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Bravo (Classic) Bravo hgt daily driver

Introduction

Thought it was about time i posted up some pics of my new daily driver...

She nothing special, seems a solid car with a huge service history. First thing on the list is a new MAF which should turn up on my door step soon....plus not sure on the cobbled together intake piping so will be replacing that with something suitable.

Do need the standard flexi piping from MAF to TB if anyone got one as mine is split and temp taped up.

Advisory on M.O.T was front suspension arms have play so will have to replace them in near future too.

Just going to replace/upgrade parts as and when they need attention.
Got a second hand MAF fitted for now at it has solved my running problems....also managed to find the intake piping i was after. Gunna put the new cone filter and induction piping on when that turns up.

Also thought about ordering a chip from fcperformance for next week.
 
Been a few months with the Bravo and had some time to rack up some miles...thoroughly enjoyed it so far.

Changing the oil and filter and new plugs were first on the list then sorted my intake problems by fitting a generic cone and split piping with some stainless 45deg tubing.

Poly headlights fitted with upgraded H1s.

Most recently purchased some fiat coupe turbo wheels from CFREITAS...(cheers mate...very helpful). Will give them a new coat of paint and treat them to some new tyres, but before fitting i need to replace the bottom arms and drop links.

Marea door handles are also waiting for me to prep/paint and put on.

oh also debadged and have some abarth wing badges to put back on...i know its not an abarth but more a nod in direction of the fiat tuning side. Nice quality metal items.

I have a nice dent in bonnet but purchased a replacement and a new slam panel that also due to be fitted....colour matching bonnet maybe an issue so probably gonna vinyl wrap it, trying not to make it tooooo chavvy in the process.

Had a look on howmanyleft.co.uk and only 128 still registered so i hope to keep at least one on the road.
 

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hi mate,
if you did not buy the fc performance's chip for your mk1 hgt, you have to buy it immediately!!! I have been using it for about 3 years and the result is wonderful :) Contact with Leighton, a great person and seller from fc performance and buy one !
you will see the difference almost in 3rd and 4th gears :slayer:
Cheers
Cem
 
forgot to say that your new ride looks very good. the same colour with my mk1 hgt :) (y)
 
hi mate,
if you did not buy the fc performance's chip for your mk1 hgt, you have to buy it immediately!!! I have been using it for about 3 years and the result is wonderful :) Contact with Leighton, a great person and seller from fc performance and buy one !
you will see the difference almost in 3rd and 4th gears :slayer:
Cheers
Cem

what sort of power u gettin with the chip, wanna chip my Marea
 
what sort of power u gettin with the chip, wanna chip my Marea
hi mate,
especially the power comes on the 3rd and 4th gear and really pulls harder and you have a wide rev range compared to the original chip! you can use the top revs more efficient with this chip. It carries the revs + 500, +600 rpm high so you catch the revs +500, +600 higher and this makes a noticable difference. In 400m I easily beat 155 hgts!
 
Keep it up, need to see more of these on here!
I have a magnex full system for a hgt if anyone's Intrested had decat too anybody that knows magnex are best exhausts and full stainless better then powerfliw by far, ounds awesome not loud at all and has a bigger bore right through for better flow!
I also have an fc performance chip for sale if anybody intrested
 
I also have an fc performance chip for sale if anybody intrested

Pm sent

. Did you get the new wishbones?

Nah not yet, didn't know whether to contemplate poly bushes so been reading a few old threads, but think i'm going to stick to standard:confused: seems the easiest option and would at least keep the ride quality.
 
Nah not yet, didn't know whether to contemplate poly bushes so been reading a few old threads, but think i'm going to stick to standard:confused: seems the easiest option and would at least keep the ride quality.
Yeah everything ive read says they dont fit right but i think it would be best to start with new original wishbones. I have powerflex droplink bushes and they are great. Got some powerflex ARB bushes too but not fitted yet.
 
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Treated the old girl to a wash and even hoovered and cleaned the interior........:eek:

Fitted the Abarth emblems to the front wings.

Took delivery of an FC chip (Sshhhh don't tell the misses).....so while misses took kids shopping for day operation gonna spend the day cleaning car commenced.;)
Just a case of removing glove box for ease of access and removing the ecu. The chip was replaced with ease and everything put back.
Even worked first time.

At this time haven't got out onto the open road yet but certainly seems to pick up earlier in the rev range and and rev harder. will have to get out for a run and report back.

Should get a price tomorrow for media blasting and powder coating the wheels.
 

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Purchased my new bottom arms and drop links also some poly ARB and drop link rubbers also needed an o/s track rodend but not fitted them yet.

A binding front brake caliper gave me opportunity to check clean and copper grease all my calipers and handbrake cables...job done.

While the car jacked up doing the brakes noticed a really quality bodge (n) Fair enough welding up a patch on the down pipe but to weld up the join with manifold :confused:, maybe a gasket was too expensive,knackered bolts or just wanted to practice his prowess with a welder...no idea but had me worried.....As i purchased a Magnex stainless system with decat and had visions of having a nightmare of fitting it. Luckily magnex joins after downpipe so don't have to touch it just yet as not actually blowing. Hoping i can run a grinder over weld and seperate manifold and just purchase a new downpipe.
Have a Sportex fitted at mo and sounds ace round town and does get addictive but on longer trips the droan at reasonable speeds does get annoying....hoping the magnex can take the edge off.

Anyone know of a cheap tubular manifold going???? :yum::yum:
 

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Its crazy what people do :cry:

On my car when i got it someone had cut an old back box up with tin snips and just sat that curved piece ontop of my back box, it wasnt fastened on. My back box didnt even havy any holes or rust ontop. I really didnt understand it, and i felt very lucky it didnt drop off on the motor way into someone else. I found it early on at least.
 
Got the Magnex fitted yesterday....what a ball ache that was.

Studs broke off in the down pipe so had to grind captive nuts off and replace...but at least had the foresight to purchase new hanger rubbers, u-bolts and bolts. Seems strange that handbrake cable runs over the middle box but hey ho.....the rear hanger rubber is a nightmare,so little space between bumper and hanger to get the rubber on.Ggrrrrrrrrr.

The magnex sounds a lot quieter....more of a quality sound than quantity from the sportex, has a deeper warble without being intrusive.....and seems to be a tad more responsive with the de-cat. Job well done...(y)
 
Another oil and filter change under my belt (y)

BUT a few more issues have raised their head:cry:

The exhaust manifold has started blowing when cold .... need to check Eper as found alot more coupe gaskets than hgt, would think same part but need to check. Does anyone know if manifolds prone to cracking or is that just turbo's??? dont want to whip it off without poss sourcing new manifold if i need one, at least i'll change downpipe at same time. Will order new studs and nuts as a precaution.

Seems that the rocker cover gasket is weeping and the alternator housing is cracked...so these all need doing asap.

There's no heat shield on the manifold and no undertray either .....sigh.

I still need to change slam panel so plan was to remove this and radiator and hit all the jobs at once.....giving me the opportunity to hit it with some degreaser at the same time while i have good access.
 
Nice to see the renovation is going well.

I see you have a choice of 2 standard Fiat wheels - I would be really interested to see a picture and measurements of your original wheel bolts, and to know if you need new bolts for the coupe wheels...

I'm trying to get new bolts to suit some 90's Brava 14" alloys, but the nearest I've found is these... (or similar).

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/16-WHEEL-...Wheels_tyres_Trim_Nuts_ET&hash=item3f0e18e492

These are 19mm but most are 17mm with a sort of collar. The older alloys seem to suit 19mm bolts with less of a cone profile, and much more "meat" through the hole - hence needing longer bolts / threads. I'm sure the design should be more like the bolts used for steel wheels, but they changed to a more conical design with 17mm heads when the Mk2 cars came out.

Cheers

John
 
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