Hello there,

I have a Fiat coupe 1.8 and i have to change the motor but i would like to upgrade it as well but unfortunatly it's super hard to find a 16vt or even a 20vt where i live in Greece and i only managed to find a half cut of a fiat coupe 2.0 16v. I know that 16v with 16vt have similar motors with some internals, compression ratio and the turbo being the biggest differences. I would like to know if someone turbocharged the 16v before , if the IAW 4Q4 Ecu is programmable and if the exhaust manifold has the same pattern to bolt on the cylinder head with the 16vt. I have turbocharged a NA engine before with my dad, a Fiat Brava_Sx with the last generation of the 1.2 liter motor so i know the size of the job and the difficulty so i don't have any problem with doing it.

Thanks in advance

Anything is possible, but it may be the lack of parts at a reasonable price that will limit you I think

I’d say rather than all of that expense that could get very expensive, why not contact either joe @ FCSS or John at midland car services, and buy a known donor lump with the bits you need for the conversion.

I’m aware you’re not in the uk, but there’s a wealth of support here that will make the transplant much less painful

At least at the end you’ll have a standard arrangement that will be easier to maintain in the long term

Cheers Jamie

For the cost of it all I do wonder if you'd be better to import a whole car as you could get a newer 20vt. If you're changing the motor only then I suspect that the 1.8 to 20vt would be a simpler proposition as the 2 flavours of car are from the same production era.

A bit of an outside option as you're no stranger to modifying - how about adding a turbo to the 1.8? I imagine the Punto Hgt would be a place to look for info

You are right, my first option was to find something like that but i haven't managed it yet. I can clearly see that in the UK there are many people that have parts for these cars and i'm very jealous to be honest but after some prices i've asked for parts and the complete half cut of the 16v i'm in the 2000-2500euros point that i think is good for my pocket and the performance i am calculating of getting with it.

Good condition 20vt here in Greece are in the 10000-15000 euros price point and i really wish i could buy one so modifying mine is kinda worth it because to be honest i will try to keep the car until it dies because i loved it too much. And about turbocharging the 1.8 is very difficult, the hitachi ECU does not allow any programming and there isn't anyone that could help me with modifying this motor close to me so i don't want to risk it too much but i know that modifying a 2.0 16v might me a lower risk so i maybe go with that

easiest way, how to get some BHP to 1.8 is to use some parts from 2.0 Twinspark/JTS engine form alfa romeo, which is the same family...

you can just fit cams from TS/JTS and after fuelling adjustment you get at least 140-150BHP

If go further - As I did on my stilo - you can rebore the block to fit 2.0 TS/JTS, or stilo 2.4 pistons (JTS are better due to higher compression ratio), put 2.0 crank (modified to fit 1.8 trigger wheel) and you are at -together with cams at figures of 2l TS/JTS engine

Or you can just put in alfa 2.0 TS block, with - again trigger modification... to use it with hitachi ecu...

Here in Czech, there are at least two people, who followed my path with 2ltr bottom end in 1.8

one dynoed 165BHP - modified original block 1.8, 2ltr crank, JTS cams, JTS pistons, adjustable fuel pressure to get desired AFR at WOT.. all in fiat coupe

second was not on dyno yet, but has only TS cams and pistons, but gasflowed head.. engine is in punto HGT

both are running stock ecu, without remap.. only adjusted FPR to get desired AFR..

problem with hitachi ecu is, that most tuners dont have tools to comunicate with it - there are only few cars which has this type of ecu, so it doesn´t make sense to purchase expensive tool due to one or two cars... I noticed only someone in itally who has direct support from Alientech with this tool, that was capable to tune the hitachi ecu..ž


Adding turbo to 1.8 - mechanically its easy .. . you can use rods from 20VT with stronger piston pin+ bespoke pistons to get lower compression ratio.., modified intake from 20VT (shortened by 1 cyl,), late headgasket, which is MLS, complete intake with IC too, oil cooling is simmilar, so could be took over from 20VT too... ex. manifold could be used from some JTD 16v diesel alfa, but I would make one - maybe by shortening one cheap intended for 20VT...

electrically it could be tricky