Modifying a Fiat Bravo

[Dark Lurker]

Hello all, Ive decided to keep my Bravo after my mate nearly lost his licence from drifting and i was planning on getting back into it but a change of heart has made me stick with FWD. This is my first ever Fiat so im after as much advice as possible please from the experienced people on this forum.

Basically my queries are:

Iv stripped out my car at the back and plan on stripping out the front to as im going for the rally car interior with bucket seats etc. If i put 55/40 lowering springs on will the back still drop? And is it 55 rear or front as i seen them on ebay.

What brake calipers are a direct replacement as the front 251mm solid discs are useless.

What tuning parts are available for the 1.6 16v? Iv looked around and cant really find much.. I was going to take the inlet of to fabricate a bike carb inlet manifold but i think there might be clearance issues..

Am i better off running 15 16 or 17" alloys? I think 17s would fill the gap more but weigh me down. As i plan on making this a low weight car with extracting as much possible power from the 1.6 engine as possible.

If anyone has any inspiration pics to put up for me id greatly appreciate it also if anyone is selling anything i may be after please contact me.

Thanks

 

[Dark Lurker]

I also forgot to mention when people fit the Marea front end is it the whole front end or just the wings?

 

[Kee]

A far as a cheapish braking upgrade goes you could go for HGT calipers with the 284mm vented discs. You'd have to change the hubs at the same time though & the dampers. The HGT hubs need a damper with a 35mm bottom end coz the ones on lesser models are 25mm.

Kee
(HGT Owner since 02')

97' P393LOK 2.0 20v Bravo 147HGT - Car Heaven
97' R590BJO 2.0 20v Bravo 147HGT - Car Heaven
98' R93BFC 2.0 20vt Coupe - Donor Car - Car Heaven
99' T970VWS 2.0 20v Marea Weekend HLX - Car Heaven
01' X266EEX 2.0Vis 20v Bravo 155HGT - Car Heaven
98' S551CWH 2.0 20vT Bravo 260HGTurbo - Car Heaven

Next project:- Going to break, convert to 2.4 20vT & put the engine in a differend HGT (Heraldic Blue, hopefully when i find one)

Current Motor:- Y981SLB 2.0Vis 20v Bravo 155HGT

 

[Dark Lurker]

What about the 1.8 front calipers? To be honest i cant be bothered to change the hubs and shocks.. I just need vented dics imho. The car will be fully stripped out so it wont have much weight to stop along with drilled and grooved discs with performance pads braided lines and 5.1

 

[Karl]

In terms of the 1.6 engine... not much you can do unless you spend 100s..

ShaunCo on here had a 1.6 did a few things, up rated manifold, exhaust, bmc carbon air filter, superchipped... had it running around 123bhp...

You can get up rated profiled cams but they cost a few ton..piggy back ecu etc

I had a 1.8 and the standard brakes where shite... probably would be much better with drilled grooved discs and decent pads.... although i would go for the HGT brakes myself.. does your have ABS?? as 1.8s and HGT's did as standard..

I had 60mm front and rear on standard shocks and the ride was a joke it was solid this was on 17s with 40s on... 40mm is good lowering

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[Dark Lurker]

No i dont have ABS.. Even if i did id remove it lol. I like the sound of the HGT brakes but its changing the hubs etc. Id do it if the 4 pots of the coupe fit onto the hubs.. But thats probably overkill for a 1.6.

If i can find a 4 2 1 manifold that should help quite abit. Like i said id just love a set of bike carbs. Probably Suzuki GSXR carbs. I The standard inlet is to restricive for my liking and has to many sensors and pipes lol theres alot of weight to be saved from under the bonnet..

 

[Dark Lurker]

Theres to fiat marea 1.8s at my local scrapyard. Would those calipers fit onto my bravo and do they have vented discs?

 

[Kee]

Jamie i have those pics if you want them.....

I can't get your email addy from your login so email me on kee69uk@hotmail.com & i'll pop em over...!

Kee
(HGT Owner since 02')

97' P393LOK 2.0 20v Bravo 147HGT - Car Heaven
97' R590BJO 2.0 20v Bravo 147HGT - Car Heaven
98' R93BFC 2.0 20vt Coupe - Donor Car - Car Heaven
99' T970VWS 2.0 20v Marea Weekend HLX - Car Heaven
01' X266EEX 2.0Vis 20v Bravo 155HGT - Car Heaven
98' S551CWH 2.0 20vT Bravo 260HGTurbo - Car Heaven

Next project:- Going to break, convert to 2.4 20vT & put the engine in a differend HGT (Heraldic Blue, hopefully when i find one)

Current Motor:- Y981SLB 2.0Vis 20v Bravo 155HGT

 

[justin]

I have some hgt hubs and calipers knocking around somewhere if you go that route.

 

[shaunco]

The 1.6 is very restricted on engine mods. As is any fiat. But the best thing u can do is maintanance. Especialy to the fuel system and the air feed. I pretty much replaced all the sensors, pipes, filters and injectors etc. The 421 manifold is no longer available. I got mine off here. And the same with the chip. U can have them remapped and cams upratted but ur talking 1000's! Brakes I had 1.8 front brakes drilled and grooved and 2.0 on the back drilled and grooved. Made a lot of difference even with the heavy interior. My bravo could easilly keep up with most 2.0ltrs but it had no top end at all, it got to 105mph and stopped accelarating could go further. Wasn't worth all the hassle. Unless ur car has any centimental values, just get a bigger engine. 1.8 aren't bad to insure.

 

[Dark Lurker]

Thanks Shaun.. Due to insurance fuel and tax i will be sticking with the 1.6. Im surprised you only got 105 i was racing a clio rsi mk1 might of even been a valver down the m1 and the car sat at 105-110 with the clio happily... I personally believe with gsxr carbs, 421 exhaust (if i can find one) and a lightened flywheel the engine would give out about 130+bhp including a decat of course. Along with the stripped interior it will make one hot hatch with a close power to weight ratio as a turbo if not more.

Can someone please answer these following questions:

will the 1.8 calipers fit
does the marea front end just mean wings and headlights
and can the standard ecu run with the majority of the sensors disconected. As it would only retain the crank sensor to control the ignition..

 

[Karl]

I would suspect that the engine would run minus a few sensors, however the engines are heavily dependent on the ecu for all sorts of things... you have a job on your hands thats for sure.... there is a place in yorkshire that will machine mounting and gaskets for R1 Carbs which apparently fit the 1.6 and 1.8 engines

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[shaunco]

The 1.8 calipers bolt straight on. The marea is arches and bumper. Wheel arch liners if u wana do a proper job. Feul on a modified engine will be expensive. More than what the tax and fuel difference would be on a bigger engined car not forgetting all the money spent everytime u blow a gasket or a piston because the engine isn't made to be modified so heavily. All a matter of personal preference I suppose.

 

[Kee]

Jamie email me chap...! I can do you a great deal on the Bonnet, Hubs, Calipers, Newish Pads, Newish discs, & 2 suspension struts...! I have so many parts to get rid of i'll let them all go for stupid money but you'll have to mail me to discuss if you wnat to have an HGT setup rather than 1.8.......! Much better in my humble opinion & others....! Just means you could leave breaking into the corners later thus meaning you can go quicker round the track..............!?? UP2 you tho chap............................

Kee
(HGT Owner since 02')

97' P393LOK 2.0 20v Bravo 147HGT - Car Heaven
97' R590BJO 2.0 20v Bravo 147HGT - Car Heaven
98' R93BFC 2.0 20vt Coupe - Donor Car - Car Heaven
99' T970VWS 2.0 20v Marea Weekend HLX - Car Heaven
01' X266EEX 2.0Vis 20v Bravo 155HGT - Car Heaven
98' S551CWH 2.0 20vT Bravo 260HGTurbo - Car Heaven

Next project:- Going to break, convert to 2.4 20vT & put the engine in a differend HGT (Heraldic Blue, hopefully when i find one)

Current Motor:- Y981SLB 2.0Vis 20v Bravo 155HGT

 

[shaunco]

I'm sure the reason I went for 1.8 was because driveshafts wouldn't fit? The hub won't fit 1.6 drive shaft