Hi all, new 1.7 owner checking in.

[neil007evans]

Hi, just got home from picking up my first puma up :grin: excited to be taking on this little project. Car is in good condition and in need of a good bit tlc but drives well. Hope to get some good advice and help as I go along from everyone on here. Apart from my list below are there any jobs I should be sorting out first, cars a 99 on v reg.

First jobs:
sort the paintwork out, needs a good clean and some renovation.
new front brake lines as failed mot due to this
get new cambelt fitted as cant trace this since last one in 2008

cheers guys, neil

 

[r53bertyboo]

Hi Neil,

Welcome from another newbie, if your is like mine remove the wheel arch liner/carpets (LOL) and treat the rust that will be hiding behind them and waxoyl the arches and also remove the rear spare wheel and tray so that you can inspect under there too. I have spent the last 4 days wire brushing and cleaning under my Puma and have treated the rust. Now I am waxoyling as much of the underside as I can with the car on axle stands.

Good luck with it,

 

[quest63]

Welcome aboard :thumbs:

I would give it a damn good examination underneath for rust before spending on the cambelt or anything else. Pay particular attention to the areas around where the rear beam mounts to the body k:

 

[neil007evans]

Thanks alot for the quick replys. I will make that the first job then to have a really good look underneath, I have heard about removing the wheel arch carpets to identify and treat any rust under there. Are they secured in by screws? Thanks guys.

 

[quest63]

They are secured in by torque head screws and sort of flat washer nut thingmajigs. You have to make a cut with a stanley knife on the arch carpet to free it from around the brake bracket

 

[neil007evans]

Thanks again, a job for tomorrow I reckon as of work. I also need to replace the front brake hoses as mot failure item, I have looked in the how to section but couldn't see a guide. Im thinking its not a difficult job but any tips from anyone that's done it before?

 

[Dwighet]

Thanks again, a job for tomorrow I reckon as of work. I also need to replace the front brake hoses as mot failure item, I have looked in the how to section but couldn't see a guide. Im thinking its not a difficult job but any tips from anyone that's done it before?

Is it the rubber hoses or the steel pipes??

 

[neil007evans]

Its both I believe. :-( but I will be having a good look tomorrow.

 

[neil007evans]

Well finally passed the mot today after a little welding on sill and floor plan as were close to seatbelt anchorage point, is this a common rust site? Few advisories including: front (rear) suspension arm rubber bushes deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement, are these the wishbone bushes? I believe they have front and rear ones?

Happy to be on the road at last
cheers guys

 

[CherryVimto]

Yes, the wishbones have front and rear bushes.

 

[johno441]

Front wishbones including bushes, cheap on wee bay - spend a bit of time looking, I found the bones, drop links, track rod ends and anti roll bar bushes + replacement bolts & lock nuts as a kit for a good price. If you're doing all that, might as well do top mounts & (if you're brave) rear axle bushes as well, overall made a tremendous difference to my car which had done 86K when I got it. I fitted Flo flex rear axle bushes which are a bit stiffer than stock but are black (so difficult for Mr insurance Co. to spot) :twisted:

 

[neil007evans]

Well it's been a busy few weeks working with the puma and I have to thank you again for your recommendation to go to tremona garage, what a great place and genuinely nice bunch of guys, thanks again Rob, I mentioned your name and previous puma work and Richard remembered. Really knowledgeable and have done a great job. Initially went in for cambet kit including tensioner, rocker cover gasket, alternator drive belt and idler, water pump and coolant change but ended up being a bit of trouble for them as previous poor work had ment that 2 engine cover bolts had to be carefully drilled out so as not to snap the manafold mount place, retap all threads, also one plug lead was screwed and not connecting to spark plug, all plugs were totally screwed and soaked in oil due to ineffective gasket. 
Several hours and new parts and bolts it's running quietly and really smoothly, a new lease of life!

coupled with the new suspension shocks and front wishbones, bushes and anti roll bar links it is finally ready to drive for a while with hopefully nothing major to do!

Anyone that needs a ford specialist that actually cares and is interested in your vehicle could do alot worse than pay tremona a visit.