Mazda Talk Forums

I really like the 124 in person. It has all of the good points of the ND design, with just enough classic Fiat design cues to make it unique. Really like the wheels, too. But you're right about the exhaust -- that tailpipe has to go! I'd love to see a black muffler under there with small diameter twin polished tips, for an old-school Monza exhaust look. Something like your ND SuperStreet twin tip with the can painted flat black

WOW, found some of the extra weight!

The Fiat Battery is looks like a BEAST....because it is! Once all the brackets are added (not shown here), the weight is over 39 pounds! Stock ND battery with the brackets is only 26 pounds.....13 pounds less! Once we get our Light Battery Kit modified to work in the Fiat we will be saving about 36 pounds on just the battery. Given that is all weight high in the nose of the car it will make a nice difference.

Fiat 124 with our Progress Springs and 17x8 tungsten wheels with 235/40/17 Toyo R1R Tires.

Fits perfect, looks awesome!

Dropped over 52 pounds of weight today from our Fiat 124!

Seriously, that is HALF the amount the Fiat is heavier than the ND Miata...gone in ONE DAY.

Did it with just our front two-piece brake rotors, caliper conversion, and light weight battery kit.

Car now rides BETTER than stock thanks to big cut in unpsrung weight, and stops better thanks to four piston calipers, and handles better (front end response to all inputs and road imperfections is better).

Light Battery Installed in our Fiat~!

FULL SPECS on the battery:


PN: BTL35A480C

Deltran Battery Tender's® line of Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4)
engine start batteries are designed to replace Flooded, AGM, and Gel
cell lead acid batteries in Power Sport applications such as
Motorcycles, ATVs, Personal Water Craft, Lawn Mowers, Utility Vehicles,
and Dirt Bikes.

Features:

Voltage: 12V
Lithium Cranking Amps: 480
Case Dimensions: 6.49” (165mm) length x 3.38” (86mm) width x 5.11” (130mm) height
Operating Temp: 40 - 140°(F)
Weight: 3.75 lbs
Max Charge Rate: 10A
Agency Approvals: CE, UN 38.3

• 18 month Shelf Life
• Up to 80% lighter than Lead Acid Equivalent
• 5X the Life of a Lead Acid Battery
• Quad Terminal Configuration for ease of installation
• Can be mounted in any direction
• Lithium Batteries do not sulphate

Front Brakes Installed...YUMMY

For those who want to geek out on all the little differences between Fiat and ND. Turbo on the Fiat means they went with high temp silicon exhaust hanger for the midpipe, and the smallest NACA duct I think I have seen to push air past the downpipe below the turbo. Notice drive half shaft rubber dampers, which are not on the ND GT we have.

More..

Perhaps the most ugly stock exhaust ever...

After saving 52 pounds higher up in the Fiat we put just a couple back on with our complete braces, replaces the flimsy factory brace for much more effectiveness. Did this because I noticed a lot of cowl shake, our braces help tame the flex, makes this great little Roadster feel like it is SOLID!

Complete Fiat Stock Battery and bucket and hardware removed from car for install of our light battery kit.

Stock ABARTH exhaust from the Press Driving Day we attended.