turbo124.com

I spent last weekend soldering up a radiator to repair a coolant leak. Driving to work this morning I lost power and it started making nasty engine noises, running on less than 4 cylinders. I've blown the head gasket, burnt out the fire ring between 3 and 4. I haven't got the head off yet, so I don't know if I've damaged the head any further by driving it home!

arg! fun weekend for you then?

It's running again, I can think of better ways to spend a Saturday. There was a 20mm section of fire ring missing between 3 & 4.

probably number 4 running hot. I think this is a chronic problem on all old style twin cams with water pump at the front and water outlet at the front - when you close the heater valve (at least on a 124) it blocks the flow was water that goes to the back of the head largely. On ym 124 i've by passed the heater all together and just looped that hose back over to the return pipe so it will always flow. no heater on -5 mornings was not so fun but at least the motor stays in one piece now (I blew 2 H/G previously).

Deja Vu, except I was driving to a restaurant last night and it's blown between 1 and 2. I suspect ignition and/or mixture issues. I've got another type of LPG carby coming, so hopefully I'll be able to have better adjustment of LPG mixtures once it's fitted. It looks like Nathan's ARP head studs and a volumex head gasket I bought a few months ago will come in handy. I'll probably fit the adjustable cam gears I've got and replace the belt while I'm at it. Another fun weekend.

Let's see your LPG system.

I bought a Blos CV carby that I was going to use with a standard weber carby base as a throttlebody. I've since bought a set of LPG injectors and vaporiser that I intend to use with a Megasquirt ECU. I've been meaning to take some photos and update where I'm at, if I get a chance I'll do it this weekend.

I've heard of the BLOS mixer. One idea I was knocking around with was to use a Saab 9000 throttle body on my 131. That is if the bonnet closes. I've been trying to figure out if it's possible to feed gas (LPG,CNG) vapors into the crankcase vent port on the side of the throttle body. If there is such a thing as an external mixer. See photo:



One thing interesting about this throttle body is it appears the throttle linkage will bolt right up to once a pivot joint is attached to it. I have a 1" thick piece of alumnium I was going to use as an adapter plate. Countersink four holes and use tapered head screws to hold it to the intake manifold. Then drill and tap three holes for studs and bolt the throttle body to the adapter plate.

I thought I had a photo of it sitting on a DOHC intake manifold but couldn't find it. Here's one sitting on a SOHC engine.

More photos:

http://s222.photobucket.com/albums/dd148/turbofiat/Saab%20throttle%20body/

I've got a brand new Blos mixer I'm not going to use if you're interested. The adaptor I made for it is a piece of 6mm steel plate with some 50x3mm and 30x3mm steel bar bent to shape and welded up. It's not pretty but 5 minutes with an angle grinder and a wire wheel would give it some bling!

The current LPG setup is a Gasresearch 350cfm LPG throttlebody with adaptor on a standard Fiat manifold. I've been using it for 3 or 4 years without too many dramas, I'll be flogging it off as well when I get my LPG injection gear sorted. I've got a Tempra manifold with a new Weber throttlebody that I intend to use with 4 x Voltran LPG injectors, fed from a Voltran LPG converter. Hopefully LPG and spark controlled with a Megasquirt ECU kit that I've yet to start putting together. Bloody work, family and house renovations are the current stumbling blocks to progress.

Nice setup.

How much you want for the BLOS mixer and throttle body?

As of right now I'm focusing on getting my A/C working on my 131. It's been hotter than hell over here this summer. 36C! Actually feels hotter because I live in the humid southeast. So hot I've been driving my Ford Explorer or Subaru Legacy Ute with the A/C on full blast.

So I'm hoping by spring of next year I'll have my 131, 124 Spider and 68 Ford Fairlane all with functioning air conditioner systems. I don't think I can A/C my Yugo despite having a full system on a parts car behind my garage. There is no place for the compressor and no way to drive it. Disregard the X 1/9 fuel injection plenium. I was going to Megasquirt this car but decided to just go with a blow through system instead.



A friend who works for a metal recycler is on the lookout for some A/C condensors for me. The largest I can fit on my Spider is 12" tall X 20" wide. I can buy them new for about US$130 but why buy new if you can get them for free?

I don't know if 131s in OZ came with A/C or not but FIAT put the smallest condensor on this car and they don't work worth a damn. It sits next to the radiator. Looks like a joke compared to the condensors they mount on American cars.
Non A/C 131s have a piece of sheet metal over the hole like Yugos did.

No wonder the A/C systems on these cars were so shitty. The condensor on my 96 Ford Explorer is HUGE. It's extends from the bonnet to below the bumper. It has to be 4' tall and 3' wide.

I took some measurements and I think I can squeeze a 12" tall X 15" wide condensor between the grill and radiator and maybe that will give me more efficiency.

While doing some woodworking today, I decided to snap some shots of what the Saab 9000 throttle body would look like on a DOHC intake manifold. Like I said I'm not sure if the bonnet would close or not. It might be there is still some concern over a 90 mounted on top and a BLOS mixer off to the side.

It's even got a water jacket. I wonder if that would be benefical on an LPG system or redundant once the LPG goes through the heater/vaporizer?