Puma from Malta

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fefu17

Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2011
Messages
74
Hi, I'm new on here. I'm from Malta and I bought my '97 Puma 1.7 Lux as a UK import 2 and a half years ago.


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It looked fairly good with some bubbling on the rear arches but I knew that was a common problem on pumas. So after a few months driving her daily as she was, I decided to tackle the problem. Sadly, under that minor bubbling, there was tons of fiberglass and filler which when removed turned into this:

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Driver's arch was not too bad and only needed some new metal at both ends. However, the passenger arch disappeared completely. Repair sections were not available. Incidentally, the body shop had a damaged pug 206 driver's wing lying around. He placed it near the puma's other arch and discovered they were almost identical. In addition it was galvanized. Some work was also carried out on the doors' bottom edges and sills. I also replaced the weather strips.

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After all the work was carried out:

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Mechanically, it proved to be very reliable. Lately however, the car starting to lose power and refused to go beyond the 5000 rpm no matter what. I removed the cat since I was still going for a cat back exhaust but little changed. Then I decided it to have it checked on a computer. This gave two faults: system too lean and faulty vct solenoid valve. I started from the former by cleaning the MAF. Surprisingly, it improved a lot revving all the way up and feeling more powerful. However, it's still not 100% and especially until it warms up it's quite hesitant. So if I find a decently priced second hand vct solenoid, it will go in when the cambelt is changed. I don't whether I should try something else however since the computer gave only those 2 faults.

Future plans are to fit lowering springs, stainless steel exhaust, k&n panel filter and give tons of waxoyl from inside and underneath although in Malta it won't rust again as in the UK.
 
Gave a wash to my puma today and went for a ride to enjoy the beautiful weather...

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I also had a chat with a guy doing rust-proofing. He had a look and said it still looks very solid underneath. He said he's going to steam wash, wire brush, and then apply the rust-protection underside and in all the cavities without drilling additional holes. So hopefully more updates on that very soon. I also got a second hand VCT solenoid (thanks to Ian G) that will go in with the new timing belt.
 
Looks great after the work! :eek:k:

PS: Love the Mk2 Escort and the metro in the backgrounds.. do you get lots of classics over there?
 
Thanks, that mk2 is mine - my first car I used daily for several years...most reliable car ever and would never part with it :-D. Yes, there are still lots of classics over here. Some years back when there was no scrappage scheme and the vrt (mot equivalent) was less stringent; you would have seen all sorts of classics being used daily...even the occasional ford pop trying to cope with modern traffic and obviously the maltese buses that were replaced last summer.

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I think the old buses were more reliable...http://www.flickr.com/photos/m4presman/4187915182/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 
Its been 7 years since I was last in Malta, I love the place especially for the old classics. Spent a lot of time on the old buses being one of my interests and hunting down old lorries. Criminal giving the contract to Arriva! Really want to go back soon. Love your Puma! Same colour as mine too one of the best colours I think :p
 
Grazie vicino :D I need to come to Sicily with my Puma one day...just 90 mins far after all :wink:
 
Cleaned and painted the underside- no horrors there unlike the passenger sill :eek: :

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ordered a new one from the ford dealer, now waiting for the body shop to carry out further repairs before fitting the new sill. Also ordered a new cam belt kit and water pump that will go in once body repairs are done, together with another vct solenoid.
 
Yes, I ordered it from the local ford dealer wasn't cheap but had to be done properly
 
He ordered it from abroad through the system so can't think why UK ford dealers won't have it
 

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