Tuning Fiorino tuning

[Liquid Knight]

So I now have three potential buyers for the van (even though she's not for sale) a potential swap for ma much newer van (that thanks to Thantcham costs less to insure) and I'm a little unsure about the 1.7D as far as tuning goes.

I can not stand the smell of Diesel. I'm supposed to be running Biodiesel but there's nowhere local that sell it and I don't want to run chip fat because VOSA patrols have an annoying habit of pulling smokey vans over and charging people for the privilege.

Three options.

Keep the van.
Sell the van and get something with a proper engine.
Swap the van.

Decisions eh?

Get something with a proper engine would be a Fiorino in Mansfield that has the 1342 petrol engine. The very same engine that I had in my rally car so I know how bloody quick they can be and how to make them bloody quick to. A bit of a cheat as this was supposed to be an experiment into the dark world of Diesel but until they do something about the smell of the stuff I'll not be converted.

 

[Liquid Knight]

Swerve to avoid a pot hole and "BANG!"

The front valence suspension mount has gone and the passenger side front wheel is an inch back. :bang:

I guess that'd be what the M.O.T guy meant by front subframe. I'll have a look for a new valence in the morning.

 

[Liquid Knight]

Fiorino

New lower valance on ePER is called a cross rail for some reason and cost...

error 503

:bang: :bang: :bang:

...is there any point in ePER at all?

 

[Liquid Knight]

Fiorino

I'm not surprised the mount failed at all. There was only half an inch of weld holding it on and the rest was filler and clear silicone (for a change instead of black Tiger Seal).

I needed to get home so I used a tow strap and a post to push the van straight and held it with bailing wire.

Good enough to get me home and the van still handled better than a Mondeo.

Fixed now with a seam weld all the way round.

Until I can get hold of the right parts to do it properly that is.

 

[Peter Pick-Up]

ePER version on this site is the 2005 version, and is only for general purposes, like finding a part number.
Get the latest ePER version yourself on Ebay.


http://www.ebay.nl/itm/FIAT-ALFA-ROMEO-ABARTH-LANCIA-ePER-v-78-07-2013-Spare-Parts-Catalogue-/261373988649?pt=UK_CarParts_Vehicles_Manuals_Litterature_ET&hash=item3cdb1a8f29

 

[Liquid Knight]

This adventure continues. The brake hose clamp failed (due to corrosion) and the hose split on the rim with a couple of miles to go.

Thankfully my Panda hose is a straight swap so in no time at all...

...the bleed nipple sheered off. :bang:

In the recorded history of mankind there has never been an instant where a sheered bleed nipple has been successfully removed from a brake caliper; so a little ahead of schedule...

...Punto GT calipers and Cinquecento conversion discs. :slayer:

So new shoes?

The Strada wheels need 20mm spacers.

So Punto GT wheels for the time being.

The shed surface rust will wear away in no time and already the brakes feel a lot better than the standard ones.

 

[Peter Pick-Up]

Every rubber brake hose has a production date stamped on them.
After 10 years they should be changed for new ones. ( they can clog up from inside, with no outside visible deffects.....very dangerous indeed...)
Go for stainless steel braided hoses, and you'll never have to change them again.
www.helperformance.com

 

[Liquid Knight]

Thanks Peter but these are my go to guys...

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wisbech-Engineering-Ltd/233778806684220?fref=ts

Just up the road and made to order in minutes.

 

[Liquid Knight]

Fiorino

Typical old car bodge...

...nearly new-ish pads one side...

...nearly completely knackered ones the other side.

New pads on the way and my old Fantasia discs will do for now. I just need to drill and retap the nipple hole.

 

[Peter Pick-Up]

Well, the so called "floating" calipers didn't float to well...

 

[Liquid Knight]

Fiorino

The sliders don't slide if they're rusty and covered in crap. I have been known to make my own out of mirror polished Stainless Steel.

 

[Peter Pick-Up]

That's why I use some Telfon grease on them.
( and don't forget the cover caps....)

 

[Liquid Knight]

Is Teflon more heat resistant?

The Punto wheels drop straight on with the longer Punto studs being the only requirement. The rear drums are massive so I doubt fitting the GT rear disc would make much if any difference.

 

[Peter Pick-Up]

Ceramic grease and copper grease are the best heat resistant,( but I like Teflon.......)
The sliders shouldn't be greased per factory specs, but a little won't hurt imo, just make sure to clean them regularly, before greasing.

 

[Liquid Knight]

Fiorino

That's it! The other bloody nipple has sheered off now. :bang:

I'm off to the scrap yard to see if MkII Punto calipers are a match.

I'm not keeping my rally car brakes on there if the van's sold.

 

[Liquid Knight]

Punto GT brakes on a Fiorino.

0-60 in 28 seconds

60-0 in 2.8 seconds.

 

[Liquid Knight]

Experimenting with Biodiesel.

Ten litres of diesel and five litres of sunflower oil (£6 or two for £9 from Tesco) and the van took longer to warm up, ran lumpier than normal, smoked a lot more than normal, ran at a lower temperature, quicker pick up and smelled nicer.

I won't bother again the van was rough as when I used V-Power.

 

[Liquid Knight]

Fiorino

Look...

...the log book is right...

...the van is red. :slayer:

Rudely awoken on a night shift transition day so I used my temper, an old t'shirt and some t-cut creatively.

 

[Liquid Knight]

Fiorino

Of to BG Supplies later...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/bg-supplies

...to get some custom Stainless Steel braided brake hoses made up so I can have crap brakes on my van again.

 

[Liquid Knight]

Fiorino

http://www.bgcmotorsport.co.uk/

Superb brake lines so my van can have crap brakes again.