Hi Everyone, I am tidying up my 1.7 Puma. The project was originally on another forum, so will take a bit of shifting across until I can get it up to where I am now, please bear with me.
I was in the market for a second hand car costing no more than 1k, my finance deal was set to end and I didnt fancy chucking more money down the drain on a new car.
I was looking for a fiesta (my sister-in-law had a reliable little runner) but then realised for the same money I could pick up a Puma of the same age, seemed a bit of a no brainer! I set about hunting for cars in my area, but the closest I could find in my budget was in Ipswich. I left it a couple of days and decided to go on the friday after work, with the intention of placing a deposit if all was well.
I checked the net that morning and the car had gone. I hadn't looked the car over yet, but I had somehow become attached (I know this is a bad thing). I contacted the dealer, who told me that someone liked the car and was coming back for a second look. I shot the 40 odd miles to Ipswich, crazy I know! When I arrived the car was gone..... wasted trip!
But as it turned out it was only on a test drive. Cut a long story short, person on test drive didnt buy car, I bought car, person coming back for second look in afternoon missed out! popular little cars!
And that was that, I had fallen for Pumas, she has a peachy little engine, the body was a little rough around the edges (somebody had gone crazy on the rear arches, with something that looked like Hammerite).
I have had her for just under a month and I think this project is turning into a bit of an obsession. We have affectionatley nicknamed her Ayia. I want to get the suspension, bodywork and rust sorted as my primary goals, I will eventually modify her, but only subtly and in favour of enhancing the handling and performance.
The first picture of the car, complete with caved in front wing and horrific arch repairs:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67048934@N06/6942200921/http://www.flickr.com/photos/67048934@N06/6942200921/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/67048934@N06/, on Flickr
I will update this list as I go (check back on this list, as updated often)
Since February, the previous owner had replaced:
The car also received a new remote key and had a full service carried out. It had been kept running but that was about it, everything had been done on the cheap. One omission I noticed was no cambelt change, so I had my ford dealer (Busseys) replace it. I got the water pump changed at same time, all in for £360.
I want to get all major components back to OE quality or better if I can. A lot of the suspension bushes and mounts were shot, so they need sorting.
Things done:
Things to do (in order I plan to do them):
After a good clean and some touching up on the rear arches:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/65056499@N05/5925893574/http://www.flickr.com/photos/65056499@N05/5925893574/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/65056499@N05/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/65056499@N05/5925893574/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/65056499@N05/5934562930/http://www.flickr.com/photos/65056499@N05/5934562930/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/65056499@N05/, on Flickr