Punto (Mk1) Another mk1 Cabrio

[fostertom]

Two Qs -
1. Recommendations pref west country to make a really gd job of fitting the brand new factory hood cover, also checking operation of the folding gear.
2. I'll want to swap in the ELX90's interior/upholstery, which is a tasteful grey colour-flecked velour, in place of the 85's nasty stuff. Trouble is, as usual with these early ELXs, the plain grey fabric covering of the driver's seat edge-piping has worn away (all other incl passenger seat OK so far). Can that be mended professionally?

 

[fostertom]

A few things for MOT, as expected for a car that's sat for 2yrs, shd have it Fri. The sun's gone again due to the delay - expected back for the w/e!

 

[fostertom]

Not till Mon - emissions, so new cat or lamda. Costs spiralling but I suppose normal. Hope it's a 'good' car when I get it. Hopefully like my old ELX75 - not saying it never needed attention, but such a good personality, always eager right thro to 170k, no rust despite living outdoors - one of those 'good day at the factory' ones.

 

[Ziggy122]

No rust because the puntos are galvenised

And if its been running on 2 - the emmission will be out - cat could be blocked up

Ziggy

 

[fostertom]

Doesn't stop v many of them from rusting, incl strip of floorpan both sides on this Cab - but that's a tough test if hood's been leaking, wet carpet.

 

[fostertom]

New cat AND lamda - MOT passed - picking her up this eve.

 

[blu73]

congrats..

galvanising is good but cars will still rust in the long term.. They only don't rust when galvanised as the zinc reacts with oxygen more readily than steel so even if you scratch the zinc the steel shouldn't rust as the zinc right next to the scratch should oxidise with the oxygen. However, said oxidisation can only go on so long before the zinc stops having an effect as all the molecules have reacted with oxygen and so the steel starts oxidising instead. They will always go eventually, in particular where the zinc coating is damaged.. Also most replacement panels are not galvanised so anything that has been repaired will have a tendency to start rusting, and again aound any welding thats done the galvanising will be totally fubar'd and have no rust prevention left.

Any more pictures of your cab foster??

 

[fostertom]

OK, so missey's old Cabrio is a very good one, hard to believe 114k on the clock, no rattles at all - almost like new. A great thrash up the Teign Valley Road - 7mi twisty B-road ending in a 90mph straight, no traffic going either way at 10pm. Compared to the tractor engined ELX90 Cabrio, this is light on its feet, revvy, lift-off oversteering, not like my old ELX75 which was fantastic, but I'm sure I'll get the hang of it. Much as I love the 70SX Uno, what a step up the Punto is. My first go in a 85 - the 75 was great but this is more so, feels fast enough to require caution and discrimination, rather that flat-foot under all circumstances.

Skim, valve grind, head gasket, cam belt, oil, computer 'reformatted' (wouldn't recognise the key), £300 welding nicely done, back for MOT 4 times, new cat and lamda, lots of light bulbs etc - £1600 - whoof - but well worth it. Possibly short of low end torque, and fluffs a bit after idling, but we'll get it singing.

And a heat wave for the rest of the week - told you so, as soon as my Cab's ready.

 

[fostertom]

Been wonderful, in this weather - but misfiring, won't take much throttle below 3000rpm, and not much go left above 5000rpm, so something's amiss.

Also the keycode light comes and goes at random - should I worry?

 

[fostertom]

Been enjoying the car - till Sat - when the head gasket blew again, after v recent head skim and new gasket etc by a reputable Italian specialist. Waiting to find out why - could be the block. Car is 134k and it had a prev skim and gasket @ 70k. Same 2-gaskets in lifetime story with my old ELX75, which went to 170k, was still going strong.

 

[fostertom]

Turns out the head is perfect, still skimmed flat. The block is 3.5 thou low between cyls 2 and 3 (where it's blown) and 1.5 thou low between 1 and 2. Still smooth machined, not corroded. Peter T-H of Perfect Service, Fiat/Alfa specialist, Newton Abbott has done hundreds of Punto head gaskets, nover had one fail after 3wks like this, never had to suspect and check the block face, so doesn't know if 3.5 thou is critical. No other reason for failure, is going to reassemble with new gasket, no cost to me, see how it goes.

Does anyone know if that 3.5 thou on the block is a gasket fail-point?

 

[fostertom]

Peter refitted with new gasket etc, no charge to me - been going strong since. Two long Mway thrashes this week - the car is a delight!

I even got back the knack of lift-off oversteer, which was easy in the old softer/under-tyred ELX75 but I was sad to find the Cabrio wouldn't - but it will!

See my Qs at top of this thread about reupholsery/repairs. Also, how to get the door cards and rear side lining cards off - are the push-in mushroom/plugs destroyed, needing new ones to re-fit?