Technical Punto HGT Clutch? Need some advice please.

[BOFH]

Hi

Bought a 2001 Punto HGT Abarth about two moths ago. Love it reminds me of my old Renault 5 GT Turbo, more relianble not blown the engine up on this one!

Taken me back to my 5 days, and now ive got to start playing with it!

Lightweight 16" alloys on order due in two weeks. £50 fleabay discs & 50p pads replaced with a nice EBC turbo and green stuff combo. Cat back performance exhaust systen thanks to a snapped cat pipe!

Lots more stuff planned for over the next few months, need to get a rr to figure out how far i can go for sensible money, hoping for about 160-170 bhp in the end. Want to keep driveability tho as use every day and im gettin too old for anything as mental as my 5!

Looks like have to do the clutch next, think the bearing is on its way out, when clutch is pushed in seems quite loud.

Plan is to change flywheel for a lightened one at the same time.

Anyway to the point! What cluch do i get? Been looking at a Black Diamond one, gather will be heavier and sharper, anyone know how much? Anyone who got in my 5 would usually stall it a couple of times before could move it cause it was that heavy and sharp!

Anyone know what bhp the standard clutch is good for? Or any other good clutch options?

Thanks:worship:

 

[hithereuk]

My HGT Punto makes a whirring noise when u push the clutch in? Is that the noise ur getting? Been told its quite normal by 2 garages?

 

[BOFH]

Yeah its kind of like a whiring noise.

If I press the cluth in at idle sounds almost like a dodgy wheel bearing, if i rev the engine increases in pitch to more like a whine.

Sounds quite loud with the window open, cant hear it at all with it closed tho!

Had read a few other similar posts and they thought it was the clutch bearing on its way out!

Confused now, might have to go see a garage and see what they think!

Any idea what bhp the standard clutch is good for? Cause if i dont need to do it yet think i might look at the suspension next instead!

Thanks

 

[hithereuk]

Yea, im not sure if its quite normal for the car or if something is wrong? The clutch works just fine with no slip or gear problems?

Anyone?


The standard BHP on a Punto HGT is 130 BHP

 

[BOFH]

No slipping, but gear change is a little jerky, assumed was me at first as have been driving an automatic for the last 18 months. But unless i am really gentle with the clutch and slip it, it wont change smoothly into 2nd or 3rd, or pull off!

 

[hithereuk]

Yea mine is like that too. I think its just casue it has a sports clutch as the biting point is quite 'small' compared to other Puntos i have driven

 

[Ninja59]

clutch bearing def most likely thing to go wrong with the punto, dont know anytihng about sports clutches so not worth me answering

 

[BOFH]

Hmmmm

Well due to pick up a spare flywheel from a local Punto breakers at the weekend so can get it lightened and balanced. Guy there seems to know his stuff ill ask him what he thinks and post back here to let you know!

Anyone know if the standard clutch will be ok with a target bhp of 170, or am i going to need a uprated one anyway? Any sugestions for a good clutch if i do?

Thanks

 

[BOFH]

Well finaly got the flywheel today! Took em an extra week to get it off cause they been too busy to get round to it!

Anyway spoke to the mechanic there, took him about half a second to confirm the clutch bearing is going, soon as i pushed the clutch in he confirmed it!

So guess yours probably is as well since we seem to have exactaly the same symptoms!

Try CG Motorsport they do a standard replacement for about £90 and uprated for £150, from what ive read they seem to have mostly good reviews!

Looks like having it fitted is gonna cost a fortue tho! Nearly a 6 hour job including the flywheel!

 

[richie.guy]

Anyone know if the standard clutch will be ok with a target bhp of 170, or am i going to need a uprated one anyway? Any sugestions for a good clutch if i do?

Thanks

IF you don't get a flywheel I have one for £10 you can have.

170bhp will be fine with the standard clutch.

To get 170bhp you'll have to have deep pockets for standalone, cams, new inlet, induction, supersprint manifold, backbox plus extras as that'll only see you up to ~165

 

[BOFH]

Got a flywheel from a local breakers yesterday for £20, if id known youd got one for half the price would have had it!

Got to find someone to lighten and balance it next!

Given up on 170 bhp. Had alot of really helpful advice on another forum from a guy called Richie (you? ) and worked out is gonna cost way too much.

Going with the tried and proven GSR, Supersprint manifold and new exhaust system for about 155 bhp, rest is gonna cost way too much as my pockets arent that deep at all anymore!

I think 155 should still be fun, and the mods are all easy enough to bolt on so shouldnt have to pay any garages to do anything for me except the clutch, which is way too advanced for me as im learning as i go along, changed break pads on other cars and thats about it. Done more on this car myself in two months that i have on all my previous cars!

All gonna have to be spread out over the next few months as dont have the money to buy it all in one hit tho.