITION SWITCH BROWN/ WHITE 15/54 PINK C40 GREEN LT BLUE/ BLACK +B C9 1 3 DISTRIBUTOR 1 2 30 87 87a GREEN /BLACK D C15 2 4 3 4 BROWN IGNITION MODE RELAY 128/2 Figure 45: Ignition Electrical Diagram for the 1974-1978 Spider 73
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Engine Maintenance and Modification Bradley Artigue

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