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Jun 11, 2006 19:28:03 GMT
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As Beetles cost a bomb, and Skuds are gathering value, I look at the little buzz bomb and think , Hmmmm.
But even these are getting rare. Can they be tuned, is the watercooled any better than the aircooled. Where do you find them?
I know they are popular still in Poland where they made them under license.
Can't help thinking it might look cool with satin paint and wide 10" steels with centre caps and trim rings.
Are they a 4" PCD like older Vauxhalls? maybe even go to 12" rims from a Viva?
Any advice? Bike engine/Bike carbs, TB injection/ megasquirt/ nitrous/ supercharger? Reckon I could fit one of these in the yard and work on it.
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Jun 11, 2006 19:31:59 GMT
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As far as I can remember the last ones were made by FSO, and the week point is the gearbox.
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Jun 11, 2006 19:33:02 GMT
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Water-cooled ones are pants. Look for a an air-cooled one - while they are hard to find they are not necessarily expensive.
I found a nice one a while back but the seller pulled it off eBay before the end of the auction, selling it for less cash than my max bid was. W0nk.
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Jun 11, 2006 19:50:06 GMT
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Cheers guys. I really wonder if they are viable retro alternative to the smart with some interior tweaking and a little engine breathing? Should be cheaper, cuter and more fun if done right.
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slater
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,390
Club RR Member Number: 78
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Tell me about: the Fiat 126slater
@slater
Club Retro Rides Member 78
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Jun 11, 2006 20:00:10 GMT
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I'm getting another one soon. they have great potential! Aircooled is the only way to go. Difficult to get parts for but easyer than a watercooled. The 1st gear is weak and that causes gearbox issues if you work it hard. Engine is rock solid in the aircooled's so no worrys there. Drive shafts can be suspect as they have dodgey joints. Tuning is fairly simple but getting the parts like modified cams and oversized pistons is not as they have to come from italy or poland. I fancy turbo'ing one myself but the most sensible thing would be to swap to a vw flat 4 imo (takes the fun out of it a bit tho ofcourse!) Rear suspension is ok, easy to lower. Front suspension is a joke so try a coilover conversion. They rust and are bloody slow as standard! www.fiat126.co.uk
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Jun 11, 2006 21:52:21 GMT
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Wonder if the standard transverse leaf spring could be replaced with something with a little less curve, in carbon fibre?
It isn't exactley something new to make flexible springy carbon, look at fishing rods. That way you could actually build in a some very intersting springing and save a bunch of weight.
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suffolkpaul
Part of things
Retro Free - just a pug 406 with 230k miles on it...
Posts: 696
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Jun 11, 2006 22:08:54 GMT
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and if it snaps you crash and die... id stick to a tested coilover kit lol
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Jun 11, 2006 22:17:43 GMT
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they are great. i love them, and i will own one one day. i've always wondered about twin carbs on the standard engine. we go to Poland quite a lot, so if anyone does need parts, drop me a PM and i might be able to help you out
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Jun 11, 2006 22:32:47 GMT
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Jun 12, 2006 12:51:59 GMT
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How would you mate the DUC gearbox upto 126's driveshafts though? Wonder if a Guzzi or BMW twin engine would fit as they are shaft drive. Maybe you mate the original box.
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Jun 12, 2006 13:04:39 GMT
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As Beetles cost a bomb, and Skuds are gathering value, I look at the little buzz bomb and think , Hmmmm. If an old skud is too pricey for you, thats bad news! Get yourself down the Salvation Army!
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1972 Fiat 130 1985 Talbot Alpine 1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 + 1986 Mazda 929 Koop + Wagon 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 BEST CAR EVER!!!!!!!! 1979 Datsun B310 Sunny 4-dr 1984 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo 1983 Honda Accord 1.6 DX GONE1989 Alfa 75 2.0 TS Mr T says: TREAT YO MOTHER RIGHT!
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suffolkpaul
Part of things
Retro Free - just a pug 406 with 230k miles on it...
Posts: 696
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Jun 12, 2006 13:08:39 GMT
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lol ive got some old biros to sell that should get you most of the way
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Jun 12, 2006 15:40:06 GMT
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You can get a new leaf spring made at Paddington Springs for about £50, my pair of rear Anglia ones were £125. Send them the old one as a template and get them to make it uprated a bit and 2" lower
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slater
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,390
Club RR Member Number: 78
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Tell me about: the Fiat 126slater
@slater
Club Retro Rides Member 78
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Jun 12, 2006 15:46:49 GMT
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unfortunatly they cant make them 6+" lower! I might try and put one in upside down lol
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Jun 13, 2006 19:12:35 GMT
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As Beetles cost a bomb, and Skuds are gathering value, I look at the little buzz bomb and think , Hmmmm. If an old skud is too pricey for you, thats bad news! Get yourself down the Salvation Army! About £400-600 for one needing work, about £1k for a good one, and about £1500-2k for a minter or a Rapid cabriolet. Apart from the cabs, old rear engined Skuds are worth more than Saab turbos these days. What with there being roughly 100 combined, of rapids and estelles left on the roads, registered, taxed and tested.
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Jun 13, 2006 19:44:22 GMT
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1972 Fiat 130 1985 Talbot Alpine 1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 + 1986 Mazda 929 Koop + Wagon 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 BEST CAR EVER!!!!!!!! 1979 Datsun B310 Sunny 4-dr 1984 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo 1983 Honda Accord 1.6 DX GONE1989 Alfa 75 2.0 TS Mr T says: TREAT YO MOTHER RIGHT!
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Jun 13, 2006 20:18:23 GMT
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and if it snaps you crash and die... id stick to a tested coilover kit lol A properly made carbon leaf spring is much less likely to fail than an old over work hardened steel one. Although as you say, a coilover kit would work too and probably be more accessible to the average modifier. It would be interesting to see how the two leafs, one steel, and one carbon worked back to back though.
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The last two were bargains if as solid as they look. The top two both need sills. I've asked. And if the outer sill has gone at the back, it is sure fire that the inner sill and box section has gone (my estelle had £200 of welding because of that). The box section is an MOT fail, the inner sill (hidden) is structural and the car will fold if side swiped with that gone.
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Hey meat, have you seen that Skodastop is selling a Rapid RiC in wigan for £100! its on the 'for sale' page. Got to be worth checking out at that price even if it needs some fettling!
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1972 Fiat 130 1985 Talbot Alpine 1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 + 1986 Mazda 929 Koop + Wagon 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 BEST CAR EVER!!!!!!!! 1979 Datsun B310 Sunny 4-dr 1984 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo 1983 Honda Accord 1.6 DX GONE1989 Alfa 75 2.0 TS Mr T says: TREAT YO MOTHER RIGHT!
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LowStandards
Club Retro Rides Member
Bigging Up The Sum Sum Man Since '99
Posts: 2,682
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I used to have an old aircooled '76 126, loved it! Bought it off ebay, described as spares or repairs for £200, i went to see it first and it was near immaculate bar a litte surface rust where the bonnet meets the wings. Got her home, treated the rust, sprayed the front end, passed her MOT on just 2 front flexihoses, sold her for loads more on ebay, well an offer from an ebay member! They are out there in good nick if ur lucky. Was gonna stick my Gixer engine in there, would of been pretty easy, the aircooled engine bay is larger.
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