The Puma diary
Discussion
I usually keep a car around a year or so before i get bored and change. This year i was planning on replacing my Zetec S with an 8th gen Civic but that went out the window when a Puma came available, it had a snapped timing belt but it was free. Never heard it running, never drove it, no history, had rust, what could go wrong?
2nd Feb 15:
Car collected, it's clearly neglected and scruffy. Has 4 brand new tyres which are the wrong size on wheels that are the wrong offset and catch the struts, how can you get it so wrong?
turns out it had no towing eye, absolutely nowhere 'suitable' to tow from without it, that made things interesting.
8th Feb 15:
Second hand engine sourced for £75, looks clean and has all ancillaries. Cheaper to replace and engine rather than repair the existing, head gasket is £50 alone.
10th Feb 15:
Old engine is out without a fight. Timing belt tensioner had collapsed, tore the belt and bent 6 valves after further investigation.
New engine is cleaned up and mated to the box to be dropped back in, it fell in suspiciously easy and fired up first time. Sounds good.
15th Feb 15:
Fiesta ST150 280mm discs and calipers bought, straight swap and a massive improvement apparently.
5th Mar 15:
A Puma isn't a Puma without rusty arches and this one was a fine example. Rear arch repair panels bought and welded in, full arch on O/S and just parts on N/S
Looks much better now tacked in and skimmed. Inner arches caked with underseal to help prevent the inevitable.
8th Mar 15:
New wheels from a Mondeo ST24, they suit the car nicely
I still have a fairly long list of things to do which include paintwork, seats as the originals have been replaced with fiesta items for some reason and possibly a set of Eibach 30mm springs. I plan on putting the car on the road at the beginning of April and keep it going for another year or so on a tight budget.
2nd Feb 15:
Car collected, it's clearly neglected and scruffy. Has 4 brand new tyres which are the wrong size on wheels that are the wrong offset and catch the struts, how can you get it so wrong?
turns out it had no towing eye, absolutely nowhere 'suitable' to tow from without it, that made things interesting.
8th Feb 15:
Second hand engine sourced for £75, looks clean and has all ancillaries. Cheaper to replace and engine rather than repair the existing, head gasket is £50 alone.
10th Feb 15:
Old engine is out without a fight. Timing belt tensioner had collapsed, tore the belt and bent 6 valves after further investigation.
New engine is cleaned up and mated to the box to be dropped back in, it fell in suspiciously easy and fired up first time. Sounds good.
15th Feb 15:
Fiesta ST150 280mm discs and calipers bought, straight swap and a massive improvement apparently.
5th Mar 15:
A Puma isn't a Puma without rusty arches and this one was a fine example. Rear arch repair panels bought and welded in, full arch on O/S and just parts on N/S
Looks much better now tacked in and skimmed. Inner arches caked with underseal to help prevent the inevitable.
8th Mar 15:
New wheels from a Mondeo ST24, they suit the car nicely
I still have a fairly long list of things to do which include paintwork, seats as the originals have been replaced with fiesta items for some reason and possibly a set of Eibach 30mm springs. I plan on putting the car on the road at the beginning of April and keep it going for another year or so on a tight budget.
Edited by lel on Sunday 8th March 23:42
Edited by lel on Tuesday 28th July 11:46
You'll be very lucky to find one without rusty arches unless they've been repaired, sills and rear chassis legs seem to go on really neglected examples. There's plenty about so finding a good one shouldn't be too hard.
The repair panels are £40 through the puma forum or £50 off ebay, you can also use the lip off Peugeot 206 front wings on opposite sides. O/S wing will repair the N/S Puma arch for example.
The repair panels are £40 through the puma forum or £50 off ebay, you can also use the lip off Peugeot 206 front wings on opposite sides. O/S wing will repair the N/S Puma arch for example.
The sensor for the speedo can pack up, which is a bit of a pain in the backside as I cannot always be fixed with the gearbox in.
I've been buzzing around in one of these for a little while, great fun little car, I just wish that the seats were mounted lower so that I could see the dials and not bang my head so often.
Were the brakes a direct swap?
I've been buzzing around in one of these for a little while, great fun little car, I just wish that the seats were mounted lower so that I could see the dials and not bang my head so often.
Were the brakes a direct swap?
Thanks!
I've just booked it in to get the paint sorted on the 19th, 2 rear 1/4's, sills and the bottom of the doors are getting done. Front wings have been sprayed in the past and aren't a great colour match but im not concerned as they're in quite bad shape and will probably be changed at a later date anyway.
I've just booked it in to get the paint sorted on the 19th, 2 rear 1/4's, sills and the bottom of the doors are getting done. Front wings have been sprayed in the past and aren't a great colour match but im not concerned as they're in quite bad shape and will probably be changed at a later date anyway.
26 Mar 15:
The puma is painted, taxed and insured! Drove it for the first time today and i am very surprised at how it drives, it's a little go-kart.
Taking it easy for a little while to let things bed in, brakes are gradually getting better but it does feel like one is a tad warped, £40 for a pair so it isn't a big deal.
Next up are Eibach 30mm springs and better headlight bulbs, possibly seats if i can find some.
The puma is painted, taxed and insured! Drove it for the first time today and i am very surprised at how it drives, it's a little go-kart.
Taking it easy for a little while to let things bed in, brakes are gradually getting better but it does feel like one is a tad warped, £40 for a pair so it isn't a big deal.
Next up are Eibach 30mm springs and better headlight bulbs, possibly seats if i can find some.
I love that. Looks great on those wheels.
I've ended up with two 328 Sports, so I'm about to sell one as they're a bit thirsty for a daily. Once it goes I'm gonna scratch my Puma or MX5 itch. Never owned either yet. I need something with sensible mpg to use daily, that is fun on the twisties and capable of the odd trackday. After reading this thread though I've realised they nearly all have rusty rear arches. Bit of a bummer.
I've ended up with two 328 Sports, so I'm about to sell one as they're a bit thirsty for a daily. Once it goes I'm gonna scratch my Puma or MX5 itch. Never owned either yet. I need something with sensible mpg to use daily, that is fun on the twisties and capable of the odd trackday. After reading this thread though I've realised they nearly all have rusty rear arches. Bit of a bummer.
Thanks, i had to search high and low for those wheels but i think it was worth it.
It's not impossible to find a clean one but they do seem to fetch a premium over its average rusty arched sibling, although if you could find one cheap enough it might be worth getting them repaired as it's not really a huge job.
It's not impossible to find a clean one but they do seem to fetch a premium over its average rusty arched sibling, although if you could find one cheap enough it might be worth getting them repaired as it's not really a huge job.
Had the Puma out for a good drive yesterday which brought some issues to light. It feels a bit skittish which i think is to do with worn top mounts, there's a fair bit of vertical play in the strut with the car jacked up, i'll order these along with the springs and replace both at the same time.
The brake pedal feels stiff and a bit vague, i also have no ABS. I did repair an ABS sensor when i got the car as the wheels that were fitted caught on the inner wings and wore through the sensor wire, my fix has either not worked or there is another issue somewhere. The ABS and traction control lights have been took out of the dash by the previous owner but when i plugged in my code reader it showed no codes, therefore no lights which is a mystery. I think i'll replace the front discs as one is warped and then the 2 front flexis, hopefully they feel better afterwards.
I'm looking at around £400 to remedy the problems, including 4 new tyres, but hopefully its worth it
Apart from that its a blast to drive
The brake pedal feels stiff and a bit vague, i also have no ABS. I did repair an ABS sensor when i got the car as the wheels that were fitted caught on the inner wings and wore through the sensor wire, my fix has either not worked or there is another issue somewhere. The ABS and traction control lights have been took out of the dash by the previous owner but when i plugged in my code reader it showed no codes, therefore no lights which is a mystery. I think i'll replace the front discs as one is warped and then the 2 front flexis, hopefully they feel better afterwards.
I'm looking at around £400 to remedy the problems, including 4 new tyres, but hopefully its worth it
Apart from that its a blast to drive
t in silver and i reckon are due a value bounce. Managed to get hold of a brand new set of ST150 discs for a grand total of £33 so now i have judder free braking
I'm taking it in for an alignment this week, the front end feels a bit skittish over bumps and the steering wheel is off centre so i'll see what its like afterwards, i know it needs a set of top mounts which could also be the culprits. Trying not to spend too much money at the moment with my job on the line but i'm sure i'll be making some changes soon.
Also found a guy that makes FRP style splitters in the correct size for the standard puma bumper which i'll be buying eventually
Fitted some mudflaps today, I'm never normally a fan of them but with wide wheels and curvy bodywork the sides get filthy in no time. I went for the rally style PVC ones but i've kept them quite small and subtle, front only at the moment i can't make my mind up about fitting the rears yet.
the size of my flaps
I'm taking it in for an alignment this week, the front end feels a bit skittish over bumps and the steering wheel is off centre so i'll see what its like afterwards, i know it needs a set of top mounts which could also be the culprits. Trying not to spend too much money at the moment with my job on the line but i'm sure i'll be making some changes soon.
Also found a guy that makes FRP style splitters in the correct size for the standard puma bumper which i'll be buying eventually
Fitted some mudflaps today, I'm never normally a fan of them but with wide wheels and curvy bodywork the sides get filthy in no time. I went for the rally style PVC ones but i've kept them quite small and subtle, front only at the moment i can't make my mind up about fitting the rears yet.
the size of my flaps
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