Drewerz01
New member
Hi guys, and girls. Just introducing myself here and saying Hi.
Got my first Fiat back in March, it was kind of a "barn find", it's been stood almost a decade in the same spot. I saved it from the scrap yard.
When I bought it, it was all green with mildew and mange from years of being stood. But, a quick pressure wash, a battery, inflated tyres and some fresh fuel, and it started right up. It was a bit groggy for the first minute or so, but then it was sweet as a nut. I quickly got it back home on the driveway, where it has been stood ever since.
It is a 2002 Racing Yellow Punto MK2 1.2 16v Sporting Speedgear, which I'm told are quite rare???. It has a funky Auto transmission with optional sequential semi-auto, which I really like. The body, interior, and alloys are all next to mint condition, it really is, there is barely a mark anywhere except for the front near side wing, which has had some sort of repair at some point and not been done properly as it's starting to go rusty and the paint has badly faded around it, but that'll be tended to in due course.
I have been steadily recommissioning it ever since I bought it to serve as my second car/wifes' first/learner car.
It has had all new tyres, new brakes, timing belt kit with tensioner, both auxiliary belts, water pump, thermostat, new spark plugs, complete new exhaust system including manifold/catalytic converter and mounting rubbers, and fully cleaned and undersealed with Hammerite under body seal, and of course all new oil, filters, coolant ect... Also, the headlights were removed and professionally refinished and buffed to a crystal clear high shine because they had gone very dull and cloudy. Oh, and a new heater blower final stage resistor.
It's had a lot of my time and £££'s spent on it, but I reckon it'll be worth it when it's done. It is almost finished now, and just about ready to go for it's first M.O.T test in a decade.
One other good thing about a recommissioning a good car that has been stood for years, is that it was a relatively new car when it was laid up, just around 3-5 year old, so it has hardly done any miles, just 68k and change, and that shows in the condition of the alloys and the bodywork.
The flip side of that though, is that even though it's been stood, the rust bug has STILL had a go at it, and there are a couple of "tender" areas underneath that have required some work. But it's just because it's been stood is all. All of the typical Punto rot spots are all still solid. But all the underneath work has all been done now, and nothing is getting through all that underseal!
I will post up some pictures soon, when it's been for it's M.O.T, if anyone is interested.
Anyway, I'll be back when it's been for it's test and I can use it. I plan on alternating it's use with the love of my life (my Saab 9-5 2.3 HOT Aero 250) and my Motorcycle. Also, taking the wife out in it to teach her how to drive so she can get her driving test passed, and then it'll become her first car.
Mike.
Got my first Fiat back in March, it was kind of a "barn find", it's been stood almost a decade in the same spot. I saved it from the scrap yard.
When I bought it, it was all green with mildew and mange from years of being stood. But, a quick pressure wash, a battery, inflated tyres and some fresh fuel, and it started right up. It was a bit groggy for the first minute or so, but then it was sweet as a nut. I quickly got it back home on the driveway, where it has been stood ever since.
It is a 2002 Racing Yellow Punto MK2 1.2 16v Sporting Speedgear, which I'm told are quite rare???. It has a funky Auto transmission with optional sequential semi-auto, which I really like. The body, interior, and alloys are all next to mint condition, it really is, there is barely a mark anywhere except for the front near side wing, which has had some sort of repair at some point and not been done properly as it's starting to go rusty and the paint has badly faded around it, but that'll be tended to in due course.
I have been steadily recommissioning it ever since I bought it to serve as my second car/wifes' first/learner car.
It has had all new tyres, new brakes, timing belt kit with tensioner, both auxiliary belts, water pump, thermostat, new spark plugs, complete new exhaust system including manifold/catalytic converter and mounting rubbers, and fully cleaned and undersealed with Hammerite under body seal, and of course all new oil, filters, coolant ect... Also, the headlights were removed and professionally refinished and buffed to a crystal clear high shine because they had gone very dull and cloudy. Oh, and a new heater blower final stage resistor.
It's had a lot of my time and £££'s spent on it, but I reckon it'll be worth it when it's done. It is almost finished now, and just about ready to go for it's first M.O.T test in a decade.
One other good thing about a recommissioning a good car that has been stood for years, is that it was a relatively new car when it was laid up, just around 3-5 year old, so it has hardly done any miles, just 68k and change, and that shows in the condition of the alloys and the bodywork.
The flip side of that though, is that even though it's been stood, the rust bug has STILL had a go at it, and there are a couple of "tender" areas underneath that have required some work. But it's just because it's been stood is all. All of the typical Punto rot spots are all still solid. But all the underneath work has all been done now, and nothing is getting through all that underseal!
I will post up some pictures soon, when it's been for it's M.O.T, if anyone is interested.
Anyway, I'll be back when it's been for it's test and I can use it. I plan on alternating it's use with the love of my life (my Saab 9-5 2.3 HOT Aero 250) and my Motorcycle. Also, taking the wife out in it to teach her how to drive so she can get her driving test passed, and then it'll become her first car.
Mike.
