[Good-Win Racing]

Picked up new project Fiat 124 yesterday, ostensibly wife's new daily driver, already nicknamed: 'Sophia'. Welcome Sophia, fun begins today with spring swap, wheels and tires, etc. My last Fiat 124 was about three decades ago....that kid is me with the 78 Fiat 124.

Already drove the snot out of it...and then put it on the lift and started taking it apart!

Tons to learn, diving in!

 

[Good-Win Racing]

Hi Guys!

Excited to share that two of our team put in laps in the new Fiat before we made our order to take delivery of our own.

I got dozens of laps over two days, my review published in DSPORT MAGAZINE at first link below:

http://dsportmag.com/the-scene/news-and-updates/fiat-124-tested-good-win-racing/

Our own Sean Thomson also got laps, his review in our forum at this link:

http://www.mazdatalkforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=3553&p=22029#p22029

 

[Bulldog66]

Exciting!!

Love to hear your list of priorities for mods. in addition to the parts from the MX-5 that will swap over.

I presume an exhaust in on your list given your great system for the MX-5. Love to know, as paying for the Mopar seems like a waist of money.

Thanks for the write ups!!

 

[Good-Win Racing]

Starting with some of our ND suspension bits to show folks how it all works as well on the Fiat version. That also gave us opportunity to tear down and look at what is the same and what is different in the Fiat version, etc. I have been driving the car today on my favorite curvy test roads and ramps with our Progress Springs, and the car handles MUCH better and looks better already. Will post pics later. We would also like to get the weight closer to our ND weight, will use our brake upgrades and race battery kit to drop at least 50 pounds out of the Fiat while improving ride and brake feel.

YES, exhaust is high on the list, cannot hear the stock Fiat 124 exhaust and the tips are just raw sawed off pipe, they didn't even bother to polish the pipe. Already had a few folks ask us for something more exciting for the standard 124. Not everybody wants the sound of the Abarth version but the standard 124 is the other extreme, really cannot hear it and the tips look terrible as you can see below.

 

[Greg]

Welcome to the forum, and to the world of Fiats.

Greg

 

[Bulldog66]

Starting with some of our ND suspension bits to show folks how it all works as well on the Fiat version. That also gave us opportunity to tear down and look at what is the same and what is different in the Fiat version, etc. I have been driving the car today on my favorite curvy test roads and ramps with our Progress Springs, and the car handles MUCH better and looks better already. Will post pics later. We would also like to get the weight closer to our ND weight, will use our brake upgrades and race battery kit to drop at least 50 pounds out of the Fiat while improving ride and brake feel.

YES, exhaust is high on the list, cannot hear the stock Fiat 124 exhaust and the tips are just raw sawed off pipe, they didn't even bother to polish the pipe. Already had a few folks ask us for something more exciting for the standard 124. Not everybody wants the sound of the Abarth version but the standard 124 is the other extreme, really cannot hear it and the tips look terrible as you can see below.

I presume an Abarth version is also on the list though?

 

[Good-Win Racing]

WOW, found some of the extra weight!

The Fiat Battery looks like a BEAST....because it is!

Once all the bracket and bucket are added (not shown here), the weight for the Fiat battery and mounting setup is over 39 pounds! Stock ND battery with the bracket and bucket is only 26 pounds.....difference of 13 pounds! All the same electronics in the car, the Fiat doesn't need so much more battery, my guess is they didn't want an extra sku and this battery is already same as used in other models like the 500. Once we get our Light Battery Kit modified to work in the Fiat we will be saving about 36 pounds on just the battery. Given that is all weight high in the nose of the car it will make a nice difference.

For comparison, ND Battery:

And our Light Battery kit, plus battery:

 

[Good-Win Racing]

Fiat 124 with our Progress Springs and 17x8 Tungsten 6UL wheels with 235/40/17 Toyo R1R Tires. Even with just the springs upgraded this Fiat is pretty flat in the corners, credit to both the springs and the fact that Fiat gave it's version a bit more sway bar (rear 14mm instead of 11mm, etc).

Fits perfect, feels great, looks awesome!

 

[iamz]

That really looks great! Could you weigh the factory wheels for us? The stock wheels look kind of heavy to me. Getting lighter wheels is one of the few changes I will make to mine.

 

[Greg]

WOW, found some of the extra weight!

The Fiat Battery looks like a BEAST....because it is!

It's also NOT a maintenance free battery. What the heck Fiat? I didn't even know they still make these.

Greg

 

[ForzaFiata]

Awesome thread!! Subscribing so I can follow your progress. I already have Good-win bookmarked for future suspension goodies

 

[Good-Win Racing]

It's also NOT a maintenance free battery. What the heck Fiat? I didn't even know they still make these.

Greg

Agreed, very odd... don't think I have seen one in years.

Brian

 

[MARKS FIAT]

I would think that the battery would be in the trunk (Boot).
Is relocating the battery to the trunk a good mod?
But using a modern light weight one, that won't out gas
into the trunk.

 

[Good-Win Racing]

Stock Fiat battery is way up high and forward. Not relocating it, just downsizing to lithium to get a little weight off the nose.

In some of our Miata race cars we have put the battery in the trunk to corner balance the driver better, but that only makes sense for race cars. Even have a 400 hp turbo Miata that has both the Battery in passenger side trunk corner, and the OIL (dry sump 2.3 liter turbo motor up front pumps from 5 liter oil tank in the base of the trunk).

 

[Stewie]

That is a significant difference in battery weight ! Holy cow !

 

[Good-Win Racing]

The Fiat 124 reminds me of MSM Miata, feels great on the freeway 70 to 90 because turbo already ready to play. Around town the ND Miata feels a lot more light on its feet and quicker without a turbo that needs to be spooled. So for now I would pick ND for track/autocross and driving in town and the canyons....but Fiat for longer freeway drives and higher altitude locations (fiat is a bit more quiet for the long freeway drives and turbo will keep it fun as the air gets thin). But it is early days, I hope we can eventually get 250 hp from this little turbo motor and that will likely alter my impressions!

 

[Good-Win Racing]

TODAY is another Fiat Fun Day.

Going in the car today is our light Battery kit. We will need to mod the kit a bit from ND configuration, will get it figured out.

Also going in today is our caliper conversions and light two-piece rotors. Will get you guys some pics on the scales, going to drop something like 50 pounds from the front end today!

 

[Chas H]

Hey Brian, could you take some photos (and post them) of the underside of the 124 while it's on a lift, please.
Thanks

 

[Stewie]

Will you guys be logging your steps as you work for DIY/instructions purposes ??

 

[Good-Win Racing]

Will you guys be logging your steps as you work for DIY/instructions purposes ??

For many items we will.

For many items we already have detailed install on ND and won't repeat that process when it is the same for Fiat version.

Thus, many will find our ND development thread at this link of interest, and our new Fiat development thread at this link.