Beta coupe rally project

[Skufy]

I have just purchased a 79 1600 coupe. Does anyone have some links for engine/suspension/brake parts and where I could get hold of a cage and the wide wheel arche extensions?

Also, where in the Fiat/Lancia range can I get hold of a 1.8 or 2.0L engine? I have looked around a few scrape yards and have only come accross engines with the inlet/exht swapped sides - are these all 16V and presumably they can not be fitted into a beta?

This car will join my other beta - a 2.0ie coupe that is suffering from the rust in the petrol tank syndrome.

[Hamish]

Skufy,
Finding a 16 valve head to fit the beta is a topic we've discussed here before - forget it unless you have seriously deep pockets :!: :roll:

You'd be better tring to build a Beta coupe to the old Group 3 specifications; so you would need a 1756 cc engine and a pair of DellOrto 48's to start with. The 1800 engine isn't as common as the 1600 or 2000 (indeed I've seen more 1300 and 1400 engines than 1800 :!: ) but was fitted to all pre '82 Beta models. So you should be able to find one in France, if not I have one in the UK for sale - but thats a long way to go for an engine :wink:

The wheelarch extensions can be found (new) will search my notes and see if I can find you an email address.

Demon tweeks in the UK used to list both a 'quick rack' and a roll cage for the Beta Coupe until a few years ago - so try there first.

Suspension - I'm not sure if Lancia used conventional or full rally spec suspension, if they went the full rally route then Leed do a coil over conversion kit which was actually fabricated for Stratos replica owners use but handily enough fits the Beta from which 90% of Stratos replicas are based.

Hope that helps a bit 8)

[Skufy]

Excellent stuf, thanks for that. For over ten years I have wanted to build a stat rep. - one day. So a Beta first, what else was fitted with the 1800 or 2.0L engine as most Lancias left appear to be rubbish or collection condition?

[wellingtonvx]

Here's some extensions, but not cheap at 580 €
http://www.abarth-gmr.be/new/article.php?ID=64

Colin

[Shant Fabricatorian]

It really depends how historically correct you want to be.

Plenty of other cars out there are fitted with the Lampredi twin-cam, but the Beta has a unique spec. It's derived from the Fiat 132's, but only the block is directly interchangeable. Lancia specified different cams, pistons, cylinder head, and, I believe, crank and valves...

There mightn't be that many good Beta chassis out there, but I tend to find that there are plenty of good Beta motors...it shouldn't really be that hard to find a decent one. If you really find it hard to find one, have a look for a unit out of a Fiat 124, 125, 131 or 132, but unlike the bodies, the engines and gearboxes in Betas are pretty bulletproof, and have lasted much better - hence the surplus. You've already discovered the 'wrong way around manifold' problem, so I won't mention it again here.

If you're really stuck, I know of a 1976 Coupe in Sydney. Bodily it's not sensational (the front wings have come away from the body at the bottom, though curiously the boot is in excellent condition), but the motor (two-litre) and gearbox are, if anything, sweeter than the one in mine. It's for sale at $A200 if anyone's interested.

[Pete]

There's a guy on Betaboyz web site selling an 1800 engine, he's in Cumbria, UK. Which is just about as far from France as you can get before you reach Scotland.

Contact details:

Gav
01697 332005/01697 332181 ( don't forget international code)
sylvia@rumneys400.fsnet.co.uk

:)

[Skufy]

Thanks for all the info, I'll probably go for a beta 2000 engine with either a 1300 or 1600 gb. I'll be on the look out for carbs and other bits soon. The arches are a bit expensive, maybe another supplier will come up with something. I'll try and get round to contacting some French suppliers for cages etc. there must be some somewhere.

[vvieri]

I have looked around a few scrape yards and have only come accross engines with the inlet/exht swapped sides - are these all 16V and presumably they can not be fitted into a beta?

Late 8v engines (after the year 1985) had reversed ports, too. If the engine has separate camboxes it is an 8v unit. The 16v engines are quite rare and they have a large cam cover that covers both the intake and exhaust cams.

[EVO92]

http://www.heigo.de/ list a cage for the Beta coupe.

[Wallace]

A couple of guys brought some 16 valve Abarth heads that fit "the right way round" a few years ago for their Scorpions/Montecarlos. went for about £5000 EACH ! - and even then - they required a lot of work to get them to run !

16 valve Thema head will fit with virtually NO mods - just all the inlet/exhaust manifolds are back to front - and you'll need a new set of pistons as well. But Thema heads can be brought from a scrapy with EFI manifold for under 30 pounds . . .

[Shant Fabricatorian]

Are you talking about a Monte/Scorpion Wallace?

I've wondered on more than one occasion whether there is enough space under a Beta bonnet to do the same thing. There's a lot more free space in a Monte, because as you know Lancia felt a need to use every inch of space they had available to them in the Beta...

The thing I wonder about is how you'd get the exhaust manifold to run underneath the engine without major mods. I'm sure it's probably been done but it seems like a pretty fundamental alteration, and IMHO not really worth the effort.

[Wallace]

Yes - talking about the monte - I've never really seen a Beta so couldn't rerally comment on the space - or lack thereoff.

but the "standard2 16 valve thema engine gives out a very useable 150 bhp - yes, making the manifold would be a good trick - but might be cheeper than getting a this sort of power from an 8 valve head (flowing, carbs, manifold etc).

Just a thought.

[Will]

Ken Haven documented the Thema transplant in a Monte (Scorpion actually) some time back, has it on his website, which I think is like havenhouse.com or something like that. Neat trick. Of course, Ken's got a lot more than "average" resources, fabrication skill, and hasn't killed off his grey matter drinking rot gut and breathing carb cleaner like some of the rest of us ;)
-Will

-Will

[A1.6HPE]

Hello,
Firstly that 1800 engine that is for sale is in Inverness - halfway up Scotland. I am getting a transmission from the seller and I am getting it when he is travelling down to the Stratos Replica Club meeting (don't know where that is, somewhere in England).

A guy (Clive Alcock) in Cumbria has built a Grp 4 replica and had it at the LMC AGM last year. He has used it for a couple of local club rallies also. He has done a great job, just needs a set of those impossible-to-find wheels.

I will put a picture in my Gallery "Lancias and Leo Capaldi"

Leo

[Hamish]

Sorry Leo,
Think you've got the wrong end of the stick on this one :roll: Whilst Stevie does indeed have an 1800 engine up in bonny Inverness for sale that's not the engne under discussion here (although I had it in mind :idea: ) the engine under discussion is in Cumbria, it's a 2 litre fast road jobbie out of a Stratos replica and is not being sold by Stevie....
Just thought I'd make sure we all know what's what :twisted:

[SUSIT]

Sorry Leo,
Think you've got the wrong end of the stick on this one :roll: Whilst Stevie does indeed have an 1800 engine up in bonny Inverness for sale that's not the engne under discussion here (although I had it in mind :idea: ) the engine under discussion is in Cumbria, it's a 2 litre fast road jobbie out of a Stratos replica and is not being sold by Stevie....
Just thought I'd make sure we all know what's what :twisted:

Well Internet Fame at last.
I do indeed still have a 1800cc complete and running for sale. I head south to Abingdon tomorrow so if you want it delivered now is the time to say. Come on guys save me from the divorce courts.

Hi Hamish long time no hear, you well?

Regards
Stephen

[Hamish]

Stephen :!:
Glad to see you finally made it over to Lancisti :wink:
Doing fine, was in your part of the world last week catching huge trout :P and almost popped in on way back..... give me a buzz at home tonight (Wednesday) if you can - after 8 best :roll:

[SUSIT]

I know Hamish its not technical but thought might let you know what I was up too. Spent last week on holiday in Holland prity boring you might think? Ha how wrong can you be see the missus did'nt know our week away was at the same time as Spa Italia and the Strat club sec takes his Stratos replica along and this year he had a helper. Lots and lots of nice Italian cars including Lancia's, even a UK reg Montecarlo. Iceing on the cake 12 laps of Spa in a very tidy Stratos replica. I think a trip next year should be a must for all you UK based Lancia fans.

Regards Stephen