FIAT 124 Spider
Engine Maintenance + Modification
9
3. Engine Identification
It is important to know what engine, cylinder head, carburetor, intake manifold, and
exhaust system you have on your FIAT. Understanding what you have allows you to
make an educated decision about what you need. If you are not 100% sure of what you
have then take a few moments to check - many have had engine, cylinder head,
carburetor, exhaust, ignitions, and all kinds of other parts swapped out. You need to
know what you’re running in order to get it running right or swap it for the right thing.
The engine identification number is stamped into the engine block near the oil filter. It is
sometimes covered in grime. Carburetor cleaner or degreaser and a brush will allow you
to read it. On the Spider 2000 engine (1979-1985) it is located just to the right of the oil
filter. On all Spiders manufactured prior to 1979 it is located above the oil filter. Check
your engine number with the chart on the next page. It is important to note that the last
few numbers may not match up - this usually indicates an engine swap at some point in
your car’s history. If the first digits (i.e. 132A1 is always a 1756) are correct then you
have the original displacement engine in your vehicle. If the last few digits (i.e. 031.5)
are correct then you have the original displacement and model year type.
Figure 1: Engine Identification
What if you don’t have the original engine? This situation is more common than you
might think – many owners installed larger motors to gain additional performance, a
common swap was the 1608cc for the 1438cc. Others had swaps due to necessity,
such as installing a 1978 engine in their 1975 because the original no longer worked.
Whether or not a swap was good is something you need to decide for yourself; if
originality is your goal then it may be worthwhile to seek out the original parts. If power
is more important then it might be worth keeping that 102 HP 1608cc instead of
installing a 91 HP 1438cc.
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