Seicento Seicento Autosolo/Rally car

[fingers99]

Engine, gearbox and chassis are similar (much is identical). The full Seicento Technical Manual is in the Downloads section.

 

[mrcinquecento]

I haven't done one with a mani-cat, (and normally for ease of access on cinq, i remove the rad anyway, it's a quick job) but i'd try taking the inlet off, then go about unbolting exhaust mani.

Then i'd undo the headbolts, pull the head off gently then push it back towards where the inlet was, the exhaust man-cat should pop off the studs no bother and remain in place

 

[RHFabrications]

The problem was getting to the lower exhaust manifold nuts, I got them by dropping the rad down a bit and poking a long extension through the gap. Seemed like a convoluted way of doing things but I can't see any easier way..,

It's back together now, having spent all afternoon in the workshop. Seems to all be working too. I noticed the fan was seized so wondering if that was part of the cause of the overheating and HG problems. Just need to give it a service now and I can start using it.

I need a spare set of wheels and tyres if there's anybody out there with anything? A matching set ideally, but I'm indifferent as to size or whether they're alloy/steels.

 

[mrcinquecento]

Why not just take the rad out? coolant should be drained anyway for an Hg job and it's only a couple of pipes, a plug and a couple of bolts iirc, it's a 5 minute job once the bumper is off and coolant's drained!

 

[RHFabrications]

Finally got the Sei taxed and on the road on Thursday night, absolutely love it! No issues with overheating or head gasket so it looks like I did that right (hopefully).

It's due it's MOT in a month or so and I reckon it'll want a wheel bearing and a few other bits, but hopefully it'll be fairly painless.

I've got to put a set of tyres on it, but I intend on keep the two better tyres for racing (so I don't wreck my new ones) which means buying a couple of spare steel wheels, my local scrapyard didn't have any cinq/Sei wheels, but are they basically the same as uno/Punto 13" wheels? It's the offset I'm not sure on. Just opens up my possibilities a bit if they are.

Also, I bought a set of PI lowering springs for it, the rears appear to be a dual rate spring, does it matter which way up they go?

I've got it booked in for its first autosolo in a couple of weeks. I'm well excited about giving it some hooning!

 

[fingers99]

Springs should go with the tightest turns at the top (helps prevent rot more than anything else).

Buggered fan would probably have taken out the HG.

 

[RHFabrications]

Magic, thanks. I couldn't see a logical or obvious reason to install them one way over another so I'm glad I asked. I'm certain the fan was seized when I dropped the rad out of it, sitting in traffic today it now appears to work as it should so hopefully that's the end of that.

 

[cartledge_uk]

Just seen the entry list and its a big cinq Vs Sei showdown

 

[ycming]

Make sure you have a good handbrake . IT will lock up fine if is well serviced!

Ming

 

[cartledge_uk]

You very rarely need a handbrake on autosolo's. They tend to be more flowing.

 

[ycming]

You very rarely need a handbrake on autosolo's. They tend to be more flowing.

the one my local car clubs runs has a few tight turns, it helps. But i agree the other i see on youtube have a much bigger route.

 

[fingers99]

Tell us more of these autosolos -- I should see if there's something local to me and at least go and take a look.

 

[ycming]

Tell us more of these autosolos -- I should see if there's something local to me and at least go and take a look.

It's like an auto-test but without reverse! Great fun, can pretty much compete in anything!

 

[RHFabrications]

I've only done one but they're brilliant fun and you don't need anything other than a road legal car. The rules are generally pretty open and there are classes for almost every car anyway. The courses are set out in large car parks or runways with cones so there's little chance of doing any damage to your car. You get about 12 runs per event and a run usually takes just over a minute. Autosolos generally cost between £25-£40, you don't need a license only membership of a motor club which cost me £20 a year.

I'd recommend them, it's cheap harmless fun with a competitive element.

 

[fingers99]

There's a few locally -- strangely, nothing at 3 Sisters -- including one at Aintree in August.

 

[RHFabrications]

I'd also recommend 12car rallies, they cost about £30 to enter and involve a driver and a navigator in any car you want really, 60miles and two hours of narrow lanes all at night working from an OS map. Really frantic stuff and really gets the grey matter going!

Have a google for '12car capers' and there's a good explanation on there.

The closest thing I can compare them to is doing the Times crossword at speed in the dark.

 

[fingers99]

I think I did a more mundane one of those in a Ford Pop with my dad about 50 years ago -- remember trying to find a disused airfield somewhere near Wolverhampton!

 

[jatkinson]

I've always fancied giving this a go in Lola as I can lock the rears on 2-3 clicks and I think it would do well, just need the time off work to do it

 

[blu73]

mate lola would be doing 3 point turns in one of them lol.