Seicento Finally got my Seicento Sporting.

Handbrake may be down to seized "elbows".

Had it to bits and un-seized everything twice in the last month. It wasn't even that bad. It has to be the cable. It's on the list of jobs to do. I'll try adjusting it first.

Try adjusting first -- the Sei (and late Cinq) ones tend to seize one side (on the cable). Something to do with the routing of the cable, I think.

Yeah it's worn away a bit from the rear arms.

the cable may need to be replaced, but the drums also need to be in perfect condition so strip clean and free off mechanical actuators trace of copperslip on pivot.

if shoe face is polished replace, file drum wear edge even if you retain shoes.

the clevis pins need the correct washers and R pins are better than split.

they work real good for parking but id use a scotch in hilly areas.

if the boots on slaves look other than perfect new boot kit or replace slaves

Pep0 said:

the cable may need to be replaced, but the drums also need to be in perfect condition so strip clean and free off mechanical actuators trace of copperslip on pivot.

if shoe face is polished replace, file drum wear edge even if you retain shoes.

the clevis pins need the correct washers and R pins are better than split.

they work real good for parking but id use a scotch in hilly areas.

if the boots on slaves look other than perfect new boot kit or replace slaves

Click to expand...

That's mostly all been done, and they work fine from the pedal. It's just the cable now. I'll get it done eventually.

So just an update on Luigi, it's reaching the stage where he needs some work done. The suspension is pretty much shot from me hooning around, the brakes are due, service is due, still no cosmetic mods, I'll be honest, I get in the car pretty much every day and it starts first time, it drives fine, even though the back end is knocking like Madonna's bed, and it just keeps going.

I have made an executive decision to never get rid of this car. I'm looking at strengthening the chassis, upgrading the suspension, brakes, wheels and engine in that order, but what I have just thought of today is 4x4 with a 1.2 turbo. Not sure if it's possible. Panda 4x4 gear?

Suspension I want adjustable, not too low, not too stiff, but better than the standard.
Brakes, I simply want the best.
Wheels, I have found that these tyres are not very popular, so I was thinking a width upgrade and going up to 14s.
Engine, I would put in a new engine but not sure I can right now anyway. I'll worry about that later.

Also now that I know I'm keeping it, I will be upgrading the sound as I am still on standard speakers! Just thinking maybe some stealth 6x9s in a custom shelf and some uprated front speakers with tweeters on one amp. The head unit I've got already is fine for the job.

After 3 years of driving Seicento's into the ground, I love them and I never want to be without one.

forget about using panda 4x4 stuff, its not designed for power or going quickly. I'm referring to classic panda stuff there, there is a new panda 4x4 isn't there - i know nothing about it but i suspect same situation.

suspension sounds like you want something like 40mm all round, thats what i got on my sei and you can go anywhere and not bottom out but it doesn't look like a stock sei on stilts. I have spax adjustable kit, i rate it highly but never tried any other adjustable shocks. But my sei goes round corners pretty well and is still comfy with it set to soft.

brakes is a bit of an open one, the best would be aftermarket calipers, wilwoods or something like. but if you get 14s you can go for the cheaper option of late style PGT brakes up front and from my experience i recommend just leaving the back as it is, just refresh everything (cylinders, bearings, shoes, drums, handbrake actuators etc etc) for new stuff, and some braided flexi lines. On the wheel front, if you can find something you like in 14x6j that opens up all the tyre options, its the 6j part thats important though as it enables use of 195 tyres, nearly all fiat or lancia oem 14" wheels are only 5.5j and that limits you down to just a few tyre option - none of which are particularly cheap, good tyres are available though.

I like that you not worrying about engine just yet, this is the proper way to do things - and as your confidence with working on the car grows your more likely to attempt something more major like turbo or 16v conversion (or both lol).

Stereo wise, speakers in the rear side panels is IMO best option. Either decent components there and in dash pods with a small sub and amp in boot or front components and 6x9s in rear. Don't do 6x9s if you intend to get a sub one day though, components will sound much much better if you get a sub as well .

Top advice again blu, 4x4 sounds like it may just be too much work tbh. Would be nice, but I can live with fwd.
Great info on the wheels, this helps a lot actually now that I know what I'm looking for. 195s would be amazing at 40mm compared to what it's like now.

Does my car not have power steering or does it just not work? Cos if the tyres are going to be wider, I think I'm going to need to sort that out, the car would be so much nippier with pas. I've kind of got used to manhandling it, but with the upgrades I'd prefer better response at very low speeds, round car parks and stuff.

The engine, I'd love to go down that road, but not until the handling is sorted, then I can judge how much power I might want/need based on the handling. I'll enjoy the benefits straight away from the extra grip as it is still nippy enough on the roads I drive. I don't want to compromise the mileage too much at the minute as it is still a daily driver, I'll probably wait until I get another car before I take this off the road and transplant an engine or something. Waaaay off that right now.

I like the idea of the rear speaker pods, that would free up the parcel shelf, and all that hassle when you put the seats down. Removable small sub box and amp, replace the standard fronts, job done.

Most sei's do have PAS, i've only ever come across a few without, they were all very early ones - prob fiat just using up old cinq bits they had left when they started production of the sei. What year is your seicento??

You don't really need PAS though, i certainly would not be fitting it if my sei didn't have it - i have infact thought about removing it and sticking cinq non PAS stuff on instead.

I'll be honest, PAS is the least of my worries right now!

I've found out what the hesitation was all about. The brand new HT leads that I put on were shorting out when there was condensation. I've switched back to the ones that were on the car when I got it (they were quite new, but I replaced almost everything as a precaution) as I had kept them in the shed. The issue seems to be gone now. DON'T BUY LEADS FROM SOVEREIGN! I only noticed because it was extra lumpy last night and it was dark, I could see the arcs.

Winter has been harsh on my little beast, and lots of work is due but I'm not sure which road to go down. I've got mayo on the filler cap, and the pipe between airbox and rocker cover. Do I replace all the gaskets, have the head skimmed, etc, or just get a new cylinder head? What would be cheaper and make the car last longer, or possibly gain some performance? I'm happy to stick with a 1.1, but if I could put a 1.2 in for the same or less than totally reconditioning the existing engine, I'd do that, but then would I need another exhaust? Will the gearbox link straight up etc? How much extra cost is there aside from the actual engine? Labour is not an issue.

I'm not prepared to give up on this car!!

All flushes done, oil changed, new plugs, filters, running pretty decent compared to before.

Going to do another oil change and flush in a week or two. My cousin has offered to build an air box.

Saving up for coil overs, stainless exhaust and 14 inch wheels. Will pick up bits and bobs if I find them.

Also thinking about painting the car matte black, gloss black wheels, tinted windows, gloss black instead of the orange bits.

Why go coil overs? You can do decent shocks and 35mm lowering springs for less than the cheap coil overs.

Food for thought fingers...
I'm wondering at the minute of my ignition has an issue, sometimes it struggles to start and runs really lumpy for a bit then settles. I had an issue with hesitance before and I narrowed it down to the ht leads touching and shorting. I've got new leads and it improved but wondering if it's caused a problem in the coils? A friend who's a mechanic said to watch for my coil pack when I told him about the leads issue.

I'd do a compression test -- that sort of lumpy first time running can be an early sign of a failing head gasket. Could be coils, though, or an ongoing damp issue.

I wouldn't be surprised if it is the head gasket. Or the coils. Or the damp. I'll see about doing a compression test thanks for the advice.