Bought a Bravo - what to do with it...

[Tim Farrell]

Hi All,

I've recently bought my friend's Fiat Bravo 1.8 HLX and, with it being my first car, I'm looking to make some modifications to it.

My friend changed the cam belt 5000 miles ago and has replaced components such as the radiator and the brake pipes and other such things. He's also fitted a stainless steel exhaust with back box and a K&N Air Induction kit.

I'm looking to get into the whole car modification scene and I was wondering what other Bravo owners would recommend doing and in what order. I'm not really into the idea of having a body kit - they're too over the top IMO and if anything, I'd rather make small but subtle changes to the exterior.

What I'm really interested in is producing the nicest drive I can and making my car a really powerful car. I've been having a look at suspension + damper kits and uprated equipment but I really am a newbie when it comes to stuff like this. I drove my dad's company car for four years, so I can drive (well) and that's about it.

I'd be grateful for any tips/pointers/advice from anyone who's fitted stuff to their own Bravos and how it affected things.

Thanks in advance.

Tim

 

[Azmondo]

here is my HLX i have just dropped the suspension 45 mm put 17" alloys on and put some HGT side skirts on Ya dont need to do much to HLX's cos they already have a nice front bumper and a spoiler as standard

[/img]

 

[Tim Farrell]

That's rather nice - I especially like those HGT skirts. Does it cost much to have them sprayed in the right colour?

And are you able to lower the standard suspension in that way or does it have to be specialist springs you need?

Thx.

 

[carterado]

that is really nice car. didnt know you can fit hgt skirts to non hgt .. anyway, looking really nice.

 

[Azmondo]

Well the side skirts are a bit tricky they cost me £50 from a scrappy £50 to paint and a £100 to fit as they need slightly modifying to fit as for suspension £220 will get you a full set of proper shortened gas struts with lowered springs as well makin it handle a lot better than standard
any more ???? i will be back on l8r
otherwise im sure these guys will point you in the right direction

 

[Tim Farrell]

Cheers ... that info was really helpful. Much appreciated.

 

[Insomnia]

Azmondo: What colour is your car? Azzurro Zenith?

Dec '97 1.8GT / 131,500 miles
Current Status: Running Well

 

[Waderider]

Driving

"I drove my dad's company car for four years, so I can drive (well) and that's about it."

Och Tim, welcome to the good drivers club!! I think the club has every male driver as a member, we all think we're good drivers.....

Okay, a 'thread hijack' response, but a valid one I think.......

Good luck with your car.

 

[Azmondo]

yes mate its zenith blue best colour to have IMO but i would say that lol

 

[Lee]

If you want to go for performance out of the 1.8 engine then I would say go for a set of C&B cams, and a Dastek piggyback ECU.

I have done a lot of searching on this and a guy in Denmark had this done and the 1.8 was putting out a much healthier 150bhp!



SEX...I'm just two women short of a Threesome

 

[Azmondo]

150 bhp sounds good i heard the fiat 1.8 is the best engine in the range for tuning some guy told me you can get 210 bhp out the 1.8 dont know how true that is

 

[1066]

Depends how much you're willing to spend

 

[Anonymous]

can get more than 150bhp from a diesel bravo!!

 

[Matt]

what engine?

 

[Anonymous]

1.9JTD CF3 variant

 

[mountainmachine]

"can get more than 150bhp from a diesel bravo!!"

I'm sure he doesnt care as he hasnt got a diesel! He's got a 1.8HLX.


Tim - Welcolme to the Barvo world!