Reinforced exhaust valves Fiat Bravo Brava 1.6 16V 182A4 182A6

Fiat engines covered

Fiat fits this 1.6 litre, 16-valve, twin overhead camshaft engine to the Bravo and Brava from 1995 to 2001, then to the Marea and the Multipla: 90 hp as the 182A6.000, 103 to 116 hp as the 182A4.000.

On the exhaust side the 182A6.000 has 8 original valves, part number 46 461 209, with a 30 mm head, a 7 mm stem and a 102.4 mm length. They let out the hottest gases of the cycle, and their thermal load climbs as soon as the engine is tuned or held for long near the top of the rev range.

FERREA reinforced exhaust valves

On the exhaust side, Fiat's 1.6 16V tasks its 8 valves with expelling gases at their peak temperature. On this engine without forced induction their head ranges between 760 and 870 °C; a turbo or a supercharger would push it past 1,000 °C. Close to 75 % of this heat leaves via the seat, while 20 % goes through the guide. EV8-family steel, the reference for the original part, withstands 550 MPa at 600 °C but no more than 300 MPa at 800 °C: held at high revs for long, the head heats up, wears, distorts and sealing suffers.

FERREA produces them in its 6000 series, in EV8 stainless steel, with two head sizes: the original size, at 29.7 mm, and a version enlarged by 1 mm. Both share the 7 mm stem and the 102.7 mm length, which preserves the geometry of the Fiat valvetrain.

The F6764 widens the head from 29.7 to 30.7 mm: the flow area increases, by 10 to 12 cfm per millimetre; the cylinder expels its gases sooner and recharges more fully. All 8 exhaust seats are cut to 30.7 mm before fitting.

Exhaust valve technical specifications

F6762 is the standard size, F6764 the head enlarged by 1 mm; 7 mm stem and 102.7 mm length for both.

Valve fitting

Before compressing the springs, make sure the collets lock exactly into the groove of the FERREA valves; replace any that are marked.

Fit new valve stem seals (original 4357028, 7581344 or 7500716) and check the clearance of each exhaust guide before fitting.

With the F6762 the exhaust seats are simply reground; the F6764 requires them to be machined to 30.7 mm.

Technical guide

Our brand

FERREA Racing Components came to life in 1978 around Horacio Ferrea, joined by Daniel Urrutia. Its two plants, one in Florida, the other in Argentina, shape valves in stainless, titanium or nickel alloys, fitted from NASCAR ovals to drag strips and endurance tracks.

How to choose

For the 182A4 and 182A6, FERREA offers two versions of the same EV8 stainless valve, with a 7 mm stem and identical length. Only the head diameter differs, to be picked from the seat condition and the planned head work:

When reinforced valves become necessary

• More aggressive camshafts or uprated valve springs
• Rev cut raised by a remapped engine ECU
• Forced induction fitted, turbo or supercharger
• Hillclimb, rally or circuit events
• Exhaust valves marked, burnt or no longer sealing

Vehicle compatibility

OEM part number (exhaust valve): 46 461 209

Don't forget the inlet valves

With the Fiat 1.6 16V head off, have the inlet valves plus every stem seal replaced in one job, covering inlet as well as exhaust sides. The part for this engine: