Fiat Trans help, I have a SEAT trans with FIAT parts

[HAWKER]

I have my 82 Pinnafirina trans in the shop for a rebuild and after the rebuild kit arrived, the mechanic said that none of the parts fit right. I asked Vicks the supplier for the parts and they informed me of a rare, figures huh, problem of the possibility of the car getting a SEAT transmission in a previous life. I have confirmed that my trans is indeed a SEAT , pronounced" see a t", like Fiat with and S. Vick will not take the parts back and now I am on the look for some Fiat Brotherhood that I know is out there. There is a rumor that a rebuild is possible but a rough option. I could pop for a new trans. But that cost is prohibitive for me. What do you all know and think?
Hawker
Chicago

[NJFIAT1981]

Check this site or ebay for a used trans. A lot cheaper than new

[HAWKER]

I will look and thanks for the tip........ The SEAT trans really pushed me back...Karl, at Inernational, said that he used fiat parts in one of these trans before, but my trans mechanic said that they were not fitting properly. Vicks said that they were incompatable too, I assumed that this car could only have one trans.. honestly so did Vicks and they sold me the rebuild parts and now are resistant to take them back. I am leaning on rounding up a used trans that is hopefully in good shape and ready for a simple rebuild. I am not going to pop for a new or rebuilt. They will not accept this SIAT trans core which is a real sweet surprise too! Thanks for your help, you understand my frustration for sure.....I can see the dirty fingernails from here..... God love ya, help me understand this addiction...this is my third Spyder!

[So Cal Mark]

doesn't IAP, Perf Fiat and Vicks advertise new trans that are Seat?

[HAWKER]

from my experience on the phone, Vicks and International are aware of the Seat trans but provide no support. A general heads up to the forum. My car must have had a trans taken from another type Fiat car, I am guessing a coupe and placed in my car as a trans replacement. I am pretty confident that a rebuild on a Seat trans goes way beyound the normal call to duty. The case has SEAT printed on it and I never noticed.....they look the same otherwise.

[pope]

On my trans, it is imprinted on the side of the trans case: SEAT FA 128003 00

This is the trans that came with the car. New trans today come from Polski-Fiat in Poland.

[So Cal Mark]

maybe it's a 131 trans, those are similar but slightly different

[htchevyii]

I spent an hour today scraping an inch of grease and grime off of my transmission so I could take it to my rebuilder, and suprise...... it says Seat on the side! I thought it was a good rebuild canidate since it worked well, except for popping out of 1st gear, but at least I have another FIAT trans in unknown condition that I can use. Any more info on the SEAT transmissions? Scrap metal?

[red107]

While I was station in Spain I owned a few SEATS. They are a Spanish automobile company that were re-badged fiats. SEAT was owned by FIAT until it was purchased by VW. I know the 131, 132, 133, Panda, UNO, 126, 127, and 124 sedans were sold as SEAT. When I needed a part I just went to the store and got a fiat part. Some parts said SEAT by Fiat others just said fiat.

[htchevyii]

From what I've heard, the later cars had Seat trannys. All of the standard Fiat parts fit just fine in mine.

[TulsaSpider]

I have a transmission that came with my parts car for sale.

[124cso]

When you talk of "Trans" I assume you are refering to an Auto Transmission as opposed to Manual ?
I'm not sure who actually built them but the Fiat 124 spider auto is actually a GM Turbo Hydro 180 or TH180 or later known as 3l30.
They were used in a number of vehicle makes and one would presume that they would have been the same unit with perhaps different bellhousing and tail housings ? Do some research.
Perhaps investigate the option of sourcing one of these and swapping Fiat specific bits / or having your shop do it ?

Seat (pronounced "seet") were fiats made under licence in Spain so may well be use another derivative GM trans model ?

Other than for USA market, Fiat automatics were fairly rare in the smaller cars in Europe, UK, Australia, NZ etc, but the bigger luxuary cars like the 130 (v6) were mostly auto.

[htchevyii]

Thanks for the help, but we're talking 5sp here. Mine is rebuilt and ready to install, I just wanted folks to know that the standard Fiat parts did work, ( at least in mine). Csaba (Autoricambi) reported that he'd rebuilt several as well.