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Forged connecting rods Fiat Coupé - 2.0 20V 5-cyl. - 175A / 182A for forged pistons

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Set of 5 forged 4340 steel connecting rods for the Fiat Coupé 2.0 20V 5-cylinder 175A / 182A.

  • Brands: ZRP
  • Compatibility: Fiat Coupé 2.0 20V (175A Turbo, 182A naturally aspirated)
  • Engine codes: 175A, 182A
  • Hardware included: ARP 2000 or L19

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610,94 € tax incl.

-26%

825,60 € tax incl.

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  • The Fiat Coupé 2.0 20V engine (175A / 182A)

    In 1996 the Fiat Coupé received a 2.0-litre 20-valve five-cylinder (1,998 cc) replacing the earlier four-cylinder units. Two versions were offered: the naturally aspirated 182A1.000 with 147 hp and the turbocharged 175A3.000 with 220 hp, long one of the most powerful front-wheel-drive cars in its class.

    This inline-five, with an 82 mm bore and 75.65 mm stroke, delivers generous torque. But higher boost pressure and power push the rotating assembly hard: the factory rods, sized for stock output, become the limiting link in serious builds.

    The forged connecting rods

    The ZRP forged rods replace the factory 175A / 182A rods with parts machined from 4340 steel and fitted with ARP bolts. With dimensions identical to original (145 mm centre distance, 22 mm pin), they handle far higher power and rpm without modifying the bottom end, the foundation of any reliable five-cylinder build.

    Technical specifications of the 175A / 182A forged rods

    ReferenceBrandProfileBoltsPin diameter
    OEM 22 mm
    Small-end widthBig-end diameter
    OEM 51.4 mm
    Big-end widthCentre distance
    OEM 145 mm
    Weight
    per rod
    R-FIA-002-IZRPIARP 2000-3/8"-38mm22 mm51,4 mm22 mm145 mm566 g
    R-FIA-002-I-L19ZRPIARP L19-3/8"-38mm22 mm51,4 mm22 mm145 mm566 g

    Torque and bolt stretch

    RodBoltsTorqueRecommended stretch
    ZRP (R-FIA-002-I)ARP 200061 N·m0,140 – 0,152 mm
    ZRP (R-FIA-002-I-L19)ARP L1967,8 N·m0,152 – 0,165 mm

    Buy the ARP stretch gauge →

    Manufacturers recommend the stretch method rather than torque alone: it guarantees the true bolt tension, independent of thRead friction.

    Technical guide

    Forged 4340 steel: what is it?

    4340 steel is a low-alloy nickel-chromium-molybdenum steel, used in aerospace and motorsport for its balance of mechanical strength and toughness. Forged then heat-treated by quenching and tempering, it combines high tensile strength, excellent fatigue endurance and real ductility. Against a series sintered-metal rod, optimised for production cost, a forged 4340 rod gains around 19% in yield strength, 8% in tensile strength and 19 to 37% in fatigue resistance, i.e. a service life under cyclic load several times longer. That is what makes it the reference material as soon as boost and engine speed rise.

    Connecting rod profiles

    I profileI profile (I-Beam)
    The I-section concentrates material where compression and bending loads are highest. Its thinner central section lightens the rod: less inertia and freer revving, for an excellent weight/stiffness compromise. It is the profile of choice on modern turbo engines, perfectly suited to the heavily tuned 20V five-cylinder of the Fiat Coupé, handling high torque without blunting the rev pick-up.

    ARP How to choose your rod bolts?

    ARP 2000ARP 2000
    (tensile strength around 220,000 psi, i.e. ~1,517 MPa) is the high-performance standard. It covers builds up to 150 hp per cylinder in 5/16" or 200 hp per cylinder in 3/8", and up to 8,500 rpm. Versatile, rugged and reliable, it fits with no storage constraint and suits track, trackday, drift, rally, drag and hill climb.
    ARP L19ARP L19
    (tensile strength around 260,000 psi, i.e. ~1,793 MPa) targets very heavily loaded engines: high boost pressure, high cylinder pressure and sustained high revs, up to 200 hp per cylinder in 5/16" or 250 hp per cylinder in 3/8", and up to 10,000 rpm. Sensitive to corrosion and hydrogen embrittlement, it is fitted and stored oiled, away from moisture.

    Measuring bolt stretch

    Measuring bolt stretch

    In addition to torque tightening, measuring bolt stretch with a dial indicator is the most reliable check of a correct, repeatable preload. With the bolt fitted, the dial indicator is placed on the two ends of the bolt and its actual stretch is read, which must match the recommended value: 0.140 to 0.152 mm for ARP 2000 and 0.152 to 0.165 mm for ARP L19. This method frees itself from the friction scatter inherent in torque tightening alone and secures the bottom end of heavily loaded engines, such as a tuned 20V five-cylinder.

    Without a gauge, strictly follow the specified torque.

    The brands offered

    ZRP, a Greek brand of high-performance forged connecting rods designed by Alex Drakos in Athens. Each rod is forged in 4340 steel, precision-machined and balanced to ±1 g to stay reliable at high rpm. Designed and inspected in Greece, proven in rally, on track and in drift, they are offered here in I-Beam profile with ARP 2000 or ARP L19 bolts.

    Glossary

    1) Small end
    2) Small-end diameter
    3) Rod beam
    4) Rod bolt
    5) Big end
    6) Rod nut / bolt
    7) Rod cap
    8) Big-end diameter
    9) Center-to-center

    Vehicle compatibility of the 2.0 20V engine (175A / 182A)

    These forged rods fit the 2.0 20-valve five-cylinder of the Fiat Coupé, in both its naturally aspirated and turbo versions.

    MakeModel (chassis)Engine codePowerYears
    FiatCoupé (175) 2.0 20V Turbo175A3.000162 kW (220 ch)1996–2000
    FiatCoupé (175) 2.0 20V182A1.000108 kW (147 ch)1996–2000

    Always check your vehicle's exact engine code before ordering: only the 175A and 182A units with 145 mm centre distance are concerned.

    Why is it the most economical solution?

    Rebuilding a bottom end after a series rod breaks costs several times the price of a set of forged rods, since rods and pistons are often damaged at the same time. By securing the reciprocating assembly from the start of the build, these forged 4340 rods prevent failure, protect the crankshaft and block, and ensure the longevity of an engine whose power has been raised. For an equivalent budget, or even lower, they bring lasting reliability and a real safety margin: it is the solution chosen by European tuners for over fifteen years.