The Puma diary
Discussion
Managed to find a set of brand new Eibach springs on ebay, i stuck in a last minute bid and won them for a brilliant price. I love the way it sits now, the way it should have sat from the factory IMO. Nice and level rather than the rear end being sky high. The ride is brilliant with these springs, can't recommend them enough.
I completely agree about them being underrated, such a brilliant car for such little money.
jimmyjimjim said:
I'm usually not a fan of lowering from standard, especially as much as 30mm - but that looks so much better it's untrue.
I've never lowered a car before and never had the desire to either, i think the puma "needs" it to lose some of the excessive arch gap they are built with and it makes one hell of a difference. Its been a while so i thought i'd do a little update. The Puma is still battling on as strong as ever and i have absolutely no desire to change it any time soon.
I noted earlier in this thread that the car felt a bit twitchy and unstable at speed which turned out to be the rear axle bushes, a common fault on these and in my opinion a bit of a silly design. New standard bushes have been put in, didn't fancy the harshness that people report with polybushes, car handles wonderful now.
Also found a set of seats from a mk5 Zetec S, same seats as fitted to the puma as standard but with a different colour centre which i don't mind. Also got to work with the wet vac and the hoover!
finally gave it a good clean and machine polish for the first time in a while, cleans up well for being 15 years old and majorly neglected for most of its life.
Next up is a rear disc conversion once i source some parts!
I noted earlier in this thread that the car felt a bit twitchy and unstable at speed which turned out to be the rear axle bushes, a common fault on these and in my opinion a bit of a silly design. New standard bushes have been put in, didn't fancy the harshness that people report with polybushes, car handles wonderful now.
Also found a set of seats from a mk5 Zetec S, same seats as fitted to the puma as standard but with a different colour centre which i don't mind. Also got to work with the wet vac and the hoover!
finally gave it a good clean and machine polish for the first time in a while, cleans up well for being 15 years old and majorly neglected for most of its life.
Next up is a rear disc conversion once i source some parts!
got hold of some spare parts from a mate who's braking a Puma, got his rear lights and cut them up to get the clear lenses out to use for my indicators. Just waiting for some chrome bulbs to arrive and they'll get fitted for good
Also did the FRP airbox mod, should have done this a lot earlier! The standard air intake goes into the inner wing and down behind the front wheel which is a bit of a trek, the new intake goes straight to one of the little slots above the splitter. The intake pipe was also squashed which must have restricted air flow and killed some power, it feels alot more lively now.
Also did the FRP airbox mod, should have done this a lot earlier! The standard air intake goes into the inner wing and down behind the front wheel which is a bit of a trek, the new intake goes straight to one of the little slots above the splitter. The intake pipe was also squashed which must have restricted air flow and killed some power, it feels alot more lively now.
Interesting option, these Pumas. Never really considered these before reading this thread.
It could be a cheap run around coupe to have if you buy a good one, which seem to be few and far between.
Would it be better to buy on requiring a bit of work if you wanted to tweak around with the suspension/engine/interior etc?
I really like the look of the Silver/Grey ones.
It could be a cheap run around coupe to have if you buy a good one, which seem to be few and far between.
Would it be better to buy on requiring a bit of work if you wanted to tweak around with the suspension/engine/interior etc?
I really like the look of the Silver/Grey ones.
TotalControl said:
Interesting option, these Pumas. Never really considered these before reading this thread.
It could be a cheap run around coupe to have if you buy a good one, which seem to be few and far between.
Would it be better to buy on requiring a bit of work if you wanted to tweak around with the suspension/engine/interior etc?
I really like the look of the Silver/Grey ones.
I've seen ones needing work for as little as £150 with MOT, i would certainly recommend buying one if you intend on spending some time and enjoy tinkering. Clean ones are usually owned by enthusiasts and tend to be quite expensive. It could be a cheap run around coupe to have if you buy a good one, which seem to be few and far between.
Would it be better to buy on requiring a bit of work if you wanted to tweak around with the suspension/engine/interior etc?
I really like the look of the Silver/Grey ones.
Parts are cheap as chips and they share nearly everything (apart from panels) with the mk4/5 fiesta so you'll never be short for bits.
JonoG81 said:
Always had a hankering to get hold of one of there for a cheap bit of fun/spannering.
Looks like you have put a fair bit of effort into yours.
I certainly have, thanks! It's certainly fun, i've loved every moment Looks like you have put a fair bit of effort into yours.
Welcome to the wonderful world that is the Puma, had mine for 7 years now and somehow without me even noticing its morphed into some stupid unusable track car... Still love it though!
Your looks like a very tidy example, the mods your doing will only help to enhance the driving experience. If I were you I would go for the powerflex rear bushes, one of the best mods IMO. Although the best thing you can bolt onto that car is probably the cheapest, OMP lower strut brace, £35 will transform the car, it makes it so much better on turn in. The whole car just feels tighter and more agile with it.
A lot of "puma projects" seem to be for the purpose of track cars so its quite nice to see someone taking care of one for a change, I get urges myself to go out, buy a millennium edition (the one ive always wanted) and give it some TLC, just for fun more than anything.
Will be keeping an eye on this thread!
Your looks like a very tidy example, the mods your doing will only help to enhance the driving experience. If I were you I would go for the powerflex rear bushes, one of the best mods IMO. Although the best thing you can bolt onto that car is probably the cheapest, OMP lower strut brace, £35 will transform the car, it makes it so much better on turn in. The whole car just feels tighter and more agile with it.
A lot of "puma projects" seem to be for the purpose of track cars so its quite nice to see someone taking care of one for a change, I get urges myself to go out, buy a millennium edition (the one ive always wanted) and give it some TLC, just for fun more than anything.
Will be keeping an eye on this thread!
Jay_87 said:
Welcome to the wonderful world that is the Puma, had mine for 7 years now and somehow without me even noticing its morphed into some stupid unusable track car... Still love it though!
Your looks like a very tidy example, the mods your doing will only help to enhance the driving experience. If I were you I would go for the powerflex rear bushes, one of the best mods IMO. Although the best thing you can bolt onto that car is probably the cheapest, OMP lower strut brace, £35 will transform the car, it makes it so much better on turn in. The whole car just feels tighter and more agile with it.
A lot of "puma projects" seem to be for the purpose of track cars so its quite nice to see someone taking care of one for a change, I get urges myself to go out, buy a millennium edition (the one ive always wanted) and give it some TLC, just for fun more than anything.
Will be keeping an eye on this thread!
Thank you! Your looks like a very tidy example, the mods your doing will only help to enhance the driving experience. If I were you I would go for the powerflex rear bushes, one of the best mods IMO. Although the best thing you can bolt onto that car is probably the cheapest, OMP lower strut brace, £35 will transform the car, it makes it so much better on turn in. The whole car just feels tighter and more agile with it.
A lot of "puma projects" seem to be for the purpose of track cars so its quite nice to see someone taking care of one for a change, I get urges myself to go out, buy a millennium edition (the one ive always wanted) and give it some TLC, just for fun more than anything.
Will be keeping an eye on this thread!
I was considering the lower brace but I was told they have a habit of fouling with the sump, is this something you ever came across? For £35 I may just buy one.
lel said:
Thank you!
I was considering the lower brace but I was told they have a habit of fouling with the sump, is this something you ever came across? For £35 I may just buy one.
The only time it ever caught on my sump was when I bottomed the car out and bent it, rattled like mad!! After I fitted a new one it was fine again.I was considering the lower brace but I was told they have a habit of fouling with the sump, is this something you ever came across? For £35 I may just buy one.
Get one, you wont regret it.
update:
The puma has always felt a bit sluggish to me, I thought it was just normal as I've never drove another to compare it to. Turns out my cat had collapsed! Started with a small rattle and quickly turned into a nasty rattle along with misfiring and massive power loss. Dropped the cat out today and 10 minutes with a pry bar left the remains of the honeycomb on the garage floor.
The car is totally different now, it pulls very well and I'm pleasantly surprised at this little engine!
I also ordered a set of proxes T1R's in 195/45-16 flavour to replace the odd and aging 195/50's, not a huge fan of them at first but they seem to be wearing in nicely now.
I'm a happy chappy now
The puma has always felt a bit sluggish to me, I thought it was just normal as I've never drove another to compare it to. Turns out my cat had collapsed! Started with a small rattle and quickly turned into a nasty rattle along with misfiring and massive power loss. Dropped the cat out today and 10 minutes with a pry bar left the remains of the honeycomb on the garage floor.
The car is totally different now, it pulls very well and I'm pleasantly surprised at this little engine!
I also ordered a set of proxes T1R's in 195/45-16 flavour to replace the odd and aging 195/50's, not a huge fan of them at first but they seem to be wearing in nicely now.
I'm a happy chappy now
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