16v head for Beta?

[peteracs]

Hi All

I know this is really a question for GCs forum, but not registered there yet......

At this stage just an idea forming, but anyone know if you can use the later 16v heads from such as Dedra etc on the Beta engine?

Peter

[HFStuart]

Yes

but...

Obviously the exhaust & inlet side are swapped around
You'd probably need custom pistons
There are some differences in the oil feed galleries to the head

[rossocorsa]

Even if you could do it I can't think it would be worth the bother, you can extract fairly serious power from an 8v and tbh I have never felt that the 16v is as nice an engine.

Do you have GCs latest book? If not you should get a copy it will enlighten you on lots of stuff, you are close enough to GC to call in and buy one!

[peteracs]

Even if you could do it I can't think it would be worth the bother, you can extract fairly serious power from an 8v and tbh I have never felt that the 16v is as nice an engine.

Do you have GCs latest book? If not you should get a copy it will enlighten you on lots of stuff, you are close enough to GC to call in and buy one!

Hi

Thanks for the responses, I noticed that the head was reversed after I had posted, not really what I was after. I have this crazy long term idea of doing a replica Coupe rally and whilst they were 8v originally, they mainly used 16v from what I can tell from pretty scarce info. So back to drawing board so to speak as they the original 16v head was an Abarth special as I understand it and hate to think what one would cost if you could find one.......

Peter

[rossocorsa]

Well you could still do a rally replica, it would be fine with an 8v especially if it is for fun and to enjoy rather than a precise replica. I think the picture on the left is an 8 valve engine bay?

[Neil-yaj396]

Lancia used both for rallying. 16v for the full 'WRC' as a stop gap waiting for the Stratos, 8v in the lower class. Both were more successful that is generally remembered.

[rossocorsa]

Another point the later production 16v head looks completely different to the abarth item and, if I recall correctly, the abarth item has separate cam carriers whereas the later item has head cast in one piece. So the 8v head will actually look more authentic. GC sometimes has engines in for work with the abarth head but they are mega rare and expensive

[75coupe]

The group 3 cars used 1800cc 8 valve motor with narrow wheel arch extensions, Group 4 cars had 1800 engine with Abarth 16v head as used on Fiat 124 and were good for 190BHP @ 7700rpm.

There have been 3 types of 16v head used on Twin cams, the early Abarth 124 type (as used on the 124 & Beta), a later Lampredi design as used on Fiat 131 16v, lancia 037 etc, and finally the Fiat/Lancia production 16v as used on Delta Integrale, Fiat coupe 16v, Fiat tipo 16v, lancia Thema 16v & Turbo etc, etc. This is the head that is reversed compared to early type. There was a Guy on the Guy Croft forum who actually managed to reverse the camshafts in the later 16v head so it could be used back to front, so it is not impossible

Have attached a picture of Beta Group 4 16v