Technical Greatest Tweaks!

[alexGS]

Hello all,

I thought it would be interesting to have a thread not about problems but instead about everyone's favourite Uno Tweaks - the little adjustments that make your Uno so much better to drive

I learned about this first about ten years ago when Mum and I went looking for an Uno to replace our accident-damaged 45 FIRE. Straight away we noticed an amazing variation in the Uno models for sale: some had the clutch pedal too low, some had a sloppy gearchange, others had noisy starters, dashboard rattles etc. All of them were 'going', but none of them had been 'loved'...

Anyway I'll kick off with my favourite quickies (that spring to mind):

- Grease the clutch cable eye where it attaches to the pedal (take it off by removing the clip with a fingernail). Also grease the semi-circle where the other end pulls on the clutch arm. All the creaks and squeaks solved! Tighten the clutch cable (if applicable) until the pedal is level with the brake - might not be the official specification but it makes the clutch a bit lighter in my opinion.

- Check that doors close easily. Adjust strikers if required (ring spanner for 3-dr models, impact screwdriver with large Phillips bit for 5-dr). Front door hinges tend to wear - keep 'em greased or oiled. I use white lithium spray grease (aerosol can). It should be possible to adjust any door so it closes easily, making any day just that little bit easier.

- Replace any bulbs that are not working in the dashboard (pretty easy to do, the one in the heater controls requires the knobs to be pried off carefully with a large screwdriver).

- Pack some foam around the stereo (if applicable) to avoid rattles.

- Trim some of the plastic off the tailgate lock button sides (assuming that it has cracked ) so that the button doesn't stick 'in'. This sticking button is a constant irritation because it prevents closing the tailgate without first using the key to pull the button out - surely the only car in the world to need a key to CLOSE the boot ) I finally fixed mine after many years and it's been so convenient...


And some 'longer' ones:

- Investigate any excessive slackness in the gearchange. Most of the problems occur in just one clevis joint - the one halfway up the gearlever. You can get new bushes but often all you need is a few washers carefully placed - worth a try!

- Make the idling smoother (carburettor) by enlarging the idle jet so you can adjust the mixture - see https://www.fiatforum.com/uno-techn...uns-fine-until-just-over-100kmh.html?p=983592

- Fit an electronic delay circuit to the interior light. This can go under the dashboard on the driver's side (to operate off the driver's door).

- Fix the handbrake lever to the floor with longer bolts and big washers to make the lever feel more solid. The captive nuts crack away from the floor (may not be a problem with left-hand-drive models). This requires taking the carpet out, but no welding is needed (I used to weld there, but washers work just as well).

- Fit a central locking kit (if your Uno is not so-equipped). It's pretty straightforward and provides a good excuse to remove door trims and spray anti-rust wax inside...


Note that all the above are non-essential and not major problems in their own right, but to me they make the difference between an 'average' and a 'really good' Uno


But that's enough from me - let's hear YOURS!

-Alex

 

[premrajeev]

Alex,

You're a genious ,man !!:worship: :worship:

Rajeev

 

[mqsash]

- Fit an electronic delay circuit to the interior light. This can go under the dashboard on the driver's side (to operate off the driver's door)

Five years on, this has happened automatically on my uno - but the other way round I guess.
Open the driver side door, and about a minute later the interior light will come on
Need to spray some WD40 on that door switch :chin:

mqs

 

[jjhepburn]

Can't beat the boot light

Mount a spare uno headlining light to the side of the boot (there is a handy space below the shelf support). Now mount a spare uno door switch onto the shelf support so that the gas strut from the boot hits it. Adjust as necessary so that the light goes off when the boot closes.

Wire it up to the original light (could set it up so that they both come on).

Also you can set it up so that you can 'rock' the light to turn it off, so that you don't drain the battery if you leave the boot open all day.

Can supply pictures if anyone is interested.

 

[mqsash]

nice idea JJ !
tell you what, last night I found out that my left rear lamp is not turning on, maybe a blown bulb. Am planning to get a new one this weekend. Might as well get an extra bulb and a door switch and hook it up in the boot.

Seems a pretty straightforward job.... but the pics would be most welcome !!

mqs

 

[(CZ)enda]

Add one more interior light right behind the rear-view mirror, attach it in parallel to existing circuitry. The hole in upholstery will also provide a practical access to where the antenna is mounted!

Put the instrument cluster apart, replace the clocks with tachometer, put LCD of the disassembled out/in thermometer from a dime store next to brake fluid light. The sensor goes to the inner side of the front bumper.

Replace the existing horn with the one found under the workbench, diameter some 20 cm, originally intended for a lorry. This will teach the Audi drivers not to give way to your 18 years old roebuck-battered Uno

 

[Chas Uno]

Add one more interior light right behind the rear-view mirror, attach it in parallel to existing circuitry. The hole in upholstery will also provide a practical access to where the antenna is mounted!

Or fit a roof mounted clock/ map reading light from an SX/ Turbo model. Getting hard to find though!

Put the instrument cluster apart, replace the clocks with tachometer

Or fit instrument cluster from SX/ turbo models.

put LCD of the disassembled out/in thermometer from a dime store next to brake fluid light. The sensor goes to the inner side of the front bumper.

I like the sound of this idea :idea: Do you have some pictures of what it looks like and more details of how it was fitted?

Replace the existing horn with the one found under the workbench, diameter some 20 cm, originally intended for a lorry. This will teach the Audi drivers not to give way to your 18 years old roebuck-battered Uno

Lol! I found some twin airhorns originally fitted to my 1974 Ford Cortina and fitted those. The original horn made a feeble beep and didn't work properly most of the time. Now it lets out a very loud discordent bellow that soon gets the attention of moronic Audi/ BMW drivers

Other Uno driving experience improvements:

• If your Uno is only a four speed, fit a five speed gearbox. The difference on motorways is amazing, much quieter and greater economy.
  
• Fit electric windows from an SX/ Turbo model into lower spec Unos. Not that difficult and adds a nice touch.
  
• Fit SX/ Turbo front bumper with fog lights. Looks good and very helpful in fog, but please only use fog lights when it is legal to do so!
  
• Fit alloys from turbo/ other Fiats for improved looks and allowing the fitment of wider tyres for better grip.
  
• Fit the econometer from a mk1 'S' model into your mk1 dashboard if it hasn't already got it. If you use it whilst driving you really can make it miserly on fuel!
  
• Fit turbo seats to lower spec models. Comfortable and firm plus offering more support.
  
• Lastly, the single best improvement for sheer driving experience (if one isn't already fitted) is to FIT A FRONT ANTI-ROLL BAR! Fit one of these to a 45 or 60 model, and the handling is transformed. No more body roll, but no loss of ride quality either. Corners become so much more fun, but make sure your tyres are up to it

 

[rodmallia]

Other Uno driving experience improvements:

• If your Uno is only a four speed, fit a five speed gearbox. The difference on motorways is amazing, much quieter and greater economy.
  
• Fit electric windows from an SX/ Turbo model into lower spec Unos. Not that difficult and adds a nice touch.
  
• Fit SX/ Turbo front bumper with fog lights. Looks good and very helpful in fog, but please only use fog lights when it is legal to do so!
  
• Fit alloys from turbo/ other Fiats for improved looks and allowing the fitment of wider tyres for better grip.
  
• Fit the econometer from a mk1 'S' model into your mk1 dashboard if it hasn't already got it. If you use it whilst driving you really can make it miserly on fuel!
  
• Fit turbo seats to lower spec models. Comfortable and firm plus offering more support.
  
• Lastly, the single best improvement for sheer driving experience (if one isn't already fitted) is to FIT A FRONT ANTI-ROLL BAR! Fit one of these to a 45 or 60 model, and the handling is transformed. No more body roll, but no loss of ride quality either. Corners become so much more fun, but make sure your tyres are up to it

Now that's a nice list I must say! I was actually considering a number of those - particularly the 5-speed gearbox, anti-roll bar and alloys. Electric windows also add a nice touch.

 

[antsuno2]

HE!!! he!! all them tweaks are fitted to my uno turbo as standard!! the only tweaks i did was i was never happy with was the door to wing gap (mahoosive) you can climb through it so i jiggled all the panels to make it a beauty!, i removed the door locks and fitted blanks (didn't want to weld and fill as no going back) now no chavs can screwy the doors and also removed the interior door pins and replaced them with flashing led's like a porsche so now they won't bend the door back . made a little bracket so when you shut the tailgate it stabilizes the rear parcel shelf thus stops it from rattling about, also adjusted the rear compensator after fitting 15 inch wheels, punto gt turbo front brakes, an interior switch so the misses can lock the central locking when in shhity area, also switch for fan for red hot days trapped in traffic, a new beesting ariel (old one looked like a cb arial and was rusty,) bloody hell theres loads more i'l have a think Ant!

 

[rodmallia]

Regarding the gearbox (you see, you've fuelled my fire now dear 1986Uno45S) how difficult is this conversion? Did you do it yourself? (read: can it be a DIY job?) Any more info on the matter would be greatly appreciated

 

[rodmallia]

HE!!! he!! all them tweaks are fitted to my uno turbo as standard!!

Lucky sod! Which gets me thinking - why aren't there any Uno Turbos here in Malta? They seem to be quite common there in the UK Personally I've never seen one here in Malta and from what I've been told, there are only a handful going around

 

[antsuno2]

They were quite common a few years back iv'e not seen another in 3 years, maybe its the tropical rainfall we get he he, if theres non over there a bit like new zealand i wouldn't bother as you won't get spares cheaply it'l cost more in p+p to import bits, is there any punto gt turbo's in malta? Ant!

 

[Chas Uno]

HE!!! he!! all them tweaks are fitted to my uno turbo as standard!!

Us non turbo owners can only look on with envy! However, you didn't have all the tweaks. Turbos never came with an econometer! However turbos did come with a rather nifty boost gauge instead

the only tweaks i did was i was never happy with was the door to wing gap (mahoosive) you can climb through it so i jiggled all the panels to make it a beauty!,

Did you adjust both the door and the wing? My passenger door gap is really tight at the front but big at the back. How would you recommend adjusting the gap on it?

i removed the door locks and fitted blanks (didn't want to weld and fill as no going back) now no chavs can screwy the doors

Good idea, but you'd need remote central locking first! I don't have that so will have to give up on that idea

and also removed the interior door pins and replaced them with flashing led's like a porsche so now they won't bend the door back .

Another good idea! But again would only work with remote central locking which I haven't got

made a little bracket so when you shut the tailgate it stabilizes the rear parcel shelf thus stops it from rattling about,

Nice one. Any pics of the bracket? I can't keep turning up the stereo all the time to drown out the rattles in my car

also adjusted the rear compensator after fitting 15 inch wheels, punto gt turbo front brakes, an interior switch so the misses can lock the central locking when in shhity area, also switch for fan for red hot days trapped in traffic, a new beesting ariel (old one looked like a cb arial and was rusty,) bloody hell theres loads more i'l have a think Ant!

I think I had one of those ariels fitted too. Was chrome with a sort of spring base and like you said it looked like a CB ariel! Mine broke anyway, so I fitted a simple black beesting type ariel. Reception was a lot better with it too

 

[Chas Uno]

Regarding the gearbox (you see, you've fuelled my fire now dear 1986Uno45S) how difficult is this conversion? Did you do it yourself? (read: can it be a DIY job?) Any more info on the matter would be greatly appreciated

It's simple. You drop the old four speed box, and replace with a five speeder! Straight swap, though make sure you fit the same type of gearbox.

Mine came with a five speed as standard as it is an 's' model. Converting from one to the other is the same as changing a clutch, which I did in the spring of last year. The gearbox has to be removed for that, so if you change your clutch make sure you have a five speed gearbox to go on in place of the four speeder.

Worth bearing in mind though that unless you can drive at 70mph/ 120kph or more then the five speed conversion isn't worth it. It's when you drive over those speeds that 5th gear becomes really useful, and as I do a lot of motorway driving 5th gear is a Godsend.

Anyway, changing from 4 to 5 speeds is simply just changing the gearbox, so if you can find a 5 speed box then go for it

 

[rodmallia]

They were quite common a few years back iv'e not seen another in 3 years, maybe its the tropical rainfall we get he he, if theres non over there a bit like new zealand i wouldn't bother as you won't get spares cheaply it'l cost more in p+p to import bits, is there any punto gt turbo's in malta? Ant!

Lots of puntos around though I'm not sure how many of them are gt turbos. But yes I agree with you about the p&p

 

[antsuno2]

Yes an econometer would be a nice tweak (better that putting 20 QUID in and resetting the the needle, then trying to work it out in my head?) but its got oil pressure oil temp to keep me busy. As for the door too wing gap iv'e fitted loads of uno wings and they are an unusualy LARGE! gap from the factory, who knows why? anyway i was determined to sort it (it took me a night for each side!!) but now all the gaps are equal allround something mr fiat forgot, and it was original never been touched. maybe yours has had a wing and they incorrectly fitted the wing, and moved the door, it sounds like your door needs moving back a bit, but they are fiddly to get on the allen keys, you need to have wobbly ones and don't chip the doors, slacken the allen keys off, then retighten them slightly and move it back a little at a time and keep checking, I' sure you can get universal cent lock kits for £25 maybe maplins? I'l take a pic of the bracket that is fixed onto the rear wiper part, i also put some rubbery type foam under the shelf as the shelf bounces around a lot (used to make a right racket especialy with the large speakers and spax adjustable shocks) Ant!

 

[rodmallia]

It's simple. You drop the old four speed box, and replace with a five speeder! Straight swap, though make sure you fit the same type of gearbox.

Mine came with a five speed as standard as it is an 's' model. Converting from one to the other is the same as changing a clutch, which I did in the spring of last year. The gearbox has to be removed for that, so if you change your clutch make sure you have a five speed gearbox to go on in place of the four speeder.

Worth bearing in mind though that unless you can drive at 70mph/ 120kph or more then the five speed conversion isn't worth it. It's when you drive over those speeds that 5th gear becomes really useful, and as I do a lot of motorway driving 5th gear is a Godsend.

Anyway, changing from 4 to 5 speeds is simply just changing the gearbox, so if you can find a 5 speed box then go for it

Cheers! I usually drive in the 60 - 75mph range so I'm guessing it might be a good addition if I manage to find a cheap one.

 

[(CZ)enda]

it might be a good addition if I manage to find a cheap one.

These are sold for anything between 15 - 50 EUR where I live. Any decent scrapyard/breaker should be OVERFLOWING with them...

I did this on my first 45 and I fully agree that it makes a lot of difference while driving on a freeway. But, yes, if majority of your driving is in the urban traffic, it may not be worth the hassle.
On the other hand, once the gearbox is out, it is a good excuse for changing a clutch as well

 

[(CZ)enda]

I like the sound of this idea :idea: Do you have some pictures of what it looks like and more details of how it was fitted?

No pictures - I am sticking to my tried and proven 35mm SLR and I do not have nor desire a digital camera. However, I will try to organize this with my brother in law, who has one.

It was a job involving a complete disassembly of the thermometer PCB, its sawing and resoldering - the PCB was too long to fit into the confined space of the cluster - and redesign of the right part of the original instrument board. Its control buttons went to the plastic square next to the windshield wiper control lever blinding a position of unused switch. Again, I will try to provide some photos later as the description would be lengthy.