General Project: Double Ugly

Currently reading:
General Project: Double Ugly

Joined
Aug 16, 2016
Messages
243
Points
139
Location
Suffolk border
Hello All,
Wanted to start a new post about my third Multi as I think this one's a keeper.
Here's a starter pic, hope to do some before & after type pics and document any other major work.
Oh btw the thread title is what the missus calls it, I of course think its gorgeous.[emoji2] 20180825_064544~3.jpeg
 
Right, so, third Multipla you say - yes I am a serial offender.
I bought Ugly Bug #1 soon after expecting our third child. I wanted something outside the box and thought they looked cool. I google imaged 'lowered Multipla' and came directly to this forum and EmDees 'Toad'. That was that - I had to have one. Kept my eye on all the usual suspects and eventually one came up 30 miles away for £350. I test drove it 50ft and handed over the money - never been good at haggling!:eek:
On the drive home quickly recognised the gearbox was borked, the main shaft bearing made it should like a straight cut tractor gearbox. Anyway, coupled with the fact i'm pretty sure a dog had been kept in there, it was only a short lived fling. i sold it back on ebay 6 weeks later for £50 and someone used the rear subframe on their male multi.
The missus frigging hated the mk1 and flat refused to drive it so i ended up replacing it with a Seat Altea which we still have but I hate the thing with a passion - it does nothing remarkable and refuses any mechanical attention you give it. It's probably the last VAG product I'll buy.
Another 6 months down the line and I was getting bored of my mk4 Golf so decided to lower it with some second hand coilovers. Predictably 10 miles down the road I hit a small bump in the road and smashed the sump. Time for Multipla #2 !:slayer:
Multipla #2 was a male (face lift) Eleganza with 17" wheels, folding mirrors, black interior and no leaky sunroofs. Crucially no dogs included in sale either. It was a great car and gave 12 months / 30k miles of service. I did break a gearbox mount going over a ramp and did end up doing the clutch after the release bearing was so knackered the clutch was beginning to drag, I put a huge dent in one of the alloys and had to get it straightened. I ran around with 16" Coupe Turbo wheels on the front for 9 months as the roads were so shoddy.
Anyway back in June minding my own business driving along the main road and some twonk decides to drive into the side of me in their 18 plate Fiesta. Though it didn't look bad in the photo the sill was slightly buckled and the insurance company wrote it off. I found it again on copart but on the day of the auction it mysteriously disappeared. I can only assume either one of the copart staff bought it to do up themselves or it was crashed into by a forklift.:eek:
Went out and bought an x-type estate but immediately promised myself another multipla, but it had to be a proper ugly bug and cheap. Scoured ebay, bumtree and autotrader but eventually returned to FF and saw Vincenze's selling up thread. Boom! Ugly Bug #3 :cool:
 

Attachments

  • s-l1600.jpg
    s-l1600.jpg
    185.9 KB · Views: 162
  • 20180710_082203_HDR.jpg
    20180710_082203_HDR.jpg
    4.1 MB · Views: 114
To do list on #3 (Double Ugly):
Drive home from Kent was in the dark and raining - well known best condition to buy cars in.
It was quickly apparent that the wipers were awful, the tyres though new had limited wet performance (Wind Galops anyone? me neither), and the clutch though providing forward progress was slipping during every gear change. It's not slipping up hills but i'm guessing it would fail the dealers 'clutch up in reverse with handbrake on and see if it stalls' test.
Vincenze recommended the timing belt be changed as a precaution and from previous experience i'll do the water pump at the same time.
The temperature gauge didn't go above 1 bar which is normally a sign of a stuck open thermostat but i might plug in Multiscan ECU to double check any other sensors. That's about it mechanical wise, the rear speakers were a bit farty and it'd be nice to have AC one day.
Outside the paintwork needs a proper cut and polish, and generally every panel has a dent somewhere but i'm not too fussed. Front bumper is cracked though and though i initially was going to live with the mis-matched front wing i've sourced a replacement in the right colour so happy days.
Inside its going to need totally stripping, cleaning and refitting. A tin of paint went over on the rear carpet so i've got a replacement coming from the local Fiat breakers.
Have a few more pics including a before & after seat base clean. I took the cover off and put it through the washing machine (dont tell the wife) with my own mix of washing detergent, softner and bleach.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2018-08-26_14-40-25.JPG
    IMG_2018-08-26_14-40-25.JPG
    891.3 KB · Views: 129
  • 20180828_153816_HDR 1.jpg
    20180828_153816_HDR 1.jpg
    2.1 MB · Views: 73
  • 20180828_153707.jpg
    20180828_153707.jpg
    2.3 MB · Views: 130
  • 20180828_153702.jpg
    20180828_153702.jpg
    2.1 MB · Views: 66
  • To do list #3.PNG
    To do list #3.PNG
    15.9 KB · Views: 72
Hi Shedenvy, looks like you're tackling this project full on and I look forward to seeing it progress. My bug is coming to the point where it's do or die,and I just hope I've got at least some of your enthusiasm and dedication when the time comes ☺
 
Thanks Tubthumper, dedication's what you need, though not sure I'll be breaking records. Wipers purchased. Panels and carpets coming Monday. Clutch kit next week. Just need 5 minutes to myself. These unique vehicles will be important relics one day and we're the ones keeping them from being turned into fridges and bean cans. Go team! [emoji12]
 
How big a job is it to get the seat covers off? Complete seat dismantle? think mine would benefit from a wash.
I did just the base. Couldn't work how to get the back rest covers off. To get the seat base cover off you need to start with the recline/fold lever. The surround is just clipped with two tangs you can see by lifting up the lever. Wiggle off the surround then unscrew the phillips screw holding the plastic cover to the lever. Once that's off you just have to push the cover down towards the bottom of the seat and release the black plastic trim all around the edges. As you release the edges you'll see the seams on the seat are held in with 5 wire rings and 2 bits of velco. Was a pain but worth it in my case. I'll take pics when doing the next one and post them here. Nice to know if anyone has got the back cover off?
 
Thanks very much for replies.
I work in motor trade and have in past re-upholstered many a leather seat, just wondered when has washed it without wife knowing Fiat had made it a really simple job, doesn't look too bad as only a few of the dreaded metal "hog" clips.... a job for another day once MOT is passed, car beem parked up for five years but we are getting there ??
 
Thanks widemouthfrog for the heated seat link. Now managed to get the seat back covers off too. The plastic tray on the back of the seats need to come off. There are two plastic push in screws that hold the top of the tray to the frame and then two legs at the bottom which just slide in. Had another look at the headrests and i can't work out how to get them apart so they'll be just wet-vac'd.
So two sets of covers going in the washing machine tonight leaving just the front covers to do!
While i've unbolted the front seats it'll be a good opportunity to get the carpets out for a pressure wash.:)
 
Started on the front seats last night - well getting them out at least. Also unbolted the anchor points and passenger side sill plates. Everything is going to get a massive clean before going back together.

Not a lot of access for the centre seat bolts so i just plus-gassed them front underneath and will have a go another day. Don't need it out to replace the carpet but the seats needs stripping down and cleaning like the other 5.

No snowmen were harmed in the back of the Multipla.:p
 

Attachments

  • 20180905_212743.jpg
    20180905_212743.jpg
    948.4 KB · Views: 138
  • 20180905_212819.jpg
    20180905_212819.jpg
    1.2 MB · Views: 123
  • 20180905_215336.jpg
    20180905_215336.jpg
    1.6 MB · Views: 122
  • 20180905_215346.jpg
    20180905_215346.jpg
    1.3 MB · Views: 129
  • 20180905_215545.jpg
    20180905_215545.jpg
    759.9 KB · Views: 173
You need to take off the side panels from the centre seat to get at the bolts... Allen key towards the rear and a philips up front... bolts are real accessible then.
Marty.
 
No its ok, I've been in this position before but others havent. Yes the side panels are also ducts to take heating/cooling to the rear - clever! They're held on with two phillips screws and a 13mm nut on a stupidly long thread which you need a skinny deep socket to reach. I used 1/2 inch. Then the seat itself is 6 16mm bolts. I used 5/8ths - i was in an imperial mood for some reason.
Guy at work shot blasted the floor brackets for me and i started to put paint back on. Typically ran out of satin black...20180910_192858.jpeg20180910_193711.jpeg20180910_193637.jpeg
 
Back
Top