I've just inherited a Mk1 Fiat Punto 1242cc 8v SX from a friend due to a massive MOT bill.

I investigated a few problems, mainly the fact that it was misfiring and this was due to either a broken HT lead or a spark plug with excessive carbon buildup. I'm not sure which came first, the carbon buildup or the misfire, but i was intending to remove the cylinder head and look at the cylinder to both clean it, and see if i can find out what the problem is.

Only the 3rd cylinder seems to be affected, so i don't know exactly what i'm looking for, but thats part of learning.

So how hard is it to remove the cylinder head, and does anyone have any ideas as to what the problem might be?

I would have thought that the misfirre came first and this caused the carbon build up. Removing the head is pretty much the same as for other cars, if you've done that kind of thing before. Main thing is to get the cam timing correct upon rebuild. Some of these engines have timing marks similar to other makes. My Sporting however doesn't and needs the piston heights set and the cams locked first.