hi, basicly ive just bought a 2000 1.2 8v punto as my first car. its a solid shell with no rust, good condition but the engine has 130k on it and the head is about to blow . For now im gunna have to just fix the head and keep using it, but i would really like to swap it for a 1.2 16v sporting engine. Ive read its alot more tuneable than the 8v, is that right?
i am perfectly capable of changing an engine, but will it just fit straight in, i will most probubly upgrade the mounts and swap rear hubs for sporting disc hubs.
sorry for so many questions and excuse the bad spelling lol.
many thanks,
josh.

If you want a sporting get a sporting

The increase in Insurance because its not a standard car - its modified, means you'll be probably paying more then a standard sporting would cost

Yes the 16v probably can get 100bhp with Induction - Exhaust - and remap
But

the 8v is a solid engine, at 130k its not doing too bad!
Get a 2nd hand head - get that reconditioned, and do another 130k :slayer:
plus 8v is a Safe engine, dont worry about the cam belt

Ziggy

Pretty much everything that Ziggy said. Not worth the costs for the small gain in power. Enjoy your 8v, get a few years no claims bonus running (judging by your username you're about 17) and then possibly part exchange it for something with a bit more grunt if you still want to.

Besides the 8v cars still aren't half bad once they get up the speed and still feel nippy around town thanks to the Punto's lack of weight. They are lighter than Clios and Corsas that your mates are probably driving.

The 16V is not all its cracked up to be 8V is well tunable.

Ultimately the 8V can go well over 100bhp maybe as high as 120 with a special crank.

But expect higher insurance through the roof and a car you cant sell because no-one can get insurance.

Get on the advanced drivers training course (they are not old fogeys). They will show you how to cover ground quickly and safely to the extent other drivers will be holding up your little 8V. It might (some hope) give you a few pence off your insurance.

its not how big your engine is
Its how you use it

pure grunt isn't everything
IF you want to overtake - and your DONT have the Build up zone
simple as it goes - your not going to overtake

planning and judging everything the 8v is a solid car - enjoy it

Ziggy

Ziggy122 said:

planning and judging everything the 8v is a solid car - enjoy it

Ziggy

Click to expand...

Well Said that Man

sweet ill stick with it then just ordrd new gasket and bolt set and gave her an oil change today, hoping to lift the engine out in a week or so to do the HG so will clean and paint up the engine bay if i do

No need to lift the engine to do head gasket or even the clutch for that matter.

HG easy to change; don't forget to skim head; change oil AFTER and flush cooling system; see posts on bleeding or there will be another HGF soon; replace plugs and also lambda sensor may be damaged if water in exhaust from HGF....
agree with all other comments....
the 1.2 single cam is very nippy...
rear discs just not worth it drums much better see my other posts on this....

I have the discs on my HGT which were recently overhauled pads & discs all around. Later when one of my fronts kept seizing on I got home by handbrake to stop or have the faulty brake overheating.

The disc handbrake would gently slow the car but the slow down is measured on a calendar.

Frankly they rear discs are a waste of money; even on the HGT the drums would be better - less weight and less to go wrong and just as effective.

That all said, Punto does not need powerful rear brakes. The normal weight transfer to front while braking would just lock the backs if they were any more powerful.