Great project; I'm looking to add one to my collection; thinking about a Honda engine swap; maybe a K20 or B18C; do you think it would work on this? I know I would probably need a different tranny
I heart your car. I just bought a 78 and my mind just blew when I saw this. I think I know where my paychecks are going to end up. I can't imagine trying to keep traction in that. Hell, when it's wet, even with the stock engine the back end wants to get loose all of the time. Driving it in snow must be near impossible.
Man I am doing the interior in a Cats Impala, and he is giving me a 1979 Fiat Spider, and I wanna place a Chevy V8 in it.... Why did you choose Ford? Do they have more clearance in the engine Compartment? I think this would be a very fun ride with a V8 in it.. Just Sayin'..... Oh and what obstacles am I going to run into? Are you mounting the Body to the Ford Chassis?
Man I am doing the interior in a Cats Impala, and he is giving me a 1979 Fiat Spider, and I wanna place a Chevy V8 in it.... Why did you choose Ford? Do they have more clearance in the engine Compartment? I think this would be a very fun ride with a V8 in it.. Just Sayin'..... Oh and what obstacles am I going to run into? Are you mounting the Body to the Ford Chassis?
@rockinfxguy1 Because I'm a Ford guy, the 5.0 is lighter then a Chevy especially with the aluminum heads, and the 5.0 is one of the best engines ever built. See my other video where I dropped a 5.0 into my '72 Chevy C10 as well..
Couldn't tell you how well a SBC would fit. I've owned two SBC's in trucks, the first slung a rod 6 months after I bought it, and the second slung a rod exactly one week after I bought it. I'll never own another Chevrolet powered vehicle..
Whats the status? I think it's a great idea. Was going back and forth between an alfa 164 motor and an rx7 rotary motor when my buddy gave me a '78 289 v8 ford motor. Gonna shove it in soon and would like any updates/videos ya got. Thanks. Jason
@Jfazio26 Car is just sitting. I haven't had the time to mess with it due to work and life in general. Hope to get it back on the road some time this summer.
@MavDude thats a bad ass little car man :D did you do any suspension and rearend upgrades? also did you have to do any fab work? was there any problems fiiting the motor? *breathes* finally was there any temp problems once the work was done?
How much cutting and fabricating did you have to do to get that engine in? Im looking to swap a V8, preferably 5.0, into a 78 Spider and need some info so i can plan it out and estimate the costs. Also did you have trouble getting the other parts to fit with that engine too? please respond it would be a great help!
I like it! I had a stock daily driver spider in the early 1990's then bought one with a bad engine for my project. I had a 351 Windsor mounted with shorty headers, radiator in the trunk with a louvered trunk lid, drive train incomplete then realized I had slut (literally) wife problems and had to sell everything and leave town. With today's knowledge I could just cook her into biofuel for my first burnout!
Free energy is finaly here!But some very powerfull ppl don't want you and me to be free from energy costs,Get a motor that works with the power of magnets only at LT-MAGNET-MOTORdotCOM ,Big change is comming soon!
I have got a very good hint for you to keeping the nice old Sports Engine in good shape with todays ultra dry eco fuels: Use 1:100 API TC two stroke oil / fuel mix as regular driving fuel, that keeps the old fuel-system gaskets, rubber parts, alloy parts etc... and cast iron metal surfaces of those vintage engines in excellent shape...and it also lubricates the valves and upper piston regions. Most Porsche vintage owners in Germany do so :) Also keeps carbs and Fi injectors clean as new!
I have the same car. My hood release cabe broke and I cant open the hood. Im thinking of maybe a wire thru to where the latch is and hooking the release mechinism . Wondering if you could do a vid so i can see the latch as to where to go with the wire. Or maybe you can figure it out and do a vid on it. Thanks man!...Robert
@bobcansee been a while since you posted this, but just wanted to say if you like your fiat, do yourself a big favor and get yourself a haynes service manual. can't vouche for the newer post chilton versions cause i haven't looked at any yet, but with old fiats haynes always used to be the best at showing every-single-part and how it all together. and be *very* careful who you have work on *anything* on your car, cause ital cars run itty bitty pars in very tight specs. i've seen,.. continued
@bobcansee ring lands "cleaned" by a shop which managed to widen them to the size for say, a chevy v-8. rings slapped around and shattered, seen fiat 850 aluminum heads that had 10.5:1 stock, shaved with a standard american v-8 grind (too many times) which shoots the compression ratio so far off the charts that head gaskets a blowing faster than you can order new ones, you name it. so be careful who you let touch your engine. anyways, if you still have the cable problem, i might...
@bobcansee be able to get you some pictures or something from my 124 if you need them. if you want me to, just email this name at hotmail. and mention something about fiats in the subject line so i know who in the world you are:P i'll have to climb over the coral/fence i had to build around it to satisfy the city, but i'd do it for a fellow crazy person who fell for one of these cars. lol :D
i bought a 124 back in the early 90's to do this. eventually got a 302 and a 5 speed (but no bellhousing and such yet) but haven't ever had a chance to go further than that. would really love to know what all you did to get it in there, cause i only ever got part way through the planning stage.
my dad had a sunbeam tiger II when i was a kid. LOVED that car.
those that don't get why someone would do this might do well to remember the v-8 sunbeams and ac cobras. both were based of 4 cyl cars:)
Where is the new video of this car in action? I want to see this thing completed and shredding rear tires! Also picking off dumbass Civic drivers with their hats on backwards would be priceless.
@MavDude Dang! This is my dream project. My cousin had a 124 Spyder and I was always bugging him to get a V8 in it. Hope you get more time someday to finish it.
@mmkfootball it hooks up fine, you just have to have good control of the throttle and clutch.
Driving it in the rain is a different story, though. You can be doing like 65 down the highway and punch it, and it'll get squirrely on you. Have to be very careful when it's wet out.
don't take this wrong ok why did you put a 5.0 in it ?your description made me wander as to why ....was it you wanted to fly ? either way I like it , looks like a 5.0 in a golf cart damn that has to be fun !!!
did you have to cross brace the frame at all? or mess with the firewall? I have a 1978 Spider and was thing bout putting a 455 Olds in. Any tips that you can give me would be GREATLY appreciated
Very nice. THIS is what hotroding is all about! F all the purists. That's got hotrod herritage! What can you tell us about the exhaust system? I love that sound.
It's probably the same car. I bought this car in Conyers a couple of years ago. Guy had it listed on craigslist for 1500 bucks. I was the first to go look at it, his phone was ringing off the hook with calls about it while I was there. After driving it around the block once, I bought it on the spot!
Great sound. Man, if I could I'd buy that car from you in a hot second.
I've asked many a mechanic how to fit a v8 into a car like that or a Datsun 240, and they always say "you can't." And I always just plain get mad because I know it can be done. I just wish I had the know-how to do it all myself and be done with it.
How time flies. I've been working a lot and just haven't had time to touch the car. I've considered selling it, and might if I don't do something with it soon.
I have a 74 I am restoring. While I am actually restoring it, I am also very appreciative of conversion projects as well. Very nice job indeed!
Now, if it wasn't an injected engine, you could supercharge it and a chrome scoop out of the hood and that would be an interesting hot rod sight to behold :)
Bro, I've got an 84 Spider... nearly flawless... garage kept and TONS of fun to drive, but I LOVE that engine sound of yours, and I'm sure its going to be SCARY fast. Good luck! Looking forward to seeing your final creation...
first.... no i guees ill have to say GREAT VID F***ing great musik and to all u arses dissing this guy FUCK OFF if i culd ive wuld but in my country this is not legal and there fore i drive full blooded. alfa is a bit more power full and funn but the cost dosent near the u have . thumbs up twise and balance is no problem drifter.
Whats up with the snobby purists? First off, a 4.3 chevy is a 350 without 2 cyls, NOT ever made for revs. Second, did Carroll Shelby deface an AC Ace by making a Cobra out of it? Did Alejandro De Tomaso piss on the Italian flag by using Ford engines?
Much respect MavDude, this is what cars like this are about. Love to see a video of it in action!
I have always pondered a V8-124 swap and when the 360 Magnum makes its way into my Duster I will have a spare 318 laying around, even. Fiat "heritage" be-damned, we've been butchering 'em here in America since the Topolino Gassers!
But seeeing that the much narrower, front-distributor SB Ford is a tight fit, I am starting to rethink going British with a tilt-front Spitfire.
The distributor and air cleaner are a very tight fit.
You have to wonder, just what kind of heritage did Fiat really have anyway? Most of their cars were poorly built rust buckets with electrical gremlins. Most people I know laugh when I tell them I have a Fiat. Until they hear it fire up!! :-D I'd never dream of owning a stock Fiat. No thank you.
Back in the late 70's and early 80's the hot thing to do was to put an American V8 into a sports car.
I rode in a Vega station wagon that had a 350 and an MGB that had a Ford 289.
Trannies and clutches tended to go quickly. There were some motor mount, shock, and suspension issues due to the weight but those can all be checked out.
Enjoy the car dude.
I had a Fiat 124 spider, it was a great car. I sold it when I got out of college in 1982 and I wish I still had it. Cars now are lame.
wow, what an idiot. didnt do any work himself, has no fiat heritage, and has a great straight line queen that he got for a miraculous $1,400. perfect for a stupid redneck. too much power, not enough brains. its too bad you didn't get into fiats earlier in life, maybe you could sit at the table, instead of eating out if the dog dish. maybe a little more work and a little less posturing would be good. too bad you blew the rear end, jackass... it couldnt have happened to a more worthy person.
You have the nerve to call me the idiot? I've done plenty of work on this car myself, as well as many others. If you don't like the car, just move on and keep your vile comments to yourself. The car drives and handles very well for what it is. My entire family is from Indianapolis. Redneck - I think not.
All this coming from someone with a blank profile and no videos of their own. Lets see your cars. Until then, please excuse yourself from the dog dish, before the big dogs tear you up.
Wow. Amazing. I'm debating purchasing a 1980 Fiat Spider 2000. Wanted to see what kind of fun can be had with these. You just showed me exactly what I want to see. Now I just need a "how to" for this swap! =)
I have a 74 124 spider that ive tookin apart to bare body im sandblasting it inside and sanding the out side im taking all percaution against rust cutting out the flor panel and makin new one out of sheetmetal but great ride tht littlething will have tons of power but im gunna keep mine stock jus for the heck of it
Straight line queen? You do realize the entire top end of this engine is Aluminum? Add to that a beefy front sway bar, adjustable KONI shocks, and I can promise you the car does exceptionally well in the corners as long as you stay smooth on the throttle. I have raced a late model 350Z on a curvy old back road, and had no problem at all at over 90 mph..
Unfortunately, the car has been just sitting up on jack stands with a car cover over it for like a year and a half now. I start it up every few months and let the engine get up to temp and run for a while. Just haven't had time to get the rearend swap completed, and have other projects. I've been getting the itch here lately to get it back on the road again though, so I can do some top down cruising this summer. Hopefully won't be too much longer!
chinasherry1961 this car is legend... Abart version of 1.8cc can accelerate to 100km/h for 4 sec and has 220ks... it dont have 5000cc like other american cars, but they are heavy and they have mostly automatic class... (sry 4 bed eng lolxD)
My dad has an '81 Spider with the stock 2000cc fuel-injected motor. He's been having a few fueling issues... maybe I can convince him to throw it out in favor of a 5.0!
nice very nice i think im gonna do a project can you please tell em what an estimate cost of car and is it rare because i gotta 5.0 twin turbo would it fit in that kinda fiat thank you very much
That's a fantastic mod! Did you have to rework the floor pans to fit the tranny in? Nice to see someone else in GA with the Fiat "bug"! Keep the videos coming. I've been hunting a little V-6 to put in my 75
damn, and i thought i was being original when i started my 289/c-4 swap into my '80 fiat 2000, *sigh* nice work tho, im still working on the floors after all the cutting i had to do, outta curiousity what rear axle are you sporting and what did you do for the steering? swap it to rack and pinion? and if so might i ask what you pulled the rack from? ive been playing hell trying to figure out how exactly to put the front end together...
to be honest, a good 4 cylinder more powerful that the old one would be best, all the car is not suited to the extra weight and power of the ford, lots of things will break!
You replace "things" that will break with things that won't break. The entire top end of the engine is aluminum, it dosen't weigh that much. The car drives great.
Hey i like how your speed says 4 mph when your not moving.lol I went trought that . Get a ms24 from autometer. I think they still make it . it will even that out and manage the gauges.
Car is apart right now. The rearend was trashed and it wasn't running right when I took this vid, that's why I didn't drive it. Will probably be 4-6 months before it's back on the road again, but I'll have a test drive video as soon as it is!
i can`t say i fully agree with ur decision but the car is sick , i love more the original engine but , with this V8 engine the car is faster as it was build for it`s own 4 pistons in line engine , anyway im glad 2 see these cars r still being apreciated , good luck with the restauration :D
Will do... right now the car is apart up on jack stands with no engine, trans or rearend in it. Adding about 150 horse (new engine should be upwords of 390 horse), a 5 speed trans to replace the three speed, and a stronger rear with 3.70 gear. It will be back leaner and meaner then ever by this summer, ready for some topless ass whoopin! Here ricer, ricer... :D
Don't understand what you mean by same spirit? The car has had the original 4 cylinder replaced with a 302 cubic inch Ford V8. The car has been in the United States since it was new as far as I know. I don't really know much about the history of the car, though.
Was it an easy fit? Or did you really really had to show horn that sucker in there?
wacko1919 2 months ago
Great project; I'm looking to add one to my collection; thinking about a Honda engine swap; maybe a K20 or B18C; do you think it would work on this? I know I would probably need a different tranny
Harutmakina 3 months ago
Nice one man! - I have a 1975 124 Spider myself, I love what youv'e done... keep it up!
gionetz 3 months ago
How's it handle now?
GilBatesLovesyou 3 months ago
I heart your car. I just bought a 78 and my mind just blew when I saw this. I think I know where my paychecks are going to end up. I can't imagine trying to keep traction in that. Hell, when it's wet, even with the stock engine the back end wants to get loose all of the time. Driving it in snow must be near impossible.
BramdonGille 4 months ago
Tell me this thing is reinforced >.< I own a 76 spider... and this engine would twist the car into a pretzel unless it's heavily reinforced.
alexmawdsley 7 months ago
@alexmawdsley It has sub frame connectors but that's about it. It is hard on the stock rear suspension, it eats up bushings like crazy.
MavDude 7 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Man I am doing the interior in a Cats Impala, and he is giving me a 1979 Fiat Spider, and I wanna place a Chevy V8 in it.... Why did you choose Ford? Do they have more clearance in the engine Compartment? I think this would be a very fun ride with a V8 in it.. Just Sayin'..... Oh and what obstacles am I going to run into? Are you mounting the Body to the Ford Chassis?
rockinfxguy1 9 months ago
Man I am doing the interior in a Cats Impala, and he is giving me a 1979 Fiat Spider, and I wanna place a Chevy V8 in it.... Why did you choose Ford? Do they have more clearance in the engine Compartment? I think this would be a very fun ride with a V8 in it.. Just Sayin'..... Oh and what obstacles am I going to run into? Are you mounting the Body to the Ford Chassis?
rockinfxguy1 9 months ago
@rockinfxguy1 Because I'm a Ford guy, the 5.0 is lighter then a Chevy especially with the aluminum heads, and the 5.0 is one of the best engines ever built. See my other video where I dropped a 5.0 into my '72 Chevy C10 as well..
Couldn't tell you how well a SBC would fit. I've owned two SBC's in trucks, the first slung a rod 6 months after I bought it, and the second slung a rod exactly one week after I bought it. I'll never own another Chevrolet powered vehicle..
MavDude 9 months ago
@rockinfxguy1 Car has the stock chassis, but the firewall has been moved back and the transmission tunnel reconstructed.
MavDude 9 months ago
Whats the status? I think it's a great idea. Was going back and forth between an alfa 164 motor and an rx7 rotary motor when my buddy gave me a '78 289 v8 ford motor. Gonna shove it in soon and would like any updates/videos ya got. Thanks. Jason
Jfazio26 9 months ago
@Jfazio26 Car is just sitting. I haven't had the time to mess with it due to work and life in general. Hope to get it back on the road some time this summer.
MavDude 9 months ago
@MavDude thats a bad ass little car man :D did you do any suspension and rearend upgrades? also did you have to do any fab work? was there any problems fiiting the motor? *breathes* finally was there any temp problems once the work was done?
TheMiles302 5 months ago
Green Day
Omega47 10 months ago
How much cutting and fabricating did you have to do to get that engine in? Im looking to swap a V8, preferably 5.0, into a 78 Spider and need some info so i can plan it out and estimate the costs. Also did you have trouble getting the other parts to fit with that engine too? please respond it would be a great help!
LepriKon15 10 months ago
I like it! I had a stock daily driver spider in the early 1990's then bought one with a bad engine for my project. I had a 351 Windsor mounted with shorty headers, radiator in the trunk with a louvered trunk lid, drive train incomplete then realized I had slut (literally) wife problems and had to sell everything and leave town. With today's knowledge I could just cook her into biofuel for my first burnout!
Shithead1a 1 year ago
Ouch, hope you have updated also the brake system ...-___-
pushpull76 1 year ago
@pushpull76 Nope, but it stops just fine..
MavDude 1 year ago
@AMPLEP If done correctly, I don't see that decreasing the value at all.
MavDude 1 year ago
great work that looks like it would take a lot of effort
rotary2911 1 year ago
Thanks man but I got the problem resolved.
bobcansee 1 year ago
@bobcansee cool beans, glad ya got it worked out:)
chrischaf 9 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Free energy is finaly here!But some very powerfull ppl don't want you and me to be free from energy costs,Get a motor that works with the power of magnets only at LT-MAGNET-MOTORdotCOM ,Big change is comming soon!
intermitrj 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I have got a very good hint for you to keeping the nice old Sports Engine in good shape with todays ultra dry eco fuels: Use 1:100 API TC two stroke oil / fuel mix as regular driving fuel, that keeps the old fuel-system gaskets, rubber parts, alloy parts etc... and cast iron metal surfaces of those vintage engines in excellent shape...and it also lubricates the valves and upper piston regions. Most Porsche vintage owners in Germany do so :) Also keeps carbs and Fi injectors clean as new!
Pnoerre 1 year ago
I have the same car. My hood release cabe broke and I cant open the hood. Im thinking of maybe a wire thru to where the latch is and hooking the release mechinism . Wondering if you could do a vid so i can see the latch as to where to go with the wire. Or maybe you can figure it out and do a vid on it. Thanks man!...Robert
bobcansee 1 year ago
@bobcansee been a while since you posted this, but just wanted to say if you like your fiat, do yourself a big favor and get yourself a haynes service manual. can't vouche for the newer post chilton versions cause i haven't looked at any yet, but with old fiats haynes always used to be the best at showing every-single-part and how it all together. and be *very* careful who you have work on *anything* on your car, cause ital cars run itty bitty pars in very tight specs. i've seen,.. continued
chrischaf 1 year ago
@bobcansee ring lands "cleaned" by a shop which managed to widen them to the size for say, a chevy v-8. rings slapped around and shattered, seen fiat 850 aluminum heads that had 10.5:1 stock, shaved with a standard american v-8 grind (too many times) which shoots the compression ratio so far off the charts that head gaskets a blowing faster than you can order new ones, you name it. so be careful who you let touch your engine. anyways, if you still have the cable problem, i might...
chrischaf 1 year ago
@bobcansee be able to get you some pictures or something from my 124 if you need them. if you want me to, just email this name at hotmail. and mention something about fiats in the subject line so i know who in the world you are:P i'll have to climb over the coral/fence i had to build around it to satisfy the city, but i'd do it for a fellow crazy person who fell for one of these cars. lol :D
chrischaf 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Free Energy is real but the coverup is strong, if you are interested in a REAL free energy machine then
just search for the LT MAGNET MOTOR in the youtube video search , it is probably the ONLY working magnet
motor out there. Join the free energy revolution!!
graywackeknifebdr 1 year ago
i bought a 124 back in the early 90's to do this. eventually got a 302 and a 5 speed (but no bellhousing and such yet) but haven't ever had a chance to go further than that. would really love to know what all you did to get it in there, cause i only ever got part way through the planning stage.
my dad had a sunbeam tiger II when i was a kid. LOVED that car.
those that don't get why someone would do this might do well to remember the v-8 sunbeams and ac cobras. both were based of 4 cyl cars:)
chrischaf 1 year ago
nice car my dad had one just his wasnt a v8
WHITEdareDEVILS 1 year ago
just one question... how did you get that giant engine into such a small car? I would like to drop a V8 into mine!
1234Jster 1 year ago
@1234Jster If you have a torch, sawzall and a welder, you can do anything.
MavDude 1 year ago 2
Very cool !
I own a 1980 Fiat Spider 2L Injection.
I love to fit a 6 cylinder engine with a 6 speed transmission.
Do you know of any eng/trans. that could fit ?
Thank you .
GREAT JOB BTW !!!
DirK
dirksworldtube 1 year ago
sounds great good job
mike66002000 1 year ago
Where is the new video of this car in action? I want to see this thing completed and shredding rear tires! Also picking off dumbass Civic drivers with their hats on backwards would be priceless.
Sodiumreactor 1 year ago
@Sodiumreactor Sorry, the car has just been sitting in storage the last few years. I work a lot of hours and just haven't had time to mess with it.
MavDude 1 year ago
@MavDude Dang! This is my dream project. My cousin had a 124 Spyder and I was always bugging him to get a V8 in it. Hope you get more time someday to finish it.
Sodiumreactor 1 year ago
OMG!...Now there's something you don't see every day....Innovative to say the least.
schicktd 1 year ago
very nice. just saw a 1979 on craigslist for $1,500 started daydreaming and then found this video. someone buy this guy a beer! keep up the good work
stevo9389 1 year ago
very nice. just saw a 1979 on craigslist for $1,500 started daydreaming and then found this video. someone buy this guy a beer! keep up the good work
stevo9389 1 year ago
Comment removed
stevo9389 1 year ago
god your car sounds nice but can it hook up and go?
mmkfootball 1 year ago
@mmkfootball it hooks up fine, you just have to have good control of the throttle and clutch.
Driving it in the rain is a different story, though. You can be doing like 65 down the highway and punch it, and it'll get squirrely on you. Have to be very careful when it's wet out.
MavDude 1 year ago
schweeeeeeeeeeeet!!!! my lil sis has a 79 spyder, now I want to steal an put a v8 in it lol
tschuler387 1 year ago
i want to get a fiat spider for my first car anyone know how much an 82 is gonna run me?
MovIeGOerSS 1 year ago
@MovIeGOerSS check craigslist they can be pretty cheap but they won't be perfect showroom condition...
Qnickel27 1 year ago
You could,and you did!
Sad,so sad..
ranexion 1 year ago
@ranexion What's sad about it?
MavDude 1 year ago
don't take this wrong ok why did you put a 5.0 in it ?your description made me wander as to why ....was it you wanted to fly ? either way I like it , looks like a 5.0 in a golf cart damn that has to be fun !!!
towrecker 2 years ago
How did u get that behemoth in that fiat and that sounds cool im just about to rebuild my spiders interior any good websites to find seats !!!
Deydisable 2 years ago
nice one!
can you fit the bonnet over that radiator?
djape1977 2 years ago
Yep, the hood fits fine. It has to have hood pins to hold it down.
MavDude 2 years ago
Post some driving vids looks like a real nice project how does it preform, is the handling very much adversely affected?
abba1987 2 years ago
did you have to cross brace the frame at all? or mess with the firewall? I have a 1978 Spider and was thing bout putting a 455 Olds in. Any tips that you can give me would be GREATLY appreciated
xxteardownthestarsxx 2 years ago
The firewall and transmission tunnel were totally cut out and rebuilt. The car has sub frame connectors.
MavDude 2 years ago
my dads got like 4 of these, never seen 1 with a v8 o.o
europe0wnz 2 years ago
Very nice. THIS is what hotroding is all about! F all the purists. That's got hotrod herritage! What can you tell us about the exhaust system? I love that sound.
michaeldgardner 2 years ago
Just a set of Hooker headers modified to go over the frame rails, with glass packs.
MavDude 2 years ago
that is badass! I saw one with the 5.0 swap for sale here in conyers a couple years ago. i wanted to get it but let it get away
scotty815 2 years ago
Is awesome..Did you install it yourself? Like to know a few more details but very cool!!!!
55jski 2 years ago
It's probably the same car. I bought this car in Conyers a couple of years ago. Guy had it listed on craigslist for 1500 bucks. I was the first to go look at it, his phone was ringing off the hook with calls about it while I was there. After driving it around the block once, I bought it on the spot!
MavDude 2 years ago
Just love it. The looks of the 124 are the best, the sound of a V8 make it better & she sells sanctuary by the cult on the stereo....heaven...
dcn1970 2 years ago
lol awesome !
ViolentVendetta 2 years ago
Nice. What did you do for the brake booster/master cylinder? I didn't see it anywhere.
ginabobbina 2 years ago
Master cylinder is under the drivers seat. No booster.
MavDude 2 years ago
Why does the speedo go up with the RPM's on the Tach?
TheLivingDeadOne 2 years ago
Drive shaft was removed, so the transmission was just freewheeling.
MavDude 2 years ago
That must be a site,. A fiat 124 stopped at a red light with that roar coming from it. Sweet!
TheLivingDeadOne 2 years ago
Great sound. Man, if I could I'd buy that car from you in a hot second.
I've asked many a mechanic how to fit a v8 into a car like that or a Datsun 240, and they always say "you can't." And I always just plain get mad because I know it can be done. I just wish I had the know-how to do it all myself and be done with it.
brianjcavanaugh 2 years ago
OK, a year and a half has gone by. Have you finished her? Test drive video, maybe?
BarbaShime 2 years ago
How time flies. I've been working a lot and just haven't had time to touch the car. I've considered selling it, and might if I don't do something with it soon.
MavDude 2 years ago
I have a 74 I am restoring. While I am actually restoring it, I am also very appreciative of conversion projects as well. Very nice job indeed!
Now, if it wasn't an injected engine, you could supercharge it and a chrome scoop out of the hood and that would be an interesting hot rod sight to behold :)
Great sound on the engine btw!
fctotal 2 years ago
Bro, I've got an 84 Spider... nearly flawless... garage kept and TONS of fun to drive, but I LOVE that engine sound of yours, and I'm sure its going to be SCARY fast. Good luck! Looking forward to seeing your final creation...
WeWillSayNiToYou 2 years ago
first.... no i guees ill have to say GREAT VID F***ing great musik and to all u arses dissing this guy FUCK OFF if i culd ive wuld but in my country this is not legal and there fore i drive full blooded. alfa is a bit more power full and funn but the cost dosent near the u have . thumbs up twise and balance is no problem drifter.
have fun . cu
transdetendal 2 years ago
Whats up with the snobby purists? First off, a 4.3 chevy is a 350 without 2 cyls, NOT ever made for revs. Second, did Carroll Shelby deface an AC Ace by making a Cobra out of it? Did Alejandro De Tomaso piss on the Italian flag by using Ford engines?
Much respect MavDude, this is what cars like this are about. Love to see a video of it in action!
The Cult rules
bughole69 2 years ago
I have always pondered a V8-124 swap and when the 360 Magnum makes its way into my Duster I will have a spare 318 laying around, even. Fiat "heritage" be-damned, we've been butchering 'em here in America since the Topolino Gassers!
But seeeing that the much narrower, front-distributor SB Ford is a tight fit, I am starting to rethink going British with a tilt-front Spitfire.
Oh, and dude, the Cult ROCKS!
PrimerDust318 2 years ago
Yes sir, the Cult does rock!
The distributor and air cleaner are a very tight fit.
You have to wonder, just what kind of heritage did Fiat really have anyway? Most of their cars were poorly built rust buckets with electrical gremlins. Most people I know laugh when I tell them I have a Fiat. Until they hear it fire up!! :-D I'd never dream of owning a stock Fiat. No thank you.
MavDude 2 years ago
@MavDude
poorly built.... no..
tendency to rust... yes.
JayClarkTheShark 1 year ago
Back in the late 70's and early 80's the hot thing to do was to put an American V8 into a sports car.
I rode in a Vega station wagon that had a 350 and an MGB that had a Ford 289.
Trannies and clutches tended to go quickly. There were some motor mount, shock, and suspension issues due to the weight but those can all be checked out.
Enjoy the car dude.
I had a Fiat 124 spider, it was a great car. I sold it when I got out of college in 1982 and I wish I still had it. Cars now are lame.
squizzoo 2 years ago
wow, what an idiot. didnt do any work himself, has no fiat heritage, and has a great straight line queen that he got for a miraculous $1,400. perfect for a stupid redneck. too much power, not enough brains. its too bad you didn't get into fiats earlier in life, maybe you could sit at the table, instead of eating out if the dog dish. maybe a little more work and a little less posturing would be good. too bad you blew the rear end, jackass... it couldnt have happened to a more worthy person.
xjack227 2 years ago
You have the nerve to call me the idiot? I've done plenty of work on this car myself, as well as many others. If you don't like the car, just move on and keep your vile comments to yourself. The car drives and handles very well for what it is. My entire family is from Indianapolis. Redneck - I think not.
All this coming from someone with a blank profile and no videos of their own. Lets see your cars. Until then, please excuse yourself from the dog dish, before the big dogs tear you up.
MavDude 2 years ago
a fait, nice! dont see a ton of those around, not at all. Great ride man.
InShatteredMolds 2 years ago
I love that car, It's all about the power to weight ratio...
FordMaverickFanatic 2 years ago
I have been considering doing something similar. As I have looked at the chassis I think it may need a major rework as well.
JaguarSeattle 2 years ago
you lost the balance by ading v8 you need v6 or turbo rotary to mintaine the balance my choice will be chvy 4,3 v6made for high revs.
shaikhdishgan1 2 years ago
Might I express my utmost gratitude to you for pointing out what my car needs and sharing your expert knowledge on the matter.
MavDude 2 years ago
For something like this, how much of the drive train(if thats the correct words to use) needs to be replaced?: drive shaft, differential, rear axels?
I imagine that engine would just torque the originals to a permanent twist?
How do you connect the engine to original trany, or did the original trany go out and in with the Ford trany? guess I'm asking for mech lessons... :)
contributor34 2 years ago
The entire drive train has to be replaced front to back.
MavDude 2 years ago
Wow. Amazing. I'm debating purchasing a 1980 Fiat Spider 2000. Wanted to see what kind of fun can be had with these. You just showed me exactly what I want to see. Now I just need a "how to" for this swap! =)
MgonTV 2 years ago
Get a saw, welder, big fucking hammer, make it fit. This is not a swap for the faint hearted, it requires major modifications to the body.
MavDude 2 years ago
I have a 74 124 spider that ive tookin apart to bare body im sandblasting it inside and sanding the out side im taking all percaution against rust cutting out the flor panel and makin new one out of sheetmetal but great ride tht littlething will have tons of power but im gunna keep mine stock jus for the heck of it
armg94 3 years ago
Sounds fantastic I can't wait to see you driving around.
GOOSECHICKEN 3 years ago
fuck u have good taste mannnn i love fiats and i have a msutang 5.0 good choicee loll
ilfucile 3 years ago
another straight line queen
laziosociaria 3 years ago
Straight line queen? You do realize the entire top end of this engine is Aluminum? Add to that a beefy front sway bar, adjustable KONI shocks, and I can promise you the car does exceptionally well in the corners as long as you stay smooth on the throttle. I have raced a late model 350Z on a curvy old back road, and had no problem at all at over 90 mph..
MavDude 3 years ago
Post some action vids please!
cruisinshark 3 years ago
Unfortunately, the car has been just sitting up on jack stands with a car cover over it for like a year and a half now. I start it up every few months and let the engine get up to temp and run for a while. Just haven't had time to get the rearend swap completed, and have other projects. I've been getting the itch here lately to get it back on the road again though, so I can do some top down cruising this summer. Hopefully won't be too much longer!
MavDude 3 years ago
chinasherry1961 this car is legend... Abart version of 1.8cc can accelerate to 100km/h for 4 sec and has 220ks... it dont have 5000cc like other american cars, but they are heavy and they have mostly automatic class... (sry 4 bed eng lolxD)
skoda091 3 years ago
uff es bestial!!
vikSport 3 years ago
Sweet dude, I have an '81 spider but I need someone who can point me in a direction where I can get parts for it
pvtkavin 3 years ago
Nuts dude. Awesome. Next time take it for a drive we wanna se the speed hehe
senciz 3 years ago
top car! 5 star
artofwheels 3 years ago
My dad has an '81 Spider with the stock 2000cc fuel-injected motor. He's been having a few fueling issues... maybe I can convince him to throw it out in favor of a 5.0!
Great work, really impressive conversion.
stillbokes 3 years ago
nice very nice i think im gonna do a project can you please tell em what an estimate cost of car and is it rare because i gotta 5.0 twin turbo would it fit in that kinda fiat thank you very much
squilch 3 years ago
It may have Edelbrock heads and intake but she's gotta Holley on top. Good Work :D
alscort93 3 years ago
That's a fantastic mod! Did you have to rework the floor pans to fit the tranny in? Nice to see someone else in GA with the Fiat "bug"! Keep the videos coming. I've been hunting a little V-6 to put in my 75
georgiahoosier 3 years ago
The floor pans are stock, but the transmission tunnel had to be cut out and rebuilt, and the firewall was moved back.
MavDude 3 years ago
damn, and i thought i was being original when i started my 289/c-4 swap into my '80 fiat 2000, *sigh* nice work tho, im still working on the floors after all the cutting i had to do, outta curiousity what rear axle are you sporting and what did you do for the steering? swap it to rack and pinion? and if so might i ask what you pulled the rack from? ive been playing hell trying to figure out how exactly to put the front end together...
mtyler420 3 years ago
Neat Car, looks like it is lots of fun!!!
honeycake48 3 years ago
to be honest, a good 4 cylinder more powerful that the old one would be best, all the car is not suited to the extra weight and power of the ford, lots of things will break!
kennnmoran 4 years ago
You replace "things" that will break with things that won't break. The entire top end of the engine is aluminum, it dosen't weigh that much. The car drives great.
MavDude 4 years ago
Hey i like how your speed says 4 mph when your not moving.lol I went trought that . Get a ms24 from autometer. I think they still make it . it will even that out and manage the gauges.
Cheers .
chapmanmerchant 4 years ago
The speedometer is reading because the drive shaft is not hooked up, allowing the transmission to spin freely.
MavDude 4 years ago
bad ass
Nmemonicus 4 years ago
Awesome, can't wait to see more!
SC11606 4 years ago
where is test drive;)?
mateusek 4 years ago
Car is apart right now. The rearend was trashed and it wasn't running right when I took this vid, that's why I didn't drive it. Will probably be 4-6 months before it's back on the road again, but I'll have a test drive video as soon as it is!
MavDude 4 years ago
i can`t say i fully agree with ur decision but the car is sick , i love more the original engine but , with this V8 engine the car is faster as it was build for it`s own 4 pistons in line engine , anyway im glad 2 see these cars r still being apreciated , good luck with the restauration :D
tzavametalizata 4 years ago
wow... thats all I gotta say. you gotta post vids of racing
aznstylexxx 4 years ago
Will do... right now the car is apart up on jack stands with no engine, trans or rearend in it. Adding about 150 horse (new engine should be upwords of 390 horse), a 5 speed trans to replace the three speed, and a stronger rear with 3.70 gear. It will be back leaner and meaner then ever by this summer, ready for some topless ass whoopin! Here ricer, ricer... :D
MavDude 4 years ago
Heh. I hope you uprate the suspension and brakes too :-)
Should be a nice little ride.
dyerasyd 4 years ago
lol what did u do with this car it dont have same spirit btw. is it US version??
skoda091 4 years ago
Don't understand what you mean by same spirit? The car has had the original 4 cylinder replaced with a 302 cubic inch Ford V8. The car has been in the United States since it was new as far as I know. I don't really know much about the history of the car, though.
MavDude 4 years ago
thats nice like tiny cars and V8s
Docthewrench 4 years ago