Hi all! I will use this topic as sort of a diary for my very own Puma project. The goal is to exchange the 1.6 engine in my Puma for a 1.7 and create a good handling car I can use both on the road as well as on the track.
I know, swapping a 1.6 for a 1.7 does not sound very sexy or challenging, but this is the first time I will be swapping an engine. Furthermore, I don’t have much experience in car mechanics. But, with the help of a skilful friend and of course this forum, I have every confidence to embark on this journey.
So, why this swap, you might ask… Well, I drove a 1.6 for half a year when the engine started making rattling noises. It turned out either the big end bearings or the rod bearings (or both) are on their way out. However, I don’t want to say goodbye to the Puma, and I like a bit of a challenge. So there you go, before I knew it, I bought a Puma 1.7 with major rust but a good engine. This car is going to be the donor car, and my 1.6 will receive a heart transplantation, as well as some other nice goodies from the donor car.
First a little introduction of the cars.
The base car is a 2001 built, but 2003 registered, Puma 1.6. It is actually the last Puma registered in The Netherlands (not counting import vehicles). The odometer reads 280,000 km, and in the 20,000 km I drove with it, it proved quite reliable. The overall condition is good, but is has not escaped the rust monster. Both rear wheel arches are starting to get a bit crispy. Right now, it’s not a big deal, as it passed the MOT just a week ago. But we all know how rust behaves… So this will need to be addressed while/after doing the engine swap.
The donor car is a 1.7 version built in 1999. The previous owner wanted to create a track car, but didn’t go beyond stripping the interior and fitting a custom exhaust. When stripping the interior he found some surprises hidden beneath the carpet: rust. There are three or four spots in the front occupant area which are so heavily rusted that you can actually look down through the floor on the tarmac. This is an unquestionable failure for MOT, so he decided to sell the car. Despite the rust, the engine is good, and with 160,000 km on the odometer, it will be ready to take on some more.
So coming up are updates of my progress with merging the two Puma’s into one, so to say. :grin:
I know, swapping a 1.6 for a 1.7 does not sound very sexy or challenging, but this is the first time I will be swapping an engine. Furthermore, I don’t have much experience in car mechanics. But, with the help of a skilful friend and of course this forum, I have every confidence to embark on this journey.
So, why this swap, you might ask… Well, I drove a 1.6 for half a year when the engine started making rattling noises. It turned out either the big end bearings or the rod bearings (or both) are on their way out. However, I don’t want to say goodbye to the Puma, and I like a bit of a challenge. So there you go, before I knew it, I bought a Puma 1.7 with major rust but a good engine. This car is going to be the donor car, and my 1.6 will receive a heart transplantation, as well as some other nice goodies from the donor car.
First a little introduction of the cars.
The base car is a 2001 built, but 2003 registered, Puma 1.6. It is actually the last Puma registered in The Netherlands (not counting import vehicles). The odometer reads 280,000 km, and in the 20,000 km I drove with it, it proved quite reliable. The overall condition is good, but is has not escaped the rust monster. Both rear wheel arches are starting to get a bit crispy. Right now, it’s not a big deal, as it passed the MOT just a week ago. But we all know how rust behaves… So this will need to be addressed while/after doing the engine swap.
The donor car is a 1.7 version built in 1999. The previous owner wanted to create a track car, but didn’t go beyond stripping the interior and fitting a custom exhaust. When stripping the interior he found some surprises hidden beneath the carpet: rust. There are three or four spots in the front occupant area which are so heavily rusted that you can actually look down through the floor on the tarmac. This is an unquestionable failure for MOT, so he decided to sell the car. Despite the rust, the engine is good, and with 160,000 km on the odometer, it will be ready to take on some more.
So coming up are updates of my progress with merging the two Puma’s into one, so to say. :grin: