Engines - 206 vs. 246

Obviously there are differences between the two engines. Hyptothetically speaking, if I was to place a 206 engine next to a 246 engine, what cosmetci differences are there? Can the two engines be told apart externally?

 

246 has a cast iron block.

I recall reading (never actually saw one) that the 206 block is aluminum.

It has been covered here, you might find something with Search.

 

tried the search, but no luck.

can you use a magnet to determine the difference?

 

Works for me. Should stick to iron but not to aluminum.

 

how can one tell the difference between a fiat 2.4 block and a ferrari 2.4 block? i have seen "fiat"cast into the block, but if that isn't there, does that necessarily mean it is a ferrari block?

 

they are probable one of the same. mixed from the same metals and treated the same way. not sure tho, i reccomend more research. Maybe we can get Oscar "the cat"

 

All the Dinos I've seen had "Fiat" cast onto the block.

 

206 block is aluminum with steel liners like any other Ferrari v12, 246 is good old iron.

Zac

 

Have you ever seen a non-FIAT stamped Dino block ? bet you have not

 

i have no photo proof, but yes, i have. other than my dino's at the local shop, there is another dino being restored. it's block has "fiat" raised in the casting below the area where the engine number is. i don't have the serial number handy, but this dino is earlier than mine (it is a euro coupe that i believe is a 70 or 71 model) that has the engine out. my 72 gts (04274) is "in line" for a rebuild and it doesn't have the raised "fiat" in the same place. it is based on this that i ask the question. what are the differences, when did the "fiat" raised relief cast dissappear, and does this mean the blocks were cast at ferrari?

for what it's worth, 04274 has received the hertiage certifcate from ferrari based on chassis and engine number, so the engine is THE original engine.

 

Wow, ok...

I was under the belief that all 2.4's were cast by FIAT but I do know that some 2.4 FIAT Dino's were assembled at Ferrari due to quality control issues with the 2.0 FIAT Dinos and also early 2.4, I suppose it is possible that at that point Ferrari requested that they quit stamping the blocks with FIAT but that would imply that all the later 246 don't have FIAT on them. It would make sense that Ferrari wanted to control all aspects of the Dino once they went into production, but I was under the belief that FIAT cast all the blocks due to insufficient capacity at Ferrari. Your 72 would be after FIAT decided to stop building the FIAT Dino and once that decision was made it would make good business sense for Ferrari to request the removal of that stamp or to take over the casting.

And by the way, I don't need photo proof to be proven wrong, your word is good enough.

 

Some blocks are numbered 135C.... and some 135CS.....but appear otherwise identical
I have heard the idea that the CS are the blocks used in Ferrari Dinos. Can owners with the original engines in their cars confirm this?

 

If you look in the front of the owners manual for the 206GT Dino the photo of where to find the engine number doesn't have the raised FIAT in the usual place. The engine in my 206GT does have it, and I beleve it is the original engine. I wonder if Ferrari milled it off before taking the photo. I'm away from home at the moment and can't tell you the number of the engine in the manual at the moment.

 

I had also heard that FIAT used iron only on the 2000 and alum. heads on the 2400.

anyone know for sure?

 

They're all alloy on both engines.

 

Lets be completely clear:

Heads for both engines are alloy.
Block for 2000 is alloy made by Ferrari (?).
Block for 2400 is cast iron, made by FIAT (all of them I believe), part of the F2 deal, etc.

Pete

 

yup alloy heads on the 2000
and the 2000 were cast by FIAT.

Safe to assume that Ferrari cast some 206's since they "gave FIAT some working motors for testing" but I did not think any of them made it into the road cars.

There are quite a few good books on both Dino's they are pretty clear motors were cast by FIAT and initially assembled by FIAT, early in the production of the Ferrari 206 the motors were assembled by Ferrari with FIAT cast parts due to quality control issues during assembly, they then took over both the FIAT and Ferrari assembly of the 246/2.4 but I believe the blocks were still cast by FIAT

 

since i wasn't there at the time all this manufacturing was going on, i can only repeat what i read in what is supposed to be the authority on the subject. according to Mike Morris book all castings were marked fiat. all 2.4 fiat dinos were assembled at maranello alongside 246 in buildings built and paid for by fiat specifically for this. there are even pictures of that. it would not surprise me that there would be a block with no fiat on it as couldn't it easily be filed off. just the same way lots of fiat dino owners try to remove traces of fiat and plaster their car with ferrari, some 246 owners also try to remove all traces of fiat and dino and plaster their car with ferrari.

 

Yeah, I have Mike's book too but the last time I quoted his book here about the motors being the same, I was uhm...politely told I was crazy, the motors were not the same, so I thread lightly now.

So as I posted earlier today, I will state absolutely alloy heads on FIAT 2 litres because I can prove that right in my garage.

 

Motors are the same ... as far as I know.

Many say the Alfa v6 is a better motor than the Ferrari v6 anyway ...
Pete

 

I have a related question that I have never found a final answer for: What really accounts for the advertised 15 HP difference between the Fiat and the Ferrari 2.4 Dinos (180 vs. 195)?

a) There is no such difference. Pure marketing.

b) Simply better tuning.

c) Subtle design differences.

Or a combination of the above...

 

Has any Ferrari engine reached the advertised HP?

Pete

 

Mike Morris in his book says it was pure marketing although he also says he has no proof of that. He claims in his book that it was strictly it was just a way to justify the extra cost for a Ferrari with some extra hp, he also says it could have been a different method of measuring. Now I would not be at all surprised if more care was spent timing and adjusting the carbs at Ferrari over FIAT and I know from personal experience how little tweaking on the carbs it takes to make it run ok vs. GREAT.

 

I have my 2400 Fiat Dino Spider side by side with a 2.4 Dino and yes BOTH complete cars were made in the Maranello Factory both blocks say Fiat on them, both sets of cam covers say Dino on them they have the identical rims but the 2.4s say Dino and the 2400 say Fiat,

 

Well then here is a question for you...Do the Lancia Stratos V6 engines say "FIAT" on them? Should be the identical block.