Lancia Beta Montecarlo and Scorpion Engine and Body Conversions

As with more things in life, some owners like to modify or personalise their Montecarlo or Scorpion. Over the years I got to see some very neat and technically well developed modifications. In the case of engine upgrades, these projects also have modified braking and road holding.

Please note that most of these modifications are not a matter of days but realised over years and are ongoing projects!

Especially for the Scorpion (1800cc), this is a nice upgrade. Mostly used in the USA is the engine of the Beta Zagato (spider) which is, in most cases, a slick fit without much modification. For Europe the engine of the Beta series 2.0 i.e. will fit. Some engine blocks do need some modification for the engine supports. Advantage is a very smooth to drive engine with a lot of torque at low rpm.

Another way of getting more power is the Beta Volumex engine. Fitting requires a lot of modifying on the engine and the car, space is very tight!

Several innovative modifications were made by the owner (since 1994) of this original New Zealand 1981 Montecarlo. The car is since 1998 with the owner in Australia.

		It has carbon fibre bonnet and engine cover (1.2kg each), carbon bumpers and doors in production, forged BWA rally rims, 4130 chrome molly suspension arms with rose joints everywhere, Koni struts, strut braces etc etc.

The engine is 2000cc with steel crank with NO counterweights, Abarth rods and ARP fasteners through out. Strengthened stud girdle, steel flywheel, forged pistons with custom shaped tops. Abarth head with the ports moved up ion the head for better port angle (that was a very big job) Ferrera single piece valves, springs from a combo of SB Chev and Mitsi Lancer Evo 3, titanium collets and min depth shims in the buckets with lash caps in place of original shim (all that just to make the valve train lighter and he still can’t drive) The cams were ground to match the head flow and the manifold was made from 5000 series alloy tube and a set of Hilborn throttle bodies with the injector holes blanked off. The electronic injectors are Cosworth grey with an Evo 3 duel rail. ECU is Autronic with sequential fired injectors etc etc. The engine currently has the turbo off because it had a manifold pressure issue (ie blew the plenum apart) but it used to make about 300hp and eat gear boxes!



	Fuel cell in front, oil cooler in front and custom rotors, hats and callipers. In 2008 it weights 825 kg and I'm going for high 700s with carbon doors. In other words it’s a project.

More power:	airfilter, exhaust system, desmog	tuned standard engine	other engine

Better looks:	striping, non standard colours	body kits, wheels	modify to other model

Some alternative air filters for the stock carburettor

Scorpion #252	Scorpion #846	Scorpion #1400

Twin carburettors
Fuel Injection
Turbo
Beta EFI engine
Beta Volumex engine
Montecarlo - Delta turbo	NL, DE - NOR, USA, UK
Scorpion - Thema turbo	USA
Montecarlo - Thema 8.32	S, BE
Scorpion - Thesis V6	USA
Montecarlo - Alfa V6	UK
Other non-Lancia engines	Fiat, Toyota V6, Electric

Body conversions	UK, BE, F, CH, USA, JP, ITA
Complete projects	USA - UK Scorpion to 037
Montecarlo - Innovations	NZ - AUS


S1, #2466, 2006	S1, #2864, 2005	S1, #3313, 2006	S1, #3135, 2008


S2, #4480, 2005	S2, #5861, 2007	Scorpion #416


Scorpion #1728	Scorpion #1696, 2004	Scorpion #711, 2006	Scorpion #841, 2009


	Scorpion #1364	Scorpion #1601	Scorpion #1601, 2009


Scorpion #1722	Scorpion #866	Scorpion #1330 EFI on 1.8	Scorpion #658, 2009


(S1) Montecarlo, early 1976		(S1) Montecarlo, UK (from April 1977) and some European countries



(S2) Montecarlo, UK and Europe 1980	Scorpion, early 1976	Scorpion, model 1977 (from Nov. 1976)


Standard VX engine	Scorpion #1534, 2002	Scorpion #1534, 2003	Scorpion (DK) #1463, 2009


Scorpion #1776, 2003	Scorpion #1776, 2009	Scorpion #398, 2001	Scorpion (DK) #1463, 2009