Hello, I'm planning to start working on my car soon. My idea is to build a street car, but to be able to run at a track. I know I'm far away from it, as my car is bone stock. This is why first, I'm starting with the basics. The problem is that I don't really know much about this car, and I'd really like to know where to start from. Which are the typical things I have to check before starting a project like this? Specially with the engine.

by the way, my car's engine is the carbureted 1.6 SOHC 16v


As far as I know right now, there are some problems I know I have to fix:

Change the four tires , at least the front ones, as they are old
Check the front dampers, they seem old and loose
Fix the unusual movement of the gear stick
Check the loose feel on the front part of the car, which I don't know how you call this in English...
Check why the car "jumps" while braking and almost stopping

I would really appreciate any advice on how to start. Sorry for my bad English...

all goods.

jumping while braking?

do you mean pulsing through the pedal and having trouble stopping? thats a cracked or warped brake rotor and or disc.

loose feel through the steering is usually the the steering rack has become loose and needs tightening.

dampers or shock absorbers are replacable parts.

unusual movement in the gear stick may just be loose or broken linkages.

Hi! Thanks for your reply! I'll try to make myself as clear as possible.

About the brakes, yes, I think the correct term would be pulsing while braking, but just when nearly stopping. I don't remember if I feel it in the pedal or just in the car itself. I think the rear brake is drum brake.

The steering does not feel loose, I feel loose the front end of the car, like the suspension and steering components. I feel it while crossing the railway or some hard speed bumps. But the car steering itself is okay.

Well, probably I'm going to change the dampers before changing the tyres so I won't have problems with the tire settlement.

And finally, I've read the the loose feel on the gear stick is usually caused by worn out pieces connecting the gear stick with the linkages. I think these pieces are called bushings.


As I don't have spare money for the car, I haven't started yet. But probably the first thing I'm trying to fix by myself is the loose gear stick. But what about the engine? What should I check?

Again, thanks for your reply.

do the expensive parts first. brakes at the back also may be warn out or oval drums at the back.

all you can do for the brakes is replace them.

the shocks (dampers) sound like the need replacing. easy way to tell is bounce the front of the car it should go up and down a few times then settle. excessive bouncing means they are warn.

bushings are the cheapest to replace. not sure if polyurethane (plastic) bushings are availble

Give your engine a really good service, change all of the fluids, as well as the spark plugs & HT leads and the filters.

If you do that and your car doesn't run better you might have other issues that will need to be looked at by a mechanic or someone in your area who has the same car.

Okay, thanks again!

Thanks for your reply. The engine seems to run pretty good, I cannot find any flaw, although I see some parts where the engine has oil on it, but it's not that it leaks.

The previous owner told me the engine oil was quite new, so I don't think I'll change it yet.

EDIT: What are the "HT leads"?