Hi guys, new to the forum, and looking forward to owning a coupe. Previously i've had a rover cabriolet turbo and an astra turbo, but i got bored of them and i read the fiat coupe is more easier to tune, so here i am.

I'm in the process of buying a coupe turbo, which has got some engine probs.Just need to know a few things, i have done some search on here, but am still a bit confused.

Whats the standard turbo on the 20v coupe? and is the most frequent/easiest/cheapest upgrade a gti-hybrid turbo (what car is this from and how more bhp gain can be expected)?

What psi are the coupes running on standard? and how much can they be increased by before internals have to be changed. I'm planning to get the eco-tech chip1 with an upgrade turbo, filter, exhaust. Is 1.2 bar the correct setting with a boost control valve?

Also i read the car has to be driven on super unleaded petrol with these mods, is that true?

also the car has been driven without oil, and is making a noise while the car is running. Whats the worst it can be, i'm thinking possibly cam damage, or just needs oil? could it be anything more serious?

Finally i'm planning to re-do the whole engine as it looks like its been abused, and i need ot to be reliable for everday use. I'm planning to do the, head-gasket, valve seals, timing, water pump, clutch, core plugs, and full service. is there anything else advised to do? It just so i can get all the parts ordered in.

any help is appreciated.

Cheers guys.

First piece of advice is to not buy the car your considering? If it's been run without, or low on oil then it's shafted. Unless you're getting it for £2.50 or it has a load of other expensive bits on it then walk away and find a good one.

Ouch! Hope you're not paying much for it

What oil pressure does it hold on hot idle?

If it's a knocking noise then a full engine rebuild will probably be needed. Cheaper to get a new engine.

Have a good read of the "20VT Tuning Workshop - The Knowledge" sticky at the top of the tuning section, most of your answers should be in there.

And welcome to the forum, of course

The "20VT Tuning Workshop - The Knowledge" guide was great, don't know how i missed it.

Anyway it makes sense, he's decat the car, hence turbo seals have blown according to the above guide, and so his oil has been low.

Have been waiting for a coupe for a long time now, and this is with in my budget. Could someone please be specific what could be go wrong with the engine, and why it may be noisy due to low oil levels, i'm going to see the car tommorrow!!!

most people may have seen the car up on ebay, theres even a thread on it somewhere on this forum.

Click here

It will be noisy because it's shafted. It will need a new engine, or a £1500+ full rebuild. Plus a new turbo, as that's shafted too.

The cheapest way BY FAR to get a reliable high power coupe is to go and buy one that's already been done. No other way round it... I think you need to at least quadruple your budget.

I'd avoid that one on E-Bay like the plague!!

Buy a nice forum owned one off here

If your budget is £700 the forget it. You might get a coupe for that but you'll be spending 3 times that to sort it out. And I'm not being rude but it doesn't sound like you'll be taking any repairs on yourself which will make it even more expensive.

Save up some more and get a good one when you can afford it.

Standard is a 1 bar (14.5)
1.2 is 17.4

I got a coupe for three time that and you can spend three times that tuning.
Its not just engine. its brakes, suspension and Rolling roads.

For example. Before you do anything:
do the belts, minimum 400 pounds.
Compression test, did that my self.
Rolling road from about 40 to 100
want over 300BHP? got forged pistons and rods?
you will want gauges to monitor boost.

To be blunt you can spend 700 quid getting a decent car ready to mod.

You should do the big ends and the mains,

welcome to the forum, only buy that car if you are happy to risk £700 and get no money back, and have another car to use.

you can still get problems with a well maintained coupe, but its a lot less likely one which hasnt been looked after.

i paid around 3k for my coupe 2 years ago, and have probably spent around 3.5k on maintenance and tuning in 2 years, maybe more, and im planning to spend another 2k before xmas, just so you get a rough idea what a tuned coupe can cost (this included a new engine, as one garage took my coupe to 1.8 bar on standard internals )


though to answer some of your questions:

on a tuned car, super unleaded should always be used, it means there is less chance of det, which can destroy an engine in a couple of seconds.

the standard turbo is a t28, a common upgrade is a gtir turbo which could take the car to around 270-280 bhp at 1.2 bar on standard internals, but should only be done if you have supporting mods such as a FMIC or chargecooler and a chip. you'll be looking at around £600+ and fitting costs to be added on as well.

have you been in a standard coupe?
they are a lot quicker than a rover or astra turbo as standard. the standard t28 will take 1.2 bar with just a gtec1 chip and you'll leave most things like scooby wrx's etc with that.


personally though i wouldnt bother, if you really want a coupe, wait a few months, hang around the forum and browse the technical problems and maintenance sections to get an idea of what goes wrong and how much it costs to fix, save up some more pounds and buy a forum owned coupe.

Welcome to the forum!

IMO don't buy it, save for a decent well looked after model! That would likely be a money pit and you'd have to fix it even before you could drive it. That said it'd be good to keep another Coupe on the roads if you're prepared to spend over a grand fixing it