1999 T plate Crono grey LE1157 project

Well, after almost 16 years since parting company with my scots green 20v turbo, I am now the proud owner of LE1157 with 30,900 miles now on the clock.

I jumped on the train on Saturday with my girl and we made our way to south London where I purchased the car from the previous 16 year owner. The car itself is 100% corrosion free and the engine, gearbox etc are as tight and precise as the day it was driven out of the showroom. The car pulled strongly in every gear on the drive home and the sound of the turbo whistle and that beautiful 5 pot soon put a big smile on my face again.

However, although the previous keeper has maintained and serviced the car (full fiat service history) it has never had any kind of refresh.

The car is now booked in with Joe (F.C.S.S) for a complete overhaul of ALL the suspension components and underseal, full stainless exhaust system, new oil cooler and radiator if required, full coolant hose replacement, cam and auxiliary belts, water pump, clutch, brake overhaul, new OE drilled discs & pads, new brake lines, corrosion inhibitor treatment, thermostat and sensors, starter motor (think it might need one) and a load of other items Joe or myself will list as we go along.

The car isn't booked in with Joe until the middle of April, when I will drop it off with him before I head back to work.

In the meantime, I intend removing the centre and handbrake console for hydro dipping as they are both subject to the terrible sticky coating disease. I also hope to replace to rear and front badges as they have faded and also the wheel centre caps. I'm also trying to get hold of some new horns before it goes to Joe but if not will leave them to get sorted then.

At the end of the year (if not sooner, depends how long it takes to get the mechanics in top order), I will also be putting the car in for a full windows out, bumpers and side skirts off respray, including the door handles and B pillars so had better start saving again.

I will keep this post updated with progress as I go along as the previous owner (a sleeping forum member) has expressed his interest in seeing how I take the coupe forward from here. Rest assured, it's in good hands with me and Joe and I look forward to getting her back to her former glory.

Work carried out so far:

-Engine bay degrease and jet wash
-Coolant expansion tank clean
-Fit new brake fluid cap
-Fit new oil dipstick
-Fit new fiat bonnet and boot badges
-Fit new wipers
-Fit new horns
-Fit new lifetime warranty Yuasa battery
-New NGK Iridium plugs
-New OE air filter
-New OE oil filter
-Mobil No1 10W60 fully synthetic oil
-New Dunlop SportMaxx RT tyres
-New windscreen

Jobs to do next week:

-Fit new cat back stainless exhaust

Jobs booked in with Joe at FCSS:

-Fit new cam belt kit, water pump, cam, crank phase sensors and aux belts.
-Fit new crinkle red rocker cover and spark plug cover with new gasket
-Fit new three piece clutch kit including slave.
-Fit new Viper coolant hose kit, new thermostat, ecu temp sensor
-Fit new Valeo radiator.
-Remove all brake callipers for full refurbishing.
-Remove front and rear suspension, 6x brake flex lines.
-Strip front hubs and install new wheel bearings.
-Clean complete underside of vehicle including where access allows around the fuel tank, arch liners.
-Treat any surface rust with POR15 treatment.
-Refit new front and rear suspension components.
-Refit front and rear brake callipers with new OE brembo discs and pads.
-Fit new hand brake cables.
-Fit new HEL brake flex lines and compensator spring.
-Bleed full brake and clutch system with DOT4 fluid.
-New oil cooler to original pipes.
-Fit new C/V gaiters to O/S and N/S drive shafts.
-Fit new steering gaiters to track rod end and possibly new rods, ends depending on there inspection.
-Install new heater matrix and seals while coolant system is drained.
-Change turbo oil return line for new OE pipe.
-Fit new rear bearing hubs units.
-fit new AC condenser
-Fit service items, fuel and pollen filter.
-LED sidelight and HID headlight conversion
-polish and restore headlight plastics
-Hydrodip or wrap centre and handbrake consoles
-Refill coolant system with Parablue coolant.
-Check power steering fluid.
-Refill gearbox with 2ltrs 85/90 Mobile 1 oil.
-Under seal floor pans, front inner arches and accessible areas at rear with a light coating of under seal.
-Fit new under bonnet/wheelarch foam seals/gaskets
-Inspect rear subframe and replace bushes as required
-MOT
- fit new OE sunroof seal set

Work to complete after return from FCSS:

- Flea remap
- Refurb LE wheel centre caps or obtain ones already done
- Replace damaged passenger sun visor if I can get hold of one
- Fit engine bay sticker set
- Paint and fit new B pillar badges if I can get hold of any
- Full interior valet and leather care treatment
- engine bay professional valet
- bodywork machine polish and detail
-Replace every screw and fixing under the bonnet with new stainless steel

The car on the day I picked her up

Engine bay before clean



Engine bay after clean

Before and after coolant expansion tank clean

New horns

New battery

Before replacing rotten OE exhaust system with custom stainless catback

After fitting new stainless catback system

Follow the link for general discussion.......

http://www.fiatcoupeclub.org/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1569039&#Post1569039

Headlights removed and split for refurb after a few tales of woe....

I managed to accidentally grill one and crack the other trying to remove what wasn't the expected sticky black goo once heated in the oven, but a hard, set rubber substance that didn't want to soften.

Anyway, Joe at FCSS furnished me with replacement lights which happened to open as expected. Not sure what my lights were sealed with but its worth noting that some headlights appear to be sealed with different bonding agents.

Lenses are now being polished to whoa I hope is 'as new' condition before I refit them ready for the drive down to Joe at FCSS next week for the big overhaul.

Pics to follow......

Cleaned the leather seats with leather cleaner and now half way through treating the front leather seats to a saddle wax treatment after noticing signs of cracking on the bolsters. Applied two coats so far and they are looking very good indeed (could almost hear the leather drinking the stuff).

Pics to follow......

Back home after an eventful night and morning. Drove the coupe down to FCSS and left it there for the 'Big Restore' to commence. Coupe will be away now for 2-3 month but will actually be in a better condition than the day it come off the production line. Good luck with the project Joe Knight (F.C.S.S), looking forward to getting Carlos the Crono back from you!

Project as follows:

Work carried out so far:

-Engine bay degrease and jet wash
-Coolant expansion tank clean
-Fit new brake fluid cap
-Fit new oil dipstick
-Fit new fiat bonnet and boot badges
-Fit new wipers
-Fit new horns
-Fit new lifetime warranty Yuasa battery
-New NGK Iridium plugs
-New OE air filter
-New OE oil filter
-Mobil No1 10W60 fully synthetic oil
-New Dunlop SportMaxx RT tyres
-New windscreen
-New cat back stainless exhaust

Jobs booked in with Joe at FCSS:

-Fit new cam belt kit, water pump, cam, crank phase sensors and aux belts.
-Fit new crinkle red rocker cover and spark plug cover with new gasket
-Fit new three piece clutch kit including slave.
-Fit new Viper coolant hose kit, new thermostat, ecu temp sensor
-Fit new Valeo radiator.
-upgrade turbo internals
-Remove all brake callipers for full refurbishing.
-Remove front and rear suspension, 6x brake flex lines.
-Strip front hubs and install new wheel bearings.
-Clean complete underside of vehicle including where access allows around the fuel tank, arch liners.
-Treat any surface rust with POR15 treatment.
-Refit new front and rear suspension components.
-Refit front and rear brake callipers with new OE brembo discs and pads.
-Fit new hand brake cables.
-Fit new HEL brake flex lines and compensator spring.
-Bleed full brake and clutch system with DOT4 fluid.
-New oil cooler to original pipes.
-Fit new C/V gaiters to O/S and N/S drive shafts.
-Fit new steering gaiters to track rod end and possibly new rods, ends depending on there inspection.
-Install new heater matrix and seals while coolant system is drained.
-Change turbo oil return line for new OE pipe.
-Fit new rear bearing hubs units.
-fit new AC condenser
-Fit service items, fuel and pollen filter.
-LED sidelight and HID headlight conversion
-polish and restore headlight plastics
-Hydrodip or wrap centre and handbrake consoles
-Refill coolant system with Parablue coolant.
-Check power steering fluid.
-Refill gearbox with 2ltrs 85/90 Mobile 1 oil.
-Under seal floor pans, front inner arches and accessible areas at rear with a light coating of under seal.
-Fit new under bonnet/wheelarch foam seals/gaskets
-Replace entire rear subframe with galvanised and replace bushes
-MOT
- fit new OE sunroof seal set
-Replace foam and refurb leather on both front seats.
- Refurb LE wheel centre caps
- Replace damaged passenger sun visor
- Fit engine bay sticker set
- Paint and fit new B pillar badges
- Full interior valet and leather care treatment
- windows out respray
-Flea remap

The project is gaining momentum now and because the car is with Joe at FCSS it is easier for me to just paste the link to his facebook page for photo updates. I will continue to provide updates on some of the other stuff.

Photos here.......

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1028903790537800.1073741927.319959168098936&type=3

Because the car was never really driven as it was intended, the turbo looks like it is failing (blue smoke on cold start) and have decided after speaking with Joe to replace turbo with a new super spool one (exact details will follow). New turbo and Flea map should see the car pushing around 280 BHP without the need to upgrade the intercooler.

B pillar badges and wheel centre caps being painted by myself and will be sent to Joe for the finishing touches.

Still waiting for new original cross drilled front discs from Demon Tweaks to arrive but still have plenty of time for them to arrive as all callipers will be fully refurbed and painted before installing new discs all round

Refurbed centre caps

As I was unable to source new replacement LE pillar badges and the original ones had broken silver swooshes and had been badly hand painted, I managed to obtain the regular silver badges and transformed them to LE ones, which are now with Joe along with the wheel centre caps for fitting.

Silver badges prior to painting



Finished product.....LE pillar badges

Coming along nicely and should be ready to collect this time home............Coupé project update in photos, enjoy!

https://web.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1028903790537800.1073741927.319959168098936&type=3

What can I say apart from its been a very expensive and a lengthy project, but Joe Knight at FCSS has certainly proved to me that he is my only choice for maintaining my coupe.

Coupe was MOT'd yesterday, is planned to be re-mapped next week with any finishing touches carried out before collection on 22nd December

Credits (not all):
Joe Knight (FCSS) - complete stripdown and rebuild
Chris (Universal-Turbos) - turbo upgrade
Paul (Screentech) - Interior restoration
AK SEHRA - windows out respray
Leighton (FC Performance) - Live remap
Demon tweaks - OE front discs

View photos here but more will be added upon full completion and collection.............

http://s1026.photobucket.com/user/Clinto...rt=3&page=1

283.4 ftlbs - 300.4 bhp

Not bad for a 2.25" stainless catback system, stock SMIC, stock 30k mile engine with OE turbo housing upgraded with new super spool internals

Job complete!

All photos can be viewed here......

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1028903790537800.1073741927.319959168098936&type=3

Final piece in the jigsaw. Final polish before fitting sometime today