Fiat coupé story / Project...

It's now 6 months since i first found this beauty, the car was ready to go to dismantle in a Fiat local dealer, I bought it, sold the 16VT, and started a fresh new project on this Fiat coupé 20VT LE... after a lot of hard work, the car is almost finished...

The accident... (pic sent by the previous owner...)

http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/accident.JPG

The day i bought it...

http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE1.JPG
http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE2.JPG
http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE3.JPG
http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE4.JPG

After one month evaluating the damage and dismantling the car, it was time to start working...

Getting the engine out...
http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/rec2.jpg

Some parts waiting for the car after some treatment...
http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/pecas/2.jpg

New tires and rims...

http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/pecas/4.jpg
http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/pecas/9.jpg
http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/pecas/22.jpg

Intercooler

http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/pecas/6.jpg
http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/pecas/7.jpg

And meanwhile the car was already looking like this.. 3 months have passed...

http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/pecas/24.jpg

D2 Racing Coilovers

http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/pecas/27.jpg
http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/pecas/28.jpg
http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/pecas/29.jpg
http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/pecas/30.jpg
http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/pecas/31.jpg
http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/pecas/33.jpg

The car... 4 months of work...

http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE5.jpg
http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE6.jpg
http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE7.jpg

The same car... 5 months...

http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/1.jpg
http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/2.jpg
http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/3.jpg
http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/4.jpg
http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/5.jpg
http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/6.jpg
http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/7.jpg
http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/8.jpg
http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/9.jpg
http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/10.jpg
http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/11.jpg

Styling extras!

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/9238/pb270229jk7.jpg
http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/593/pb270230mq5.jpg

Intercooler in place...

http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE9.jpg

Ready for the paint job to be finished...

http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE10.jpg

Parts list...

ENGINE

Walbro GS342 Fuel Pump
Fuel pressure regulator
FMIC + SIP
Garret GT2860RS A/r 0.64 Turbo
G-tech 2
Protoxide Stainless Exhaust Manifold
Protoxide 3'' Stainless Downpipe
Complete Stainless Exhaust system
Apexi Turbo timer

Sparco T51 Pads
Original Brembo braking system
D2 Racing coilovers Front and back
Sparco Strut brace
4 Goodyear Eagle F1's 215/45/17
OZ Racing Superleggera Rims

Opinions Please!

Wow - great write up & pictures. Come a long way since the accident. Surprised it came back to life at all following the pictures of the damage.

Excellent work matey!

Keeping Coupe's alive is a BRILLIANT thing to do and that is gonna look stunning!

Oooft! Your a brave man looking at that first pic!!

Great work

excellent... is it staying matt black ?

and wheres all the other red trim parts .. on the steering wheel, gearknob, arm rests on dooors, door handles ..

or did they stop that at some point >?

good work

it looks like some bits are from a plus like the dials, gear knob, and normal steering wheel?

maybe its different in europe?

It's like the batmobile.. Leave it Matt Black!!!!

Looks super evil in the last pic

I didn't realise you were from Europe. Bloody good English if you're not from over here, I presumed you were English by the writing style.

A great job you've done sofar.
Portuguese aren't you?
Is that one of those famous Italian Glamour Coupé Calendars in the top left of the image?

Well done, looks like you had your work cut out judging by the first pic

Fanatastic job & good write up, have been working on a similar project myself, Cat D & was supposed to be repaired already, not likely, glad I'm not the only one to loose their marbles when it comes to reviving a Coue, job well done

awesome stuff i love reading through project threads like that!

if only i had the space and time i would strip mine and fully repaint it!

Inspirational! The coilovers look awesome, do they do a specific fitment for the coupe? Couldn't see one on their model list.

Can't wait for final pics!

Fantastic job, most people would just chop it for spares after an accident like that.
This is going to look mint when it's finished.

Guess i'll just have to say thanks to MR. Jeremy Clarckson from Top Gear for that!



Yes they do! the price goes around 950€ and I must say that they are great, for that price they even include Camber adjustment in the front suspension!




No, originally it had all that redish interior and black dials, I had all this parts from a Plus version so I converted it...

Thanks for all the comments!

New pics... Diamond black!

http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE16.jpg

http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE17.jpg

http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE18.jpg

http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE19.jpg

http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE20.jpg

http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE21.jpg

No one like to say that black is the best colour but thats 2 resently converting to it i must say that i would have possibly kept it red and done the same (i.e. paint everything) as i do like a mint red le.

But looks a very good job. do you have any links to those coilovers? look a good piece of kit with the camber adjustment also!

No sorry mate. there's no direct link to this specific model of coilovers, or i can't seem to find it, they are D2's Racing coilovers Type RS, they do specific kits for each car model, try to contact you're local reseller...

I always wanted a black LE, not that i don't like red, i do, but i think black is the colour that suits it best...

Will you keep the wiper for the rear window?

I emailed the D2 guys directly, they were very quick to mail back, and very helpful. I was quoted £669, coupe model 95-01.

Ads

GRRRRRRR and to think my car is right next to this one waiting for insurance people to move some papers!!! grrr!!

Car DOES look awesome saw it today and it left me speachless!!!

Think positive, you're only 3 months away from having you're beauty running! At least you can't complaint about you're car's new mate for the last days!



Yes, after thinking about it over and over, i actually find it usefull in some conditions... like cleaning the rear window to see the face of the brave man that is going to get smoked in the next 30 seconds down the highway!

A friend of mine took it away and used Rain-X instead. The look of the back is so much nicer without it

Rain-X?

2 updated pics...

http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE22.jpg

http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE23.jpg

http://www.rainx.com/

Rain-X

New pics... The paintjob and styling are now finished... time to start working under the bonnet...

http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE24.jpg
http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE25.jpg
http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE26.jpg
http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE27.jpg
http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE28.jpg
http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE29.jpg
http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE30.jpg
http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE31.jpg

That is nice!!!! What are the wheels?

OZ Superleggera by the looks of them.

New pics, FMIC, GT28RS and G-tech2 are now in place, still waiting for the SIP and Stainless exhaust manifold to be ready, hopefully during the next 2 weeks, meanwhile, with all the free time and the coop in the garage waiting for the rest of the parts, done a little refurbishing on the rocker cover...

http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE53.jpg

http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE55.jpg

http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE56.jpg

http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE57.jpg

http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE58.jpg

very nice

what wheels are those you got any more pics of the car with the wheels

Mmmm..i like..hardpipe is nice as well

Yes I do,

OZ Superlegera 17'' with custom paint

http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE48.jpg

http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE59.jpg

http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE60.jpg


OZ Vs Stock wheels

http://www.softss.com/pretender/coupele/LE43.jpg

hard pipes look good, but they look smaller bore to the standard pipes?

Yes they are a little bit smaller, I was trying to reduce lag, waiting for the car to be ready to test the effect off smaller diameter tubing...

Anyone tried it? any known disadvantages in doing this?

Any one know the answer to this as if it does reduce lag i'd be very interested in doing it....

Nick

Took the car to a RR today, It's a MAHA, known to be the best RR's, at least here in Portugal...

321.6 HP and 358 NM

I'm very very happy with the results...

Hi mate... Nice results!!!!!
Do you think the smaller diametre pipes reduced lag????

Nick

Hi!

Thanks Nick, it could have more Torque, the SS exhaust manifold is almost ready and will help getting a little bit more...

Yes it helped a lot, it's quite noticeable...

Should i be seeing this figures with the G-tech 2? it's seeming quite a lot of HP...

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LNGVO-DZfg

I will add the Graph later, i don't have my scanner working at the moment...

Very impressive, it looks like new. I did quite like the matt black finish though.

John

sorry but i dont resist to put the new video of the pretender car enjoy



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiqOb36BswU

Thanks mate!

I'll update this topic soon with all the new specs, it will be interesting to see what you guys think once i'm running a very different setup compared to most of the people here...

Hi,

Very nice car

Do you have a graph from the RR?

I'm curious to see max boost, lambda and where you hit max torque and hp.



Dude you can't just say A and not B. Give us the spec

A lot to update in here so lets see if I can remember all the modifications since last time...

So specs list are the following:

Engine :

Stage 3 Head, with bigger valves, modified valve angle, ported and polished and stronger springs
Accralite forged Pistons With 9:1 CR
Farndon Racing Conrods + ARP2000 Bolts
Kevlar Clutch
Siemens 630cc Injectors
Walbro GS 342 Fuel Pump
AEM Fuel Pressure Regulator
FMIC
Turbonetics GTK 450 Turbo, Ceramic ball bearing
AEM Univesal EMS + 3.5 bar MAP Sensor + EGT Sensor + Clutch sensor for Flat shifting + Wideband + Fuel pressure Sender
Stainless Equal Lenght Exhaust Manifold with External Wastegate
Turbonetics Evolution 35mm Wastegate
Full Stainless 3'' Exhaust
Pipercross Intake + SIP
Custom Fuel Rail
Custom Water Rail above the exhaust manifold
Remote Oil Filter Kit
Apexi AVCR EBC


Safety:

Stock Brembo Brakes with Sparco T51 Brake Pads in the back, and OMP Race Series in the front
Stock Limited Edition Brake Discs
Braided Brake Line Kit + Dot 5.1 fluid
D2 Racing Coilovers Front and Back with camber adjustment Ride heigt etc etc
Sparco Strut Brace
Eibach Anti Roll Bar Kit
Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres
Tenzo R Type M 17'' wheels

Interior:

Plus Dials
Plus Door Cards
Plus Steering wheel
Painted Center console

Exterior:

BMW M3 Rear spoiler
Xenon + Leds
Plus Grill

This is what I can remember at the moment..
Apart from whats usual, i have Anti-lag, Flat shifting, Launch control, and Traction control, all configured... And I believe I am the only one running an AEM ECU and Turbonetics Turbo on a 20V Turbo

I have some pics in my facebook account, so if any of you wants to check them out i'll leave the link for the album:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.10150118058813593.312774.563853592&l=7e6e41a14a

Cheers!

Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhSyf-l-7vg

Coupe vs GSX-R K10, the driver wasn't the best, but you get the point in the video...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iinqV_ilZv4

Exterior video, made a couple of months ago..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNeKY7Yeg5E

Stunning work .Well done.

There are so many different projects here on fccuk that I want to do something with my car/engine. But I don't have the time for it. I love what you have done. Impressive work!

Any RR graphs?

Beautifull Coupe, I really love it!

Are you going to leave the gtec2 in or look at live mapping soon?

the car have live map good job pretender this car is a realy monster

Live map on an aem ems... Check the specs on page 5...

Can you give me the part number for the AEM EMS?

Freddan,

Got a friend at work who knows quite a bit about on-the-fly mapping/programable ECU, he´s a superbike instructor and can´t let his pupils pass him, even racing bike professionals.

So he has 6 different mappings that he can change inbetween, each set up for different circuits. At Anderstorp he has a live switch, and changes between two different settings, so he can get a high top speed on the straight and good acceleration compared to the rest of the course where he needs the acceleration. Anderstorp: http://www.allf1.info/tracks/anderstorp.jpg

He said it should be doable on the Coupe as well and it should be quite easy. I could set you guys up if you want to, sounds like a AEM-type setup. He´s a busy guy but he knows his stuff, is very helpful and will give you the input in case you want to do the stuff yourself. Let's talk during the weekend.

Hi Fredan, sure, it's a 30-1900u, it's a series 1 universal ems, the new series 2 won't work with our engine, it needs an external coil amplifier once it only has 4 amplified outputs, the series 1 has 5 of them, and it works flawlessly with the bosch 60-2 trigger wheel...

We have also done an adapter harness so that no wires from the original loom had to be cut or spliced, It's kind of a plug'n'play solution...

this coupe for me is madness!
very great job my friend
i liked so much

GReat job !!!