Hi everyone,
Long time lurker, first time poster here. I've made some threads in the past on the Lemons forum (which is...quiet, since facebook ruined the internet) and the X1/9 forum which is great, but this project is getting weird.
We picked up a 1984 Fiat X1/9 for $500 in 2019 with a blown head gasket. We rebuilt the engine within budget (ie: just dropped new rings and bearings in it, and resurfaced the head using my kitchen counter) and got it running. This, however was pre-covid, so of course E36 M3 hit the fan. So we paused for a bit and then put the cage in it and finished the build. Our first race was 2021 at ORP. It went surprisingly well, given it was our first time, there is 0 cumulative experience racing on our team, and we showed up with a fiat. We did 180ish laps and came home with the judges choice trophy for having our E36 M3 together and driving an awful car.
This year, we were back at ORP. Things didn't go so smoothly. We had a number of different problems. We were out almost the entire first day dealing with overheating issues, and the transmission separating from the engine (where did all the bolts go...we may never know), which led to some carnage. We ended the weekend with 110 laps which was surprising, given how much of the time I spent under the car in the paddock. Our fastest lap was a bit better, and our brake upgrades (vented rotors from a modern fiat 500, front calipers from that fiat 500, porterfield pads, decent fluid, and brake cooling) worked, so there were positives to take away.
Paddock picture of this fine machine sporting the GRM sticker
The real issue, however, was how slow it was. Which leads me to this forum. When we rebuilt the motor, we couldn't do oversize pistons because of budget concerns (this was before we knew that nobody in lemons sticks to the $500 rule, we *really* tried our best) and there was pitting in the cylinders from it sitting for 4 years with a blown head gasket before we bought it. This is what it looked like *after* honing it:
Compression is low (130psi ish) but consistent. The X1/9 wasn't quick from the factory, but this one is definitely extra tired. This is compounded by the 15x7 wheels I put on the car so that we could have a decent tire selection, making the gearing even worse. At ORP I couldn't accelerate up the hill after turn 5, or turn 14. The only car I could out drag on the straight was a VW beetle powered Porsche 996 (which weighs about 400 pounds more than the fiat).
Another X1/9 came up on craigslist for $500, so I went to get it. My plan is to mock up the swap in the spare car while leaving the race car in one piece. We're planning to race at The Ridge in October, so the race car needs to be ready for that. I'm planning to just tack things in to the donor car and then swap it all over once the season has ended either this year or next year. Unfortunately, the donor car came with an unhealthy engine (180psi in 3 cylinders, 80psi in the 4th), so we won't be able to easily extend our time with the little lampredi if the existing one goes pop. But I haven't torn it down yet to see what the issue is, either.
A while back, I had a VR6 Corrado, and a spare engine for that car, as one does. That car is now gone (don't worry I got a different, better Corrado) but the engine sat on the floor of my parent's garage for years. Then I graduated, got a job, got married, got a house, moved to a different house with a shop, and somehow this craigslist VR6 followed me to this point. It is only fair to use it. It has been through so much. So that brings us to today. Finally, little VR6, it is your time to shine.
In some dimensions, the VR6 and O2a are actually smaller than the lampredi, but, not all dimensions. So some cutting is required.
Then I dropped the tank, which sits right behind the driver, and cut out more of the car. Finally it mostly fits, even with the intake manifold on.
Which brings us to today where I've tacked together some of the mounts. In the next couple weeks I'd like to finish the mounts. Then I'll probably do the axles, and then figure out the exhaust. Once the exhaust is done, I'll tack the horizontal bracing back in. I'd like to build the exhaust first because I see several different options for the bracing, which will have to work around the exhaust.
Looking ahead, we will need some sort of large oil cooler, as the stock one on the VR6 is insufficient. The lemons car has a larger than stock radiator (it's actually from a scirocco) but it will be insufficient for the VR6. I'm thinking two radiators, and maybe hood vents in the front for extra help. I think once we get to this point, we'll cut up the race car and transfer everything over. Then we'll do a fuel cell in the front.
One of the (many) unknowns is spring rates. We'll need stiffer springs in the rear to compensate for the extra weight. We'll probably make coilovers since the existing dampers are nice Koni units, but we will need adjustability. Adjustable sway bars front and rear will likely be required to tame the extra weight and 4x power increase as well.
I've never swapped anything before, so I'll be making lots of mistakes along the way. If anyone has any thoughts or things to look out for, I'm all ears. I have no idea what I'm doing.