500 YF66 ULY - My First Abarth!

Last weekend I gave the Abarth a quick wash and wax, 2 bucket method. Infinity Wax Graphene Wax.

I'm no expert but looks pretty good to me! Coming up to 9 years old, she's starting to show her age in some places, but overall, she's a peach.

Having driven the Panda for work, and Mrs using this for jooting about, it feels like such a rocketship

I'm still proud to own this little bee

- fun fact, out of all 7 cars I've owned, this is the only one that's not left me stranded!

• 54 Mk2b Punto, Gearbox delete
• 59 Mk5 Astra, ECU packed in
• T plate Evo 6, faulty fuel gauge
• N plate Pajero, Headgasket failure
• 66 Abarth 595 - Never let me down
• X plate Astra, caliper seized
• 61 Panda, fuel pump packed in

Not bad considering most people would think the '500' would let me down!

Thank you for reading my rambling.

I started getting the heart-startling mayonnaise on the oil cap and I had that dark thought of headgasket failure.

The car is predominantly used by my Mr's and only does short runs. Hence why I thought maybe just condensation?

I did a few tests and after some research, the culprit was the PCV or the AOS, but I looked and the PCV diaphragm was solid, so I have changed it out.

If you're doing it, get this kit: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/25655678...ZpXz_3FQz2&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

You WILL damage the plastic cap getting it off so just get a new one. 5 minute job. Will monitor to confirm it's the PCV and not the AOS.

Thanks
Adam

I fitted the Bilstein B14 coilover kit to my 595 Competizione in December and gave it a few months to bed in or 'sag' as most new suspension does.

But, I'm not perfect and got a few things wrong, I got new strut mounts and had incorrectly positioned them, the arrow (which I positioned forward) should have been facing backwards but sorted now. Before this the car had a bit of front caster and had more noticeable bump steer. Having rotated the strut tops the correct way now, this has been eliminated!

I actually raised the front suspension by 20mm and as you can see, has a more OEM finish to the wheel arch gap. I'm not a fan of the slammed look.

Fitted new bolts and attached the splash guard.

Found out one of my front tyres had split or delaminated?

New front tyres fitted with my personal favourite, Goodyear Eagle F1, Asymmetric 6.

Took her a run through the Galloway Forest, she looks so good when clean.

Love this little car.

Spent a bit of time doing a bit of TLC to the Abarth, trying out BRT Motorsport C hook brake 305mm discs and EBC Ultimax pads.

Got new Droplinks as the old ones looked rubbish.

Drained old gearbox oil and filled back up with some good stuff.

Went with Bilstein B14 coilovers, car looks better and ride is just as firm but doesn't bounce as much, actually absorbs bumps on the road now!

Can I just ask, as I'm finding different types and viscosity gearbox oils for my Abarth 595 Competitzione?

Now the question is out the way, I'll explain, so Abarth had its MOT on Saturday there and it failed on rear springs. Arnold Clark quoting me £300 per spring. Decided I'd do it myself, found out my rear shocks don't rebound anymore and when I push them in, they don't go back up. So I decided to strip my suspension and brakes and clean the wheel wells, suspension parts, rear subframe.

I'm also getting prepped for fitting Bilstein B14 coilover suspension, new brakes too.

However, me being an ape, I think I have pulled my passenger drive shaft and its pissed gearbox oil. I assume you just push it back in?

My biggest gripe is there's different Tutella gearbox oils, some sites saying their for my car, but then some says its not compatible. If it was my Panda I'd just mop it up and put it back in, but being a special car to me, I want to use the correct stuff!

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks, Adam

A bit late on the update but me and my Mrs had a cracking day at Castle Raby. I went as part of the Fiat Forum but got swept alongside the rest of the Abarths - which wasn't a bad thing. I was surprised at how many Abarth 595s there was, really good variety of stock and modified ones.

Both enjoyed the swathe of Italian motors and the tour of the castle - the hotdogs was my favourite

Would definitely come back!
Thank you