Ecomodding and stuff: VAZ-2111 " the UnArmored Personnel Carrier

[Fingie]

"On 31 December 1979 the first VAZ 2108 prototype was completed"
First production models rolled off the line 1984

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

In 1976 the Brazilian Fiat 147, a local variant of the 127, was introduced with an engine very similar to the one used in your car. It's almost 40 years just from its introduction in Brazil, though it had already been previously used in some European models. BTW what really surprises me is that Lada didn't use an OHV engine instead.

[Fingie]

The original Zhiguli (Lada 1200) was at it's time designed to be as modern as possible.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

It was basically a Soviet copy of a previous Fiat project, so it was not "modern" at all when it was released. Anyway, not sure if it's the case with the Lada version, but it's not unusual for Brazilian Fiats powered by a similar engine to have timing belt failures. I remember once in '95 the Fiat Uno that then belonged to my parents had a timing belt failure...

[Fingie]

Fiat uno uses the "FIRE" engine, a engine designed purely in italy. The belts have lasted quite well here in europe, maybe it's the climate that breaks them?

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Fingie

Fiat uno uses the "FIRE" engine, a engine designed purely in italy.

Apart from the e.Torq engine used in newer Brazilian Fiats, that was actually developed by Chrysler in a joint-venture with BMW, every other Fiat engine is entirely designed in Italy.

The belts have lasted quite well here in europe, maybe it's the climate that breaks them?

Once it was mentioned that the iron ore in the Minas Gerais soil had something to do with that, but when the Fiasa engine was replaced locally with the Fire it didn't have the same issue. Fact is that the Fiasa engine had its belt tensioner inverted.

[Fingie]

I talked about the FIRE developed in 1980's by rodolfo Bonetto.

The newer Multiair-FIRE indeed is developed by chrysler.

[Fingie]

Through a joint venture formed in 1997, Chrysler and Rover (owned for a time by BMW) designed a new family of 1.4-and 1.6-litre powerplants, built in Brazil.

This agreement followed a rumored decision by BMW, changed at the last moment, to buy 2.0 liter Neon engines (which ended prospects for the 320 as a 318 replacement). The joint venture (Tritec Motors) was purchased by Fiat in March 2008.

According to one of the engineers, the Mini engine was "100% Chrysler designed," and was similar to the export PT and Neon engines — a Neon 2.0 single-cam with reduced bore size and centers.

The 1.6 liter had about 115 hp (86 kW) at 5,600 rpm and 113 lb-ft (153 Nm) at 4,400 rpm, and was used in the BMW (formerly Austin) Mini — hence Rover’s involvement before being acquired by BMW.

The peak torque, 154 Nm at 4 800 r/min, is the highest of any naturally aspirated 1.6-litre engine available in Europe or the US today.

[Fingie]

Winter is coming, and i should block the front of my car already. (both to block cold air and for ecomodding)

winter speed limits are in effect next week.

4000 miles, and i'll have to change the oil filter.

[Fingie]

In finland, when the winter season kicks in speed limit is lowered to 50 miles/ hour on regular roads, and on highways it's 60 instead.

I wonder if other countries have a "winter limit"?