Over the years, various publishers of Fiat shop manuals have taken liberties with Fiat's recommended Valve Clearances, creating confusion all over the world. We receive a steady stream of letters and emails asking us to clear up the discrepancies: is Haynes right? Is Chilton right? The answer is NO, only Fiat's original Shop Manuals are correct! Chris's 25+ years of experience as a Fiat mechanic can vouch for it.

So here, to make things easy for everybody, are the Fiat Shop Manual specifications for Valve Clearance in all Fiats and Lancia Betas.

And if you didn't already know that we have a detailed DOHC & SOHC Valve Adjustment Tech Tip online (August 2001's Tech Tip of the Month), check that out before you go to work on your car.

Also please note, if you have a custom or performance camshaft, you will need to get the specifications from the grinder or manufacturer. The below are for Stock Fiat/Lancia Beta camshafts!

FIAT 500 VALVE CLEARANCE SPECIFICATIONS
Intake:	0.0059 inches	0.15 mm
Exhaust:	0.0059 inches	0.15 mm

FIAT 600 VALVE CLEARANCE SPECIFICATIONS
Intake:	0.0039 inches	0.10 mm
Exhaust:	0.0039 inches	0.10 mm

FIAT 850 VALVE CLEARANCE SPECIFICATIONS All 850s except very early 1964-65 (see below)
Intake:	0.0059 inches*	0.15 mm
Exhaust:	0.0079 inches	0.20 mm
*Here's one case where Fiat's Shop Manual was wrong, as they printed "0.0559" instead of "0.0059" inches. The metric (which of course the Italians use) was printed correctly at 0.15mm.

1964-65 FIAT 850 (843cc) VALVE CLEARANCE SPECIFICATIONS
Intake:	0.006 inches	0.15 mm
Exhaust:	0.006 inches	0.15 mm

FIAT 1100/1200 VALVE CLEARANCE SPECIFICATIONS
Intake:	0.0039 inches	0.10 mm
Exhaust:	0.0039 inches	0.10 mm

1964-1967 FIAT 1500 CABRIOLET VALVE CLEARANCE SPECIFICATIONS
Intake:	0.0079 inches	0.20 mm
Exhaust:	0.0079 inches	0.20 mm

ALL DOHC VALVE CLEARANCE SPECIFICATIONS Fiat 124, 131, Lancia Beta
Intake:	0.017 to 0.019 inches	0.43 to 0.48 mm
Exhaust:	0.019 to 0.021 inches	0.48 to 0.53 mm

ALL SOHC VALVE CLEARANCE SPECIFICATIONS Fiat 128, X1/9, Strada, Yugo
Intake:	0.011 to 0.014 inches	0.28 to 0.35 mm
Exhaust:	0.015 to 0.018 inches	0.38 to 0.46 mm

Questions or comments? Email Chris Obert

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