The Ultimate X - Fiat X1/9

Mark Bowden

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Hello everybody ... anybody ?
I have arrived here because, and only because, as a fanatical and probably die-hard X1/9 enthusiast - of course I periodically type things like 'X1/9 hillclimb, or X1/9 modified, or X1/9 racecar - into YouTube, to see what's going on. The answer is broadly, nothing very much going on in the UK at all.
Very rarely does one see an X1/9 these days. Very rarely are there new uploads. Yesterday, I was pleased to note that a bloke by the name of Gordon Fogarty uploaded a short clip of himself rinsing it along a strip of twisty tarmac at a place called Eagles Rock. Right. Game on.

I guess most of you know about the Singer 911 or the Alfaholics GTA-R which is a limited production special costing around 200k.
I reckon it's time the little FIAT got the same treatment. The good news it's probably way less expensive - say 80k - to do, and I am in the process of getting the spec down to a tee.
Although it is only a paper build at the moment, it is not just a fantasy. For example, the X1/9 uses a unique installation of the FIAT 128, Lampredi iron block SOHC flipped thru 180deg, where its non-crossflow head puts the induction and the exhaust against the rear firewall.
I won't digress too much here about the later versions of the 128 engine which are DOHC, because although yes, people have done it, it's basically a hack-job, it's not the original block, and I'm a purist - but one of the biggest issues is these later variants were designed for front-engined installation, meaning the exhaust is to the front firewall if used in an X1/9 and it has to be brought back under the rear crossmember meaning you cannot lower the car on the struts and/or the tyre sidewall, unless you use a 14'' wheel and a 60 section tyre and believe me that is the wrong way to go.
Anybody with a serious interest in how to modify the X1/9 to make it competitive, needs to take a close look at the Gp5. Dallara Sil which has a unique reverse-crossflow 4V head - induction to the front firewall and exhaust to the rear firewall, and runs fully 3'' lower than stock whilst retaining the original 13'' wheel diameter. Beautiful solution.
I have a price for a fully built up Dallara head, if anyone's interested.

The car I am building at the moment is on a much lower budget - about 30k - based around the orignial gearbox but with close ratios, and a SOHC engine with Jenvey ITB's being built by Auto Engineering in Chard, Somerset. I expect about 150bhp and expect it will be right on the limit of what the original drivetrain can handle. Pictures available if anyone's interested.

One of the very first problems I encountered, was sourcing a modern but competitive 13'' tyre to fit the original 5.5x13 rims. The OE tyre was a 165/70 eg Goodyear Grand Prix S. In the 90's a common upgrade was a 185/60 eg Pirelli P6 or P6000. I looked at the Caterham 250R and the Lotus Elise Mk1 (which still use a 13'' wheel), and decided to use the control tyre for these cars, which Avon developed - the ZZS, which is a road legal wet/dry motorsport tyre, choosing the 185/55, and ordered a set of 6x13 Billet Ultralites from Image Wheels. Although these wheels are zero offset, I retained the original 5mm spacers front and rear and rolled the rear arches. I do not wish to alter the external appearance of the original arches.

The original hub carriers I fitted with SKF bearings. Currently I use EBC braided lines, EBC Yellowstuff linings, Tarox Sport Japan drilled and slotted rotors, and rebuilt the original calipers so nothing too special there, yet.
I have found a supplier of oversize vented/slotted/drilled rotors, Wilwood 4-pot calipers and brackets, Wilwood pedal boxes, double pump brake master cylinders, brake and clutch masters, bias adjusters, rose jointed rear wishbones, copper/aluminium alloy front hub carriers, if anyone's interested.

Regarding spring rates, currently I have 250lb/in on the back, 200 up front - slightly too hard, I reckon 225/175 ideal. I've lowered the car by about 2 1/2'' on Gaz Shocks, fitted Plaia top mounts and turret plates from C. Obert, and have fitted an Addco front ARB. Corners like its on rails. Pics if anyone's interested.

Very happy to discuss.
Mark.
 

Laundrymike

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Sounds like a incredible build, welcome and get some pics up!

Have you considered 175/50/13 on the tyre front? Readily available, as fitted to late model Rover Mini Cooper's with the sportspack
 

Mark Bowden

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Mark Bowden
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211
Sounds like a incredible build, welcome and get some pics up!

Have you considered 175/50/13 on the tyre front? Readily available, as fitted to late model Rover Mini Cooper's with the sportspack
Actually no if I'm honest because the exercise was to widen the front and rear track and fit the best, widest tyres without altering the external appearance of the arches.
 

Mark Bowden

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Mark Bowden
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211
OK, first off some pics of the suspension rebuild and the three initial geometry setups I ran...

D-reg setup 1.JPG
D-reg setup 2.JPG
D-reg setup 3.JPG
D-reg NSF.JPG
D-reg OSF.JPG
D-reg NSR.JPG
D-reg OSR -1.JPG
D-reg OSR-2.JPG
 
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Mark Bowden

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Mark Bowden
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211
The engine bay was a real mess so to give the motor the best chance, I changed all the ancillaries, belts, hoses, fitted a fuel pump, filter & regulator, air filter, oil filter, full service (plugs, oil, coolant, air & oil filters) replaced the thermostat, expansion tank and oil and coolant caps. I have not done the dog-bone mount yet. Lumention electronic ignition was done by the previous owner. Then it was rolling-roaded at Sigma Engineering, Mere, Wilts, to set the mixture and ignition timing - 63 rwhp. This motor's done about 100k so is nicely run in - burns a little oil but the consumption has been consistent with my driving. I don't go above 5800, am easy on the throttle till it's warm. Then I purposely tried to break it - might sound odd but these engines were an unknown quantity to me. I've done 6000 hard miles since and it's never missed a beat. Very strong engine. You can use the heavy flywheel to pull away in 2nd all the time - first is for hill starts. Then you can drop 4th at about 25 and floor it - good smooth torque all the way is what does it (8V non crossflow characteristic) and in 2nd, 3rd and 4th it will pull from tickover on a very narrow throttle. The top end, less impressive - basically the exhaust valve is too small, and the angle of the exhaust throat is too steep. Above about 150bhp, is where the 16V starts to show its mettle.
The only applicable 16V head for the Lampredi iron block SOHC in the X1/9 is the Group 5 Dallara one, because it's reverse-crossflow (refer to my initial message re: installation).
It's known as the 4V (per) and is quite unusual in that it's a twin-cam but only one cam drives the valves. The other cam drives a Kugelfischer mechanical injection pump.

D-reg Malpassi FPR inst.JPG
Dallara 16V monoblock, Group 5.jpg
 
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Mark Bowden

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Mark Bowden
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211
The Dallara head can be run as a SOHC if you use ITB's and programmable injection, and I guess this type of setup would squeeze out a bit more power, say 230bhp as opposed to 200, but in any case it's a very expensive option - the head alone costs £18,000, then you really need a host of other mods to handle the power, such as a slip-limiter and a dog gearbox.

In terms of 'bangs for bucks' it's not too difficult to get say, 150bhp with the standard 8V head providing you primarily - change the entire fuel system, up the CR, fit a hotter cam with an adjustable pulley, lighten and balance everything, change the exhaust, modify the inlet manifold, fit bigger valves etc etc.

Rather than rebuild the engine from the D-reg, I decided to start from scratch and bought a factory crated motor, from X1/9 Parts Holland. It's actually a Lancia Delta Mk1. motor so there's a few things that need changing eg the oil pickup and cam box tower, but it's basically identical to the FIAT in all other regards. Generically, it's known as the 'long-block 1500' - it began life as a 1300, was stroked to 1500, then 1600, and has a forged crank and rods as standard.

I looked at all the OE fuel injection systems and throttle bodies from the Uno Turbo Mk1, 2, Punto GT Turbo etc but then I was recommended Auto Engineering in Chard, Somerset.
They convinced me (fairly easily if I'm honest) to use ITB's and that's how we got to here. I was adamant from the start that this was to be a fast-road project and that flexibility, driveability, longevity, economy etc should not be sacrificed for out and out top end power.

My biggest concern is whether the original drivetrain will be up to it, but yes I'll be trying to break driveshafts and 'boxes next spring I guess ! Luckily I have a couple of spares. The only thing I've done to the drivetrain to date is fit close ratios.
The knock-on effects of reducing the tyre section from 70 to 60 to 55, were many and varied.
The speedo was way off, for example.
Also and in anticipation of the installation of programmable injection, I realised the tach needed updating also.
I didn't want to spoil the original look of the interior, and began wondering if modern instruments could be made to fit the original console without it looking like another hack job.
It wasn't easy, but in the end I chose a SPA digital stepper speedo & tach, bought a spare console, and made them fit. The only part I couldn't reuse was the outer clear lens, so I made inserts from patinated nonreflective glass to mimic the glass on the SPA clocks.

front end showing custom pulley & TPS.JPG
Jenvey ITB's & modified inlet manifold.JPG
Allison 4-1 header.JPG
SPA digital stepper speedo & tach.JPG
 
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Mark Bowden

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Mark Bowden
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In addition, I took off the rear bumper and did a full LED conversion on all the lights except the driving lights and the panel warning lamps - I used Classic Car LED's - Duncan is very helpful. The reverse light is a super-bright white LED behind the NS clear lens. The rear fog was on the bumper so I deleted the OS reversing light and wired a super-bright LED fitted behind the OS clear lens. The rear number plate lights are in the number plate fixing bolts. I changed the indicator relay to one compatible with LED's. I fitted flush mount front LED repeaters, and fitted super-bright white LED's in the front bumper mounted sidelights, and use them as daytime running lights. I fitted miniature tungsten halogen fog lamps next to these, and fitted H4 Xenon bulbs in the headlamp pods. The instrumentation is blue illuminated. I wired a red illuminated push switch in to the centre of the fag lighter whilst retaining the illuminated green ring around it, which acts as an on/off switch to a hub in the passenger footwell which gives 3x fag lighter outputs and 3x USB outputs, one for SatNav, one for phone charging, one for passenger footwell illumination in blue and one for a blue map reading light at the top of the steering column under trim near the steering boss, and took the bulbs out of the door mounted courtesy lights.

I'm 6' so I got a Momo steering boss and shortened it by 25mm at the expense of the horn switch which I moved to the centre console where there were two blank switches - the other I have wired for fuel on/off. The gear lever I chopped off short, plus I fitted a really small steering wheel. There is now just about enough room for my knee and my hand around the 6-8 o'clock part of the steering wheel and I can change gear too - all this because of the design of the seat. I plan to fit a Tillet carbon shell seat idc which will create loads of extra room because it is really thin and so will go further back.

That just about covers the work to date. The next big task is the hydraulics - I'm about to order a Tilton pedal set and 3 pumps (1x clutch master & 2x brake masters), plus change out a sticky front caliper, replace all the flexible high pressure and low pressure lines, put in some quality fluid and bleed the whole system.

Thanks for listening and I'll write some more about weight saving (both to date and planned) in another post tomorrow or next week.

Have a great weekend if it ain't tomorrow lol
 

Graham

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Hi there, I put up some pics but didn't get a response - this is my first time and maybe I'm doing something wrong, like sending them to myself ?!
They are visible.

What a lovely build!

There is one locally that has competed on hills and sprints for decades, successful in class too.
 

svensktoppen

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FK2 CTR
That looks like a great wee project, nice write-up too! Keep the updates coming and welcome aboard 👌

There is a members' cars section, maybe the mods can help move it over there and then you can just keep updating as you go along.

As for pictures, they look great. When you upload into a post, there should be a choice of including them as attachments (like you did above) or inline with the text. Try the latter next time, just makes it a bit easier to read.

Great job and a very cool little car :cool:
 

Graham

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That looks like a great wee project, nice write-up too! Keep the updates coming and welcome aboard 👌

There is a members' cars section, maybe the mods can help move it over there and then you can just keep updating as you go along.

As for pictures, they look great. When you upload into a post, there should be a choice of including them as attachments (like you did above) or inline with the text. Try the latter next time, just makes it a bit easier to read.

Great job and a very cool little car :cool:
Thread moved as it most certainly fits that area better.
 

DJMCA

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1,259
Love these, one of the few cars i would consider parting the Escort for. Looks a beautiful car, cant wait to see it finished
 

Mark Bowden

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Mark Bowden
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Thread moved as it most certainly fits that area better.
Thanks Graham, you said this thread has now been moved - to the member's cars section - does that mean I can continue to write here, or do I have to open the thread from there in future ? Here's a pic of the interior, using 'insert image' as opposed to 'attach' - hope that's what you meant !
D-reg int-1 (2).JPG
 

Graham

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Thanks Graham, you said this thread has now been moved - to the member's cars section - does that mean I can continue to write here, or do I have to open the thread from there in future ? Here's a pic of the interior, using 'insert image' as opposed to 'attach' - hope that's what you meant !View attachment 250083
Keep posting updates and images within this thread, more people will likely see, and appreciate the thread now too.

Your latest way of posting an image is much better too.

Keep sharing.
 

Mark Bowden

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Mark Bowden
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211
Reminds me of a souped up black X1/9 I saw at Tillysburn but with an infeasibly large wing on the back
Big wings... mm possibly a Dallara wing on a normal (narrow body) X or just maybe the real McCoy, like this -
Trivellato 1.jpg
Trivellato 3.jpg

Keep posting updates and images within this thread, more people will likely see, and appreciate the thread now too.

Your latest way of posting an image is much better too.

Keep sharing.
Excellent...it's working !
 

Mark Bowden

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Mark Bowden
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211
Love these, one of the few cars i would consider parting the Escort for. Looks a beautiful car, cant wait to see it finished
I've got two other X1/9's for sale - both are sound project cars with good provenance. One was dry-stored 23yrs, shell is grade A1 - never rusted, never welded. The other barn-stored 18 years, shell is grade B1, needs a little welding, timewarp interior.
I ALSO KNOW OF A STALLED REPLICA DALLARA BUILD FOR SALE - please can somebody buy this car asap and get a racecar build underway ??? I know where to get all the parts to finish it, more or less.
shell 1.jpg
shell 2.jpg
 

IL

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Lovely, what was Dallara about the Dallara version? did they develop the suspension?

Have you any pics of one with is running gear in but version undressed?
 

svensktoppen

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Lovely, what was Dallara about the Dallara version? did they develop the suspension?

Have you any pics of one with is running gear in but version undressed?

More like a spaceframe job. It appears they kept the cockpit and driver cell, bolted on bespoke front and rear subframes, bespoke bodywork on top, and some basic aero more to clean up the air flow than actually produce downforce.

They kept the basic suspension setup (McPherson) but with bespoke geometry and slightly longer wheel base. And much lower obviously.

Roll cage etc. Full race car conversion.

Then tuned the heck out of the wee Fiat engines :cool:
 
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