I just purchased a semi-Fiat racecar and am looking for parts 
(and I figured this was a better place to begin that the for 
sale/wanted bin)to restore it.

It is a 1962 one-off, home-built H-Modified (the father class of 
today's D/Sports Racers). Power came from a Fiat 600/750/850 
style engine, going through a 600/850 gearbox that was turned 
upside down to reverse the rotation of the axle shafts. (Ya with 
me so far?) That allowed the engine to be mounted in the rear of 
the car, but in front of the transaxle, so it is a mid-engined, 
850-powered car. Honest.

I'm an ex-850 racer who sold all his cars and parts and boxes of 
bits when I went to X1/9s (which I also eventually sold) so now 
I'm in need of the now mostly unavailable stuff to build a 
strong 850 engine and CR gearbox. 

Anyone know of an old 850 rotting away in a shed anywhere? 
Something in the Pacific Northwest? And with a reasonable 
pricetag. Thanks in adavance.

jerry boone
portland

Jerry,

I personally don't know of a good source, but you might want to 
talk to Dan Edgar down in Eugene. He was telling me about some 
car that sounds like what you have. He's into the small bore 
stuff, and should be able to provide some leads for you.

He's listed in the yellow pages under Dan Edgar Automotive.

Post some photos of the car.

--Dean

That is too bad!!!

I just sold an 850 Spider race car recently on Ebay... :(

http://www3.sympatico.ca/myronx19/Samila_Racing/Page_10.html

It sold for $900 USD or so, just this spring.  It was well 
equipped, great engine, carb, tranny, suspension, it just had 
ugly wheel arches (it was setup for slicks).

It also came with a spare but totally rotted parts car, also a 
Spider.  

:(  

I also found out, that importing a race car into the US from 
Canada is quite a challenge.... it can only stay in the US for a 
maximum of 5 years if the duty is paid, then it must be 
destroyed (unless it is a formula car or built by a recognized 
manufacturer like Fiat)


Myron Samila
Samila Racing
Toronto, ON
1978 Fiat X1/9 (daily summer driver)
1982 Fiat X1/9 (my beloved)
1982 Fiat X1/9 (GT-C race car)
1987 Volvo 760 GLE
1987 Alfa Romeo Milano Gold, sold :(

2001 CASC-OR GT-D Champion
2001 CASC-OR Race Rookie Champion

http://www3.sympatico.ca/myronx19

Hello Jerry:

  I have an '67 850 that I am going to put a DOHC 1438cc engine
in, but was told I either have to run the engine reverse rotation
or get a different tranny.  I was curious what it takes to turn
gearbox upside, or if that would work in my situation?

Thanks!

I'm not sure what that means myself.. simply rotating the gear
box is not going to change the rotation of the internals... but
place the vent on the bottom and the drain onteh top.
I have heard there are some cam kits and such out there for 903 I
think to reverse the rotaion of the engine.
I think that is what i remember.  Don't quote me...

Andy (Medford, Oregon)
1969 Spider (still waiting it's turn)
1974 X 1/9 (now known as Smokey Joe)
1976 Spider (primer, still but should be shiney quite soon )
1978 Dodge Adventurer 150
1979 Spider (also in primer, IDFs and fun no doubt)
1981 Strada (Erica, need I say more?)
1997 Dodge Caravan (replacement for the Crashed Van)
http://www.sofia1.com

You are right, it doesn't change the rotation of the 
internals...it doesn't change the rotation of anything...and 
that is how it works.

take a piece of paper and draw a letter C on it...with one end 
of the C being an arrow...make it go clockwise just for the sake 
of argument and imagine that is the axle shaft coming out of an 
850 gearbox...now turn to paper over (and pretend that what 
you've just done is turn the gearbox upside down)...the arrow 
still goes clockwise, but because you are on the other side of 
the car, the rotation is in a different direction...i believe it 
is the same principle used in taking a VW gearbox, turning it 
upside down, adding quick change gears and calling it a Hewland.


(I just hope you are one of the dying breed who remembers when  
clocks still had hands)

-- boone
 

 Try calling PBS Engineering (714) 534-6700, they should be able
to help you out. http://pbseng.com/


Jeff Stich
Anaheim Hills, CA, USA

Jerry Boone wrote:
: You are right, it doesn't change the rotation of the 
: internals...it doesn't change the rotation of anything...and 
: that is how it works.
: take a piece of paper and draw a letter C on it...with one end 
: of the C being an arrow...make it go clockwise just for the
sake 
: of argument and imagine that is the axle shaft coming out of an 
: 850 gearbox...now turn to paper over (and pretend that what 
: you've just done is turn the gearbox upside down)...the arrow 
: still goes clockwise, but because you are on the other side of 
: the car, the rotation is in a different direction...i believe
it 
: is the same principle used in taking a VW gearbox, turning it 
: upside down, adding quick change gears and calling it a Hewland.
: (I just hope you are one of the dying breed who remembers when  
: clocks still had hands)
: -- boone
:  
...........................
Rich Stephens, Pacifica, CA
http://www.3jar.com/fiat  (bunch of people's Fiats)
Former Fiats: two '64 1500 cabriolets, 2400 Dino Coupe, 131
supermirafiori wagon, 2-door brava
Current daily driver: 1978.5 SuperBRAVA wagon

upside down, end over end...doesn't make any difference if you 
pretend it is a Thanksgiving turkey...just so the drain plug 
ends up on top and the big end is bolted to the engine... 

A co-worker of mine has an 850 his son started to work on.  It 
runs and could be had very cheap.  Located near Eugene, OR.  I 
also ran into a Fiat fanatic who showed me a book detailing the 
steps to swap engines and reverse the transmission dirrection.  
The book has templates for required peices to be fabed.  I will 
be up at Waynes on Saturday.  Let me know if I should bring some 
info.
Ryan