Month to madness
Discussion
I do a thing on my Facebook page called "Driveway CSI"
Any repairs or work I do I share with my fellow mechanically minded friends.
Today's Driveway CSI was a different format.
Cause - Reusing a rusty jubilee clip when the radiator was replaced six months ago.
Effect - Snapped the bleed pipe.
Bodge - Super glued back on.
Repair - Replace radiator and all new jubilee clips...
...I even made sure the fan wasn't rubbing the new one.
Bodges are the Cancer of the car world.
Any repairs or work I do I share with my fellow mechanically minded friends.
Today's Driveway CSI was a different format.
Cause - Reusing a rusty jubilee clip when the radiator was replaced six months ago.
Effect - Snapped the bleed pipe.
Bodge - Super glued back on.
Repair - Replace radiator and all new jubilee clips...
...I even made sure the fan wasn't rubbing the new one.
Bodges are the Cancer of the car world.
So has this Cinquecento been like a Mini?
In many ways yes and once the rose tinted glasses were ripped off and smashed to pieces I remembered how much of a pain in the faff the Mini was as well.
You know those "Issigonis moments" that were like Yin and Yang?
Go-karting round a corner in a way that defied the Laws of Physics let alone the Road Traffic Act thinking to yourself "Issigonis was a genius". Trying to do a simple job but the bonnet never opened enough and the there were a dozen things in the way that in a normal car wouldn't be and you catch yourself thinking "Issigonis was a pillock" (or worse).
The challenge was always half the fun really. I still have a tool I had to make to get the air filter funnel off the back of the SU carb' to fit a pancake filter. Taking the carb' off was an extra three hours work and needed a gasket you never happened to have to hand (not that you could get to the bottom nuts anyway because the funnel was in the way).
A lot of the jobs I had to do on the Cinquecento were very similar to my Mini memories. Fitting rear suspension and noticing the rear subframe was a cosmetic item rather than structural.
Discovering "advisory" items on the MOT would have been failures if the tester hadn't given his guide dog the day off.
Bodges that would be considered Attempted Murder if they were done with any kind of malicious intent.
So yeah; in many ways this Cinquecento has reminded me of my old Minis.
Here's one of my old Minis "Emily" front and center of my memory board.
It hasn't been updated since I went digital and share my thoughts and memories on the internet instead.
Let's quantify this...
Better than a Mini...
1/ Load space, proper hatch back with folding seats and all the stuff you would expect from a little Fiat. Swiss Army knives on wheels.
2/ The bonnet opens enough for me to work on/around/near the engine without needing stitches in the back of my head.
3/ I can sit in the front and fit a real life human being in the back. At six foot two that was impossible in my Minis.
4/ Consumable parts are plentiful, cheap and available in more places.
5/ Five speed gearbox as standard so 70mph doesn't give you a nose bleed.
As good as the Mini...
1/ Handling. Arguably but the Cinquecento is fun and can deal with the Minis arch nemesis Pot Holes!
2/ The little 899cc push rod engine is sprite of a thing for what it is.
3/ Tuning. Okay the 899 isn't going to give you whiplash but a good starting point to teach the basics. 1108cc or 1242cc FIRE, 1368cc SuperFIRE and 150 t-jet options are easily as good as binning the 850 for a 998, 1098, 1275, 1330, 1380, 1430 and Metro Turbo conversions within the family tree.
4/ Rust. Yep they both rust as good as each other.
5/ Economy, classic insurance more mpg than mph.
Not as good as the Mini...
1/ Body panels. Okay the simple stuff; wings, outer sills and other bits are available but you can still get every single panel for a Mini.
2/ Cult following. Nowhere near as popular as the Mini. I've never seen "Cinquecento Magazine" or "Cinque-World" in WH Smiths but still a very friendly, warm and knowledgeable bunch.
3/ While the Cinquecento uses materials more efficiently than Issigonis could when Steel was rationed the Mini will always be regarded as a timeless classic the Fiat is boxy in a very 90's way.
4/ Wheels tyres. The 145-70-13 tyres are a tragedy and a compromise too far. Easily remedied with a set of Sporting alloys or Fiorino Steel wheels with 175-60-13's.
5/ Bodges. I have seen some poor repairs on the fifteen Minis I have owned over the years but none of them have been life threatening. Minis have always attracted a more discerning customer so you have never been able to get away with what you find at the lower end of the market where the Cinquecento is right now. Soon to go up in value as neglected cars are being scrapped and decent ones are in classic/retro territory.
I have endured and enjoyed my sixth Cinquecento as much as my fifteen Minis in many ways. It saddens me that the floor isn't good enough to finish the project and the car won't be auctioned off for charity as planned but on of my rules in these situations...
Never try to sell something you are not willing to buy.
...so she's off to a mate who has bigger and better plans. Just like my Mini Clubman I sold so instead of being another Metro powered 1275GT replica she ended up being one of the first in the UK to have a Honda V-Tec conversion. The Cinquecento is off up North to get the 899 engine replaced by a 240bhp VW 1.8 20V Turbo from a rear ended Golf.
In many ways yes and once the rose tinted glasses were ripped off and smashed to pieces I remembered how much of a pain in the faff the Mini was as well.
You know those "Issigonis moments" that were like Yin and Yang?
Go-karting round a corner in a way that defied the Laws of Physics let alone the Road Traffic Act thinking to yourself "Issigonis was a genius". Trying to do a simple job but the bonnet never opened enough and the there were a dozen things in the way that in a normal car wouldn't be and you catch yourself thinking "Issigonis was a pillock" (or worse).
The challenge was always half the fun really. I still have a tool I had to make to get the air filter funnel off the back of the SU carb' to fit a pancake filter. Taking the carb' off was an extra three hours work and needed a gasket you never happened to have to hand (not that you could get to the bottom nuts anyway because the funnel was in the way).
A lot of the jobs I had to do on the Cinquecento were very similar to my Mini memories. Fitting rear suspension and noticing the rear subframe was a cosmetic item rather than structural.
Discovering "advisory" items on the MOT would have been failures if the tester hadn't given his guide dog the day off.
Bodges that would be considered Attempted Murder if they were done with any kind of malicious intent.
So yeah; in many ways this Cinquecento has reminded me of my old Minis.
Here's one of my old Minis "Emily" front and center of my memory board.
It hasn't been updated since I went digital and share my thoughts and memories on the internet instead.
Let's quantify this...
Better than a Mini...
1/ Load space, proper hatch back with folding seats and all the stuff you would expect from a little Fiat. Swiss Army knives on wheels.
2/ The bonnet opens enough for me to work on/around/near the engine without needing stitches in the back of my head.
3/ I can sit in the front and fit a real life human being in the back. At six foot two that was impossible in my Minis.
4/ Consumable parts are plentiful, cheap and available in more places.
5/ Five speed gearbox as standard so 70mph doesn't give you a nose bleed.
As good as the Mini...
1/ Handling. Arguably but the Cinquecento is fun and can deal with the Minis arch nemesis Pot Holes!
2/ The little 899cc push rod engine is sprite of a thing for what it is.
3/ Tuning. Okay the 899 isn't going to give you whiplash but a good starting point to teach the basics. 1108cc or 1242cc FIRE, 1368cc SuperFIRE and 150 t-jet options are easily as good as binning the 850 for a 998, 1098, 1275, 1330, 1380, 1430 and Metro Turbo conversions within the family tree.
4/ Rust. Yep they both rust as good as each other.
5/ Economy, classic insurance more mpg than mph.
Not as good as the Mini...
1/ Body panels. Okay the simple stuff; wings, outer sills and other bits are available but you can still get every single panel for a Mini.
2/ Cult following. Nowhere near as popular as the Mini. I've never seen "Cinquecento Magazine" or "Cinque-World" in WH Smiths but still a very friendly, warm and knowledgeable bunch.
3/ While the Cinquecento uses materials more efficiently than Issigonis could when Steel was rationed the Mini will always be regarded as a timeless classic the Fiat is boxy in a very 90's way.
4/ Wheels tyres. The 145-70-13 tyres are a tragedy and a compromise too far. Easily remedied with a set of Sporting alloys or Fiorino Steel wheels with 175-60-13's.
5/ Bodges. I have seen some poor repairs on the fifteen Minis I have owned over the years but none of them have been life threatening. Minis have always attracted a more discerning customer so you have never been able to get away with what you find at the lower end of the market where the Cinquecento is right now. Soon to go up in value as neglected cars are being scrapped and decent ones are in classic/retro territory.
I have endured and enjoyed my sixth Cinquecento as much as my fifteen Minis in many ways. It saddens me that the floor isn't good enough to finish the project and the car won't be auctioned off for charity as planned but on of my rules in these situations...
Never try to sell something you are not willing to buy.
...so she's off to a mate who has bigger and better plans. Just like my Mini Clubman I sold so instead of being another Metro powered 1275GT replica she ended up being one of the first in the UK to have a Honda V-Tec conversion. The Cinquecento is off up North to get the 899 engine replaced by a 240bhp VW 1.8 20V Turbo from a rear ended Golf.
I thought I would revive this thread as I took my daily driver Bravo HLX on track Friday and had a great time.
https://www.facebook.com/Franks-Charity-Track-Day-...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/frankhall/3350326800...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/frankhall/3347549927...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/frankhall/3324638959...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/frankhall/3281620000...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/frankhall/3281620653...
The car performed really well considering the only modifications were decent tyres on terrible heavy wheels and green stuff pads that could cook the discs after six laps.
I was the slowest thing there and did my best to keep out of the way but by the end I was having so much fun I didn't care about times and trap speeds. So much so I forgot to turn my camera on for the last two sessions.
A really great day and it's money going to a good cause.
https://www.facebook.com/Franks-Charity-Track-Day-...
https://www.facebook.com/Franks-Charity-Track-Day-...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/frankhall/3350326800...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/frankhall/3347549927...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/frankhall/3324638959...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/frankhall/3281620000...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/frankhall/3281620653...
The car performed really well considering the only modifications were decent tyres on terrible heavy wheels and green stuff pads that could cook the discs after six laps.
I was the slowest thing there and did my best to keep out of the way but by the end I was having so much fun I didn't care about times and trap speeds. So much so I forgot to turn my camera on for the last two sessions.
A really great day and it's money going to a good cause.
https://www.facebook.com/Franks-Charity-Track-Day-...
Edited by Liquid Knight on Monday 27th March 15:18
I'm pretty well dialed in and the next track day is at the same circuit. Hopefully a bit warmer so the tyres work but plans for the car and simple.
Reduce weight, reduce the rotating mass and get the engine breathing a bit better.
So strip out, polycarbonate windows, drilled and/or grooved discs and lighter weight wheels. I have a Punto GT rear beam I can use to convert to rear discs as well and hopefully fit the rear anti-roll bar. Beef up the front and maybe get some lower harder springs. Nothing too extreme as I'll still need to drive there and back.
I'm selling my RX8 to get the bits I haven't got already.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-QTxgh-YCs
Reduce weight, reduce the rotating mass and get the engine breathing a bit better.
So strip out, polycarbonate windows, drilled and/or grooved discs and lighter weight wheels. I have a Punto GT rear beam I can use to convert to rear discs as well and hopefully fit the rear anti-roll bar. Beef up the front and maybe get some lower harder springs. Nothing too extreme as I'll still need to drive there and back.
I'm selling my RX8 to get the bits I haven't got already.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-QTxgh-YCs
I have to say, long distance car purchases from Scotland are not advisable. There was one on here a while back where someone bought an Mi16 (might have been an Mi16x4 actually), found that the sills were all filler, like your Cinq. My rule of thumb is that everything up there rusts at twice the speed, the councils probably use twice as much salt.
It's the 1.8 16V based roughly on the 128 block but with Alfa influenced bottom end and Lancia head. Filter, exhaust and balanced injectors would be a phase one kind of deal so I can put it to one side in a weekend and concentrate on weight reduction and handling.
Like the 2.0 16V Lancia engine found in the Fiat Coupe the 1.8 has a split inlet manifold. Ideal for throttle body or bike carb' convesion.
As it's the same engine as the Punto HGT I'm looking at cam' options from that car and the Barchetta.
The Bravo was rated at 115hp instead of the Punto HGT's 130hp because of the air conditioning pump and proper power steering. If I can bin the air con' pump I could use the pulley space for a small supercharger if the throttle body or bike carb' idea fall flat.
I have the parts to do a rear disc conversion and add a rear anti-roll bar, the front discs would be upgraded at the same time.
But first and foremost I need to bin the Bangle Grinder wheels and reduce the rotating mass.
Like the 2.0 16V Lancia engine found in the Fiat Coupe the 1.8 has a split inlet manifold. Ideal for throttle body or bike carb' convesion.
As it's the same engine as the Punto HGT I'm looking at cam' options from that car and the Barchetta.
The Bravo was rated at 115hp instead of the Punto HGT's 130hp because of the air conditioning pump and proper power steering. If I can bin the air con' pump I could use the pulley space for a small supercharger if the throttle body or bike carb' idea fall flat.
I have the parts to do a rear disc conversion and add a rear anti-roll bar, the front discs would be upgraded at the same time.
But first and foremost I need to bin the Bangle Grinder wheels and reduce the rotating mass.
If you're wondering (probably not) to make the bumpers look as old as the rest of the car I used different colour primers before applying the top coat.
Red plastic primer in the middle, matte black on the outer edges and grey primer on the corners. It doesn't show well in the photo's but it looks like the top coat has faded different shades of red. So instead of new painted bumpers on an old ca she looks roughly the same all over.
Red plastic primer in the middle, matte black on the outer edges and grey primer on the corners. It doesn't show well in the photo's but it looks like the top coat has faded different shades of red. So instead of new painted bumpers on an old ca she looks roughly the same all over.
Weekly update.
The new windscreen was fitted Tuesday...
....and a Seagull crapped all over the car before I had finished putting the trim and wipers back.
Everyone's a critic.
Optima Stainless Steel made me a base plate so I can start folding my mani's.
Failed to collect a rack from work...
...but managed a load of parts for my GSXR250-SP project.
I'm only off work today this week so I doubt I'll have much or anything to report next week. Meh.
The new windscreen was fitted Tuesday...
....and a Seagull crapped all over the car before I had finished putting the trim and wipers back.
Everyone's a critic.
Optima Stainless Steel made me a base plate so I can start folding my mani's.
Failed to collect a rack from work...
...but managed a load of parts for my GSXR250-SP project.
I'm only off work today this week so I doubt I'll have much or anything to report next week. Meh.
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