Greetings all,
I have a 1981 Fiat 124 Nina Farina that I purchased last year.
Water vapor is coming out of the side of the head so I think it has a blown head gasket.
I have been putting off taking it to Joe's Fiat Shop in Redwood City CA.
I have purchased a OEM factory manual and contemplated taking the head off myself but I do not have a good place to work on the car since I live in the city.
More as it develops,
Ahmed
Fiat 1981 SFO with Head Problem
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2ndwind
- Posts: 548
- Joined: Tue Oct 27, 2009 10:17 pm
- Your car is a: 1982 Spider
- Location: Cincinnati OH
Re: Fiat 1981 SFO with Head Problem
Welcome Ahmed.
Just for clarification, It is Pininfarina. http://www.pininfarina.com/index/storia ... fie/bPinin
I recently had the same problem with a leaking head. Check your engine oil and coolant for contamination. I got out the manual and checked the head bolts for proper tightening. Follow the proper tightening pattern as shown in the manual and start with a lower torque like 145 ft.lbs. for all. Then repeat the pattern with an intermediate torque before reaching the recommended torque. My number 8 bolt was very loose. I do not anticipate this fix to last forever as the head has probably warped due to running that way. Neither the engine oil nor the coolant have been contaminated. I may be in luck.
Just for clarification, It is Pininfarina. http://www.pininfarina.com/index/storia ... fie/bPinin
I recently had the same problem with a leaking head. Check your engine oil and coolant for contamination. I got out the manual and checked the head bolts for proper tightening. Follow the proper tightening pattern as shown in the manual and start with a lower torque like 145 ft.lbs. for all. Then repeat the pattern with an intermediate torque before reaching the recommended torque. My number 8 bolt was very loose. I do not anticipate this fix to last forever as the head has probably warped due to running that way. Neither the engine oil nor the coolant have been contaminated. I may be in luck.
Steve
1982 Red Spider 2000
1919 Old Town Sailing Canoe
1982 Red Spider 2000
1919 Old Town Sailing Canoe
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narfire
- Posts: 3959
- Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 2:14 am
- Your car is a: 1980 124 spider
- Location: Naramata B.C.
Re: Fiat 1981 SFO with Head Problem
Too much for the head bolts. I thought they were spec'd around 56 to 68 ft lbs depending on the year.2ndwind wrote:Follow the proper tightening pattern as shown in the manual and start with a lower torque like 145 ft.lbs
80 FI spider
72 work in progress
2017 Golf R ( APR Stg. 1)
2018 F350 crew long box
72 work in progress
2017 Golf R ( APR Stg. 1)
2018 F350 crew long box
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reinaldo
Re: Fiat 1981 SFO with Head Problem
I think you're right about the problem that it is a blown head gasket. If that is the case, it's either you go for new head gasket auto parts or just get an OEM parts from the manufacturer.