Technical Knocking Uno
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Technical Knocking Uno
To be honest, it is cheaper and easier to source another engine and swap them over. Unless of course the engine in the car you have has been race tuned?
FIRE engines can be had for very little, and even turbo engines can be picked up for not much.
With big end or main bearings you really need to strip the whole engine, have the crank re-ground, then re-assemble with new parts and gaskets. The time it would take to do that, and the cost, is why I suggest getting another good engine and swap them over.
What engine is the Uno running?
FIRE engines can be had for very little, and even turbo engines can be picked up for not much.
With big end or main bearings you really need to strip the whole engine, have the crank re-ground, then re-assemble with new parts and gaskets. The time it would take to do that, and the cost, is why I suggest getting another good engine and swap them over.
What engine is the Uno running?
Ah, in that case it's a bit riskier using a second hand engine and they aren't exactly common either.
Being a turbo you are better off stripping the engine and doing it yourself. At a wild guess (the turbo boys could suggest more accurate prices) I'd reckon on about 300 quid for parts and machining, but you have to strip and rebuild the engine yourself. It will be a LOT more if you get a garage to do it, especially if they have to take the engine out as well.
Turbo lumps turn up from time to time. Check out Ebay and also the turbocollective site on MSN.
I would add that the engine must have been seriously abused to knock out the bottom end as they are actually very strong as standard. I'd also be worried that there is more damage as well, which could turn a rebuild into a very expensive proposition.
Dunc, Fro$ty, Biz, Pottleflump and Alex should be able to offer you more accurate rebuild advice!
Being a turbo you are better off stripping the engine and doing it yourself. At a wild guess (the turbo boys could suggest more accurate prices) I'd reckon on about 300 quid for parts and machining, but you have to strip and rebuild the engine yourself. It will be a LOT more if you get a garage to do it, especially if they have to take the engine out as well.
Turbo lumps turn up from time to time. Check out Ebay and also the turbocollective site on MSN.
I would add that the engine must have been seriously abused to knock out the bottom end as they are actually very strong as standard. I'd also be worried that there is more damage as well, which could turn a rebuild into a very expensive proposition.
Dunc, Fro$ty, Biz, Pottleflump and Alex should be able to offer you more accurate rebuild advice!
1986Uno45S said:
..and in that order, too
It's rare for a FIAT engine to need bottom-end work. I wonder if the diagnosis is correct? Maybe get a second opinion from someone in person before you do anything else... does the oil pressure gauge on the dashboard read 'normal' (2-bar idling, 3-4bar while driving at moderate speed)?
My Uno Turbo exhibits a piston-slap sound, which is best described as a light hollow knocking when increasing the engine revs, most noticeable with the car stationary and when the engine is cold. There aren't any other symptoms (good oil pressure etc.) and this engine regularly gets pushed to its limits (hasn't broken yet), so the piston slap is best ignored (aluminium pistons 'grow' as the engine reaches high temperatures, so they are deliberately a slack fit with the engine cold).
Anyway, having decided that the engine big ends/main bearings are suspect (various dull thudding noises and loud solid knocks), the main thing is to take it apart so that the crankshaft can be measured. I've seen the crankshaft out of a FIAT 128 engine that had done 280,000 miles and it was still within tolerances for standard replacement shells. So I wouldn't order any parts until the crankshaft has been measured by an experienced engine rebuilder!
Taking the engine out of the car and stripping it is fairly easy, definitely something to tackle yourself. You only need a trolley jack (possibly two) and some axle stands, with the help of a friend. See Dunc's Uno Turbo restoration thread in the 'Let's Talk FIAT' forum (that should keep you busy for an hour or two).
-Alex
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A_J
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"the car has been off the road for about 6 months as the bottom end bearings have gone. the car starts alright but there is a knocking noise coming from the bottom end"
Is what he sed, so im gonn have a look tonight and start it up, wat sort of noises will i hear if it is the bottom end gone?.
will also have a look at the oil pressure guage
i will try and make a video of it.
Cheers
Is what he sed, so im gonn have a look tonight and start it up, wat sort of noises will i hear if it is the bottom end gone?.
will also have a look at the oil pressure guage
i will try and make a video of it.
Cheers
hi there,
basicly, u'll hear the bottom end knocking as described by the current owner. depending on the price/condition/spec of this track uno, it may still be worth buying and sourcing a 2nd hand engine, but as meantioned, they dont come along too oftern.
the bottom ends on UTs are very strong, so therefore it will have had a good thrashing for it to let go (but this is pretty obvious being a track car lol)
rebuilding wont be cheap, but the car sounds a perfect base for big power. id personally worry more about the condition of the actual shell IMO
good luck and let us know how u get on
Dunc
basicly, u'll hear the bottom end knocking as described by the current owner. depending on the price/condition/spec of this track uno, it may still be worth buying and sourcing a 2nd hand engine, but as meantioned, they dont come along too oftern.
the bottom ends on UTs are very strong, so therefore it will have had a good thrashing for it to let go (but this is pretty obvious being a track car lol)
rebuilding wont be cheap, but the car sounds a perfect base for big power. id personally worry more about the condition of the actual shell IMO
good luck and let us know how u get on
Dunc
Hello mate,
If you're a beginner then I would suggest forget trying to build the engine up yourself as the slightest mistake down to inexperience can be very costly to rectify!!! But if you are confident and know what you are doing and have all the necessary equipment/tools available at your dispersal then it's definitely worth giving it a go as you would save yourself a lot of money and you would get a good feeling of satisfaction from it.
First thing i'd say is figure out what do you intend do use the car for? For example would it be a fast road car? a Racing car? show car etc then you can decide what you want to do to the engine etc. Its always worth planning ahead. You never know if you look around you might find something better elsewhere.
I would say the cheapest solution here would be to get another 1.3 turbo engine and fit it straight into the engine bay as Chas has mentioned. You could even stick in a mark 2 engine if you wanted to but you'd have to change the loom over too so it would be slightly more work but the options there if you cant find another decent 1.3 engine so bear that in mind. Mark 1 vs Mark 2 engine is another discussion altogether and both have their pros and cons but I will not talk about that right now.
But if money is no object to you then you could rebuild your engine but like i say it can get very expensive, my rebuild totalled around the £300 mark for all the parts needed as i did some of the work myself with a lot of help as i am not the most mechanicly minded person myself!!!
I cant even remove a rusted bolt on my UT for f*ck sake hehe
So what i am trying to emphasize is that it can get VERY expensive if you find any nasty surprises along the way which you are unprepared for so keep that in mind. BUT like Dunc says the car sounds like a perfect base for big power as long as it has a decent shell to begin with.
So if you're prepared to get stuck right into it and spend some time money and effort on it then i think you should go for it mate.
And good luck and tell us how you get on.
F R O $ T Y
If you're a beginner then I would suggest forget trying to build the engine up yourself as the slightest mistake down to inexperience can be very costly to rectify!!! But if you are confident and know what you are doing and have all the necessary equipment/tools available at your dispersal then it's definitely worth giving it a go as you would save yourself a lot of money and you would get a good feeling of satisfaction from it.
First thing i'd say is figure out what do you intend do use the car for? For example would it be a fast road car? a Racing car? show car etc then you can decide what you want to do to the engine etc. Its always worth planning ahead. You never know if you look around you might find something better elsewhere.
I would say the cheapest solution here would be to get another 1.3 turbo engine and fit it straight into the engine bay as Chas has mentioned. You could even stick in a mark 2 engine if you wanted to but you'd have to change the loom over too so it would be slightly more work but the options there if you cant find another decent 1.3 engine so bear that in mind. Mark 1 vs Mark 2 engine is another discussion altogether and both have their pros and cons but I will not talk about that right now.
But if money is no object to you then you could rebuild your engine but like i say it can get very expensive, my rebuild totalled around the £300 mark for all the parts needed as i did some of the work myself with a lot of help as i am not the most mechanicly minded person myself!!!
I cant even remove a rusted bolt on my UT for f*ck sake hehe
So what i am trying to emphasize is that it can get VERY expensive if you find any nasty surprises along the way which you are unprepared for so keep that in mind. BUT like Dunc says the car sounds like a perfect base for big power as long as it has a decent shell to begin with.
So if you're prepared to get stuck right into it and spend some time money and effort on it then i think you should go for it mate.
And good luck and tell us how you get on.
F R O $ T Y
Last edited:
If your a beginner then I would forget about trying to build the engine up yourself as the slightest mistake will be very expensive to rectify!!! But if you know what to you are doing then deffo worth giving it a go as you would save yourself a lot of money and you would get a good feeling of satisfaction from it. First thing i'd say is figure out what do you intend do use the car for? For example would it be a fast road car? a Racing car? show car etc then you can decide what you want to do to the engine etc.
I would say the cheapest solution here would be to get another 1.3 turbo engine and fit it straight into the engine bay as Chas has mentioned. You could even stick in a mark 2 engine if you wanted to but you'd have to change the loom over too so it would be slightly more work but the options there if you cant find another decent 1.3 engine so bear that in mind.
But if money is no object to you then you could rebuild your engine but like i say it can get very expensive, my rebuild totalled around the £300 mark for all the parts needed as i did some of the work myself with a lot of help as i am not the most mechanicly minded person myself!!!
I cant even remove a rusted bolt on my UT for f*ck sake hehe
So what i am trying to emphasize is that it can get VERY expensive if you find any nasty surprises along the way which you are unprepared for so keep that in mind. BUT like Dunc says the car sounds like a perfect base for big power so long as it has a decent shell to begin with.
So if you're prepared to get stuck right into it and spend some time money and effort on it then i think you should go for it mate.
And good luck and tell us how you get on.
F R O $ T Y
I would say the cheapest solution here would be to get another 1.3 turbo engine and fit it straight into the engine bay as Chas has mentioned. You could even stick in a mark 2 engine if you wanted to but you'd have to change the loom over too so it would be slightly more work but the options there if you cant find another decent 1.3 engine so bear that in mind.
But if money is no object to you then you could rebuild your engine but like i say it can get very expensive, my rebuild totalled around the £300 mark for all the parts needed as i did some of the work myself with a lot of help as i am not the most mechanicly minded person myself!!!
I cant even remove a rusted bolt on my UT for f*ck sake hehe
So what i am trying to emphasize is that it can get VERY expensive if you find any nasty surprises along the way which you are unprepared for so keep that in mind. BUT like Dunc says the car sounds like a perfect base for big power so long as it has a decent shell to begin with.
So if you're prepared to get stuck right into it and spend some time money and effort on it then i think you should go for it mate.
And good luck and tell us how you get on.
F R O $ T Y
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Where did you find the car? (Ebay, local ad, etc, etc)
from what your telling us then youll need a bottom end rebuild and give the head a rebuild while your there
Just freshen up the engine and youll be sweet as mate
And where abouts are you?
Any local engine builders?
from what your telling us then youll need a bottom end rebuild and give the head a rebuild while your there
Just freshen up the engine and youll be sweet as mate
And where abouts are you?
Any local engine builders?
OP
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A_J
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I found the car on ebay and it was only a couple of miles from me. we went to see it and it woudnt start and he made up some excuses, so we left it in the end.
But i am still on the lookout, im from warwickshire.
Cheers for all your help guys!
But i am still on the lookout, im from warwickshire.
Cheers for all your help guys!
Well, not starting is not really too different to 'starting, but having an engine in need of major repairs'
Like Dunc says, perhaps concern yourself with the condition of the bodyshell, since they're always hard to find in rust-free condition.
Cheers,
-Alex
Like Dunc says, perhaps concern yourself with the condition of the bodyshell, since they're always hard to find in rust-free condition.
Cheers,
-Alex
