Here are some pictures of two cars originally built by Joe and now gracing my drive.

The VIS is described in the register thread below and the porto is the remapped 2.4 N/A that was recommissioned by Joe a few weeks ago. It needed a fair bit more work than I had been led to believe by the vendor but was pleased with the results. That was 'phase 1' which also included a full service and a fair bit of work to put it back to a nearer standard specification on some cosmetic items and the springs too.

It also nearly popped it's CHOD and this was only discovered after a puddle formed on the workshop floor - if you're going to pop your CHOD Joe's place must be amongst the best places for this! Close call though.

The VIS is mechanically standard and was driven over the weekend after having sat in the garage for a few weeks while I get to grips with the porto which is 'under development'. The VIS is basically 'finished' so doesn't need anything other than routine checking.

The two cars could hardly be more different. The porto has a turbo gearbox with Visco and, with a nicely (IMO) low end torque biased Flea remap feels like you're being pulled along by a large V6. It is about 190bhp with a similar maximum torque output I think. Very strong throughout the rev range with a flatter torque curve than normal so there's not too much more to be had by pushing it close to the red line. On the picture it's the red lines with torque being the top one.

In addition it is very quiet and actually feels like a more sophisticated 'grand tourer' for this reason, but slightly heavier too.

By contrast the VIS feels almost hyperactive. Razor sharp throttle, excellent raw exhaust note, lighter and certainly adequate torque made for a good trip down to the coast at the weekend. It would be nice if it had a Visco but I've decided to leave well alone as it's been fine for years now.

Phase 2 work on the porto will comprise dealing with a few niggles, another check over, fitting LE front lips, changing the wheels to dark 16'' 16VT like the VIS and a few pedantic issues inside that need to be dealt with. It's an interesting project that has got off to a good start. Narrower wheels and tyres on spacers might make it feel lighter too although this is not a problem - it feels very well planted at all times.

It also has high backed Recaro sports style leather front seats that will have to go, to be replaced by standard seats in due course.

Two very good looking cars and an interesting review of their respective merits.
Joe's job is to bring my own Porto to the same standard!!!

Great write up Tim, and it's great to see the pair of them parked together on your drive

Both these examples hold a soft spot in my heart along with the memories of building them.
The 2.4 setup on the early ECU is the better build imo to the later fly-by-wire as mapping is easier, cheaper and the alloy plenum design allow less restriction to airflow.

The one I'm building at the moment is similar to the first 200bhp 2.4 I built in 2012, that was a VIS with the alloy plenum, but this one will be running the GTA throttle body which will increases the diameter greatly adding to that already noisy induction raw that makes the engine sound like it's running on individual throttle bodies

I like the alloys on the Porto. Both look very smart and I envy you the double garage

Tim16V i still remember being driven to my primary school in the wine red one (must be 10 years ago now) Such a nice car!

Me too. I wonder what they are?

I'd like to know as well as they look OE but I've not matched them to anything.

Size is 215/40/17's with a 10mm spacer to clear the Brembo callipers.

Look bit like doblo wheels.

Nope late bravo 17's

http://www.fiat-accessories.com/fiat-bravo-alloy-wheels-2

Thanks Reuben

I am sorry to report that the two have now become one!

As you may have seen on Joe's Facebook page, in a totally random event, while the porto was parked outside my house a road works lorry came past with a heavy steel ladder hanging down which hit it.

Random because I happened to be working at home that day (rare), nothing much happens in our road anyway and it was only there as I was checking the oil on a level surface. I had just stood up, heard a 'bang' and it smacked the bonnet down.

Could have been much worse indeed though.

Anyway it's been written off as a cat 'C'. I have considered the salvage angle but that is not really viable so unfortunately it is being removed from Joe's premises shortly for due process.

Many thanks to Joe for helping me with this, getting it transported, estimates prepared and responding to my myriad of emails. Epic patience!

Unfortunately though I have to move on to the next car now. I was genuinely going to get this sorted over the next 2 to 3 years to make it 'the' excellent and unique 2.4. Plenty of Joe's expertise has gone in to it so far but the repairs now required are too extensive. The bonnet is buckled and large areas of paint are needed.

Finally the agreed value mechanism in the policy has 'worked' in this instance and the insurers (through Adrian Flux) have been really helpful too.

Blimey that was a close call

Also just spotted the 'danger cyclists' sign - that's equally as scary.

Oh no!!!
Really sorry to hear your bad luck and the end of another Porto.
(Thank goodness though you have managed to keep your head)!

Sad times indeed. The damage doesn't look that bad really..

I'm gutted at the outcome, and very relieved your head wasn't under the bonnet at the time of impact Tim

Shame fantastic car. Could have been worse Would love to know where this is going.

Would make a tasty track car.

I appreciate the comments - I too am gutted about this because it was a reasonably marginal call in financial terms and I am feeling rather guilty about it now.

On Monday I had to make a decision and erred on the side of caution (this time) because you never quite know and there are other prospects out there.

Apparently it's going to be auctioned and I hope it gets picked up by an enthusiast and recommissioned again.

When I last saw it, it had:

1. Turbine smooth engine, instant 3 bar on starting and it stayed there when accelerator pressed.
2. 2.7 bar hot idle, fan on - epically good and never dropped.
3. Clutch and gearbox good too.

I rang the salvage company today Tim to try and work a deal with them as she's being collected tomorrow, they weren't interested, they said it must go through the system as it's an insurance write off

Glad you tried Joe - the system's crazy. I'll try and find out which auction and where and see if something can be done that way.

Oh don't worry Tim, I know where she's going so I'll have my eye on the auction

Keep an eye for me joe! Either way hope it can be saved in some form

Hello, sorry, I'm coming to this thread a bit late- but can I just ask-

Was the Porty really a 2.4 non turbo??

I really didn't think that had ever been done! I can really see the appeal of that.

Let's hope someone worthy gets hold of what's left.

Yes I believe it was a 2.4 non turbo - the handy work of Joe at FCSS.
I am sure there might be some links on here from the past.

I hope it gets saved for another day.

Salvage auction finished at £600.00 Tim.

Tim's 2.4 N/A.

Did you get it mate?

I was tempted at £500 but when it went over I lost interest as there's HBC's commission and their delivery costs to add to this so it'll be more like £700+ by the time it's delivered to where ever it's going.

The question is does however has bought this know what they've got

The high Bidder was a Paul Selvage (I assumed was a typo in user name and should have been Salvage, but apparently not it's just a coincidence)
It appears from his bidding history that he is a regular buyer of salvage cars from this auction house.

That price gives good scope for use as a track car or light restoration if you're not too fussy about the appearance/can do it yourself.

Possibly not if you want to go to town on it and have all the work undertaken professionally which is what I would have had to do.

In the meantime I am going to publicly 'fess up to having bought something modern on impluse to replace it. I was going to get another Coupe but a test drive on the spur of the moment and I was hooked...

It's a four seat Italian and 'cool' apparently.

Spill the beans Tim