Fiat 500 / Autobianchi Giardiniera engines
Here you can find some additional information about the engines used in the Giardiniera.
120D.000 (Fiat 500D Giardiniera) #
This version has the following features:
- Used until 1965
- Small oil filler cap
- Oil pressure sensor on the timing cover
- Small contact area between the clutch plate and the flywheel
- Weber 26OC carburettor
- Crankcase ventilation that leads directly to the ground
- No side ventilation ports in the cylinder head
120F.000 (Fiat 500F Giardiniera / Autobianchi Giardiniera) #
This version has the following features:
- Used from 1965
- “Normal” oil filler cap
- Oil pressure sensor mounted at the rear of the engine block with an oil passage from the rear crankshaft bearing leading to the sensor
- Larger contact surface on the clutch plate
- Weber 26OC 10 carburettor
- Crankcase ventilation with a hose running over the engine block to the air filter
- Side ports in the cylinder head
120GF.000 (Autobianchi Giardiniera) #
This version has the following features:
- Used from around 1974
- Engine numbers above 4,000,000 (sometimes called a 4 million engine), located on the cylinder head and next to the rear crankshaft bearing on the sump behind the flywheel
- Essentially the same as the 120F.000
- Crankcase is 1 cm higher beneath the cylinders and the bore diameter in the crankcase is larger, matching that of the cylinders in the 500R and first-series Fiat 126 (597cc, commonly known as a 600cc)
- The 120GF.000 simply has a displacement of 499 cc because the cylinders are thicker at the base to fit into the crankcase
Upgrade to 600cc? Yes, possible.
Thanks to the crankcase being raised by 1 cm as standard, cylinders and pistons from the 500R or 126 (600cc) can therefore be fitted directly, without the need for any further modifications. However, you will need to use a cylinder head gasket of the 600cc.
This means you can easily increase the cylinder capacity and, as the cylinder head volume remains the same, also achieve a higher compression ratio (1 to 8).
An additional advantage is that, with 600cc cylinders, you create a square engine. The piston stroke is almost equal to the piston diameter. This means that this combination offers the best power-to-torque ratio and runs most smoothly.
Everyone prefers 650cc, but 600cc actually offers a much smoother ride 🙂
