Spirito de Punto

1,287 · February 17, 2018

First attempt at posting so here goes... I had been slowly putting a cheap X reg Punto 1.2 8v back to good health as a learner car for kids. We got it for £100 with a week's mot to run and it seemed good. Forward six months of sorn and had to quickly press it back into service with fresh mot that it only just scraped through emissions. In that time I had replaced sump and driveshaft seals due to oil leaks and lower radiator panel. Drives nicely apart from the cooling system now filling with air on every journey.... So a head skim and head gasket change beckons + cambelt while it's all apart.. But that is my problem now do I slip further down the rabbit hole and spend about £150 doing this or walk away from it now as my partner would like.

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17,069 · February 17, 2018

Well I think most folk on here will tell you to fix it! and you can do it cheaper if you use the Dave Numbers patented head skimming method of gluing wet and dry paper to a sheet of glass and then pushing the head around on it in a figure of 8 pattern.

Head set and timing belt kit should cost something like £40 and £50 respectively so that £150 estimate can come down to £100 pretty quick. Could probably go even cheaper if you only replace the belt don't worry about new head bolts

1,287 · February 17, 2018

Well I think most folk on here will tell you to fix it! and you can do it cheaper if you use the Dave Numbers patented head skimming method of gluing wet and dry paper to a sheet of glass and then pushing the head around on it in a figure of 8 pattern.

Head set and timing belt kit should cost something like £40 and £50 respectively so that £150 estimate can come down to £100 pretty quick. Could probably go even cheaper if you only replace the belt don't worry about new head bolts

I am hoping to be using any good arguments for saving the car... against the missus with this endeavor so I can fix the Punto up. I was also just discussing the cheaper labour intensive methods of head skimming with my wife who flatly refuses to lend a hand lol. I priced it up enough to cover a £40 head skim, head gasket set Inc bolts and cambelt kit including w/pump. Though my head can be refurbished and skimmed with valves reseated, new stem seals and pressure test for £108 through ebay seller, or is that me going too far...

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6,755 · February 17, 2018

Well I think most folk on here will tell you to ~~fix it!~~ scrap it.

Depends. It's not really a car worth keeping and could throw up any number of faults soon, and once you've already spent money on it you are more inclined to spend more. Having said that if you honestly think you'll get another year's service out of it then why not. Plus it would be suited to learner drivers.

1,287 · February 17, 2018

I am talking myself into fixing it at the moment, Any good arguments in its favor might help with the missus. I serviced it before mot as well.... And new front brakes... Sigh I might just be going to far with it but without removing the head and checking that the block isn't damaged I won't know how bad its going to be.

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13,387 · February 17, 2018

The block is cast iron and probably wouldn't be damaged.

1,287 · February 17, 2018

The block is cast iron and probably wouldn't be damaged.

Well that's good to hear; I might if motivated get stuck into it early tomorrow morning.

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1,287 · February 21, 2018

Took a while to get started on this as life and work get in the way but exhaust off and strip down under way now.

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3,896 · February 21, 2018

Welcome!

My view is if you enjoy doing the work then crack on, seems a decent enough little thing.

I've edited the posts with photos to stop the text wrapping awkwardly. When you post using tapatalk, it's worth putting in a new line before you post the image. Just a tip for future posts.

10,911 · February 21, 2018

A replacement car could cost the same as the repair costs and then give you the little surprises of new faults, better the devil you know in my opinion but I have loads of stuff in various states of disrepair so what would I know!

10,796 · February 21, 2018

Yep, it's probably worth fixing if you intend to keep it.

2,722 · February 21, 2018

Good man, for £100 or so it's a no brainer to fix it, especially as any replacement could be much worse.

I quite like this generation of Punto, they're much more fun to drive than they have any right to be.

4,355 · February 21, 2018

If you really want to save money then don't fit a new cam belt, these are non interference engines.

I have to say this wouldn't be my normal way of doing things, it's just a suggestion.

17,069 · February 21, 2018

Might be worthwhile just for the peace of mind - engine will still stop if the belt breaks!

Looks like there is a fair bit of room under the bonnet though and things appear to be relatively accessible

1,287 · February 21, 2018

Might be worthwhile just for the peace of mind - engine will still stop if the belt breaks!

Looks like there is a fair bit of room under the bonnet though and things appear to be relatively accessible

I will post a pic of how bad the cambelt looks later when I get back to working on the car lol

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17,069 · February 22, 2018

I probably couldn't resist painting that cam cover too!

1,287 · February 22, 2018

Guesses on the how long this cambelt last..... The paint marks were already there handily.

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1,287 · February 22, 2018

Head off....

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34,128 · February 22, 2018

Welcome and good on you for cracking on with it. Am I correct in seeing evidence of coolant ingress on the right hand combustion chamber there?

Plenty of very negative members on here who will tell you to scrap it but just ignore them - fix it don't bin it!

Look forward to seeing further reports of it running well again!

1,287 · February 22, 2018

Yes cylinder 4 looks like the culprit and the firing/sealing ring on the head gasket looks worst on that cylinder. Now for the clean up of everything while the head is skimmed.

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3,693 · February 22, 2018

just sold my 2002 1.2 8v... my 2nd punto, both ran well and were great fun, but i now need an auto..

piece of pee to work on, and very little goes wrong usually..

also get ready for 'sloshing' sound from heater, as they all seem to do this...also don't forget to give it an 'italian' tune up every so often ... really helps the engine

17,069 · February 22, 2018

Are you going to clean up and lap the valves or leave them as they are?

Going OK so far - although I would be measuring that belts lifespan in weeks rather than months!

1,287 · March 5, 2018

Sorry for not replying or posting sooner but OMGSNOKAOS lived up to its name, the head is at the machine shop for skim + overhaul including valve removal/relapse and tappets set and new seals and the rest of the head gasket set comes back with it.

I was undecided on replacing the water pump till I had a clean up around it and saw the amount of silicone around it. Got a new one coming now....

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March 5, 2018

I have a whole bunch of Punto 1.2 8v parts, I have sent you a PM.. I forgot to mention I also have a new maniverter with a new Lambda in it, might help with emissions for next MOT ?

1,287 · March 14, 2018

I have a whole bunch of Punto 1.2 8v parts, I have sent you a PM.. I forgot to mention I also have a new maniverter with a new Lambda in it, might help with emissions for next MOT ?

Sorry missed your Pm will reply have had Birthdays and Mothers day Madness to get through.....

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1,287 · March 14, 2018

Shiny head arrived back home in time for the next bout of cold weather and potentially OMGSNOKAOS

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1,287 · March 14, 2018

OK now I am stressed..... I sent it with the locating dowels still fitted as they wouldn't budge and they have removed them for the head skim but they are not in the returned box with the head and I didn't notice till now.

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1,287 · March 17, 2018

The locating dowels have turned up in the post at last. Phoned fiat parts to see if they had any.... Yes sir £20 as they are in Europe and a minimum of 10 order and 5 day wait lol

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1,287 · March 17, 2018

Studs in, inlet manifold and thermostat refitted and dowels back in.

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2,418 · March 17, 2018

Did about 3 or 4 HG on 1.0 Fire motors back in the day. They all ran afterwards so I guess they worked, but a stressful experience for a complete novice as i was at the time.

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Spirito de Punto

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