The Free-Esta1.25

[amancalledrob]

Hi

I've got a 1998 Fiesta 1.25 that I was given for nothing. It's not an exciting car (I've got a FireBlade which covers that) but I've become quite attached to it and the engine leaks a bit of oil.

I've decided this is the perfect excuse to swap the engine for a 1.7 Puma lump. Pumaspeed in Yorkshire have a great reputation for this stuff but I'm in Tunbridge Wells in Kent, so they're a bit of a trek.

Can anyone recommend somewhere a bit further south, or should I just go for Pumaspeed?

Thanks

[amancalledrob]

_Nathan_ said:

IIRC - that conversion is £4k

You intend to spend £4k on a free old Fiesta ?

It's £800 for the labour. I've found donor cars for £200, so it's pretty affordable given the grin factor

[amancalledrob]

avenger286 said:

Do it your self ! Buy a conversion from eBay or a puma and strip it . Puma speed don't give a flying f about pumas anymore and there are better puma specialists such as lightning motorsport. Or sell your free fezza and buy a puma as its a better car and less hastle than doing a conversion .

Frankly this is a five-spanner job, and I'm only really a three-spanner guy. You're right in that buying a different car would make a lot more sense, but I really like my Fiesta. The heart wants what it wants...

[amancalledrob]

poing said:

Are these guys a bit closer in Essex?

http://www.oc-motorsport.co.uk/index.php?products&...

This is exactly the kind of response I hoped for - I've called them and they'll do it for £700. They can even move the power steering gubbins over so I'll gain that. Much appreciated, thanks.

I've also discovered that with a bit of exhaust fettling and some new cams, the 1.7 can be tuned for a reliable 155bhp.

This promises to be hilarious

[amancalledrob]

Ok, so this is slightly more complicated (although still very doable) - it turns out it's necessary to source a pre-99 Puma, due to changes to the loom and ECU for later models. Does anyone know if it's possible to just get a '99 or later car and use a different loom/ECU, or am I being a bit naïve there?

[amancalledrob]

Update for anyone interested - I've found a 1998 Puma for £250! I've paid a company to trailer it to the mechanic in Essex for £117. Not too bad so far. They reckon labour to swap engine, wheels and brakes is £700. Later this year I'll do cams and exhaust, stick a decent panel filter in, should make about 150 ponies in a 900kg car. Hilarity and a road traffic accident will no doubt ensue. Pics to follow

[amancalledrob]

avenger286 said:

The ecu you really want is the Tape one its on the sticker on the ecu . You can also get the frp map put on it easy if you are putting cams in . You would be better getting some descent suspension and re bushing the car over cams first . Would also use feista st150 brakes not the puma ones as a 98 puma will have the smaller brake set up later ones had slightly bigger brakes .

Thanks, it's the Tape ECU so that should be good. Didn't realise about the brakes. You're right about the suspension, but that was fully re-bushed in October when the car failed an MOT on it, before this decision was made. Although I'd love to do an upgrade there I think I want to get a few miles out of the new bits in there first it's just had new springs as well, one of them snapped on the motorway

I'll see how she goes on the Puma brakes and wheels, it's a light car so hopefully should stop well. I might upgrade the shocks as that's pretty affordable and can make a big difference. Fingers crossed this Puma doesn't turn out to be a dog when I see it tomorrow...

[amancalledrob]

Here's the Free-esta (I think we all know where this is) way before this ridiculous plan was conceived



Here's the Puma. The chap selling it actually believed this was a 32k mile car. I asked him how much he paid, he said £100 plus £50 auction fees - I gave him £200.



The bit we want. A bit dirty but no leaks in spite of its age, and runs like a peach. Oil seems fresh too, and there's enough of it. The cam belt will be done while it's out and later this year I'll change the cams for uprated ones and remap at about 150bhp with some exhaust work - that's probably all I'll do. I was pleased to learn the Fumesta(?) will also now gain power steering

[amancalledrob]

poing said:

Nope we need something better, Free-Esta works well though.

Fiema?
Piema?

Actually they don't work either so it's anagram time, chucked Fiesta Puma into this: http://wordsmith.org/anagram/anagram.cgi?anagram=f...

Mafia Setup is actually pretty good and you could make that up from the badges

Oh my god that's almost too good for words. I'm doing it

[amancalledrob]

geeks said:

Are you going to go and lend a hand with the conversion? Would be good to if they let you, you'll learn a lot!

That's a good idea, I'll see if it's possible. Transport could be an issue as if they don't finish it in a day, I won't be able to get home! Would be a good opportunity to take some pics for you guys too.

I've got a question about this actually - before this decision was made, the Free-esta had new front springs and wishbones. Is it easy for them to stay put? Reason for asking is that the quickest way to do the swap is to move the whole engine and subframe across. I'm guessing that means the wishbones too

[amancalledrob]

Digitalize said:

They're fairly simple to swap over, two bolts on the subframe and a ball joint below the hub from memory.

I'd probably suggest if you're doing the 1.7 swap to also do some springs/dampers, and ST170 (Mk6 Fiesta ST) front brakes which bolt straight on. The standard Puma brakes aren't the best.

Thanks, that's a good call. Might be something for next year along with the cams and extra horses

Re: wishbones - I'll see if they'll let me grab the nearly new ones off my Fiesta. Can always do the swap later

I've really not thought about this. The front wishbone D-bushes got done at the same time as the springs. I should have waited until the swap had been done

[amancalledrob]

Ok so the car is with OC at the moment and I expect to pick it up on Saturday. Looking forward to driving it home! They're changing the cam belt and tensioner while the engine's out and checking the clutch, too. I'll also be gaining power steering which will be most welcome next time I drive home after chest day at the gym!! Pics to follow

[amancalledrob]

A car is born

Engine swap done. The Fiesta's 100kg lighter than the Puma, and the Puma engine is a similar weight so it's quite a transformation. The whole subframe from the donor car has gone in, including brakes, and it's been fully serviced including cambelt and tensioner, plugs etc.

It's got the Puma wheels on it with a new set of Hankook tyres. Because of the new suspension and wider track, the handling has improved enormously - I'm still getting the hang of it, but I've tried a bit of enthusiasm on a roundabout on the way home and it begins to understeer quite predictably, transferring to easy and predictable oversteer when you close the throttle. It's grin-inducing stuff. It also pulls, unsurprisingly, very well indeed. It's gained 50bhp and I think later this year I'll also uprate the cams for another 30bhp, taking it to 155.

Lots of people have asked why I didn't just get a Puma. I don't like them. They're good looking cars and they make great track toys, but the boot's awkward and the rear seats are tiny, and I really like my Fiesta.

Here are pics

PS I've had some useful info from you guys. Thanks for that

[amancalledrob]

[amancalledrob]

I've resized the images in Paint and it hasn't gone well. Sorry about that. Images are of engine bay (of course), having new tyres put on, and outside with Puma wheels and tyres. I think it looks nice. I'm probably finished with it cosmetically, let's face it you can't polish a turd, but it's such a transformed car I'm thinking of taking it to the Ring next year just for sts

[amancalledrob]

Digitalize said:

You won't get to 155hp with just the FRP cams if that's the route you're meaning, you also need the now very expensive inlet and obviously an ECU/remap.

I'm not sure if the gains to be had are big enough. Without the inlet you're looking at maybe 140.

That still sounds pretty good to me, and FRP ECUs can be had for about £200. What's different about the inlet, is it just the hose diameter or is it a bit more complicated than that?

[amancalledrob]

geeks said:

Good work OP. Did you help out in the end?

Alas no - I was at Le Mans watching Toyota's hopes being dashed at the last moment

[amancalledrob]

JonJon2015 said:

Reading this thread brings back happy memories.

The FRP inlet is a complete replacement for the standard unit. I had one fitted to my old 1.7 Fiesta:



When the 1.7 first went in it ran the standard Puma inlet manifold together with FRP-spec cams and management which, coupled to a Janspeed designed for the 1.4 Fiesta, produced a solid 150bhp on the rollers. With head work, an FRP inlet, less restrictive Milletek 4-2-1 manifold, exhaust and cat and management tweaks it was knocking on 170bhp, but it was the way that it made the power that I loved the most about it. They’re really rev-happy engines, even in standard form and a properly sorted 1.7 Fiesta is fabulous fun.

It’s still the car I wish I’d never sold.



Other forum users have already given sound advice but if you do look to replace the ECU make sure that you also buy the little red transponder to fit into your existing ignition key to save headaches with the Ford standard fit immobiliser.

That's a tool. I love it.

[amancalledrob]

Does anyone know how to disable the abs and traction control warning lights on the dash? My Fiesta has neither so the Puma ECU records an error. I'd be happy to just stick a bit of tape over it but the abs light is an MOT fail and it's due in November.

I've been told I can do it with a diesel heater relay, has anyone got any details on that?

I've also found a used 1.6 gearbox on a popular auction site for £60, which would make doing the final drive and 5th gear upgrade pretty cost effective. Anyone know how hard that is? I'm probably only a four spanner guy...

[amancalledrob]

Digitalize said:

amancalledrob said:

Does anyone know how to disable the abs and traction control warning lights on the dash? My Fiesta has neither so the Puma ECU records an error. I'd be happy to just stick a bit of tape over it but the abs light is an MOT fail and it's due in November.

If your car never had ABS, the light not showing wouldn't be a fail, as it wouldn't have had one.

I've been advised by a tester that the light being illuminated is a fail, whether or not there's an abs fitted. I would very much like to be proved wrong as it'll save me some effort

ETA: my car's never had abs, but the dash unit is used in cars that do and therefore has an abs light. I didn't know this until it came on

Edited by amancalledrob on Wednesday 22 June 13:11