Sad Day - end of the 8v FIRE
Discussion
The very last 8v FIRE engine rolled off the production lines today.
First introduced in 1985, it was available in a whole range of capacities from 750cc up to 1.4 litres, with carbs single-point injection and latterly multi-point injection, many of us will have cut our motoring teeth in a car using this engine.
I have fond memories of it in the original Panda and various Cinquecento, Seicento and Puntos over the years.
Whilst it was never cutting edge, never the most powerful, it was a proper little fizzy Italian lump and mostly bulletproof - you had to keep an eye on the cooling systems, especially ensuring you changed the water pump with the timing belt - or they could overheat.
It's amazing to think that, back at launch, Ford were continuing to punt out their rattly old OHV Kent based engines and the CVH was considered their cutting edge offer.
The 16v and SuperFIRE versions will live on. One day I'll put a 16v into a Cinquecento or Seicento.
First introduced in 1985, it was available in a whole range of capacities from 750cc up to 1.4 litres, with carbs single-point injection and latterly multi-point injection, many of us will have cut our motoring teeth in a car using this engine.
I have fond memories of it in the original Panda and various Cinquecento, Seicento and Puntos over the years.
Whilst it was never cutting edge, never the most powerful, it was a proper little fizzy Italian lump and mostly bulletproof - you had to keep an eye on the cooling systems, especially ensuring you changed the water pump with the timing belt - or they could overheat.
It's amazing to think that, back at launch, Ford were continuing to punt out their rattly old OHV Kent based engines and the CVH was considered their cutting edge offer.
The 16v and SuperFIRE versions will live on. One day I'll put a 16v into a Cinquecento or Seicento.
I had that engine in my 2nd ever car, a punto. I was 19 and drove it like a 19 year old. 100000 miles in 2 years and thrashed mercilessly. Not once did it go wrong, not so much as an EML! I bought at 55000 miles and gave it to my parents to run around in at 155000miles. They used it for a few months and never gave them any trouble either.
Brilliant, brilliant engines.
Brilliant, brilliant engines.
My sister in law had a rattling old cinquecento when she lived on the Greek island of cephalonia.
While my wife and I were visiting once the headgasket failed on it.
With incredibly poor quality tools I took the head off to discover the gasket had been gone ages and the head actually had a chunk worn away between 2 cylinders. Amazingly it ran and drove like this.
We went to a small gypsy scrap yard and I bought another head (that I had to remove) and I fitted that to the engine in her car. I even reused the scrapyard headgasket and timing belt because it was better than hers.
Total spend around 20e.
Car ran for a couple more years and was still going when she sold it.
Cracking engine, simple and very bullet proof.
While my wife and I were visiting once the headgasket failed on it.
With incredibly poor quality tools I took the head off to discover the gasket had been gone ages and the head actually had a chunk worn away between 2 cylinders. Amazingly it ran and drove like this.
We went to a small gypsy scrap yard and I bought another head (that I had to remove) and I fitted that to the engine in her car. I even reused the scrapyard headgasket and timing belt because it was better than hers.
Total spend around 20e.
Car ran for a couple more years and was still going when she sold it.
Cracking engine, simple and very bullet proof.
They were a great engine . On the 999 version you could balance an old 50p piece on the flat cam cover at idle. On the M69 with a following wind saw 115 mph on the clock - probably about 95 but more than I would want to do today. Few clutches and head gaskets failed on Punto 1108 but still a good un . Also saw one fitted neatly in a Sunbeam S7 or S8 bike. When you think of the rubbish engines still in use in 1 from Ford BL and PSA. . . .
Wow. My parents bought an Uno 45 with the 999cc one in 1986. Became my first car 10 years later, served me well for 3 years until terminal rust killed it (engine was still going well though!). Replaced it with a Cinquecento Sporting with the 1108cc. Not long after I got rid of that, my brother bought a Grande Punto with the 1.4 which he still has.
35 years or so, from carbs through most forms of fuel injection and countless emissions regulations, isn't a bad run at all.
35 years or so, from carbs through most forms of fuel injection and countless emissions regulations, isn't a bad run at all.
Great engine, not very powerful but surprisingly characterful and sounded nice for a cooking spec 4 cylinder engine. I have good memories of my Fiat Punto which despite Fiat's reputation for poor reliability, was the most reliable car I've ever owned (also surprisingly good the one time I got caught in some heavy snow fall with its skinny tyres).
Back in 1996, I had a Punto 1.1 road test car from Fiat and I drove it all the way up to Fort William. In the good old days before scameras, I got onto the M74 to head back south, set the cruise control (right foot) at 90 mph and only really lifted off when I stopped for fuel about 350 miles later. I had 100 on the clock a few times. That Punto, a 1995 M registration example was only scrapped four or five years ago so it had a hell of a good innings. You could do a FIRE cam belt in about 30 minutes, they were that easy.
Aww what an end of era.
I had a clapped out Punto with the 1.2 8v 75bhp variant of that engine and it sounded really nice for what it was, one of those engines that liked to “sing” when revved. I swapped it for the 1.6 Sporting Punto and despite being a better performer it was a much harsher engine and I regretted getting rid of my old 75 after! Fond memories 😊
I had a clapped out Punto with the 1.2 8v 75bhp variant of that engine and it sounded really nice for what it was, one of those engines that liked to “sing” when revved. I swapped it for the 1.6 Sporting Punto and despite being a better performer it was a much harsher engine and I regretted getting rid of my old 75 after! Fond memories 😊
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