So there's a 2L in my Scorp... but was it done right?

[Dan B.]

I picked up a project Scoprion a few weeks ago and the PO had swapped a 2L engine with dual IDFs into it. I don't have alot of info on the car becuase it was abandoned by the PO when he and his wife got divorced. I bought it off the ex-wife... She said it ran at one point, but hadn't since he left it in the driveway a few years ago. The last inspection sticker on it is from 2002.

The car is a pretty big mess, and I haven't tried starting it yet. I'd like to get some info on how a proper 2L swap should look like before I really start to work on this thing. I sort of question the intstall becuase the coolant hoses and external thermostat seem sort of "squished" in there. So what all is typically required in a 2l swap and what pitfalls should I look for that the PO might have missed?

[bjmarsh]

"I'd like to get some info on how a proper 2L swap should look like before I really start to work on this thing"


Dan,

It looks like a 1.8L! Seriously you will have a slightly taller block, casual observer probably would not even notice. Makes no difference if it is a Fiat or Lancia Block, what counts are the fiddly bits. If the block says Lancia, you are probably in good shape. If it says Fiat, that's OK as long as the proper bits were swapped (cam towers have different drains on the Lancia due to engine tilt), Either the original 1.8L head or a 2L head will work. (1.8L should have smog air injection fittings or 4 plugs, Important to use the correct Oil pan / pump, the Scorp/Monte pan is better than the Beta. The plumbing always looks pretty squished, post a pic of your engine on the site and you will get more feedback. BTW, where is your distributor located, Exhaust side, Intake side or end of cam? If you do not already have docs, get the parts book first, you will learn a lot just from the exploded diagrams. Engine work is pretty easy basically a 124 but with lots of little differences, Cam towers, engine mounts, alternator location, brackets,oil pan/ pump, t connection to head, etc... It was designed to be a 2L so everything fits fine. / Ask questions, somebody here will give you the answers you need to get it fully sorted. good luck

Barry

[Dan B.]

Ooops... The last inspection sticker is from 2000, not 2002. So it's sat for 6 years :-\

I'll try to get some pics of the engine bay soon. Unfortunately the digital camera I have at the moment is sorta crappy and doesn't take good pics unless the subject is in full daylight. It's a bit dark in the engine bay...

One of the hoses going to the t-stat is actually touching the wall of the engine bay, and the bend puts a slight kink in the hose. There is alittle peice of rubber wedged inbetween that hose and the wall I assume to keep it from rubbing the hose to bits. I bet it squeaks alot, lol.

[Will]

IMO the things you need to check are the engine mount under the exhaust at the upper RH side- it should be flat against the block and secured with a dowel and bolt, not twisted away from the block. This means you either have a FIAT block or your Lancia Beta block was cut to fit the Scorp bracket. Next check the coolant T to see that it has a cast-in divot to clear the strut tower.These two are the things that can cause damage. A slight kink in the hose might look poor, but plenty of water will still flow. This could be caused by the thermostat configuration, the scorp uses a fairly unique stat that is different than the stock FIAT item. A FIAT stat can work, but can look awkward.The water pumps are different, the Scorpion uses a slightly larger impeller and the pump flange behind the pulley (usually) is triangular- which is supposed to allow the removal of the pulley in situ, but it's nearly impossible. If you do ever get the chance, use the FIAT (conical) water pump pulley rather than the Scorpion (top hat shaped) pulley to make life easier on yourself in the future. When installed on a Beta, the FIAT intake cambox will tend to have a highoil level that's messy if you take off the cover, but basically harmless otherwise. as Barry mentioned, the cam and dizzy configurations indicate what you have camwise. All 1800 Scorpion heads have air injector bungs and are labelles "AS6 C" as part of the casting number. Fiat 1800 heads may or may not have injector holes. 2L heads don't have the holes.