Fiat 124 series engine

Fiat 124/OHV engine
131 A1.000 engine (OHV 1585 cc)
Overview
Manufacturer	Fiat / Fiat Automóveis (Brazil)
Production	1966–199?
Layout
Configuration	OHV 2-valve inline-four SOHC 2-valve inline-four SOHC diesel 2-valve inline-four
Displacement	994–1,585 cc
Cylinder block alloy	cast iron
Cylinder head alloy	aluminium

Designed by Aurelio Lampredi, the Fiat 124 engine first appeared in the all-new Fiat 124 in April 1966. The in-line four-cylinder engine comprised an iron block with an aluminium cylinder-head with pushrod actuated valves. The belt-driven design was ahead of its time when introduced. The engine remained in production until the 1990s in Latin America, although European production ended with the Fiat 131 in 1984. It did have a longer life in its twin-cam iteration, which continued in production until 2000. While originally of an overhead valve design, an overhead cam version named Fiasa was developed for Fiat's Brazilian arm in 1976 and in 1981 it was added to the facelifted 131 in Europe as well. The capacity was initially 1,197 cc (in the Fiat 124), but eventually ranged between 994 cc and 1,585 cc. There were also two 1.3-litre and 1.4-litre diesel iterations, only built in Brazil but exported to Europe as well. The last versions of this engine to be built was a 1.5-L dedicated-ethanol version developed in Brasil that served the Fiat Uno and its derivatives, and later yet the Fiat Palio (both the hatch and the Weekend), Siena and Strada, until 2004.

Engine specifications

The Fiat 124 series engine was produced in a number of configurations differing in stroke and bore but maintaining a standard bore-spacing. The first model (124 A.000) was near square, using a bore of 73.0 mm and a stroke of 71.5 mm to produce a displacement of 1197 cc. A larger 1438 cc version arrived in October 1968, in the 124 Special. This has an 80 mm bore.^[1] The bore was increased to 76 mm to give a displacement of 1297 cc for the 131, which was also available in a 1.6-litre version (84 mm bore). A variety of other bores were available, and the Brazilian engine was later also developed with both short and long-stroke versions of 994 and 1497 cc respectively.

The 1.3 was later bored out by 0.1 mm, to nudge the displacement above 1.3 liters. This allowed Italian motorists to drive a full 140 km/h (87 mph) on the autostrada, rather than the 130 km/h (81 mph) which was allowed for cars under 1.3 litres.

The 124-series engine has five main bearings, a cast iron block and a reverse-flow aluminum alloy head. Intake and exhaust are both located on the right-hand side of the engine.

There are also overhead camshaft versions of the 124-series engine. The first was the Fiat Twin Cam, which used the 124-series block with some modifications to use a DOHC valvetrain with a crossflow head. The Brazilian engine, first shown in autumn of 1976, was the first SOHC version. It took nearly five years before the Italian-built engines were changed to such a design. The Brazilian engine, which first appeared in a 1.05-litre version, has a belt-driven overhead camshaft, breakerless electronic ignition and chrome-treated exhaust valves with stellite seats, for increased durability.^[2]

The Brazilian engines were also exported to Europe in large numbers, both for the 127, Ritmo, and the later Uno as well as a few Milles/Dunas/Elbas sold by Innocenti. The 1.05 was also installed in the Autobianchi Y10, where it was also available with turbocharging.^[3]

The diesel, originally displacing 1301 cc, using the same bore and stroke as the corresponding petrol version, was later bored out to 78 mm, giving a 1367 cc displacement, and was available in turbocharged guise in the Uno Turbo D.

There was also a two-litre pushrod version (6132 AZ 2000) for the 1974 to 1982 Fiat Nuova Campagnola, this has the 84 mm bore of the 1.6 but combined with a 90 mm stroke.^[4]

Applications

List of vehicles using variations of the Fiat 124-series engine (incomplete).

Footnotes