General A selection of issues... XD

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General A selection of issues... XD

nelly08

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Where to start?
Well first im called Josh, and im new to this forum
That over with, I have a blueish cinquecento sx (given to me by brother, who it was given to. Think I know why it was given away now, lol)

1 - Head gasket went, so replaced that, head skimmed and cracked tested, but there was still half a cup full of coolant in the cat... and the cars been run for about 20 miles since, so shouldn’t off all the water evaporated? What else could it be? Block warped?
2 - Any advice on how to get the brake pipes off the rear sub frame as the rear subframe has totally rusted out (looks like the chassis may have aswell)? Would it be easier to remove the fuel tank totally first?
3 - Would it be worth buying a stainless exhaust (or get one made up at work), or buy a standard one as mine has rusted out!
4 - Any advice on removing the engine as a core plug has also rusted in the back of the engine!:bang:
5 - If all else fails... How much will it be worth in scrap value? :D

Thanks all, Josh
 
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To be really honest..... assuming it's a 900 sx, it's not worth the work for what you have to spend. IMHO. Cheapest bet if you're happy to do some spanner and body work is to get a Cat D Sei from a salvage yard - these folks are my favourites: www.gowing.co.uk

Alternately look for a Cinq that's what I cal a verge sider - nice little Cinq that a 60 year old has had serviced at a main dealer for 10 years and he now has for sale in his drive.... quote the Parker Price Guide which will be about £50!
 
rather scrap it and buy something jap like a civic :rolleyes: but insurance abit high! lol
i've come to the conclusion that if the chassis is rusted out to bad at the back it will be getting scrapped, but other wise i think i may try and get it on the road... If it does ever get that far...anyone want to buy a cinquecento ? :p lol
 
got the subframe off today and chassis not to bad at all! So will re-bulild the engine, and get a stainless exhaust system made up i think (y) Does anywhere make stainless manifolds for the 899cc?

Thanks Josh
 
I think not. You're looking at an aweful lot of money for no real improvement on an 889.

Best bet, buy a scrap Sporting, transplant the good stuff to your 899 shell. Much more power and torque and the possibility of something which will eat Civics for breakfast.

Good Call, as I believe the youth of today say. Let's not let him buy anything Japanese - that would be TOO easy. Seriously though, the scrappies are filled with donor Sportings that would be lovely. A 900 really is a lost cause, Morris Minor engine, even if by miracle you somehow got a 10% power increase you'd still have about 40 bhp. So off to the scrap yard with you, or buy an MOT failure maybe.
 
How hard is an engine swop from the 900 to the 1.1/2? And are the looms the same ect?
Thanks Josh
 
I think there's either a FAQ or Guide to doing it. Certainly a couple of people are doing it right now.

You need the engine side loom of the Sporting, gearbox, gearbox remote and cables, ECU, manifold, CAT, cat back, driveshafts.

You'll want the Sporting wheels, suspension (it's lower) and anti roll bar.
 
How come the fiat 899 OHV engine is pretty crap, and mini made a 998 engine, and it seems pretty solid and tuneable ...

why is that ??

Ming

There is nothing crap about the 899 engine that a set of solid tappets won't sort. However it was developed for basic transport that won't be serviced, so hydraulic tappets was the way to go.

Fiat used the 1101 and 1301 cc OHC engines in Motorsport, so there was a lot of development work done on them. The Mini was used a lot in Motorsport, so that is why there are loads of tuning bits for it.

The 899 would be tuneable, but nobody has bothered becuse there are better alternatives. Nothing else will fit in a standard Mini engine bay (for homologation purposes) so what was there had to be developed.

Cheers

D
 
ahh i see i see .. it was really depressing when i had a 899, and all i hear is get a sporting .....

Thanks clearing up the picture !!!!

Ming

Speaks on behalf of everyone with a 700, or 899 i think(y)
 
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