Bravo (Classic) Bravo hgt daily driver

[Adrian Bravo]

Did that Fiat dealer order the part for you?

The dealer I go to gets parts that are in this country next day and stuff from Italy 2-3 days if you order early enough. The odd part has taken longer. Theres no minimum order but at first I had to pay up front which i didnt mind.

 

[wrightyHGT]

Did that Fiat dealer order the part for you?

The dealer I go to gets parts that are in this country next day and stuff from Italy 2-3 days if you order early enough. The odd part has taken longer. Theres no minimum order but at first I had to pay up front which i didnt mind.

went in with Eper part number and he said must be wrong part, so we went through his system and big red cross through shopping basket which was parts no longer available from Fiat.

 

[Neverth]

I just used flat 50mm wide and 2mm thick metal bar to fabricate 21 and 17, original ones were just rusty pieces. I was amazed on how good condition the rubber part was.

Buy wide rolls of self vulcanizing tape and wrap the intake with it, works for some time and cheap.

VIS Marea, but close enough. Wonder how much would it cost to get that intake here....nah, tape will do fine.

 

[CFREITAS]

The Intake sleeve (No-3) has split through the flexi part and currently repaired with some guttering pipe slid in to stop pipe collapsing and some tape...i know cringe worthy but it is sealed. Did get a VIS one but the MK1 has a sensor in that section (No-16) that VIS doesn't so couldn't use it.
So if any helpful upstanding pillar of the forum (if there is such a thing ) has one laying round from any version of 147 will take it off your hands.

Did wonder if one of the silicon hose specialists would be able to reproduce a new one??? anyone have dealings with a Samco dealer or other source???

i Had the same problem with the pipe, the air temp sensor need to be in the same position as it is in the original pipe,
Drill a hole in the new pipe and fit the sensor in the same way as the original.

thats what i did with my Marea

 

[wrightyHGT]

First frozen hand brake of the year..... That'll teach me not to park it in gear with brake off.

Thought i'd lubed them enough when i did some servicing but obviously not enough

Will get anti-freeze out and warm the bugger up later on.

Even the door lock froze while i was defrosting windows so i couldn't even close the door.lol

 

[wrightyHGT]

Had a quick go at the hand brake and the rubber gromets at end of each cable has perished allowing water to ingress into cable shroud and freeze.

lots of wd40 and some grease has sorted the problem but if there's any water left in will only freeze again so gonna pick up some new hand brake cables and pack them with grease from new.

 

[wrightyHGT]

On the good side...fitted new power steering cap and drained fluid, topped up and the old stuff was horrendous. :yuck:

On the bad side the manifold sounds like its started blowing again....:bang:
but after some investigation found some one years ago with same problem and it turns out that the exhaust supports that i was looking for are the cure to the problem.....sigh.

So armed with more new gaskets and some copper silicon will be changing gaskets AGAIN but this making new supports at the same time.

At least i'm starting to learn what bits i need to horde when they come up.

 

[bluejohn125]

What's the latest on the bonnet repairs? I'm kind of hoping that you'll get it resprayed in original colour instead of matt black...

 

[wrightyHGT]

What's the latest on the bonnet repairs? I'm kind of hoping that you'll get it resprayed in original colour instead of matt black...

Got three bonnets now in total.....The original that i'm just going to keep as emergency use, got a crease and think be a pain to repair then paint again anyway.

A good condition goldish one that think will get resprayed to match my paint.

And a 3rd bonnet that is going to be slightly different....you see i'm a huge motorcycle race fan, used to go to see british superbikes and world super bikes when i could....unfortunately one of the best young stars of Moto Gp Marco Simoncelli died at Sepang last year and i'm going to do a bonnet in memory of him that i can pop on for Cadwell,Snetterton, brands etc or at an italian car meet.
Local vinyl firm can print any image i want.....have attached some images for what it maybe based on.

Probably not everyones cup of tea but will only be for occasional use.

 

[wrightyHGT]

Managed to find a new set of brackets that i'm missing from manifold and downpipe, plus have new gaskets and some copper silicon so have a day planned for this on friday.

Picked up a s/h manifold so gonna have a go at wrapping it, i know,i know....it wrecks your pipes, not worth it etc etc, but never done it and want to learn from my own experiences both good and bad.

so ordered these items too.....

http://www.designengineering.com/ca...cycle-exhaust-pipe-wrap-kits/exhaust-wrap-tan

http://www.designengineering.com/ca...exhaust-wraps-accessories/ht-silicone-coating

At least if it does go wrong got an unmolested manifold to go back on.

 

[bluejohn125]

Hi Wrighty,

Back to my older wheelbolts query..

FIAT part number 13228224....fiat alloy wheel nut. Fits hgt,coupe and such like.

Quoted £20 for set of 12 nuts and 4 locking nuts today from local Fiat dealer.

Which dealer did you contact.. presumably in the Norwich area? Do you have a contact name in the parts dept?

Also, you might want to check out this thread in the Tipo section:

https://www.fiatforum.com/tipo/316134-tipo-16v-m626upp-update.html

Another guy in the Norwich area, renovating the previous version of your car, i.e. hot 2-litre Tipo. I sense some friendly collaboration / competition....

 

[wrightyHGT]

Why isn't anything straight forward.......

Removed my exhaust manifold and wrapped it, refitted it and the missing brackets but found that it was still blowing removed it again,cleaned up the surfaces and refitted it, same again.

So removed it again and fitted the second manifold i have and no more blowing.......so i'm presuming that its warped enough to not seal, maybe the previous owner had warped it by not bolting up in correct sequence.

See attached pics: used genuine fiat gaskets this time and i was surprised in the size difference of the centre holes in the gasket between manifold and downpipe.
As can be seen in the pics the fiat parts are a few mm larger. So i changed the downpipe to de-cat while at it, thought the size difference may even be enough to disrupt/restrict flow through exhaust????

Also removed the upper resonator box and blocked its feed from flexi.

Cleaned maf and reset ECU.

The result surprised me......the bravo was always nippy but now it just picks up revs so much quicker,much more urgent than before.

Air temperature sensor question: looked at replacing my cone filter with an enclosed induction K&N apollo system, but they come with the facility to mount the air intake temp sensor in the filter housing, so i thought i could fit the mk2 flexi without AIT and mount AIT in the filter housing.
I know that it will now be in a far colder air stream than before and could possibly en-richen the mix......But will it actually do any harm.

 

[wrightyHGT]

Still didn't feel happy with manifold/exhaust system. ...so only thing for it was to yet again take it off.

Had the manifold surface face skimmed so happy it was flat, bit of copper silicone and new nuts and back on it went.
Checked support brackets on manifold flange and down pipe. Replaced middle section rubber and managed to punch myself in face while adjusting rear mounts with pry bar as silencer sometimes rattled against heat shield, my thinking being maybe there was too much movement through system causing the blowing after a while......have to see how that goes.

 

[wrightyHGT]

While doing manifold thought I would replace rocker cover gasket as plug holes are filling with oil :thumbdown:

Also felt the old girl deserved some titivation so only one thing for it.....






Tried to clean the rocker cover up but don't have a comfy shed or tools so thought I would paint it instead.





Gave her a good degrease......





Then back together again....


Used some Autoglym vinyl and rubber care to clean up odds and sods and finally looking much cleaner......

Treated her to a wash too....







Now just need to sort some tyres out so I can finally fit those coupe turbo wheels I've got.

 

[bluejohn125]

Excellent work, looks lovely.

But a mixture of wheels on the car????


Any ideas for the tyres?

 

[wrightyHGT]

Excellent work, looks lovely.

But a mixture of wheels on the car????

Any ideas for the tyres?

yeah think its a weekend wheel on rear.....

Have tried to find a mk1 hgt wheel but people only want to sell a set of 4......didn't want to buy a full set.

As for tyres got MOT in May and think it might need 2 tyres(195/55/15) so again because of odd wheel would prefer to buy tyres for the coupe rims....

Checked on the tyre radius chart and if i went to 16s would be a 205/45/16 fitment.......they currently have 50s on and 2 defo need replacing so would still need a full set...:doh:

If i could find an odd standard rim....some kind sole might have one laying round :wave: then i would probably keep to standard and fit a set of 205/50/15s.

 

[Adrian Bravo]

Good progress I like it Nice pictures. The rocker cover looks good black. Did you paint the heat shield or get a new one?

 

[wrightyHGT]

Did you paint the heat shield or get a new one?

Just rubbed down original and repainted it.....funds are bit stretched at times.

This is bits purchased just to cover last 2 posts.





Oh and I forgot I purchased new clutch slave....but some numpty (me) ordered wrong one, turned out o.k as I was able to recon mine with piston and spring from it as bore was the same....phew.

Managed to build up some tools as well through all this work.....i plan my next job by buying the parts and any tools that may be needed.

So far purchased items such as....
1/2" & 1/4 socket sets...deep reach sockets.
Hose clamps and bleed kit.
Stubby ratchet spanners.
Screw driver set, pry bars, mole grips, wire crimpers.
Allen keys, wire brushes, pliers and cutters.
Trim removal set, trolley jack and ramps.etc, etc.

Plus also needed to get sundries such as copper grease, penetrating fluid, degreaser, wire wool, electrical cleaner and so forth.

So all in all not only have I started to build up the basics but have learnt a fair bit....the most important thing I think is not to be scared and just get on with it....

You guys have helped along the way so credit to you too.

 

[bluejohn125]

Yeah it would be good to find 1 or 2 original alloys for it - I guess the Mk1 HGTs have specific alloys, a bit different to the 15" Optional Fiat ones that you could get...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIAT-MARE..._tyres_Rims_Car_Wheels_ET&hash=item5aeeb1ffb5

Looks close enough for a temporary match...

You could put a Wanted ad in the FF classifieds, or maybe put a request into one of the "find-a-part" websites, no doubt some clued-up breaker somewher may have some available.

I reckon 205/50 15s would be too big - the alternative for standard 185/55 15s is 195/50 15. Plenty wide enough...

 

[wrightyHGT]

I reckon 205/50 15s would be too big - the alternative for standard 185/55 15s is 195/50 15. Plenty wide enough...

The owners handbook quotes 195/55/15 - 84v as standard fitment for the HGT or the 205/50/15 - 86v as optional fitment.