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General onyx firefly picture of car collected today

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General onyx firefly picture of car collected today

well engine in and shafts in, cant do the brake servo upgrade, engine in way of servo so pedal box back out and compared to the old one, subtle differences so refurbed the old one, just need to rebuild it and refit.

Man my hands have took bashing this weekend, got a black finger nail(bashed it), 1 inch gash over for finger knuckle(grinder ouch) and a palm of hand looks like its been bitten by a vampire....

just hope its all worth it in the end cos today i looked at it said to myself......why am i doing this again...

kevin
 
Iv'e built three kit cars now and refurbed s number of others cars and bikes and come to the point of why do I do this. But then when the engine starts, the brakes actually stop the car, the lights come on, and the new paint makes them look cracking, you think yes thats the dogs. And the first ride home after the mot pass is just priceless, finding out what it can do etc. Just brill. Think of that. Thats what I do. Then promise yourself you'll never do it again. But you probably will.
 
okay guys....opinions......

should i continue to try and complete the rebuild with the 1.0 spi donor or try and find a 750 donor.

seeing as i allready accomodated the engine bay to put the 1.0 engine in so far there is the fuel tank problem, its bigger, more wiring, gear linkage problem.

all over comable with trial n error fitting, but is the overall outcome worth the xtra 250cc, beginning to wonder really....

as pointed out that this kit car wasnt designed to take this donor....so am i trying to fit a round peg in triangle hole...

cheers

kevin
 
unclespevie said:
okay guys....opinions......

should i continue to try and complete the rebuild with the 1.0 spi donor or try and find a 750 donor.

seeing as i allready accomodated the engine bay to put the 1.0 engine in so far there is the fuel tank problem, its bigger, more wiring, gear linkage problem.

all over comable with trial n error fitting, but is the overall outcome worth the xtra 250cc, beginning to wonder really....

as pointed out that this kit car wasnt designed to take this donor....so am i trying to fit a round peg in triangle hole...

cheers

kevin
Click to expand...

I'd say go with the spi engine. Both of my 750's have great little engines but I do wish for those extra 250cc quite often, especially when wanting to overtake or go up hills.
You may not fare quite so badly as I guess the Onyx is slightly lighter and more aerodynamic, but it's also sporty looking so really should have a bit of go.

Is it possible to use a 750 fuel tank with an spi pump/sender unit installed?
 
No, its bigger(well the one i have).

i have been informed that the donor i have was one of the last pandas made, hence the differences ( its an L reg) and a nice man from here said use the 750 tank with an external pump(facet maybe) good idea, also swapp the gearbox with the 750(no linkage problems then)...

i really dont know what is interchangable between these but any ideas whilst i have the engine back out this weekend to do clutch will be most welcome.

thanks

kevin
 
unclespevie said:
No, its bigger(well the one i have).

i have been informed that the donor i have was one of the last pandas made, hence the differences ( its an L reg) and a nice man from here said use the 750 tank with an external pump(facet maybe) good idea, also swapp the gearbox with the 750(no linkage problems then)...

i really dont know what is interchangable between these but any ideas whilst i have the engine back out this weekend to do clutch will be most welcome.

thanks

kevin
Click to expand...

They sound like good suggestions to me, as long as the 750 gearbox you have is 5spd too.
 
Oh, 5 speed om the 750....are they all not 5 speed then.

whats the best way to check whilst its off the engine?

i still got to fit the rear trailing arms yet and finish the brake pipe to rear and fuel lines, but friend who is pressing the bushes in is on holiday...once there done i can fit tank(prob go for 750 with external pump) and lines then rear complete.

then start on front brake and fix to body, then the wiring.......fun to be had no doubt.

all seems like a heartache at moment but i understand this is all the hard work before the fun bit....

kevin
 
cheers, i will take pickie of mine tomorrow and post, dont think the donor looks like any of them but the original 750 engine has the first picture...

this is what i have put on the spi engine for now and fitted it....will c but the other engine had a few rods n stuff, will take picture of both and the bracket that fits on the steering rack.

oh and what external fuel pump can i use for the spi engine, going to use the 750 tank with one but looking at Facet interuptor, says not good for injection engines..
 
I think VmanC is dead right in all he says, it will be worth it. Also I don't think there is a massive difference in our chassis. It's just a matter of getting all the mounting points in the right places. I will take as many pics of the engine gearbox, positions as I can. There are some pics of the doors and winders on my build pictures but I'll do some more with dimentions. The manual is of help and does explain some bits allthough I admit it can be a bit vague. Chin up. Steve:slayer:
 
Don't know about the 4/5 speed but it looks like you might have to get inventive with the linkages, your old box is the older underfloor rod type and the new one seems to be a later internal linkage, ran the rods through the bulkhead to accommodate the underfloor cat. If it is a newer one I would have thought it is more likely to be a 5sp but the part where the linkage attaches does look different to both types of 5 speed I've had:confused:
 
http://s1114.photobucket.com/albums/k524/steve-pix/car underside/

Here are some pics of the underside, my gear linkage, pedal box, and window winders. I'm still struggling with the wires, as expected. I hate electrics, so far the only sighn of life is the indicators or at least two of them work on hazzard switch. All earths are on now, but the loom over the years has become a rainbow of colours, very few of which fiat intended. Still early days yet.
 
Cheers for that steve, i think i am on the same tracks as yours.

got the radius arms on finally, got the bushes pressed in and fitted the hand brake cable.

now i can put it on the ramps at back and do the brake cable and fuel lines....slow but sure, will take some picks this weekend and post them...

So u not close to firing it up or doeas it run but no lights etc.

i am not too bad with electrics, many a time i hve stripped bikes and rebuilt them and replacing wires... not too bad if you read a schematic.

kevin
 
I have got the engine running some time ago, the loom is in place, but the guy that took the car apart just cut through all the wires, so I have been trying to match up the obvious ones. But I think over the years different owners have just grafted in bypasses for problems that have arisen. It has two different sets of colours coming from each headlight. the wires to the front indicatators are just a mess. blue goes to red the back to blue, I'm having to trace everything back. But its confusing to say the least. It would help if I knew what I was doing but a lot of it is stabbing in the dark. I don't seem to have anything live exept the hazzard lights. Fuse box out again tomorow I think.:cry: Still smiling Steve
 
i have a full un mollested 750 loom going spare if ya interested.

i had the same trouble with a bike once, someone had used 2 different looms together but i ended up using new wires from the correct loom to various parts, took time but a well worth proces as i new they where correct and soldered on...

keep going cos it will be all good in the end when ya zooooming down t road....

kevin
 
Thanks very much for the offer, but had a breakthrough tonight, I kept going through what was I missing, the fact that I had power but only to certain things, then it struck me that all those things bypassed the ignition switch. Went out cleaned all the plugs and refitted. Lights came on all over the place. Oh the joy. Now have headlights though only on the flasher. rear lights, fuel gauge goes to full, must be a short as it's nearly empty. No rev counter. Wiper motor works still problems solvable from here. just a matter of being methodical. Speedo nees a cable though (hint) A happy Steve. Cheers all :)
 
Glad ya making progress..

not forgot speedo matie, just was fitting brake cable under tunnell last night then fitting cables to engine, i have both cables in the garage but not fitted one yet, this weekend i will fit it and wrapp the the other for posting.

had to relocate some holes last night as well for the flexi hoses at front so will have to weld some plate over the old holes....oh the tweeking continues...

cheers.

bought a new camera this week should be here soon so will update the fotos..
 
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