Lost Uno Turbo owner

[lewey]

Hi,
Joined last week so I can gain some knowledge from you guys about the evolution of parts in the Uno Turbo. Forums with Uno guys in them barely exist now, but Punto GTs seem to still be rolling around! From time to time I need good recommendations for parts sourcing, etc.

I had a Guy Croft racing engine in my Uno, but after it failed, not for the first time, I decided to sell it and do a conversion to a more modern engine.

I have just completed the first implementation of an Abarth Grande Punto engine conversion. Lots of little bits to do and dash area to sort, but went drving around Wales last week and tracked it at Oulton Park on Wednesday.

[alexbpl]

We need to stop meeting like this.......LOL

Looks great anyway! Liked the vid on FF, happy that you put that awful bmw in its place.

[Mawbster]

hmm very nice. not seen that one before mate.

[Superman]

Very interesting car!!! How hard was the conversion?

Any particular reason for using the Tjet?

[southy85sx]

Welcome bud, nice motor

[Vern]

Excellent conversion mate and fairly unique I imagine!
Pop onto Turbocollective aswell, it's dedicated to Uno turbos

[lewey]

Very interesting car!!! How hard was the conversion?

Any particular reason for using the Tjet?

I didn't find the conversion difficult, but I have learnt the hard way when I put a 1368 16v N/A FIRE into my Classic Panda 2-3 years ago. The Panda and the Uno use standard FIAT electronics only. Both are fly-by-wire and I haven't seen the need to change to costly or complicated 3rd party electronics. FIAT electronics are hard to learn in the first instance and wiring is time consuming whichever way you do it. Only custom parts for the conversion are a plate to mount the gear lever as I chose to use bowden cables instead of rods and an accelerator pedal mount. Otherwise all made from FIAT parts that I can buy again if they break.

Reason for engine choice over the SOHC are:

Modern electronic reliability/ ease of remapping.
Ease of sourcing good or new parts.
Better cooling capacity in the block and addition of oil heat exchanger means less or no additional coolers and oil in engine bay and no unhealthy cool oil running and long warm up periods when not caning it.
Less weight improves handling and acceleration.
Fuel efficiency when travelling to tracks or generally around as I don't want a trailer.
High power outputs without internal modification means a simple, quick standard engine change after a potential failure.
Sump does not require modification for serious track use/slicks.
Easier to work on due to less clutter and front access turbo.

As a result of most of the above: value for money in the long term and ease of ownership which will hopefully all result in more time and money spent driving it. This is not an expensive conversion.

BTW, I do like the SOHC engine! When everything is working right they are screamers as we all know.