General My Punto Mk1!

[RhysSmoove]

Hi all,
You may already know me, I've got a blue Mk2b Punto that's quite modified...

But anyway.. It's been a dream of mine for a while now to get a project car... I was toying with the possibilities between a Seicento, a Cinquecento, a 126 or a Mk1 Punto.. A Mk1 Punto showed up, really close to me, in my favourite colour and with a rare body kit on it! I couldn't resist!

So here it is:
It's a '99 Punto SX85, in green, with the Abarth bodykit and rare 1.6 Sporting alloys on it! It's a 1.2 16v, with 85hp.

Surprisingly it's faster than my Mk2, comfier than my Mk2 and runs better too ?

Anyone got any mod ideas?

Thanks,
Rhys

 

[RhysSmoove]

I've just got some GT seats! And for free aswell! They just need a clean...

 

[Fiatpuntomk2b]

Nice, always wanted a project like this myself. I'm I would get some gt alloys , I think they would go better with the kit. Did they do any abarth wheels to go with the kit like they did with the mk2 ?

 

[Fiatpuntomk2b]

How much did you pay if you don't mind me asking ?

 

[simon_16vpunto]

Nice! Pretty rare with an abarth kit

Your in luck my friend.
You were able to get abarth accessory wheels, which for the Punto were 14", or 15" for the bravo.

Luckily, I have stashed away a brand new old stock set of 15" bravo ones if your interested, identical to the Punto wheels just an inch bigger. Never been on a car.
If you fancy them pm me.......

 

[blu73]

lol Simon, i was just gonna suggest he sent you a message about them wheels, would be perfect for this punto..

Gotta say, I don't think i have ever seen an abarth kitted mk1 in that colour before. I'd get a GT steering wheel - they look and feel so much nicer. Other than that I would be loath to do much else to it, its looks really clean and original!! Perhaps a slight drop??

PS> I'm not, and sure most mk1 drivers/owners won't be surprised its quicker than the mk2 this is a 16v and your mk2 is an 8v, the mk1 is lighter. Even if you had a 1.2 16v mk2 that would be heavier and less powerful too. mk1's are just better

 

[blu73]

OK just looked back and noticed it is an sx and not elx - to this end i suggest you try get the centre console and door cards (they speaker pods so you can have tweeters in dash and woofers in the door) from a GT (can't remember if the ELX has the door cards but pretty sure they have the centre console.. I will find a pic, gis a min

 

[blu73]

struggling to find a decent pic of door cards but you can see what i mean in this one


GT Steering wheel and centre console


And another angle

 

[RhysSmoove]

I can't wait to get some of these things in! I'm picking it up at the end of the month, so I've got some time to think of plans... Has anyone got any door cards and the centre console for sale?

Rhys

 

[RhysSmoove]

How much did you pay if you don't mind me asking ?

I paid £350 ? an absolute steal. It's done 89k miles and runs and drives like a dream ??

 

[RhysSmoove]

lol Simon, i was just gonna suggest he sent you a message about them wheels, would be perfect for this punto..

Gotta say, I don't think i have ever seen an abarth kitted mk1 in that colour before. I'd get a GT steering wheel - they look and feel so much nicer. Other than that I would be loath to do much else to it, its looks really clean and original!! Perhaps a slight drop??

PS> I'm not, and sure most mk1 drivers/owners won't be surprised its quicker than the mk2 this is a 16v and your mk2 is an 8v, the mk1 is lighter. Even if you had a 1.2 16v mk2 that would be heavier and less powerful too. mk1's are just better

Thanks ? you're so right about the Mk1's being better than the Mk2's! I've completely fallen in love with it

There's not a lot I really want to do to it, apart from:
- Sort out few dents
- Get mesh for the Abarth bumper grills (it's a gaping hole atm)
- New Fiat and Punto badges.
- GT door cards, steering wheel, alloys.
- Maybe lowered alittle?
- Spacers on the rear wheels

But other than that I'm planning to keep it as standard as possible. I don't want to fiddle with it as much as I have with my Mk2. This is too clean to be messed around with ?

Rhys

 

[RhysSmoove]

Anyone know anybody selling GT bits?

 

[blu73]

check ebay for breakers, always seems to be one or two..

Also GT clubs on facebook seems to be a good place to get bits - i not a member of any of then nowadays though or i'd send you some invites

 

[RhysSmoove]

Got these beauties to go on the Mk1!

 

[RhysSmoove]

One slight problem so far.. The car smells quite a lot of petrol when driving.. My initial thoughts are that it could be a breather hose...

There's a hose that is completely cracked inside the engine bay, and the air box is cracked too..

Would this make a difference? Any ideas?

Rhys

 

[RhysSmoove]

Think I've found the culprit! What do people think this could mean?

Any help?

 

[flisko]

smell?

 

[RhysSmoove]

Yeah it smells quite bad.. Just found this.. Under the inspection panel..

 

[blu73]

mop it up and clean the area up best you can - have a good look around for cracks in teh plastic and pipes.... If you can't see anything then turn ignition on so it primes and have a look again - if its on the fuel out side it should leak after the prime, if its on the return side it will need to run to leak.... Clearly be extra careful, disconnect the battary and stuff before you pull that connector out - it should spark but it will only take 1 tiny spark

edit: another thought. there should be a rubber seal which may be missing.... If you remove the big plastic thing that holds the sender unit down - there should be a big o-ring under that. Check thats there. Number 8 on attached pic

 

[RhysSmoove]

Found the problem! One of the pipes that connects the fuel lines to the fuel pump was broken! So I fitted a new pump and now it's fine! Runs beautiful!