Styling Knobs !!!

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Styling Knobs !!!

Roberto

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Joined
Mar 17, 2002
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114
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Location
Suffolk
Hiya,

It's often been mentioned on Bravo forums about the removal of the factory fitted gear knob, and 1 or 2 remedies have been suggested. Yesterday I fitted the black/red Abarth gear knob and aluminium plated gaiter 2 my HGT and I thought I'd share the experience with u.
It was mentioned in 1 froum that removing the old gaiter would expose a clip 2 remove the knob, but on inspection, my HGT had no such clip. This might have something 2 do with the year of the car (97 R plate) as newer models might b different. Quite simply, unless u r very strong and able 2 twist it off, if there is no clip, u will need 2 hacksaw the bugger off. This is not as bad as it sounds as the knob, be it the plastic one or the std leather version (which is just a plastic knob with thin leather trim added) is reasonably soft when introduced 2 a blade ! It took about 30 seconds of sawing, starting down from the top of the knob, then using a screwdriver to pry it apart and then I was able 2 twist it easily off. The new knob is secured by 3 allen screws and the gaiter screws on2 the knob. The only problem I had was that the instructions 4 fitting the gaiter were slightly wrong in as much as they tell u 2 drill 4 holes 4 4 of the screws but what confused me was that, of the 8 screws provided, 4 are self tapping and 4 r short bolts with locking nuts. I couldn't figure out how u r expected 2 attach the nuts underneath the console with the gaiter attached. Am I being thick ?? Anyway, no drilling was required as a small bradawl made 4 easy holes 2 screw in the self tapping fixings and I then glued the 4 nuts in place using a speck of Super Glue so everything looked nice.
Total fitting time, approx 10 minutes.
I also fitted my exhaust sports trim and sill kick plates and am very pleased with the result.
By the way, FIAT no longer make sill plates specifically 4 the Bravo in Abarth colours but my dealer ordered some Abarth plates which I think were 4 either a Punto or Seicento and they did the trick just nicely.

All the best,

Rob.

Bravo HGT 2.0 20v with Mod'ing underway.
Seicento Sporting with Mod'ing underway.

Edited by - Roberto on 30/03/2002 09:48:16
 
Hi there mate

I have just purchased a 1.8HLX with the abarth kit on.

I am also going to get this abarth knob and gaiter!!

How do ya take the old knob off?I was too lasy to read sorry.

The gaiter clips off but the knob is almost never gonna come off!!!!!!

al brown
 
Hi,
The only way 2 remove the factory fitted knob is 2 use a hacksaw. Cut down from the top of the knob. It's pretty soft plastic. Once ur down about an inch or two, u can wedge a screwdriver in the gap and usually prise it apart and loosen it enough 2 pull off with relative ease.
That's how I did it anyway :)

Good luck,

Rob.

http://myspace.freeserve.com/robs_bravo_hgt/
Bravo HGT 2.0 20v with Mod'ing underway.
Seicento Sporting with Mod'ing underway.
 
Thanx Rob i'm getting mine very soon!

Is your car the Black Bravo with the Mods starting to come along?

I'm, like yourself going through the processes, i've only had mine a week though!
Its a 1.8HLX with the Abarth full kit.Im going to get some 17's, hopefully a big spoiler and flush the boot lid.(£$$$££££$$$$)nnnooooo!!I suppose u have to spend your money somehow

Speak to ya again,

Big Al
 
Hi Allan,
Yup, this is my baby...

<img src="http://mysite.freeserve.com/robs_bravo_hgt/images/1-picture1.gif" border=0>

And this is what the knob & gaiter look like once fitted...

<img src="http://mysite.freeserve.com/robs_bravo_hgt/images/1-picture2.gif" border=0>

I know what u mean about the cost of it all. Last week, i thought i had about £500 2 spend on mods....now it's closer 2 £200 !! By next week it'll b a fiver !! LOL

Cheers,

Rob.

http://myspace.freeserve.com/robs_bravo_hgt/
Bravo HGT 2.0 20v with Mod'ing underway.
Seicento Sporting with Mod'ing underway.
 
Thanx Paul...

Regarding my site link, I really don't know what the flirk happened there !!! LOL

I swear I copied and pasted it from the original, but I might have had 1 2 many glasses of the vino rosso that night !!
Anyway, I've sorted it now !

BTW, got my Abarth badges 2day, so I'll fit 'em 2morrow on my HGT and the g/f's Sei and take some pix and post them a.s.a.p.

Cheers,

Rob.

http://myspace.freeserve.com/robs_bravo_hgt/
Bravo HGT 2.0 20v with Mod'ing underway.
Seicento Sporting with Mod'ing underway.
 
Dang & blast....edited the link in my profile and it still comes up as "MYspace" !!

Ben, if u read this....any ideas ??

Cheers,

Rob.

http://myspace.freeserve.com/robs_bravo_hgt/
Bravo HGT 2.0 20v with Mod'ing underway.
Seicento Sporting with Mod'ing underway.
 
A-ha.....I think I've sorted it !! Sorry 2 waste space !

Cheers,

Rob.

http://mysite.freeserve.com/robs_bravo_hgt/
Bravo HGT 2.0 20v with Mod'ing underway.
Seicento Sporting with Mod'ing underway.
 
Paul,

The badges r very good quality and i've posted some rough pix in the "recommended sites" area, under the related topic.

Cheers,

Rob.

http://mysite.freeserve.com/robs_bravo_hgt/
Bravo HGT 2.0 20v with Mod'ing underway.
Seicento Sporting with Mod'ing underway.
 
Hi Paul,

Yeah, black is nice, but it's a flirkin' nightmare 2 keep looking good !! I polished it with AutoGlym last weekend, and it looked really nice. Unfortunately, I don't use my car during the week as I get driven everywhere in my job, so it sits outside gathering dirt and dust (really bad crap, coz I live right in Norwich City Centre) so 2day, I whipped it up the jet wash and it came back looking all smeary and it had all those awful dried water marks u get when it dries 2 quickly. I tried rescuing it with a chammy but it was 2 late. It looked worse than what it did b4 I washed it !!!
Luckily, we have 1 of those A.C.E attended car washes in the city and 4 £5.50 u get a hand and machine wash and it came out looking much better. U might b asking why I didn't do it by hand !? Well, as I live on a narrow terraced street, washing by hand is a task and a half and I was also short of time, so I'm not REALLY that lazy !! LOL :)

Anyway, thanx again 4 the compliments. I'm sure u wont b disappointed with the badges. Maybe I should take some pix of my g/f's Sei coz she has got some 2.
Hopefully, if 1 of these meetings comes off, u can c it in the flesh (or should that b metal ??!!) and talk about our motors over a pint or 2 :)

Cheers,

Rob.


http://mysite.freeserve.com/robs_bravo_hgt/
Bravo HGT 2.0 20v with Mod'ing underway.
Seicento Sporting with Mod'ing underway.
 
Hi ya Roberto?

Just thought i'll say a quick hello.

I had a real problem today with my new Bravo! I have the Abarth kit and the old mesh was still in it when i got it last week, so i got some really mint chrome mesh from a mate and could we get the bumper off!!!! No we p***ing couldn't!!!

Our bumpers have screws at the bottom and the side by the wheels,also below the from grill but wont come off!There is some more but i think i will have to take off the side panels. Help!!!!!!!!!!

Speak to ya soon

BIG AL
 
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