RGZ the Stilo

[lkc]

or at least add it to your signature to warn newbies

ffs people, stop making me laugh at loud at work. It's embarrassing to explain why

 

[muppet42]

Right, thought I'd list the "issues" I currently face with RGZ so I can kind of have a visual plan of attack (as it were). So mechanical...

1) Alternator to be swapped - been dragging my heels on this really, I'm a lazy bas sometimes :laugh:
2) HG may need swapped. Other opinions to be sought I reckon.
3) TB may need cleaned. That or the gasket seal on the exhaust needs another look - both may account for the odd revving the Stilo's doing between 1-2k rpm.
4) Front top mounts probably need replaced though don't seem urgent as felt/sounded the same for an age now.
5) Exhaust needs repositioned due to new mount replacing old worn one - custom system had it's mounting bars bent to accommodate an old, worn one (nice) and so with the new one the back box rubbed the bumper. Temporarily spaced with some washers, hopefully an easy fix.
6) Rear brakes need looked at - been squealing for months since a "spirited" drive (this was even before I put the induction on). Brake dust build up on the back, but not a massive amount and certainly no excess heat. Wonder if it's a calliper issue or handrake - given the brake dust build up is equal on both sides, I'd imagine it's the latter.
7) Minor bits - fixing point for one of the coils needs re-tapped. Think one of the garages threaded it as was fine last time I checked them months back. Induction needs re-bracketed as current one's sheered again possibly due to vibration from engine - fixing it to battery tray will probably sort it.

Other plans ie things I actually want to spend money on...

1) Brakes - get that set of grooved discs and Greenstuff pads off eBay.
2) Either refurb alloys (centre caps are especially bad) or get a new set off eBay.
3) Convince myself coilovers are a good idea and get the sub-£500 AP set off eBay.
4) Sort out bodywork issues - small patches of rust have appeared around numberplate light bar and at the base of the front wing where the lacquer's peeled. Only surface of course and nothing serious. Lacquer needs sorting elsewhere too and there's that dent on the passenger door along with various other bits. Ideally a respray's called for, but not sure I'd do that unless I could get Schui bodykit bits
5) Look into those UR Braces for the underside front and rear.
6) Bits and bobs - new mats to replace the raggy Ripspeed ones, new gators for the gearshift and handbrake as the originals are a tad ripped, new pollen filter (bit awkward but it's cheap).

That's all I can think of the now. Who knows though, may just flog it with most of that needing attended to and take a small hit in the sale - shall cut and paste into the PH ad for full disclosure of course Seen far worse nick Stilo's go for more than I thought they would get though.

Just 2 days till I officially own RGZ too

 

[clock34]

keep us updated! in my honest opinion coilovers will offer you no advantage to the springs you have unless you start using her on the track...

as for rust im shocked :-o lol, catch it now but i still wouldnt expect it to be rusting?

and bracing is always good...

 

[Andi9386]

we need to change our user ranks from admin to resident smutheads :laugh:

:laugh: go on then Mark.

 

[muppet42]

keep us updated! in my honest opinion coilovers will offer you no advantage to the springs you have unless you start using her on the track...

as for rust im shocked :-o lol, catch it now but i still wouldnt expect it to be rusting?

and bracing is always good...

Yeah, handling wise it'd probably not be a massive jump with coilovers but I love the stance the Stilo has on them

Rust isn't all that noticeable at all. Bubbling a tad around the keyhole on the boot too but not breaking the paint yet. Stilo's are meant to be galvanised, so I'm as shocked as you though it's not unknown for the galvanising to have broken down in parts especially if the laquer/paint's damaged. It's not bad, so may well give it a rub down and pop some primer on at least to stem it before it does get bad. It's in inconspicuous areas too, so could get away with rattle canning it I guess

Was going to get the OMP brace for the rear, but would give up my boot space for the pleasure. Pretty cheap though, certainly compared to the front one. Don't know of anyone that's fitted the UR braces yet though, at least the Stilo's I know of through FF, Club Fiat and here.

Guess these mods depend on how much longer I keep RGZ for though. Of course, I'm not completely ruling out getting another Stilo - seen some Schui GP Stilo's getting near the £3k mark

At the very least though I want the major mechanicals done before selling it on. Especially if the new owner comes on here - don't want them moaning about how much of a pita RGZ's being to them after all :laugh:

 

[ycming]

To be honest, once you sort that list you might as well keep the car!

And defo get he coilovers if you do decide to keep that car . Coilover separates the hard core and the mild modders

Ming

 

[muppet42]

To be honest, once you sort that list you might as well keep the car!

And defo get he coilovers if you do decide to keep that car . Coilover separates the hard core and the mild modders

Ming

Well, definitely keeping the car for the majority of this year at least. Could well be into the start of next year as well depending how saving goes - never a good thing with me :laugh:

Put the car through the carwash today (because I'm lazy) and noticed more blisters on the passenger side including the sill. Nothing massive, but the fact there's an actual blister on the door and the frame where there wasn't before that winter is a little disheartening Think I may read up on bodywork prep and look into resprays

 

[muppet42]

Well, I've re-bracketed the induction so it's attached to the side of the battery tray. Should've probably done that in the first place as means less vibration going through the bracket to sheer it.

Also took off the induction at the TB and was indeed a bit on the dirty side. Think I may well need to take said TB off and give it a damn good clean at some point, though not sure if this would help the odd revving issue.

 

[imported_abyss113]

it could be as if the TB didnt close properly then some air could be getting in causing an irratic idle at times

 

[muppet42]

it could be as if the TB didnt close properly then some air could be getting in causing an irratic idle at times

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Was weird as it just kind of happened pretty much over night after an "enthusiastic" drive down the back roads. From what I've read, seems fairly straightforward to clean it so may well do it when I've got some free time to kill

 

[muppet42]

Another marvellous Arnold Clark fail find...

The fixing bolt for that coil pack I mentioned in the list that had become loose via it being threaded. Turns out it was actually the one AC had said they'd re-tapped after replacing the coil. They'd even charged me a half hour labour for it at the time, 2 years odd ago.

Reason I didn't identify it as being the same one was that the different bolt AC had used at the time had been moved one down on the row when Chick at CM Garage was checking the HG. Looking back at old pics of the engine bay though, I noticed said bolt had changed position and investigated earlier.

Have to say, I shouldn't be surprised but that place is about half a step away from being properly fraudulent.

Anyway, just thought I'd share the annoyance

 

[muppet42]

Right, follow up on the HG...situation hasn't changed, no noticeable drop in coolant or oil and the expansion tank/oil cap look the same as ever. Shall pop a pic up of both...

...should be noted I do mainly short journeys and when I do do a long journey, say from 15 miles or whatever, there's none of the crud on the oil cap shown there. There's not a massive amount of gunk in the expansion tank either which corroborates the theory it's literally just started to go, so technically not urgent but needs doing all the same.

On another note, I think my diagnosis of the top mounts needing replaced could've been incorrect. Looking at the track rod ends, it seems like it could be those that are causing the odd noise/feel through steering over certain bumps and such as I checked them earlier and they look a little shot on both sides. Given they're £10 a side, can't complain so shall probably get that done soon too

As mentioned to Martyn on msn, I was also toying with the idea of getting a set of these, but only if I go the coilover route and have a spare £1k for them with tyres :laugh:

...I mean I probably wouldn't, those Inovit ones I mentioned in another thread would be the safer option I reckon plus they're half the price, but I kind of like the look of these Ronals. Bit different I reckon

 

[Andi9386]

What about the Alternator Rob?? still playing up??

 

[ycming]

Mate it would be sick if you get those rims!

Is all about the stance

Ming

 

[clock34]

would look good, but 18" abit big imo. get them in 17" with skinny tyres, and dropped on its arse.

 

[muppet42]

Andi - alternator's still playing up but I'm a lazy sod who can't be assed doing it on days off. Shall do it this week. I hope :laugh:

Ming - that's my thinking but only if it were on coilovers

Steve - the Schui GP version has those 18" Super Ts and they fill the arches nicely though 17s at the right height may well be fine. Said Schui to give an idea of the alloy size and btw I wouldn't mind this one even if it is in London...

Little update on the braking as well, the rear squeal I think could well be a binding calliper on the OS. Went for a spirited drive earlier and checked the temps afterward and that one was noticeable hotter than the others. Not smoking or anything as I drove around normally to cool it all down first, but definitely hotter. Have seen refurb kits on eBay as well as second hand callipers but will get it checked out either way.

Still wondering if there could be a handbrake issue too though given the brake dust build up on the back wheels but the bite of the handbrake hasn't dropped or anything since the (intermittent) squealing started. Also, that's the first time I've noticed that different heat build up since said squealing started. Guess it's just another thing to add to the list

 

[clock34]

yeh the 18" do look ok actually. but imagine the strain on the 1242 engine lol.

 

[muppet42]

yeh the 18" do look ok actually. but imagine the strain on the 1242 engine lol.

Yeah, there is that I guess though I think there's been one or two people on FF who've had 18s on 1.2s and not had any issues. I think with the alloys it's more of a "what if" though. I really want to get all the other issues sorted first before anything else and I'm still not sure whether I'll be keeping the Stilo after those things are sorted. I think with those mildly tedious issues niggling in the background, I'm looking at alloys and coilovers to distract myself

I may well just get the current alloys refurbed and leave it at that. I think a nice anthracite will set it off well and should be able to get them powdercoated locally for £120 all round

Had a look on eBay as well just out of curiosity and found a headgasket set for £34 and headbolts for just under £17 both delivered. Compared well with the prices on Shop4parts. Replacement callipers aren't looking cheap though - refurbed one for £60 odd and a new one for £90 or more :/ Of course, not 100% sure how bad the brake situation is at the moment though, so may not actually need a full replacement. I hope.

 

[clock34]

what callipers are sticking??? sounds like a perfect time to fit marea callipers for the larger vented disks and pads.... never buy a new calliper, there are a few stilos down here i could get a calliper for a tenner or something

and the bear bags on stilos arnt the strongest (on the 1.2) for a car so heavy, alot of people who have used them in bravo/a's have popped the diff, so stay with the wheels you have or a similar size tbh. they look perfect.

you need to get all the bits togeather and just spend a day fitting them

 

[muppet42]

what callipers are sticking??? sounds like a perfect time to fit marea callipers for the larger vented disks and pads.... never buy a new calliper, there are a few stilos down here i could get a calliper for a tenner or something

and the bear bags on stilos arnt the strongest (on the 1.2) for a car so heavy, alot of people who have used them in bravo/a's have popped the diff, so stay with the wheels you have or a similar size tbh. they look perfect.

you need to get all the bits togeather and just spend a day fitting them

OS rear, though as said not sure if there could be an issue with the other side as well as there has been a noticeable build up of brake dust on both for a while. Only noticed the heat difference the other night after that drive. Wary of getting one second hand for the same reason though as I've covered bugger all mileage with the one(s) that's perhaps sticking and tend not to do much heavy braking so in theory they shouldn't have had any heavy stresses really put through them. Not sure if the second hand one could end up having the same issue almost as soon as it's put on. Though having said that would obviously be heck of a lot cheaper than buying that refurb or a new one.

With the alloys as well, I had originally fancied just getting a set of those 17" Blades and anthraciting them, which I may still do as it'd be the cheapest upgrade in alloys. The ones that're on the now are getting into a bit of a state as the centre caps are really badly lacquer peeled and in general they all need a refurb. Tyres are in great nick still though thankfully.

At least today I got the alternator sorted. Was a little fraught as didn't have some of the right sockets to get the cables connections off - cue a nice walk down to Halfords. Least it's sorted now though and one more thing to tick off the list