Well, where do I start! I bought my Fiat Cinquecento Sporting back last year In September when the petrol was about as expensive to buy as rocket fuel. Filling up my Supra was nearly a weekly thing and costing me the earth, so I saw this lovely gun metal grey Fiat for £550. I thought this is what I am looking for, a good cost cutter, a good basic cheap runner, no modifying I heard myself saying.............or so I thought at the time. It did belong to a member on this forum called olipirate, a great bloke. After taking it for a test drive with his Dad (another great chap) I got back and put down a deposit. The car was in pretty good shape for its age being a 96 car, a few of the usual knocks but mechanically sound. My wife Lisa came up with me the next day to pay the rest of the money.
The car came with a Remus back box , a nice set of 14 inch multi-spoke alloys and was lowered on 40mm springs on stock shockers, oh and some of Oli’s window stickers (which came off very quickly lol). But then a little minor work started! A new set of flexi wipers at first, followed by a set of sparco pedals, sparco gear knob, K&N 75i induction kit.
But then when things were going great a big problem occurred. And I am talking big pants!!! My head gasket was on the way out so I had it fixed......or so I thought!!!! New cam belt and kit, the head was skimmed and new water pump fitted. The garage guys I know well said that it is still leaking exhaust gases into the water and they said there may well be a crack in my main block. I still had to pay the bill which was £398. So it has had a new head gasket, new water pump and new cam belt change for nothing. What a bummer, and they told me it was probably best to buy another engine like a 1242.
So I found one out of a Punto on Ebay, it had only done 62,000 miles I then paid £260 but after a couple of days found out it was another 1108 out of a 55 Punto Not a 60 like the seller had said. After a lot of crap and more crap with eBay and all, I got the engine, new head gasket to be on the safe side, cam belt, and water pump and the engine didn’t need to be skimmed, coming to £210. I have painted the engine red and black which looks great. It is still in my garage in case the engine in the car goes POP!
After all that I thought I want to get this like a proper track car for compact car track days range, so what better that to put it on a diet. I stripped the car out and got rid of all the carpet, all sound proofing (including the bonnet lining), roof lining, rear seats, parcel shelf, rear arm rests, all rear brackets and roof grab handles, rear seatbelts, door pockets, centre console and any other plastic trim. The spare wheel went too. more here:
http://www.cento-rebels-fire.com/index.php/topic,6893.0.htmlI weighed the car on my works weigh bridge. The weight was now 700kg. Nice and cheap and the best bit is it didn’t cost a thing, just a Saturday morning.
I have also put on the car top and bottom OMP Strut braces, Bosch Super 4 Spark Plugs, Magnecor KV85 ignition leads, bigger performance Induction Kit. Brembo Sports cross drilled front brake discs With Green Stuff brake pads.
I was bored one day so I painted the front callipers and rear drums in red, and I am in the middle of improving the suspension. I have bought a complete set of Bilstein shocks lowering by 40mm, with Apex springs, only the best for my car. Also I am fitting a omp anti-roll bar when finished will have Powerflex bushes on it. I will be fitting Powerflex bushes all-round when done. I have also got to fit 2 new stock bumper brackets under the car as my old ones are rusting right through. As you know this is a common problem but has to be done. I will also need to get 2 new wish bones for the front but they are cheap as chips.
I bought the anti roll bar for £16.50 second hand then added new bushes - £31.50 . Powerflex bushes all round which I bought from Larkspeed through eBay - £112.00 free p&p, Bilstein Suspension lowers by 40mm with Apex springs, these I got from Online tuning again through eBay - £249.00 free p&p. Bump stops, track rod ends and dust strut protectors from the mighty Big Mick including p&p £50.23. New wishbones from a company on eBay called Global Carz including p&p £54.80. Total - £469.03 But it is well worth renewing everything if you are going to do it. more in my thread:
http://www.cento-rebels-fire.com/index.php/topic,6880.0.htmla few pics of car:
I then want modify the exhaust system with a Super sprint 4-2-1 Stainless manifold and a stainless sports cat, maybe a cat bypass, not sure yet and it also comes down to the money as well. I wish I had a money free lol.
Plans for next year, I bought a Savage front bumper which I think will look great this will go on next year when I get around to doing the body work. The plan is to have it resprayed in red which my friend is going to do for me. I will also get my alloys powder coated in white and then all the sports rally decals to finish it off. As well next year to new Sparco seats with harnesses as well will be on the cards.
I am having it resprayed before September Action Day 2009, i have recently just finished a carbon fibre speedo facia, painted the inside white, have all 3 strut braces mounted, non-slip strips in drivers and passengers front footwells,
these are waiting to go on after the respray :
I hope that I have not sent you to sleep or made you want to take up knitting by typing the A-Z of my ‘Budget Car turned Project Car’. But I hope for some it has been interesting.
Charlie
