9/10/2009

I purchased my 98 20VT last Friday (1 week ago today). My intentions are to 'do her up' and make her a mint example.

Here she is after a 'clay bar' and polish with Zymol.


Bought with a FSH, new cambelt, new rad and new manifold, the turbo was its last legs though. Smokey on start-up.


So far the following has been done over the past week....(thanks Joe at County Cruising)

(a) New (refurbed) 360 bearing Turbo
(b) New rocker cover gasket
(c) Install a new centre console - old cracked under stereo
(d) Fix door handle and door handle mechanism
(e) Install door strap
(f) New headlight and side light bulbs
(g) Bought and fitted refurbed set of LE alloys
(h) Stick on new FIAT badge on tail




Stuff still to do

(a) Install the new 20VT mats - bought not in
(b) Install second hand leather interior - bought and waiting for it to arrive!!! - Will scrub the carpets when the cloth interior comes out
(c) Go to Motormech next week for a custom 'cat-back'
(d) Install a boost gauge
(e) Go to Flea's for a custom map.
(f) Work on body work to bring back to 'as new'
(g) Get a service at County Cruising
(h) Clean up the entire engine bay

This is how she stands this afternoon in the rain with new LE wheels put on



Pictures taken on camera phone, so not that good!

13/10/2009

Tonight I fitted my new (second hand black leather interior). Came home from work at 3:30 and got straight to it.



Managed to remove and replace all apart from the passenger back rest, that I just did not have enough time to figure out how it is removed? Managed to get all the nuts undone but the bottom part (the swivel that allows them to drop) just beat me - nothing to do with the fact that it was now 6pm and getting dark!

I also:

Hovered the carpet, sprayed Autoglym upholstery cleaner to the carpets, scrubbed with water and wiped them clean. Look like new now.

Thorough treated the seats with leather cleaner and conditioner before fitting.

Fitted my new 20VT (second hand) mats.

All went well, no real issues - looking good (bar the passenger back rest:()

New LED (501 Ultra Bright filament) side light arrived also - fitted these.

Looking great now, got my engine stickers (the engine was thoroughly cleaned on Saturday) and will stick these very soon. They look great, thanks to Kelv27.

One thing really surprised me ...... no cash to be found anywhere, bummer!

13/10/2009

Off to Joe at the weekend for a new thermostat, and custom (cat back) exhaust from motormech on Friday I really want this car to be perfect.

Then I'll be paranoid about parking it anywhere!.........Mmmmmm

16/10/2009

Latest work carried out

Installed the passenger back rest (the part I couldn't figure out how to remove)

Had a longlife exhaust fitted at Motormech. More on the exhaust in Motormech threads






New FIAT rear badge fitted as old one was faded to hell!


More stuff being done tomorrow, so I'll update again then.

Have a great weekend all

17/10/2009

Today (Saturday) I had booked in to see Joe at County Cruising. My temperature and oil gauges were not moving much, unless I was in traffic where they climbed a little.

Joe replaced the thermostat and sensor and now she warms up nicely and the heater can be used without having to drive the car for 30 minutes before use. Joe also changed the 'hose of death' as he noticed it was in poor condition. Having read up on this tonight, that's a relief!

It seems that I have a slight issue with boost, he did a number of things (EBV) etc, as it was late, we agreed that I should leave it with him for a few days next week for further investigation. The car couldn't be in better hands as far as I'm concerned.

Really starting to become proud of this car now, with the new wheels and exhaust and the use of Meguiars 3 stage renovation, she is starting to look new again. Grins per mile, these cars cannot be beaten.

19/10/2009

Tonight I decided to take bockers petrol cap refurb thread and action it. My cap was looking pretty poorly and did not do the overall look of the car any justice - it made it look old!

So ......

Got in after a networking/tour session at The Morgan Motor Company at 7pm (pictures at the end for those interested) and got straight to it (this pleased the wife no end - of course I chose the deaf routine and continued regardless like any husband would).

Stage 1 - The application of Nitromors

Stage 2 - Clean off the Nitromors with wire wool
Stage 3 - Wipe clean with white spirits
Stage 4 - Polish with Autosol and wire wool

Stage 5 - Polish with Autosol and cloth

Stage 6 - Polish with wax


I'm very pleased with the results, thanks to bockers, much appreciated post.

24/10/2009

Bought and fitted the front FIAT bonnet badge.

Had the cam sensor replaced

Had a new boost controller fitted in the dash (clock replacement)

Bought and fitted another set of front tower LED's


Bought and fitted rear brake/running light tower LED's


Bought and fitted rear high level brake light LED's

No real problems doing this, really quite easy (how I like it ) the only adjustment needed was for the rear high level plastic as the new LED's would not fit through the holes when reassembling the unit. Just needed a 6 mm drill bit to widen, carried out by hand, no need for a drill.

Pictures below - will take some night shots later. I think the lights are now definitely 'red 'er' than they were and of course the on/off times is a lot faster than the filament type.

No need to fit the resistors supplied with the rear running light tower's. Fully tested, no problems and no strange light on dash.

Before fitting (501 ultra bright 'blue' filament bulbs were in before)


After fitting



Rear - after fitting - lights off


Rear - after fitting - lights on


Rear - brake lights on

24/10/2009

Lights at night - good job I did this, as it looks like I will need to fit the resistors as the high level brake shows at night (not in day) with the sidelights on!!!


Trouble is, don't know which wires (two on resistor and three from brake lamp in car) to fit the resistor wires to???

*EDIT* - Orange is side lights, Blacks are brake lights

Front side light LED's only


Brake lights on


Close up of side light on


I hope this helps others decide on whether this mod is worthwhile.

25/10/2009

It's good to document what's been spent every now and again. As from the end of Oct 2009 my costs have been....

Costs to date:
Refurb turbo, Rocker gasket, New centre console facia, fix door, fit door strap - £680.00
20VT mats - £40.00
Leather Interior - £120.00 incl. delivery
Custom 'cat-back' - £250
Purchase boost gauge - £20.00
Refurbed LE wheels with nearly new tyres - £300.00
New thermostat & Forge recirc valve - £130.00
New cam sensor and fault diagnosis - £30.00
New LED dome side lights £10.00
New rear cluster LED's - £10.00
New rear dome LED's for brake/side lights - £25.00
New oil filter - £6.00

Total - £1621

Next week
Custom map - £145.00
New Brembo's and rear calipers - £120.00
Rolling road - £60.00
New wipers - £12.00

Total - £337.00

Free Stuff
Scrub the carpets when the old cloth interior came out - £0.00
Work on body work to bring back to 'as new' - £0.00
Clean up the entire engine bay £0.00

Still needed
Original Clarion HU - ????
New discs all round - £120.00
New Airbox - £25.00
HID kit - £70.00

Total - £215.00

Sold
Old 20VT wheels - £100.00
Old cloth interior - off to eBay soon

Total Cost = £2173.00

Minus sold = £100.00

GRAND TOTAL =£2073.00

Mmmmm, wonder where it'll be by the end of next month?

26/10/2009

More stuff done ... this is getting a little bit addictive!

Decided that the window B-Pillars and window frames were looking a little worse for wear.

I had already bought some newly painted B-Pillars from the forum, but, I'd thought I'd give it a go 'in-situ', if this did not work, then I would fit the refurbed ones.

Luckily, I had some Plasticote satin and primer in the garage and some wet & dry sandpaper.

(a) Sandpaper the entire area
(b) rub a thin layer of 'fairy liquid' over the 20VT badge and the key socket - carefully. You only need cover the front of the badge with the fairy liquid. In fact, I thin you could simply spray over them without the stuff as it scrapes off really easy afterward
(c) Mask off the car
(d) Spray primer - 3 thin coats
(e) Spray top coat satin - 4 thin coats
(f) Wait to dry (30 mins) - Dodging the rain
(g) Rub off paint on 20VT/key socket - used a stanley blade (back of) to remove the tricky bits
(h) Wash down area - rub off over-spray with t-cut
(i) Use the back of stanley blade to remove overspray in nooks and crannies
(j) Stand back and admire

Finished job






I now have for sale 2 newley painted B-Pillars (no badges) if anyone is interested? As I never fitted them (NOW SOLD)

30/10/2009

The car (and what a car) has had a few running problems, I thought it was running fine, well, to tell you the truth, having read what others said about the coupe 20VT and it's acceleration (having previously owned sports bikes) I thought the performance was OK but not as stunning as I had hoped! Read on...

Joe at County Cruising has basically been my 'mentor' with turbo charged cars and my coupe since I have owned it, anyway, he went out for a drive in out and told me it was not performing as it should, (Taking it for a test run after fitting the new thermostat and sensor and forge recirculating valve) I thought OK, that's interesting (*thinking* just what can this car do then?), one thing was for sure, so I was told, it needed looking at.

It was booked in with him for 'further investigation'....

Left the car with Joe last week, he took the car for a diagnostic, fitted a new cam sensor, as identified by diagnostics (quick check for boost leaks), check EBV, Nothing....

Next, he changed the turbo (he had already replaced this for me as the old one was shot) and once again run diagnostics. Nothing...still performed the same ... again, I thought it was OK, he told me it was not! He did this free of charge!

Next, replace the cat and check entire engine bay pipework,check the oil cooler and then, problem solved!

I arrived this afternoon to pick up the car, "take it for a run Phil he say's", with a smirk on his face, "put ya foot down on the straights", OK says I.

So I did ..... and my god! It was like a rocket ship, I mean, up to 2500 it is fast, then, suddenly, all hell breaks loose! Power like a rocket and sh*t, change gear, in what seemed like a blink of an eye.....I was truely shaken, and I ain't no drama queen!

Fantastic, is all I can say. What a car.

So, update to what's been done (some told to do by Joe and some requested from me)

- Fitted new thermostat and sensor (£60.00)
- Fitted Forge Recirculating Valve (£65.00)
- Replaced the 'hose of death' - £20.00
- Fitted new catalytic convertor - £95.00
- Installed PRV, set to 'safe' boost at 1.1 bar
- 1 hours diagnostics - £18.00
- 1 hour solving boost issue - £35.00
- Installed chrome dial rings
- Installed boost gauge in place of clock - £25.00

Great stuff, and now I need to get to know the car all over again...

Ready for install, not yet done

1. New Clarion 'original' Head Unit - from Fiat Coupe Spares
2. CD changer - from Fiat Coupe Spares
3. New standard air box - From Fiat Coupe Spares
4. New rear 'high level' brake light (few lights not working - not bulbs!)

2/11/2009

Having been down to Flea today for a stage 1, (£145.00) it seems that there is a problem with the wiring between the cam variator and the relay (up to the relay is fine - open circuit error). I need to carry out a continuity check as presently the VVT is not working correctly!!

Should be sorted soon with a bit of luck! However, it's not really affecting performance. She is a beast now!

2/11/09

Second hand set of very nice silver Brembo's purchased. (£80.00)

New (second hand) calipers fitted on rear (£90.00 incl. fitting) and second hand (as new really) rear discs (£20.00) - rubbed down and then painted the rusty non-used parts of the discs with silver hammerite smooth, to see what happens. I hate the look of rusty discs!

Stage 1 map installed by Leighton . Nice smooth power on the way home. Boost set at 1.15 bar thanks to FC Performance

Didn't have the rolling road dyno carried out - funds are running low but Leighton thinks I'll be making approximately 240 bhp

Slight issue with cam variator with an open circuit error logged (see above). To be investigated further at a future date.

New Clarion Stereo purchased (waiting for arrival)

New PRV boost controller fitted by Leighton (£35.00) (I now have a bleed valve for sale)

That's about it for now, loving the new found power and performance, just need some new HID's then start saving up for a special spray job and a body kit.........

Update - 5th Nov 2009

Spent the past hour or so cleaning up the second hand Brembo's bought from Flea. Mixture of Autoglym Cleaner Wheels & Autoglym Machine Cleaner.



Deciding that the best way to learn how these things are put together is to do, after cleaning them, there are a couple of seals gone on one, the other is good, but I am going replace the seals and then get them fitted professionally via Joe.

There actually in very good condition really, may not bother to paint them.

Scrap that - they have now been painted and lacquered

Captains log - 9th November 2009

Cleaned and painted second hand rear calipers silver, whilst on the car, simple job, wire brush, white spirit, paint with hammerite silver!

Took the pads out of the existing Brembo's as I had horrendous brake squeal from the N/S front.
- Remove pins, retaining clip and pads
- Retract caliper pistons
- Thoroughly cleaned all components - including, calipers themselves and pad guides within the calipers
- Copper greased all components - pads on back and sides, clips, pins.
- Replaced
- Test drove - aaaaaahhhhhh! The sound of silence!

10/11/2009

Fitted some HID's. Bought for a bargain price of only £29.99 + postage from eBay dealer.

Did the job over a couple or so hours in the evening, removed the lights, worked on them on the kitchen table!

No problems really, only needed to cut a 25mm hole in the rubber water proof covers for the light apertures that allow the HID light and the cables to be slide through.

Ballasts fitted to bottom/front of light unit, and then refitted. Removed one of the rubber seals around the passenger light and thoroughly cleaned it as it was full of crud! Other was fine.

Happy with the finished result (first picture shows light cut off points)



Also purchased a new Clarion stereo as the second hand unit does not work. - £40.00 incl. postage, Brand new from eBay - Bargain

New Brembo caliper stickers purchased - decided to paint the front part of the new calipers only and replace stickers - 99p

New rocker cover purchased from CoupeDave, going to get this powder coated silver sometime next week - £36.00 + the costs for powder coating (TBC)

Second hand set of coil packs purchased - £20.00 (Not needed, just bought as a future replacement)

Chrome Heater dial rings purchased - £20.00

12/11/2009

At this point in my thread I'd like to state my thoughts on something related but not related to the above. A little break, a little off topic, but something that I want to say nevertheless.

Since joining this site I cannot describe how helpful and effective it has been for me. I really think that the joining fee may well be the best £15.00 I've ever spent.

No, I am not trying to be KISS ASS here, but I would like to record it. Praise should be given where it is due.

I have met a number of specialist, enthusiastic and VERY helpful dealers. Mostly my car has been into Joe at County Cruising. My car would not be anywhere near as good at this point without him. Just fantastic! Thanks Joe, Motormech & FC Performance.

I have had really helpful guidance and advice for my questions in the forum. Everyone has been helpful, encouraging, spot on really. I think it is good to state every now and again that this service is basically FREE! People are again, really enthusiastic and keen to pass on their experiences to prevent the same problems happening to you - this is priceless.

The moderators do their (what really is a thankless) job keeping the forum, professionally run, on track with it's aims & goals, informative and within those 'unspoken' but known by all 'respectable boundaries'.

I think that this forum really encompasses well the spirit of the internet, it just does not get any more convenient to get valid, current and useful advice and I tell you what, without ALL this restoring/maintaining my Coupe would not have been possible.

Just reading some of the posts here and seeing what most of the members have done really keeps me interested and motivated to do more.

As I learn, I hope to be able to put something back into the club.

Most importantly and as a businessman I do know, if you are reading this and you are not a paid member, join the club, it's a good start to contributing.

15/11/2009

Brand new Clarion installed (£140.00) Nice sound, it's a flip down tape player. I do have an original CD interchanger unit from a coupe! Will attempt the install of this another day.

Pleased with getting 'at least' a Clarion (as installed in original) all be it not the same model. Don't really mind the difference in lights at night either.

18/11/2009

Been working on a second set of Brembo's. Striped them down and replaced all the seals, piston seal and dust covers.

Painted them with silver hammerite and then lacquered them. Strangely, the lacquer application created a strange mottling effect on the hammerite paint.

Nitromored them once again, they looked alright I suppose, but decided they would annoy me eventually once on the car.

So I am currently spraying again tonight with primer and then silver sparkle paint. Will then lacquer once more!

Seal kit for both calipers £51.00, incl. delivery from Alternative Auto's (club discount given).



Cars off to County Cruising on Friday for fitting (don't want to mess too much with something like brakes and Joe will check my work for me)

Also getting a front under tray fitted while there.

19/11/2009

Really happy this evening, finished some jobs that I've been working on and I'm really quite pleased with the results.

1st job complete - overhaul second set of Brembo Calipers. Finished tonight, sticker set put on and finally lacquered.

Originally I had painted these with silver hammerite but they had a bad reaction with the lacquer meaning I needed to strip and start again. Second time around the paint was stripped, sanded, undercoated, sprayed with silver sparkle (BMW) and then lacquered once more. The results this time are much better. Also a complete seal set was fitted.


2nd job complete - Finally happy with my self refurbished expansion tank, stuck a new sticker on it (thanks Kelv). Looks better in real life, in photo it looks a little yellow


3rd Job - Got a really nice (un-welded) rocker cover from coupedave (£50.00 cheers). I stripped the old paint, cleaned thoroughly and resprayed with High Temp red paint. I decided to paint the letters in silver hammerite (steady hand required!) to match the cars colour. Really happy with the finish.

Stage 1 - As it was when delivered


Stage 2 - Cleaned and degreased


Stage 3 - Masked and sprayed


Stage 4 - Paint letters


Stage 5 - Finished job


Getting it all fitted at Joe's tomorrow

22/11/09

K&N cone filter fitted, as I'm slowly regressing back to childhood.

I wanted to hear the suction hiss and dump from it Jury is still out, don't know whether I like it or not? It's a nice sound with the dump, but it can be a bit noisy when accelerating, so much so that the exhaust note is completely drowned out. Will try the drilled box next.....then make up my mind. Got to say, the standard airbox may well win at the moment!

Serviced at Joe's on the 20th, new brakes on, new painted rocker cover fitted, oil & filter change and newly cleaned expansion tank fitted (new coolant put in too).

Been down to Wales for the weekend (Friday night till Sunday mid morning). Made use of the trip to do some wheeler dealing. Bought some drilled and grooved front discs from Danny while down there


So, getting back this afternoon, after a weekend with the family, I went straight in the garage to begin the next set of mods......

Received a LE grey coloured grill from Siloman (cheers mate, you know what for ). Cleaned and sprayed it with lacquer, then fitted to the car...


I then sprayed my old grill (was black) in a dark metallic grey and lacquered it, will see what this looks like on the car another day



Then onto the coil pack cover .... metallic silver for this then lacquered....



Last thing was to put the coil pack cover back on and I'm liking the finished result



..................................................................................

Next jobs will be to repaint my old Brembo's (have new sticker set ready to fit also) and sell them on - perfect working order, only came off because I needed to put on my freshly painted second set (Yes, I am that anal ) All seals are good too


Then doing the 'rice trick' on my old expansion tank, to sell this on too....

29/11/2009

115,000 mile service carried out by County Crusing last week. (£120.00)

Got hold of some second hand 20VT alloys and had them powder coated, brand new 205/50/16 W XL tyres put on them. (£400.00 all in)


Second hand set of front sidelight units purchased as my passenger side light (£40.00) decided to start steaming up. Put some silicone bathroom sealant along the bottom of the light units to try and prevent water ingress on this set as the light units tend to sit in water due to the design of the front bumper.


Decided to try the original but drilled air box instead of the K & N cone as I've been running the & for a week now. To date I have tried the original, the K&N and now the drilled.


Will decide which to keep on permanently next weekend.

K&N in situ


Drilled original box in situ


Also gave the engine bay a clean up and installed my original grill back on the car after giving it a spray in gunmetal grey colour


Finally got hold of a rear ashtray (well chuffed) and, can't believe this ......... an original gear knob in great condition (thanks Joe at County Cruising) - just got to figure out how to get the old one off as this one ain't budging - it's tighter than a .... uummm .. tight thing

Will be installing some drilled and grooved discs next weekend so long as the weather is playing ball!

I now have a set of Brembo's and a set of original LE alloys with great tyres for sale in the Coupe Parts section if anyone is interested?

New steering wheel turned up today from Joe at Trimdeluxe. Looking very nice and great stitching (£130.00 + £25.00 for purchase of second hand steering wheel - this allowed me to get is refurbed and still use the car - simple swap over).


Car now booked in at County Cruising for a PIU front bumper, zend skirts and rear bumper spray (18th December) (£735.00)

Should be a nice Christmas present for me Sorry kids oranges and nuts for you..

10/12/09

After fitting some drilled and grooved discs I found that they were warped (unfortunately), fine at low speed but braking on the motorway at 80mph wheel wobble was apparent. So, took these off and fitted the original discs fitted back on.

New copper brake line fitted on one side.


Bought a atmospheric dump vale (£55.00 - second hand but un-used) as I was curious to what the sound & maybe performance difference would be. Having decided that the K&N cone filter was a bit harsh for my tastes (engine note drowns out exhaust), thought I'd give one of these a go. Driving home from countycruising tonight (who fitted it for me) I must say, I like it

Countycruising also replaced the gear box oil seal for me (not an easy task!) as the old one decided it's time was up and I decided I liked gearbox oil in the gearbox rather than on my driveway!

Other than this, not much else to report.

I must say that he engine is running really sweetly, she pulls like a train and the new tyres are a definite improvement on the old.

Just need to clean her up ready for the RAF Cosford meet this Sunday I'm looking forward to seeing what other members have done with theirs and meeting them all too

Lastly - only 8 days till PIU body kit is fitted

Got the bonnet release cable replaced so I can now open it

Managed to persuade Joe to part with a nice (but a little bit wonky) newly sprayed LE grill he had hidden away in the grotto - for a cracking price. Joe - I knew it would be mine one day .... you're too nice mate

Sprayed the rocker cover the other day - before the bonnet cable snapped - (was previously sprayed with heat paint only) with a lacquer and it's come up a treat and given it a deeper red colour.

Got hold of a second hand dash and ashtray from eBay for 'no money' really Going to spray these steel grey over the christmas holiday and then install.

Got some new horns to replace the rusty and ghey sounding ones I have installed at present.

PIU kit installed soon, dropping car off on Friday and get it back on the 24th. Hopefully get my 'trim deluxe' steering wheel fitted also Guess who's going to be posting loads of pics on xmas eve


I'm going to be selling a few bits in the coupe parts section later, to try a claw 'at least' a little money back that this car owe's me

20/12/09

Picked up a second hand gearbox from Hillbilly today. Not that it's needed, but having this coupe as a keeper I decided that for the money, it was a worthy investment.


Spent the afternoon skitting between doing stuff for the wife and the house and spraying a second hand dash steel grey.

Removing the gunk was a nightmare (as spoken of by so many) meth spirits was far too laborious for me, so I nitromor'd the ashtray, bad mistake....Ended up having to sand and sand, and prime, then sand, then prime, then sand, then spray.

I simply cleaned up the main dash and sprayed on plastic primer before the paint coat. Turned out well.

All was looking okay until I got the lacquer out! Bottom of the dash (main) and the ashtray started to run (I need a little more patience). I am going to cut these back and try spraying again tomorrow.

You'll note that I have decided to keep the aircon sensor slats as black, I think that the sprayed dashes with the bit colour coded looks strange

Having decided that the spray job on my dash (post above) was not good enough (just wasn't happy with the paint finish). Today, it was all sanded down again (400 then 1200 grit wet and dry), re-sprayed and re-lacquered.

I am happy with the final result now and looking forward to getting it fitted in the car (hopefully doing this boxing day, while everyone's asleep. I have 6 people coming over to mine and then there's 3 of us!). Just need to find the dash removal 'How To's' now.


I dropped the car off with Joe on the 18th and took a peek at the PIU bumper and zender skirts in bare form. Even like this they looked When dropping the car off I got the trim deluxe refurbed steering wheel fitted (I could not get it off the spline) and a very good condition original gear stick knob fitted. The old needed sawing off as it would not budge! Shame!

Picking the car up on the 24th and I am really looking forward to doing it. Going to be a great 'coupe' xmas!

The last time I saw my car it looked like this

New PIU kit fitted.

Still a few bits to do
(a) Mesh needs fitting
(b) One of the side skirts needs a little bit more glue.
(c) Air intake cups on front need fixing

Apart from all that - Looks blumming ace!





How she was


How she is today


Finally the steering wheel (poor picture)


MERRY XMAS EVERYONE - Hope it's a good one for you all

27/12/2009

Been experimenting today with different coloured grills. I think the red one may look okay in a darker coloured red. Kept the silver LE one on for now though.

OK, here we go with the pics




Then I decided to paint the FIAT bonnet badge in enamel red and fitted that


Then I decided to de-badge the rear as I have ordered a red enamel FIAT badge for the rear


Badge purchased was THIS ONE

Lastly a few more pics cause I like looking at it

2/01/2010

New rear RED FIAT badge turned up this morning, within 5 seconds of unwrapping it I had cleaned the bodywork where I was going to place it with White Spirit and stuck it on.

Here's how it looks

REAR


FRONT