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Punto (Mk1) My Sporting 1.2 16v in black

Introduction

I figured it was about time that I introduced you to my little project, she is a 1.2 16v Sporting in black and I am in love. As with all cars of this age she came with a few problems but I am progressively working through them as and when time and money will allow. So before I loose your interest with endless text take a little look at her just after I brought her (note I had given her a quick clean prior to these photos as she was filthy).





In fact this is a small example of the dirt.



So when I first picked her up (well within the first few months) I had some welding done and have under sealed the whole passenger underside, the drivers side doesn't really need welding and it would do if left a few years so I plan on doing it at some point in the near future and under sealing once its done.
I fitted a new lambda sensor and cat as emissions were reasonably high when she went for an MOT, she passed but it was touch and go and I wasn't convinced that I was getting the fuel economy I should have been. Since being fitted I get around 480 miles on a full tank instead of the 300 I was getting initially so I'm glad I made the decision.
Obviously she was given a very thorough service when she came under my ownership, I'm very glad I have half a clue as when I looked at the car the oil was barely showing on the bottom of the dipstick.. Straight home, fully serviced and treated to some lovely Castrol juice.


I also replaced the rear drivers trailing arm and it had excessive play, as I had it on stilts I also took the time to replace the section of brake hose connected to the drum as it had clearly seen better days. I also decided once finished that I should adjust the handbrake as it was taking around 5 clicks and I'm a stickler for a 3 click handbrake.

Since then I have just replaced/upgraded bits as they've gone, I recently fitted HID's when one of my bulbs died. (I know its naughty but they are very nice at night)


I also took the oppertunity to replace the sidelights with some nice white LED substitutes.

<-- Give them a little click to have a real look

I replaced the number plate bulbs as one was gone. In fact since the below photo I have changed them again for a brighter set as one died so I'll try to grab a little pick of them in action this evening.


That's pretty much all I've done to her over the 5 or 6 months that I've had her asides from cleaning the actual hell out of her.





She has some lacquer peel/car wash wounds of the top of the drivers door and a ding in the bonnet as someone has clearly shut it down with a tool on top of the engine.


There's also a rather nice door mark down the passenger door, otherwise she is in fairly good nick and under my ownership always gleaming. I will replace the damaged panels along our journey as I plan on having her around for many years to come, even if she's not my daily drive. I'll leave you now with a snap of how she stands now and as always I look forward to your comments.



Well no huge plans as I have a baby in the oven so money is tight. As I said I would like to replace the bonnet and both doors so as and when some spare money pops up I will do those, otherwise no huge plans. I was thinking that a window tint might be nice aesthetically and also be beneficial for the baby (and I wont have to have those horrid sun block things in the windows), plus if I want to put it back to original its easy enough to remove.

I've actually removed the rear wiper, just the other day as it goes. It never worked and I wasn't used to having one anyway, I do need to measure/find out the size of the hole its left though so I can put a bung in it.

Another thing I'd like to sort is the areal, it doesn't stay in position, just falls down and bangs on the roof all the time. It's also bent which is annoying, I guess ultimately the plan is to keep the car on the road in good condition only 760 registered on the road according to how many left so in a few years time it might be a little bit rare.
 
I don't think it's worth replacing it.. Well it wont be high on my list anyway, shame you can't just tighten it.

I won't lie, it won't stay fully stock. Everything will be easy to put back though, for example I have just brought an OMP front upper strut brace. Can't wait to fit it, I may have a go tomorrow.
 
It was a nice OMP one that was going stupidly cheap on eBay. I haven't seen any lower braces going around to be honest, any ideas where I should/could look?

I've not popped it on yet, I'm tempted to spray it red to match the brakes and give them a touch up too!

The bushes on the suspension are on there last legs now anyway (it's getting a little knocky) so some poly bush replacements are in order I think. And I suspect that the O/S front shock may need replacing so some investigation and exploration of options will take place soon.

I've been having a bit of idle searching going on since I got her so I took the time so take off and give a good clean to the throttle body last weekend. As you can see in the picture it was looking quite dirty.. Unfortunately I didn't take an after picture (clearly just to keen to get the engine fired up again)

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I also took a quick phone snap of the new much brighter number plate lights.

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Really nice looking car and gives me tinker ideas as I've been told I’m not allowed to spend to much IE very little IE leave it alone :D So little sneaky additions are what I'm looking at :bang:
 
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will just understeer more with a top strut brace and stock suspension. less roll, more understeer. By all means whack it on and have a go but lower brace would be much better with stock height suspension if you must brace it.
Why wd a strut brace affect under/oversteer? Just predictability under extreme, I'd a thought? Anyway who cares, these cars do lift-off oversteer on demand!
 
SO, this punto.. When my little daughter arrived I received a lot of pressure to sell her and buy something sensible with 5 doors and a little suspension. Being a good boy I did and brought myself a Seat Leon, but remember as I said 'I was in love' and so I tried my hardest to keep tabs on her (sold her locally) and make sure she was being looked after.. Recently though I hadn't seen her move, just sat on the drive for 3/4 months.. So I had to stop and ask..


She had sadly failed her MOT.. no surprise, this guy told me he would love her as I did.. it didn't look like she'd been cleaned since I sold her, the hand brake cable had snapped and she needed a front tyre..

"So what's happening with her now then?" I asked very gingerly..

"scrap yard when I get a chance.. I've been meaning to do it for months but just haven't got around to it" he replied as I wound up my arm ready to fire at him :)

"Problem solved" I replied.. "Here's £100, I'll come and collect her later tonight"

many phone calls later, I had a recovery truck organised and collected her, I took her straight to my uncles garage where she is currently sat..

So far, I have replaced both front tyres (You can't just do one its wrong!)
the handbrake cable is replaced and there was a bit of rust starting to show its face so that's being done this week and the whole underside sealed..

I'm looking at some Marea front callipers (vented type) currently too.. not sure I can run them though as I don't have ABS (and I don't want it either).. can anybody clear that up? I think it'll be fine..



I have no idea what to do with this car.. it's not much use as a daily driver to me.. I have the Leon.. Maybe a track car?? I just don't want her to be scrapped or treated badly..
 
Well I bet she is glad to see you again (y)

regarding brakes, yes you can use them - you can get late style puntoGT calipers, think they are the same as the marea ones but either way will bolt straight on and use vented discs and work very well.

If you wanted a rear upgrade the GT rear setup would be good, they came with rear discs but i think to swap it (never done this myself but having looked at it briefly on my old GT) you need to swap out the entire rear beam, but you may want to drop your rear beam off for undersealing so as your in no hurry you could just leave it off until you find one - there will be someone breaking a GT
 
I managed to get over to the garage again last night to see her, I should explain that she is in a bad way. Whilst she has been sat on the drive out of action she has had half her insides removed/hacked up and they've not even been chucked in the back.. they're gone.

I just don't know what to do with this shell (Its not quite but almost that bad), I don't have mega amounts of money to replace all that's missing so I half though a bit of track fun but I'm not even sure about that now I've seen the MOT failure sheet!! --> Click Here

She doesn't owe me much yet.. maybe £300 including her purchase but this could easily rack up to be a good bit more if I try to make her road legal again... plus I got in the pit yesterday and saw the recommended welding......
 
Bit of an overdue update, as was probably guessed the car has sat there for a while now. I bought a Subaru Imprezza, my little girl started eating my time and she has been sat out the back of my uncles garage untouched for a while now.

Times change however, my partner and I have unfortunately parted, I unfortunately wrote the Subaru off the same night (bugger) and these two unfortunate things mean new life for the little punto.

I brought myself a Mk4 Vauxhall Astra just to use whilst my claim went through and I decided what I wanted to do. Skip forward just over a month and I've just sold the Astra for a tidy little profit and have arranged to pick up a 2L 16V turbo Coupe at 08:30 tomorrow morning in Devon (so another bloody early morning for me then).

Can anybody guess what's about to happen?
 
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