Just put a reconditioned head (from Hidderley Salvage they assured me it would fit) on Mk1 1997 8v 1.2 SPI but the top studs for the inlet manifold on the replacement head are much higher than the old one. I did not notice this until I had fitted the head.
The car has done 260,000 miles and has been owned from new. HG has been changed 3 times with skimming of the head each time so thought it best to replace head this time.
Is it possible to fit a different manifold (is so which one?) keeping the same throttle body etc or should I just remove the head and send it back.
Any advice would be appreciated.......

Re: inlet manifold cylinder head help please

Higher may have been ambiguous; the row of studs above the ports are considerably closer to the top of the replacement head compared to the original. Interestingly the gasket set I bought has inlet manifold gaskets to fit both types.......
Any advice would be mich appreciated

Re: inlet manifold cylinder head help please

sounds like they have given you a later mpi head - which clearly has a completely different inlet manifold. If it were me i would take it off and ask for full refund - And i would just get the original head reconditioned, should still be enough meat on it to be skimmed and not go past the max skim mark. Bit of a ball-ache really but you can't help someone giving you false information.

Look at the Punto Mk1 guide entitled Mk2 head on Mk1 which I wrote after having done this job.

You will have to take your new head back off just to make the necessary measurements.

Also look out for the water temp switch hole, is it there or not in your new head ? If not you´ll have to put it there.

There´s a moral here somewhere - do a trial assembly before you commit yourself to pulling it all down tight !

Also making the adapter will be quite a lot of effort even if you can use tools well. :bang: