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PROJECT FIAT 124, Testing, Measurements, Dyno, etc

Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2016 9:08 am
by Brian
It begins!

My wife has nicknamed this one 'Sophia', it is her new daily driver. Goals similar to our old 2012 PRHT which was also her daily driver. In other words, add FUN at every level we can without pissing off the wife! That will likely mean moderate suspension mods, wheels and tires, perhaps our lightest brake rotors and calipers, and so much more. Excited to get it on the scales and get accurate weight, and then perhaps see how much weight we can get out of it (we got the parts to take over 50 lbs out easily).

Re: PROJECT FIAT 124, Testing, Measurements, Dyno, etc

Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2016 12:40 pm
by morrisg
Can you give us an estimated size of the front mount intercooler? Just curious as I know you will log the OBDII IAT (Intake Air Temp) when you do your dyno runs, so would be nice to see if there is any tendency to heat soak. Thanks for starting this thread, I'll be watching it closely to see if the 124 can be taken into "mini-Corvette" performance territory! (While keeping the car wife friendly, of course!)

Re: PROJECT FIAT 124, Testing, Measurements, Dyno, etc

Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2016 1:56 pm
by Brian
Picked up new project Fiat 124 today, ostensibly wife's new daily driver, already nicknamed: 'Sophia'. Welcome Sophia, fun begins today with spring swap, wheels and tires, etc.

It has only been almost THREE DECADES since my last Fiat 124!

Re: PROJECT FIAT 124, Testing, Measurements, Dyno, etc

Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2016 2:55 pm
by Brian
I did some freeway time with top up...and for anybody wanting the most quiet version of the ND/124 chassis....they want the Fiat. Particularly with the narrower 16 inch wheel/tires the ride is noticeably more quiet and smooth compared to ND, despite fact Fiat spring rates and sway bar rates are HIGHER (already pulled and measured a lot). Body lean is less than ND in stock form, though still rolls quite a bit, just not near as much as stock ND (rear sways on ND 11mm, on Fiat 14mm).

Re: PROJECT FIAT 124, Testing, Measurements, Dyno, etc

Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2016 4:50 pm
by Brian
Fiat springs vs ND springs. Length is the same, same coil count, but you know the Fiat springs are higher rate because they are heavier. These are rears.

Re: PROJECT FIAT 124, Testing, Measurements, Dyno, etc

Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2016 4:57 pm
by Brian
Noticed the Fiat battery is not the same as ND.

In fact, the Fiat battery is HUGE.

We may need to adjust our ND light battery kit to work here, but the payoff may be even bigger.

Re: PROJECT FIAT 124, Testing, Measurements, Dyno, etc

Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2016 8:42 pm
by morrisg
Did you get an overall weight before taking off things? Interested in the corner weights, too.

Looks like a FUN project! Thanks for all the new info!

Re: PROJECT FIAT 124, Testing, Measurements, Dyno, etc

Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2016 8:56 pm
by Brian
Boom...Baby Got Back.

This is FULL TANK of gas, no people in the car.

Re: PROJECT FIAT 124, Testing, Measurements, Dyno, etc

Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2016 4:25 am
by Brian
This is interesting, soft rubber noise absorbing cushion our ND GT did not have, but Fiat does.

Re: PROJECT FIAT 124, Testing, Measurements, Dyno, etc

Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2016 5:33 am
by Brian
Yep, fixing the ugly stock exhaust is on the list.