Fiat 126 purchased

[Zelandeth]

You know you want to...

[DavidB]

I wonder what engine’s in this? Might be standard, but what a beast!

I think I may collect this (if I do) in a rented Sprinter or box van, I heard they fit.

[Barry Cade]

I'd love to put a BMW  R1200 engine in one of these! Had a Bis many years ago, and it was a bit of a disaster. Never really got it running nicely and kinda gave up on it as it didn't have the charm of the 126. Wish I'd tried harder now..

[twosmoke300]

I never knew until this thread that the bis was a flat twin . The standard 126 was a parallel/ inline twin wasn’t it ?

[Surface Rust]

10 minutes ago, twosmoke300 said:

I never knew until this thread that the bis was a flat twin . The standard 126 was a parallel/ inline twin wasn’t it ?

The BIS is an inline twin, just laid on its side. A masterpiece of packaging but unfortunately it compromised its primary function as an engine.

[twosmoke300]

Ahh ! I thought I read DW saying the steyr flat twin matched it ! Wrong end of the stick firmly grasped 😂

[tooSavvy]

20 hours ago, Barry Cade said:

I'd love to put a BMW  R1200 engine in one of these! Had a Bis many years ago, and it was a bit of a disaster. Never really got it running nicely and kinda gave up on it as it didn't have the charm of the 126. Wish I'd tried harder now..

Hmmm...... Beemerr gives the Hillman IMP a tug like Arnie'

[DavidB]

My neighbour has offered a use of his Vito and trailer but I don’t fancy hurling it up the hills and valleys where this is located.

im looking at hiring a sprinter or equivalent to just put in the back as I’ve seen photos of people doing this on the Facebook group when I asked. What other equivalents are the same size in the back? The car is 1440m wide max.

[Zelandeth]

 Not sure of precise van measurements, but TPA is 1.16 metres wide and fitted fine in a LWB Transit... though we could have made our lives easier by taking ramps!

The other measurement that I'd be careful of is distance between the wheel arches.

Making sure there are proper tie down points is something to pay heed to as well...there weren't many in that Transit which made the journey slightly nerve wracking at times as I only had one very long strap on one rear wheel.

Enterprise at least do (or did when I rented that one) list the load bay size on their website which was helpful when I was undertaking that trip.

[DavidB]

Yes I’ve taken into account the arches, and strapping it down.

 

This is a VW Crafter.

[DavidB]

I collected this today, it doesn’t really run (although it might not have petrol in) and was absolutely filthy inside and out. It’s completely solid fortunately with no rust I can see from a good look over. I gave it a clean but will have to finish my Suzuki SJ before I try anything, most of it is cosmetic though.

I wasn’t sure about trailering it back with that Italian flag on the roof 😂

 

[High Jetter]

Nice, will follow progress with interest.

[Zelandeth]

Nice one.

What's the ignition setup on these?  Do they use a wasted spark system just firing both cylinders at once or is there a tiny distributor hiding in there somewhere?

[Skut]

I’d put a vote in for the 3 pot Aygo engine. Light enough, cheap and available.  
Saw this BIs recently with some structural issues.

 

[DavidB]

9 hours ago, Zelandeth said:

Nice one.

What's the ignition setup on these?  Do they use a wasted spark system just firing both cylinders at once or is there a tiny distributor hiding in there somewhere?

I'm not sure, two ht leads go to an ignition coil, but can't see a distributor, I assume there is one. One of the HT leads was sat on the engine and was melted/shorted out to it.

[DavidB]

1 hour ago, Skut said:

I’d put a vote in 3 pot Aygo engine. Light enough, cheap and available.  
Saw this BIs recently with some structural issues.

 

Where is this? I need that parcel shelf

[brownnova]

This looks an ace purchase! Always had a soft spot for these, probably because they’re small and most people think they’re crap. Look forward to updates! 

[Surface Rust]

7 minutes ago, DavidB said:

I'm not sure, two ht leads go to an ignition coil, but can't see a distributor, I assume there is one. One of the HT leads was sat on the engine and was melted/shorted out to it.

The 'distributor' is under that plastic cover next to the oil cap, not much in it though as I'm pretty sure it's a wasted spark system. The oil filter (centrifugal type) is under it and is probably worth a clean before running, mine was full of gunge when I got it despite having only 8,000 miles on it.

[Sir Chocolate Teapot]

Buona fortuna.

Really should be in polish but I have no idea of good luck in polish. ( Is that how you spell polish, looks very wrong)

[Skut]

46 minutes ago, DavidB said:

Where is this? I need that parcel shelf

Rural Aberdeenshire. I’ll probably be paying the place a visit in the next couple of months if you haven’t found one elsewhere by then.

[wuvvum]

I had a go in a Bis once - found it very enjoyable for a brief spin but not sure I'd want to daily one.  I was surprised that a car as "modern" as that (it was on a G plate IIRC) still had drum brakes all round and a crash first gear.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

2 hours ago, DavidB said:

Where is this? I need that parcel shelf

...and there's a Favorit behind it which @Yoss might want as spares....

[Yoss]

1 hour ago, Tadhg Tiogar said:

...and there's a Favorit behind it which @Yoss might want as spares....

Possibly, though that shade of blue looks more like a mk2 which are surprisingly different. But might still have a few useful bits. 

2 hours ago, Skut said:

Rural Aberdeenshire. 

And from here I'm almost closer to CZ so I'm out. 

 

Nice 126 btw. 

[tooSavvy]

4 hours ago, Sir Chocolate Teapot said:

Buona fortuna.

Really should be in polish but I have no idea of good luck in polish. ( Is that how you spell polish, looks very wrong)

All the Polish will take a shine to that spelling, m8

[Tadhg Tiogar]

4 hours ago, Sir Chocolate Teapot said:

Buona fortuna.

Really should be in polish but I have no idea of good luck in polish. ( Is that how you spell polish, looks very wrong)

I think it should have a Małuch badge on the back.

[DavidB]

Does anyone know how to remove the front headrests on these? Managed to get the covers off to put in the wash but headrests are preventing the front backs and I don’t want to force them

[Mr Pastry]

18 minutes ago, DavidB said:

Does anyone know how to remove the front headrests on these? Managed to get the covers off to put in the wash but headrests are preventing the front backs and I don’t want to force them

If it is anything like a Mk 1 Panda, the headrest has two shafts which fit through tubular sockets at the top of the seat back.  They are secured by "R" shaped spring clips below the sockets.  To reach them you have to pull the back section of the cover right up and turn it inside out, or you may be able to get your arm up inside the back of the cover.   HTH.

[DavidB]

I tried that, I could feel something, but have already found two huge spiders in this car 😷

[Mr Pastry]

4 minutes ago, DavidB said:

I tried that, I could feel something, but have already found two huge spiders in this car 😷

Panda seat frame showing the sockets:

[DavidB]

It looks exactly the same as the 126 one, thanks for the photo!