Saved US HPE/Modern Fiat conversion

[OperaHawk]

Hello all!

The Beta bug has bit me with some force, and I am now the 'proud' owner of a '77 HPE which has languished in a Central Florida garage for at least ten years.

The plan is to repair and repaint, then modernize the wiring, powerplant, brakes, and suspension with either an Abarth or 500L.

Any tips?

Cheers,

Steven Jepson
Columbia, MO USA

'77 HPE
'81 Zagato SE
'10 Nissan Sentra
'15 Jeep Cherokee

[Neil-yaj396]

Welcome, there is always lots of good advise on here. Not sure about a modern engine conversion, especially as you have such a rare early HPE.

That old style flat hood looks a bit of a challenge to fix at the front.

[rossocorsa]

The suspension will be difficult to improve except by enhancing the original components. I'm also not sure about the engine modern fiat power plants lack the soul of the old twin cam but also more crucially to retain the betas excellent road manners you would somehow need to cant an engine backward. This is a complication that lancia abandoned after the beta but I'm sure that the weight distribution is the reason why the beta is better than those that followed

[OperaHawk]

Thanks - all of this helps.

I have found a new hood and front fenders/wings. The A-pillar repairs will require a lot of work...

SBJ

[WestonE]

Do you have to keep the Smog gear on the engine? These engines can produce 180BHP for a road car or 240BHP for race with modification IF you are allowed to make the mods. If it has fuel injection and you want more power expect to replace the FI system for a modern setup to get more power. I would focus hard on the suspension and bodywork first.

Enjoy

Eric 

[OperaHawk]

Interesting idea. Our MOT varies from state to state. And I have an '81 2.0 from my donor car (long scrapped) that has been bored out to factory maximums. I think it was done following either Constentino's or Croft's standards...

Unfortunately, engine parts are much harder to find here than your side of the pond...

The modern engine being considered is the 1.4 MultiJet turbo.

Grazie e ciao,

SBJ

[rossocorsa]

I must be getting old but in the modern day cars I rather prefer the diesels, 165 multi jet in my delta is a very pleasant torquey motor however I realise that in the states a diesel only usually goes in trucks!

As regards engine parts they are equally difficult over here and can take quite some tracking down