Winter Project - Free Ford Puma 1.7
Discussion
so I gave up on the idea.
scz4 said:
No not yet. But got plenty of questions lined up 
Is that the best UK Puma forum then?
Thanks for the info. I'm trying to do this on a budget (for once), so will be interesting to see how much it costs compared to the stock item. Will have a look on Euro Car Parts.
I would say so, but I am an admin on there. The Wiki on that site is very useful. Is that the best UK Puma forum then?Thanks for the info. I'm trying to do this on a budget (for once), so will be interesting to see how much it costs compared to the stock item. Will have a look on Euro Car Parts.
Biggest failing with mine was the brakes, however yours looks to have the earlier setup with 240mm discs, this is good as it has a better master cylinder. Keep an eye out for some Fiesta ST front calipers, those bolt straight on with Fiesta ST 280mm discs and should improve matters no end.
Depending on what you are after there are many performance improvements that can be made, but don't expect any to transform the car. Most are based around the Racing Puma spec; on paper that car only had an extra 30 BHP, many don't even seem to make that.
I had mine back for a few weeks as we needed an extra car, the steering and gearshift are excellent, and it is very chuckable, great fun!
Whatever you do don't change the wheel offset, these cars are very sensitive to it.
Anything I can tell you please ask, either here, via PM, or on Pumapeople.
Time for an update.. Work finally got under way a couple of weeks ago, couple of friends have helping out. Anyone who knows me knows I'm terrible when it comes to modifying cars, so in true tradition my budget build has not been quite to budgeted, I couldn't resist a few choice modifications... I tried
I've bought some new Eibach springs with new Sachs shock absorbers (front and rear), new top mounts, bearings etc. Also got a used set of Fiesta ST150 brakes, discs are about 40 or 50mm bigger. Should make a big difference, standard Puma brakes are very poor.
Anyway, this is what I've been upto:
Work done so far this month
- Fitted new rocker cover gasket - See pictures below.
- New Spark Plugs
- Fitted new engine earth cable, original was about to snap.
- Degreased top half of engine, exhaust and inlet manifolds
- Cleaned up rocker cover as I won't be putting the plastic cover back on.
- Removed front and rear suspension
- Painted brake calipers black
Planned:
- Build new shocks and springs
- Fit the above
- See about CV boot leak
- Inspect Exhaust, leaking somewhere
- Clean-up Bottom end of engine
- Fit new brakes, replace fluid, bleed
- Get new tyres fitted
- MOT
- Geometry Check
- Home service including, oil & filter, fuel filter & air filter.
Here's a breakdown in cost so far, firstly what I've spend and secondly what needs spent. As you can see this is no longer a cheap Puma. But it will have fully refreshed suspension, bigger brakes, 4 new Toyo Proxes, amongst other improvements, plus a geometry check, years MOT and taxed for that price.
Oil leak - Just look at the oil sitting in about the plugs
Difference in standard Puma and Fiesta ST brakes:
Old Shocks:
Cleaned up Rocker Cover
Cleaned up engine, well top half anyway:
Poor picture of the new calipers:
I've bought some new Eibach springs with new Sachs shock absorbers (front and rear), new top mounts, bearings etc. Also got a used set of Fiesta ST150 brakes, discs are about 40 or 50mm bigger. Should make a big difference, standard Puma brakes are very poor.
Anyway, this is what I've been upto:
Work done so far this month
- Fitted new rocker cover gasket - See pictures below.
- New Spark Plugs
- Fitted new engine earth cable, original was about to snap.
- Degreased top half of engine, exhaust and inlet manifolds
- Cleaned up rocker cover as I won't be putting the plastic cover back on.
- Removed front and rear suspension
- Painted brake calipers black
Planned:
- Build new shocks and springs
- Fit the above
- See about CV boot leak
- Inspect Exhaust, leaking somewhere
- Clean-up Bottom end of engine
- Fit new brakes, replace fluid, bleed
- Get new tyres fitted
- MOT
- Geometry Check
- Home service including, oil & filter, fuel filter & air filter.
Here's a breakdown in cost so far, firstly what I've spend and secondly what needs spent. As you can see this is no longer a cheap Puma. But it will have fully refreshed suspension, bigger brakes, 4 new Toyo Proxes, amongst other improvements, plus a geometry check, years MOT and taxed for that price.
Oil leak - Just look at the oil sitting in about the plugs
Difference in standard Puma and Fiesta ST brakes:
Old Shocks:
Cleaned up Rocker Cover
Cleaned up engine, well top half anyway:
Poor picture of the new calipers:
Edited by scz4 on Sunday 15th January 19:35
Nice work, look forward to hearing about the new brakes. With a bit of luck yours had the 240mm discs which means it had the better master cylinder, in which case the new brakes should be very good. I have the 300mm ST170 setup on mine and was very disappointed, largely down to the poor later master cylinder.
scz4 said:
wackojacko said:
These with standard suspension bar a thicker rear ARB and Toyo 888's are extremely entertaining on a twisty b road.
Tell me more about the thicker ARB, off the Puma racing perhaps or aftermarket?I will be keeping an eye out for a used set of R888's - 195 50 15 V if anyone has
Just been painting the new Fiesta ST calipers and rear drums.
We all know the ST upgrade is 40mm bigger which is a reasonable increase, but just look at the difference in pad size (ST top), no wonder the standard Puma brakes are so poor. I'm now even more optimitic the new brakes will make a big difference
The 4 new Sachs shocks arrived today, also went to Ford to pick up the new bearings, top mounts etc...Will hopefully get them built up over the weekend with the Eibach springs.
p.s Olly, found the radio code thanks
We all know the ST upgrade is 40mm bigger which is a reasonable increase, but just look at the difference in pad size (ST top), no wonder the standard Puma brakes are so poor. I'm now even more optimitic the new brakes will make a big difference
The 4 new Sachs shocks arrived today, also went to Ford to pick up the new bearings, top mounts etc...Will hopefully get them built up over the weekend with the Eibach springs.
p.s Olly, found the radio code thanks
No, not long after it was the road I sold it on the make space for the next project. Didn't make anything on it, but didn't lose much on it either. But it was fun winter project and handled beautifully when I was finished, would put a lot of modern sports cars to shame in terms of steering feel, feeback and response. Let me know if you have any questions.
Edited by scz4 on Sunday 9th September 13:27
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