Built vs Bought
Discussion
For personal reasons I will not be attending the track day on the 25th of this month. Instead the last track day is November 22nd. With any luck I will be able to go.
Maybe not in the Uno but I have a back up plan called...
"Operation Worms for ex-Girlfriends"
...because this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5aiDuemgJ4
...has been my yardstick for years and what's coming next will test that stick to see how much it bends.
The first parts arrived today and I'm collecting the unfinished project car Saturday.
A set of carb' rubber for a Honda Blackbird.
Maybe not in the Uno but I have a back up plan called...
"Operation Worms for ex-Girlfriends"
...because this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5aiDuemgJ4
...has been my yardstick for years and what's coming next will test that stick to see how much it bends.
The first parts arrived today and I'm collecting the unfinished project car Saturday.
A set of carb' rubber for a Honda Blackbird.
In the interest of balance other coloured birds are available. #EveryColourMatters
As unboxing is a thing...
I'm like totes super excitez to be like unboxing today. Like ya.
Cut the yellowy brown tape. Other tapes are available.
More tape removed. Like totes innit br-br-br-br-brap! Brap! Chair.
Like totally like a set of Mikuni 32mm carb's (from an XJ400, perfect size outlets for the inlet ports of the engine and an XJ400 will never go back on the road. Win-Win). Ya!
Here's a problem. Now Kleenex have stopped selling Man Size tissues I can't make a man-ifold because someone will undoubted be pre-offended by the suggestion.
So I'll have to make a personifold to keep the Daily Mail Mumsnet lot in order. #FathersNetTo
More unboxing an the eagle eyed of you would have noticed I hadn't put a flexipipe in my exhaust personifold. This was deliberate as it needs to be in line with the gap between the engine and subframe. I'll cut the pipe to match and weld this one in.
Also I will be replacing the brake bias box near the rear axle. I don't know if it's faulty but the brakes are seized solid, I have replaced the rear wheel cylinders, have the Idea calipers and a new master cylinder so it makes sense to fit a new bias box and replace any lines that look crap while I'm at it.
On the topic of brakes. As I'm sure diligent followers of this thread will recall my Uno has early Mk1 hubs with Panda style calipers and the Idea ones wouldn't fit.
To remedy this and solve another problem at the same time I picked this...
...solid Cinquecento Sporting up. This car comes with a set of Avo coilovers that should also fit my Uno and...
...a Honda Blackbird (others birds are available #EveryColourMatters ) engine where the passenger is supposed to go and a short prop'shaft feeding a Suzuki Super Carry axle on a four link suspension set up.
I am so tempted to finish this car but I would have to make a bulkhead (firewall) between the engine and driver, the loom is stripped to nothing and there are a load of bits missing from the engine and rest of the car.
I should in theory be able to use the bits I need and sell the rest for what the car owes me.
I'm like totes super excitez to be like unboxing today. Like ya.
Cut the yellowy brown tape. Other tapes are available.
- EveryColourMatters
More tape removed. Like totes innit br-br-br-br-brap! Brap! Chair.
Like totally like a set of Mikuni 32mm carb's (from an XJ400, perfect size outlets for the inlet ports of the engine and an XJ400 will never go back on the road. Win-Win). Ya!
Here's a problem. Now Kleenex have stopped selling Man Size tissues I can't make a man-ifold because someone will undoubted be pre-offended by the suggestion.
So I'll have to make a personifold to keep the Daily Mail Mumsnet lot in order. #FathersNetTo
More unboxing an the eagle eyed of you would have noticed I hadn't put a flexipipe in my exhaust personifold. This was deliberate as it needs to be in line with the gap between the engine and subframe. I'll cut the pipe to match and weld this one in.
Also I will be replacing the brake bias box near the rear axle. I don't know if it's faulty but the brakes are seized solid, I have replaced the rear wheel cylinders, have the Idea calipers and a new master cylinder so it makes sense to fit a new bias box and replace any lines that look crap while I'm at it.
On the topic of brakes. As I'm sure diligent followers of this thread will recall my Uno has early Mk1 hubs with Panda style calipers and the Idea ones wouldn't fit.
To remedy this and solve another problem at the same time I picked this...
...solid Cinquecento Sporting up. This car comes with a set of Avo coilovers that should also fit my Uno and...
...a Honda Blackbird (others birds are available #EveryColourMatters ) engine where the passenger is supposed to go and a short prop'shaft feeding a Suzuki Super Carry axle on a four link suspension set up.
I am so tempted to finish this car but I would have to make a bulkhead (firewall) between the engine and driver, the loom is stripped to nothing and there are a load of bits missing from the engine and rest of the car.
I should in theory be able to use the bits I need and sell the rest for what the car owes me.
Flexible hose and V-bands on the personifold and straight pipe. 
You didn't think I was going back from the personifold to the rear section did you?
Perfectly placed between the engine and subframe.
Now the reason why I kept the old rear section. I need to duplicate it out of scrap two inch pipe from work.
Like so.
Another pair of V-bands to link the rear section to the straight pipe and...
...I'm done.
Well a couple of brackets once I have have new rubbers and a back box.
Oh crap! I have been offensive again. There are many different types of pipe available, straight pipe, gay pipe, lesbian pipe, bi pipe, trans pipe and however many different types of pipe there are according to the Daily Mail this week. All are equally as good as each other and I am not showing any kind of prejudice whatsoever.
You didn't think I was going back from the personifold to the rear section did you?
Perfectly placed between the engine and subframe.
Now the reason why I kept the old rear section. I need to duplicate it out of scrap two inch pipe from work.
Like so.
Another pair of V-bands to link the rear section to the straight pipe and...
...I'm done.
Well a couple of brackets once I have have new rubbers and a back box.
Oh crap! I have been offensive again. There are many different types of pipe available, straight pipe, gay pipe, lesbian pipe, bi pipe, trans pipe and however many different types of pipe there are according to the Daily Mail this week. All are equally as good as each other and I am not showing any kind of prejudice whatsoever.
- EveryPipeMatters
Yesterday I concentrated on my cars outy bits. Today I'm addressing the inny bits. 
Blinky spec' C.A.D (cardboard aided design) template. Why only three? I probably need more fiber in my diet.
The reason I have XJ carbs is they were the closest to the manifold measurements. Yes I measured something first. :P
Using the cardboard template I cut sections from an old exhaust pipe.
To make these closer to the shape of the ports I had to cit a wedge off...
...and weld it back on inverted.
If you're wondering why I was confined to my shed. The weather kind of all happened at once. Thunder, lightning, rain, snow, sleet, hail and wind.
Finished. Sort of. I need to make a hole and weld in a pipe for the brake servo feed and weld a pipe for the water channel. One warped a tad but that's what grinders are for.
Blinky spec' C.A.D (cardboard aided design) template. Why only three? I probably need more fiber in my diet.
The reason I have XJ carbs is they were the closest to the manifold measurements. Yes I measured something first. :P
Using the cardboard template I cut sections from an old exhaust pipe.
To make these closer to the shape of the ports I had to cit a wedge off...
...and weld it back on inverted.
If you're wondering why I was confined to my shed. The weather kind of all happened at once. Thunder, lightning, rain, snow, sleet, hail and wind.
Finished. Sort of. I need to make a hole and weld in a pipe for the brake servo feed and weld a pipe for the water channel. One warped a tad but that's what grinders are for.
Forgive the lack of updates, it is a reflection of the lack of progress.
I have been made redundant and as such the last month has been hectic, covering extra shifts, sending off applications and CV's. My job ended November 30th and I got a new one today.
Training starts in February so I'll have plenty of time to catch up with things (in theory).
I'm binning the bike carb's in favor of a Weber from an X-1/9 five reasons.
1/ Control - jetting etc is far more adjustable and easier to get to.
2/ Sound - obviously.
3/ Standard looking.
4/ Easier to control on the road. Bike carb's are good for the tack and rally stages but can be a nightmare on the road.
5/ Fabrication and plumbing. Much less faff as I all will have to do is wire up a 5psi "tick" pump to the standard fuel line and use the original cables.
I still have a garden full of Cinquecento bits. Not had time to swap the front suspension over and the rear shocks aren't close to fitting (at the moment).
Until I get the suspension done I won't know how the car will sit. Until I know how she sits I won't know if I need the wider arches from the Cinquecento wings and rear arches.
The first charity track day for next season is March 26th. Not a "deadline" as such as I have other projects...
My Panda that I'm thinking of converting to run on electricity.
Another Panda that need new inner sills (probably outer sills and floor sections as well).
My 145 is back, fresh MOT but has a silly exhaust and cosmetic issues from the previous owner.
My Rover 620ti is for sale as 22-25mpg is terrible when you have a wage coming in let alone when you have redundancy to last a few months.
My GSXR250RR SP hasn't moved since I put her in my shed.
Oh and a little side project I'm chopping up a children's quad bike to add suspension and off road tyres to a mates mobility scooter so he can take his dogs for a walk.
...to occupy (distract) me.
Also I have all the parts to convert a Mk2 Punto into a van so I'm looking for a HGT to make into an HGT-V
...and I have been offered a very low mileage Mk1 Punto Sporting for £200 could be worth looking into.
I have been made redundant and as such the last month has been hectic, covering extra shifts, sending off applications and CV's. My job ended November 30th and I got a new one today.
Training starts in February so I'll have plenty of time to catch up with things (in theory).
I'm binning the bike carb's in favor of a Weber from an X-1/9 five reasons.
1/ Control - jetting etc is far more adjustable and easier to get to.
2/ Sound - obviously.
3/ Standard looking.
4/ Easier to control on the road. Bike carb's are good for the tack and rally stages but can be a nightmare on the road.
5/ Fabrication and plumbing. Much less faff as I all will have to do is wire up a 5psi "tick" pump to the standard fuel line and use the original cables.
I still have a garden full of Cinquecento bits. Not had time to swap the front suspension over and the rear shocks aren't close to fitting (at the moment).
Until I get the suspension done I won't know how the car will sit. Until I know how she sits I won't know if I need the wider arches from the Cinquecento wings and rear arches.
The first charity track day for next season is March 26th. Not a "deadline" as such as I have other projects...
My Panda that I'm thinking of converting to run on electricity.
Another Panda that need new inner sills (probably outer sills and floor sections as well).
My 145 is back, fresh MOT but has a silly exhaust and cosmetic issues from the previous owner.
My Rover 620ti is for sale as 22-25mpg is terrible when you have a wage coming in let alone when you have redundancy to last a few months.
My GSXR250RR SP hasn't moved since I put her in my shed.
Oh and a little side project I'm chopping up a children's quad bike to add suspension and off road tyres to a mates mobility scooter so he can take his dogs for a walk.
...to occupy (distract) me.
Also I have all the parts to convert a Mk2 Punto into a van so I'm looking for a HGT to make into an HGT-V
...and I have been offered a very low mileage Mk1 Punto Sporting for £200 could be worth looking into.
Punto Sporting side project.
I've been out in the mighty Rover again to pick up this nice Mk1 Punto Sporting 16V for £300.
The Punto needs a spot of welding and some consumables for MOT.
I think whoever cut that small chunk out was an optimist.
Not the worst inner sill damage I have seen.
Cleaned and cut out I'm feeling optimistic.
Bits of Idea roof cut and shaped to replace the inner structure I had removed.
Drilled the new sill section ready for spot welding. Worth noting that the factory spot welds are an inch and a half apart mine are two thirds of an inch.
This isn't my usual "filler free" standard but a damn sight better than previous repairs.
I've been out in the mighty Rover again to pick up this nice Mk1 Punto Sporting 16V for £300.
The Punto needs a spot of welding and some consumables for MOT.
I think whoever cut that small chunk out was an optimist.
Not the worst inner sill damage I have seen.
Cleaned and cut out I'm feeling optimistic.
Bits of Idea roof cut and shaped to replace the inner structure I had removed.
Drilled the new sill section ready for spot welding. Worth noting that the factory spot welds are an inch and a half apart mine are two thirds of an inch.
This isn't my usual "filler free" standard but a damn sight better than previous repairs.
Right. The Punto is off to a new home as soon as possible. The passenger side floor had been repaired in the past by someone who failed to cut the rust out first. Basically the whole floor needs to come out to do the repair and as it was supposed to be a profit exercise to a degree that margin is all but gone. Letting the car go to someone who wants to do the repairs and keep the car makes a lot more sense to me.
I have an Alfa Mito 155 in my fleet now and as lovely as the car is there's something that rally annoys me.
None. NONE! Of the tyres match.
Okay I have always maintained a car on a budget but even I have never, ever; EVER replaced one tyre at a time.
1/ It's cheap.
2/ It's dangerous.
It effects the way the car performs on the road, how the brakes function and the handling characteristics.
The driver side front is an original Pirelli, passenger side front a Continental Ecoconti (Pre-arse looking tyre), drivers side rear BCT S800 (looks the newest but already cracking) and passenger side rear a Constancy ditch finder.
I was looking at sets of 215/45/17's to go on the car and aiming around the £500-600 fitted and balanced mark when I spotted a set of Fiat 500 Abarth 4x98mm Team Dynamics wheels with nearly new Avon tyres for £460
Sold.
The rears went straight on...
...the 205-40-17's make the car look tall but the springs are looking a little rusts so some shorter ones might find their way on the car.
The front wheels need 10mm spacers to clear the calipers.
The original wheel and bolt have 20mm clearance...
...the Bravo bolts and 10mm spacers I have are too short...
...and the super long fitting Coupe' Turbo wheels to my old Punto GT (and before that Uno turbo wheels to my Panda) bolts are too long...
Now I could cut the longer bolts shorter but they have a 19mm head. My 19mm socket is too big to fit in the recess of the wheels so they can't be done up without ruining the powder coat.
Grrrrrr!
So that was a day wasted and new bolts on their way.
In Uno related news. While I was gallivanting around oooop north yesterday I bought a 500 Abarth back box.
That looks pretty straight forward to fit.
(he says now but is more than prepared for a world of faff)
I have an Alfa Mito 155 in my fleet now and as lovely as the car is there's something that rally annoys me.
None. NONE! Of the tyres match.
Okay I have always maintained a car on a budget but even I have never, ever; EVER replaced one tyre at a time.
1/ It's cheap.
2/ It's dangerous.
It effects the way the car performs on the road, how the brakes function and the handling characteristics.
The driver side front is an original Pirelli, passenger side front a Continental Ecoconti (Pre-arse looking tyre), drivers side rear BCT S800 (looks the newest but already cracking) and passenger side rear a Constancy ditch finder.
I was looking at sets of 215/45/17's to go on the car and aiming around the £500-600 fitted and balanced mark when I spotted a set of Fiat 500 Abarth 4x98mm Team Dynamics wheels with nearly new Avon tyres for £460
Sold.
The rears went straight on...
...the 205-40-17's make the car look tall but the springs are looking a little rusts so some shorter ones might find their way on the car.
The front wheels need 10mm spacers to clear the calipers.
The original wheel and bolt have 20mm clearance...
...the Bravo bolts and 10mm spacers I have are too short...
...and the super long fitting Coupe' Turbo wheels to my old Punto GT (and before that Uno turbo wheels to my Panda) bolts are too long...
Now I could cut the longer bolts shorter but they have a 19mm head. My 19mm socket is too big to fit in the recess of the wheels so they can't be done up without ruining the powder coat.
Grrrrrr!
So that was a day wasted and new bolts on their way.
In Uno related news. While I was gallivanting around oooop north yesterday I bought a 500 Abarth back box.
That looks pretty straight forward to fit.
(he says now but is more than prepared for a world of faff)
I'd like to think that someone in the Fiat R&D department thought to themselves.
"Right new 500 Abarth exhaust. Let's make it so it fits an old Uno without much effort".
Whoops. Over trimmed the bumper a tad there I think.
Clears the fuel tank and rear beam...
...and filler pipe nicely. Just need to fabricate a new set of hangers, weld the box to the rear section and give it lick of VHT paint so it looks like new.
"Right new 500 Abarth exhaust. Let's make it so it fits an old Uno without much effort".
Whoops. Over trimmed the bumper a tad there I think.
Clears the fuel tank and rear beam...
...and filler pipe nicely. Just need to fabricate a new set of hangers, weld the box to the rear section and give it lick of VHT paint so it looks like new.
MJK 24 said:
What do you think of the Mito?
In general they are a highly under rated car. The base 1.4 has the same SuperFIRE engine I have in my Uno. Economical, spacious but like most modern small cars they're the size of a house. My Mito is bigger than my 145 Cloverleaf. The 155 is in my opinion the best of the bunch. That's why I chose mine over the 170 multiair Mito Cloverleaf. The other factor being comfort. I have an elderly Mother who I take care of when I'm not at work and Lusso springs offer a little more refinement than the Cloverleaf ones with eighteen inch instead of seventeen inch wheels as well.
Compared to the lineage...
Fiat 500 are a bit of a fad and for the money you can barely get an under-powered 1.2 the Abarth and 595/695 models are more desirable but cost a load more and the later has the multiair engine that I'm less convinced of.
The Grande Punto Abarth is similar money but the seats are horrid and they don't feel as sharp or have the sense of occasion to them the Mito has.
Vauxhall Corsa not my cup of tea at all.
Bravo 150 t-jet. I'm including this because they share the same engine. Bigger car, a bit "rounded Focus" looking to me. Not bad at all and was well in the running.
Panda 100hp, more doors, less room. Same N/A SuperFIRE as the Uno so should be petty bombproof. Quirky kind of reminds me of the old Cinquecento Sporting. You're not going to set the world on fire but "B" roads will be brilliant.
Before buying my Mito I had a good look and drove all of those. So opinions vary but I feel I have the best of the bunch.
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