133 another 133

[scmick]

Hi, I'm new on here. Got one of the very few FIAT 133's left in the UK. I'm also seriously into rear engined SIMCAs and have used the fact that the SIMCA 1000 was derived from the rear engined FIATs and the stock of SIMCA parts i have to give the 133 a 1294 SIMCA Rallye 2 engine transplant.

 

[LosPauli]

Hello scmic, Finland calling. I just bumped to this forum when looking for spare parts for my 133. I suppose there are something like 130 cars of this model registered in Finland. A great deal of imported cars are destroyed by racing with them. Yes truly! You can find videos of those car races at youtube by searching with the word "jokkis". You will notice that many of those cars are Fiat 133:s. By the way, do you have any idea where to find items like rear axle joints or front wheel mounting parts for disc brakes (my car has drum brakes and I'd like to have discs) or things like that. I can find foreign forums for specifically this car but unfortunately they are spanish speaking guys over there and my lanquage skills do not reach to understand any of what they are talking about, although the pictures are nice to look at.

 

[scmick]

Hi I've fitted disc brrakes on my car by using SIMCA 1000 parts. (are there any SIMCA 1000s left where you are?) The SIMCA uses a transverse leaf spring mounted in a similar crossmember but has ball joints top & bottom in place of the kingpins and most models had disc brakes. I've fitted the complete crossmember from the SIMCA 1000 and ased the SIMCA top suspension arms which fit on the same type of bush as the FIAT ones. Some spacing was needed under the top arm mountings for the wider track of the SIMCA. The leaf spring was built up with a SIMCA main leaf and some FIAT leaves and I fitted adjustable coil overs a kit inteded for a beam axle on a Mini) in place of the original FIAT shockers.
Still working out how to post photos on here. If you pm me an email, I'll send some photos of the work I did.
The steering column I used is a SIMCA 1000 inner shaft inside the 133 outer and where it fits to the rack is more or less in line with where the original FIAT column fits.
Mick

 

[scmick]

Hi
Forgot to mention the rear end. I've fitted the SIMCA 1294cc engine and gearbox. I've kept the original FIAT rear suspension and driveshfts. The joints ino the geabox are identical and the driveshafts are the right length for the SIMCA box. So far the shafts and the rear axle joints are handling the 100 or so bhp in place of the original 34. I use it for slaloms where it is really good and drag racing...where a misfire on the SIMCA engine at maximum revs has ruined my times down the strip so far.
I sold all the original 133 parts I didn't use to a guy over here who is restoring a 133 as original.
Mick

 

[scmick]

Have now posted photos of my 133 in action at Santa Pod and Mallory Park in Members' Gallery.
Mick

 

[LosPauli]

Hi Mick. You have done more radical replacements that I had in mind with my car. I think the SIMCA 1000 is even more rare here than FIAT 133 so there are not so much parts available or at least those that are left are stored by the SIMCA owners with future use in mind. I think there must be original disc brake parts available somewhere. Spain or Argentina or where ever they have been built this car. And same with the rear parts too. I just have to find a connection over there somehow. Propably the FIAT 850 parts will fit also. By the way, there has been succesfull installations of SKODA 130 LS gearbox to 133. It is five speed gearbox so maby it will give some benfit when racing with these cars. I surely don't know what gearbox they use at "jokkis" where they have nearly 200 hp engines installed. You posted nice photos of your car. The BMW looks hungry at last one. Did you just left it behind?

 

[scmick]

Hi
I will sort out the photos of the front suspension. I believe most of the parts from The FIAT 850 will fit the 133. The SIMCA conversion worked particularly well with the wheels as they use the same 98mm pcd bolt pattern.
The two cars on the drag strip photo are both mine. The SIMCA 1000 was being driven by a friend and is the car I have fitted a 130bhp Honda CRX twin cam engine to.
I have two SIMCA 1200S coupes which use all the parts from the SIMCA 1000) I am rebuilding one as original and the other (spres car) I am going to build what is left as a trackday car. I am working on fitting a Renault UN1 type gearbox From the in line engined Espace, 18, 21, 25 etc, the crown wheel can be flipped over to the other side on that box to change direction of travel. Then,I can use 'normal' clockwise rotating engines.
Friends are trying to persuade me to do the CRX conversion on my 133.
The photo with the BMW was a trackday back in March at Mallory Park circuit. He did pass us but with 100 bhp or so, the 133 stayed with him, espaecially on the tight corners..!!
Mick

 

[scmick]

Have not posted on progress with my 133 for quite some time. Finally cured the misfire on the SIMCA 1294 engine fitted to it. I replaced the twin 40DCOE webers that I've been using for 25+ years on various SIMCAs with a set of bike carbs. They are from a mid 90's Honda CBR600 bike and I drilled the main jets out to 1.5mm as suggested on a VW forum.... It works really well. Only try out this year was at PPC Magazine's PPC in the Park at Mallory in May. Onlt downside to the bike carbs is the noise has increased and we had to make a few mods to pass the strict 98Db limit.
Will post a few more photos...
Mick