Is the Lancia Beta lump worth any effort

[mr2by4]

Even a 164 engine is a problem. There are a couple but they are scattered far and wide. Keep in mind that I am almost 2000 miles from either coast and 1500 miles from the northern border if I am looking for only a domestic source. We did not get many Italian cars in the nineties. No Alfa's at all after 95'. No Lancias after 80'. Not sure when Fiat went away, but it was about that same time. The x19 was sold as a "Bertone" here.
I may have a line on a great parts car(164s), but it is 2100 miles away...

[Fingers]

It shouldn't be expensive to get some pistons and cams, and you could save some cash by fitting them yourself. If it was me, I'd enjoy it as is for a while with maybe a few easy performance mods, while looking for and alternative powerplant and gearing up to modify the car, then when you're ready you'll have everything at hand.

Pistons from a 1585cc Lancia Beta engine will raise the 2litre engine compression to 10.8:1, and as stated above the cams from a 124 sport 1608 will give approx 8 more horsepower due to the longer duration. It all helps.

I carried out some Guy Croft mods on my old Volumex coupe and it went like a rocket, he knows his stuff when it comes to the normally aspirated twin cams.

Just checked Midwest Bayless, they have pistons and cams as per above.

[Allora#2]

i am not 100% sure but this engine looks like it works in an Stratos!
and it's easy to find in the states.

[mr2by4]

i am not 100% sure but this engine looks like it works in an Stratos!
and it's easy to find in the states.

There are a lot of great motors that would work. A GM v6 is not high on my list. I was trying to stick with motors that had the right "flavor". If I just wanted cheap power I would pick up a Toyota 3sgte and slap that in there. My friend is able to get 400 whp out of those pretty easily and they are not difficult to locate at all.

[Guy Mayers]

Unless the long shaft fouls the chassis at full droop?

[mr2by4]

The transmission is the one that neil is running (e153)in its native application so I am guessing that it works.

[The Slug]

I think Phil has said in the thread that the extra weight helped to settle the car, making it better to drive.
Personally I would say go for the unstressed V6 engine. Take careful measurements with regards to the drive line and the chassis. and buy what you think is best for you.
Not much point in going the alfa route if you cant get spares, when you are able to get a good source of other v6 engines and parts, don't make life any harder for yourself than it needs to be.

[mr2by4]

Oddly I can get parts, just finding motors is a bit of a bother. Besides, pistons etc are easily made custom or shipped. Cams reground etc and the FI is just standard bosch stuff.

[Paul]

Oddly I can get parts, just finding motors is a bit of a bother. Besides, pistons etc are easily made custom or shipped. Cams reground etc and the FI is just standard bosch stuff.

Where in the US are you? Just checking my local Craigslist today shows 3 164's for sale. One of them claims 44K miles (no price), the others are in the $3K range:


http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/4801359987.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/4802990351.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/4806774652.html

[mr2by4]

Where in the US are you? Just checking my local Craigslist today shows 3 164's for sale. One of them claims 44K miles (no price), the others are in the $3K range:


http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/4801359987.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/4802990351.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/4806774652.html

Texas, so shipping is $1200 for a driving car, more for non-running/parts car.

I am not trying to diverge from the normal. Trying to get some information with regard to a couple of motors that are fairly uncommon here in the US.