Bravo (Classic) 1996 Fiat Bravo 1.8 HLX - Ink Black

Thought I should finally post a few pictures of my new car. My goal is to keep it very tidy and well maintained. Keep the looks standard while improving the small details. And uprate mechanical parts as I go.

Specification
-1.8 16v 113BHP Mk1
-Metalic Ink Black 820
-HLX. Fog Lights, Heated Seats, Heated Mirrors, Electric Sunroof, Electric Windows, Electric Mirrors, Remote Central Locking, Alloy Wheels, Immobiliser, Alarm.

Mods/Extras
-Fiat Marea Poly Elliptical Headlights With modified wiring
-Ipod/cd changer tricker interface to OEM stereo
-Leather Steering Wheel from HGT
-Vinyl Handbrake Gaiter
-K&N Panel Filter
-Brava Mk2 Passenger air vent Black
-Cap that reads 12V rather than a lighter
-Full Leather Interior
-Leather Squeak Fix
-Aircon cabin filter
-Lockwood Stainless Steel Kick plates
-Bravo 2007 Washer Jets
-Sound proofing on the rear wheel arches
-Front Mud Flaps (Fiat original PN:5908473)
-Rear Mud Flaps (Fiat original PN:5908745)
-Dark In-Pro Side repeaters (E marked)
-New totally plane number plates
-European rear right cluster for extra symmetry
-Polished and Painted lip round rear light clusters
-De-badged boot
-2007 Fiat 500 Door Handles Colour Coded
-Shaped Grey Floor Mats
-Passenger Wiper wind deflector (Modified/Fiat original)
-Bosch AeroTwin AR551S 22"20" Wiper Blades
-Original Fiat CD-Player AD1802H4
-Polyurethane anti-roll bar drop links.
-Flip Key Fob with remote central locking/alarm fitted (original keys untouched)
-Longlife Stainless Steel Exhaust System.
-Optima Red Top Battery
-Various engine bay bolts changed for Stainless Steel bolts
-Powdercoated Camshaft cover in crinkle Red
-Direct Replacement Pioneer TS-575 80W Speakers and Tweeters
-Original wheels refurbished and powdercoated. Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 195/50/R15V tyres. All 16 wheel bolts use an internal key. Stick on balance weights.
-Brava Mk2 Black Instrument Cluster Surround
-Dynamat Sound deadening over rear quarters and rear floor area.
-Powder coated Battery Tray and Fuse Box
-Re-trimmed Leather Steering Wheel In Dark Grey


When I bought the car it was filthy with a few minor problems. The boot had been debadged. A Alpine stero had been installed in the process someone cut of the loom plug for the stereo, cut a hole in the glove box. The radiator had a small pin hole leak, someone had cut the brake pad wear sensor (loom side) and drivers check strap broken. All fixed now.

I bought it with 44500 Miles on the clock. If you average that over its age it has done 3423 Miles a year! 3 previous owners.

Some of the good points though, its very low mileage, every panel is good and original, has an undertray, new clutch slave cylinder, brand new tyres and tracking had been re-done.

For sale add picture


Pictures 12-04-2010 - Car Unfinished.


Pictures 30-08-2010 - Car Still Unfinished.






My leather interior













Engine bay needs a lot more cleaning








Lockwood Stainless Steel Kick Plates


Left hand drive rear cluster


Audio
I really liked the original Head Unit. I found a small device that makes the Head unit think the iPod is a CD-Changer. It charges the Ipod I can control the music through the head unit or iPod.

The connects2 CTAFAIPOD007 iPod adapter is fixed inside the dashboard. I have used velcro.



I found some direct replacement Pioneer Tweeters TS-575.





The sunroof was leaking, this wiring harness clip was pushing the gutter down a lot, also a drain tube was blocked.


Here is a picture of how I have sealed the sunroof shut forever. I put masking tape on the metal edge with the roof open I put silicone all around the inside edge. Then closed the roof and unplugged it, then filled it from above with silicone.




Before;




After;






The 500 door handles are stylish and quality and fit the Bravo perfectly. New guide;
https://www.fiatforum.com/bravo-brava...iat-bravo.html



The 1.8 engine is lovely it flys along effortlessly. The 1.8's anti-roll bar and suspension is a really nice improvement over the 1.4. I am very happy with it The only thing I do not like is the sunroof, from a looks point of view it really ruins the Bravo's roof line. One day I plan to start a project Bravo that will be an all wheel drive car, the Bravo I base it on must not have a sunroof


Plans - March 2012;
-Abarth/Eibach progressive suspension springs or coilovers.
-Marea Centre Console.
-Stainless Steel Brake pipes.
-Supersprint Exhaust Manifold from Punto HGT.
-Powdercoated subframes with poly mounts.
-Marea smootherd fuel cap with cabbin release.
-Larger front callipers/discs.
-HGT rear anti-roll bar.
-Quaife LSD Diff.
-Alfa twinspark engine oil cooler (dont know if it will be a direct fit) Or generic.
-Renew as many parts as possible on each job, replace as many bushes as possble with polyurethane bushes. Replace as many engine sensors as possible.
-Maybe a strut brace.
-Front GT bumper (one with no washer jets)
or -Marea headlight washer jets colour coded.

Thanks for looking,

The 1.8 1747cc Bravo's bhp and torque graph from factory. I like how linier the graph is on this and the 20 valve engine.

Photoshop. Offset is 40 on the 1.8 and 37 on the 500 alloys plus the tyre speed rating is one lower on the 500 tyres.

As said in PM, it looks really really tidy that does Adrian. Nice choice of colour too

I can't quite make my mind up about them 500 wheels though

Thanks Dan. I really like the colour, I think it has a hint of green in there.

Today I am fitting the passenger dark side repeater now and putting a coat of paint all around the passenger front arch and body to prevent rust.

well fdone its going to be stunning what else you got planned

Thank you
Next I want to fit colour coded Fiat 500 door handles because the original rubber ones just rot with age. I have a modified passenger wiper to fit but i want them powder coated first. I have a lefthand drive rear light that will give a symetrical rear. I have polished it up and im just painting a line round the edge of it.

Here it is on my old car, sitting a bit high mind it has a plastic wind deflector. Oh yeah and I want to paint my badge like this one.


I spend a lot of time tidying things up, I like to find improved Fiat parts like the Bravo 2007 washer jets rather than radical body kits or something. The rear bumper is been pulled away from the body by a few mm on one side so that needs tidying and rustproofing the rear arches.

Way off in the future is things like stainless steel exhaust's. Poly bushes.

My car passed its MOT today The chap said it was in exceptional and immaculate condition. Im quite pleased with that . I did get one advisory "brake pipes starting to corrode"

No major progress recently but I have been steadily tidying things up. I painted all the bumper mounting points and the body shell/underbelly just behind the bumper. Some places really needed doing.

More importantly I have bought a left hand drive right rear cluster from Germany. I polished it then painted a line around the edge. I just have to polish and paint my original passenger cluster today. A comparison here;


I am sticking with Mk1 rear clusters on my car, I think the clearer/brighter lens look's better when it lights up and looks a hundred times better on the car. The mk2 look's washed out and undefined.

Today I found these massive mk2 cluster water seals. They look far better than the puney mk1 seals so I will fit them to my mk1 lights.


After these lights are fitted I will start on colour coding Fiat 500 door handles and producing a fitting guide.

Symetrical rear lights fitted, viewed from afar. And rear mud flappers.


I will get some close up pic's later.

Colour coded door handles next I think.

Looks smart, definately looks alot better with symmetrical rear lights.

looking sweet

Thanks guys

Smashin car Realy likin the tail lights, are you going to wire it up so both sides light up when reversing?

Thank You, Yeah eventually id like to make them both light up for reverse. At the moment the left lights up as reverse. The right has a red bulb so it lights up as a fog.

Maybe an LED bulb with two inputs that can light both red and white would be good if they are even made.

I might have to get one red and one white LED bulb and make a mixed one myself. I have lots of the lamp holders to try and modify

Subtle but how it should be