Puma 1.7 Rebuild Mk II

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At the risk of being controversial, is it worth taking it to a specialist? J sounds like he knows how to spanner, but not sure he totally understands all the workings of a Puma and the various little quirks they have, especially on a modified one... just a thought.
 
How are your contacts on MAF connector? That would be my prime point of suspicion. Since the replacement brough an improvement, it could be that resistance at connecting point is too big. Just a thought. I mean, you have replaced almost everything electric so the components should be ok...?
Did you replace the clutch switch under the steering column? That is known to cause idling problems...
 
Hi all,

Thanks for the replies, I appreciate all the advice and support during this project. J rang yesterday and reassured me not to give up on the car. He said he knows a guy who he can borrow a Ford diagnostic tool from. He said he'd like the car for longer, but now that I'm starting a new job my July holiday has been cancelled. This means J can't have any longer than a weekend to work on the car. In fact, it probably means the bodywork can't be done for the forseeable future too. Or the clutch. At this point it may have to be sold with the parts that still need fitting.

As for a specialist or further parts to potentially buy/replace. At this point I'm struggling to justify spending any more money.

Got the car for £550. The rebuild went 3 times over my initial budget and an 11 month delay. I figured the rebuild would be a strong foundation for a car that I'd keep for a long time. Since getting it back it's been riddled with problems that didn't exist before the rebuild. I'm not sure where I'm at this point, but I've spent at least 10 times more than the car was originally bought for.

Trying to fix the judder and idling alone has cost me over £600 in sensors and over £400 in labour. At this point, everything I'm attempting isn't working and it's hard to keep going. Just how much more time and money will it take? Even if the car was running perfectly, it's not practical enough to keep long term.

I can't keep throwing money at this. Realistically I could spend thousands more and still not iron out all the problems. I have to be realistic at this point. This project hasn't gone my way - not once. I don't want to admit defeat, but I think it's time to throw in the towel. Again, if anyone is interested in taking this car/project on - let me know in a PM. I'll be looking to sell in the next few weeks.

Ed
 
Listed, no going back now:

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1124593?fbclid=IwAR0eSqrhfn3nRs_sWcUoXpQVMH6CxOkpWC1yenKGNx6XilvD31AJEt2-UfU
 
It is, but I just can't keep going at this point. I've never had so much bad luck with a car before, or spent so much trying to fix one.

Had some of the issues been fixed I think I might have reconsidered. But since I got it back the only 2 problems that have genuinely been fixed is the heatshield rattle and the coolant leak.

After spending over £1000 and the judder and idling is getting worse, not better. I don't like admitting defeat, but ever since the delays began with J working on the car, things have been going from bad to worse.

Ed
 
To be honest, looking on ebay I think I'm going to struggle to get £1500. There's one for £1250 which has more mods and is working fine. One for £950 with 59k on the clock and a custom wrap/colour.

I thought I was feeling bad when I decided to give up on the project, but this is above and beyond.

Ed
 
Problem I have is bi-polar. I'm up and down like a yo-yo and I'll go from extreme ideals, dreams and expectations - to frequently wanting to give up and failing to see the point in anything.

It's not an ideal project for someone like me. Especially with the delays, and now the problems since getting it back. Friends, family and work colleagues have belittled me throughout the project. In fact, the problems and delays have become a running joke with most people I know.

I'm tired. I don't want to give up. I've already cancelled the FB ad. If I cancel the CarandClassic add then the car isn't for sale online other than on here.

But honestly, if these problems haven't been fixed - how much more does it take? Could it take? Hundreds? Thousands?

There's no doubt it's a fun car with spirit and potential. I can't deny the mods installed have made it an exciting and engaging drive. But it's not practical enough and that won't change. I'm not financially well off to keep 2 cars. I can - and I have, for 12 months of this project.

But spending an extra £100 a month to keep the Puma legal on the road. I don't know. Spending hundreds each month on parts as well? Sure, it won't always be the case. But this is big money to me. I get maybe £500 spare a month after all my bills, and most of that has gone on the Puma for over a year. It's exhausting guys.

I'm stumped at this point. I got an eBay draft saved. I've joined 15+ Puma, Ford, Classic Car and local car sales groups on Facebook. It's not as simple as wanting to give up. I am plagued with doubts. Every time I sold my previous Pumas I was gutted. Sure, the initial excitement of a new car clouds your judgement. But the Puma has buckets more personality than most cars. Also, a car that's fast from the forecourt isn't as appealing to me as something that was already capable - but turned into something that genuinely feels extraordinary. My ST180 was beautiful - but it felt too tame. The Puma is the exact opposite. For someone who is 6'4" - refinement or practicality is out the window, and yet - it feels right.

It's the money though, it's a drain. It continues to be a drain. I know J has meant well, but the delays have probably thrown the biggest spanner in the works. Even to this day it can be hard to pin him down for definite dates on work to be done. I get it - he's busy. I also know he's invested a lot in this car, like I have. He is pushing for me to keep the car. I know all of you are.

I know going to Lightning Motorsport or Allison Automotive could probably fix the gremlins. But at what cost? I've thrown so much at this project and I've got such mixed emotions about the car. I feel like it's cursed and yet amazing at the same time. Bit like the ups and downs with my personality I guess.

Let me be 100% honest though. Sitting on the decision about wanting to sell the car hasn't felt right. But forseeing the possibility of spending hundreds or thousands more is also, just as unappealing. I know I don't want to leave it like this. I never wanted the car to be half finished. I wanted to see this car through. I still do in all honesty. Maybe if I make a saving with driving a God awful 1.2 litre Polo to and from work for a few months I can get the car in with Justin to get worked on again.

At the end of the day he owes me 2 full days work and we've got parts waiting to be fitted.

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CarandClassic:

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Text J to collect the car and fit the last of the parts. After that, onto a specialist I suppose. Bugger me...

Just told the missus:

"I'm stuck with the Puma, sorry."
"Mmmmkay."
"It isn't, but fuck it - at least I'm passionate about something."

ZING

Ed
 
Seems I've backtracked and put it on eBay. Was driving the Polo over the weekend and commuting into work today. No issues whatsoever. Comfortable, quiet, smooth and seemingly reliable.

Even if everything was working on the Puma is wouldn't be comfortable, practical or economical enough for daily use. Plus with the way it's been modified it encourages me to drive like an idiot.

Someone did mention a query on one of the FB groups I posted the add to: a compression test? Could this be what's causing the low RPM judder?

Anyways, for those interested:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Puma-1-7-Full-engine-Rebuild-Stage-2-Tuned/123813576992

Ed
 
st220kyle said:
Hopefully you've done it, it's quite rewarding repairing faults on your own car. I would of thought you could do the door cards yourself too. There's always going to be things you need an expert for but why don't you see what you can do yourself? It might make you feel a bit more positive about the car and what you've achieved.

It's a slippery slope! There's not much I wouldn't try these days but it wasn't always like that. The successes you have make you grow in confidence to tackle bigger jobs. And the money you save enables you to buy the tools you need to do them!

I'm not pretending I don't make mistakes - I make a lot of them. I try to learn from them. And if I'm feeling down about it, I console myself with the fact that I've still saved money over paying someone else to do it.

Examples:

Fitted 4 new(ish) tyres only to discover 3 wheels were buckled and needed replacing - so had to go and source some replacement wheels and pay for the tyre fitting all over again.

Fitted the steering wheel remote stalk, bodged up the soldering so much the connectors fell off and rendered it useless. Had to buy another part and fit it.

Fitted new front wishbones but caught the ball joint boot on the dust shield and put a nick in it. Found a way of repairing with silicone tape.

Put the plastic rocker cover cover back on, did bolts too tight. Broke cover getting it off, had to buy replacement.

YOU LIVE AND LEARN
 
At this stage it's over to someone else to take over the project and get it finished.

I joined over 30 Facebook groups for Pumas, Fords, classic cars and local car sales and posted the eBay listing link.

After 25 hours since listing I'm currently at £501.51 with the stats as follows: 658 views, 31 watchers, 15 bids. Timed it so it'll finish Friday evening and then it'll be good for collection this weekend.

I'd been a little worried when looking at other Pumas for sale. However, none of them have had the amount of work or money put into them as I've done with mine. Yes, it's far from perfect - but it's had a lot of the big jobs done. I've got a feeling it'll go to an enthusiast, which makes me feel happier about parting with it.

On the VW side of things, I've done 76.8 miles and the fuel gauge hasn't even gone below the first increment. Not even bothered to thrash it, there's no point. It's back to pottering around driving like a granny again.

Maybe a few years down the line I might reconsider getting another project car. Although I don't think I'd want to go as in depth as I have done with this project.

Famous last words.

Ed
 
On another note. Once the car is sold I'll be selling the following:

x3 OMP strut braces (in red) - £75 (£25 cheaper than what I bought them for)
Stage 2 clutch (new) - £175 (£39 cheaper than what I bought it for)
Millenium edition front and rear door cards £100 (£50 cheaper than what I bought them for)

No offers. I've already knocked off a fair amount from each compared to what I bought them for.

If anyone's interested in any of these please PM me.

Ed
 
Hi Ed
I've occasionally had a look at your post and the problems you've had and wondered if you've kept the standard throttle body with the TPS untouched. It might be worth trying to fit that back on the engine rather than the mondeo throttle body but if you have removed the TPS from the original throttle body forget what I've said.
Barry
 
J did say the idling was perfect on the standard throttle body, after he'd done some alterations to the idle air valve.

But he fitted the Mondeo one like I asked. However, he hasn't had the car since to put back on the standard throttle body.

Now that the car is being sold as is, I'll let whoever buys it know that it probably needs a standard throttle body back on.

Ed
 
Parts are with J. ECU reset after doing the MAF and all other sensors unfortunately did nothing. We were going to put the original throttle body back on to potentially fix the rough idling issue. However, it's been a real issue pinning J down for firm dates on working on the car since I've got it back. Seems he has more work than he can handle.

The delays with J, the cost and the issues that aren't getting fixed after all these new parts are the main reasons I'm giving up at this point. Truthfully though, I know J has meant well - but it's been the main point of frustration throughout the project. He's a good mechanic, and when he does work on the car he's been doing 12+ hour days and made good progress.

I'm under no illusion that I'll only get a fraction of the money back when I sell it compared to what I put into the car. I also know that it's probably seen as foolish to give up at this point on the car. I've gone without having any real spare money for over a year now and in all honesty I'm utterly fed up with the car at this point. I can't thank you enough for all the support you've given me over this past year with the project. I only wish it'd worked out better in the end.

The cars now for sale though. I'm not doing any more to it other than cleaning it before it's taken away this weekend. I've got a feeling it will go to an enthusiast:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Puma-1-7-Full-engine-Rebuild-Stage-2-Tuned/123813576992

Next week I'll collect the bits J didn't fit and list those on eBay if they're not bought by people here or on Puma/Ford groups on Facebook: stage 2 clutch, OMP struts x3 and Millenium edition front and rear door cards.

Ed
 

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