Palio 1.6 GTX – Initial review of a used 2002 model

planet_rocker · 11th July 2008, 11:15

@ RedMM - the paint job looks really good. the front black grill looks really good - the black ORVMs looks great as well.

have you considered getting the bumper grill painted black? i am sure it will look great.

tsk1979 · 11th July 2008, 11:28

Aah congrats MM!
Its good to see another KA 03 MA in Delhi

vigneshram · 11th July 2008, 13:36

Hello MM,
Do one thing,align the bonnet and change the rubber bushes that make the hood seat on the frame.i think that should solve your issue.

Vignesh
1.2 Siena ELX

RedMM340 · 12th July 2008, 11:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by rippergeo

@redMM- going by your history of insane mods, can we expect a turbo/SC in this one? would be nice to see a pocket rocket going faster than the average rocket

You know that I am thinking about this. But I am retraining myself in the interest of keeping the car somewhat drivable on a daily basis. My longer term plan was to turn this into a rally car, but I am still debating whether this is the right platform.

Quote:

Originally Posted by planet_rocker

@ RedMM - the paint job looks really good. the front black grill looks really good - the black ORVMs looks great as well.

have you considered getting the bumper grill painted black? i am sure it will look great.

Yes, I will likely do the front bumper grill in black. Or I might just go with an all black, non painted bumper for the utility.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vigneshram

Hello MM,
Do one thing,align the bonnet and change the rubber bushes that make the hood seat on the frame.i think that should solve your issue.

Vignesh
1.2 Siena ELX

Thanks, I will try and adjust them to see if I can get better alignment.

RedMM340 · 12th July 2008, 12:27

O.k. the Automech is now installed. The good news is that it really freed up the exhaust, and the Palio motor now just revs effortlessly to redline. The sound is just fantastic. I have hard time keeping it less than 3k rpm. Italian motors just love to be revved up and this 1.6 DOHC unit is no exception. Pure mechanical music.

The Automech system is a mixed bag. There are some aspects that are good, but as an automotive perfectionist, I found some serious problem areas.

Overall, Automech provided a low cost, complete package with decent fit up using stock hanging points. The mild steel exhaust system is very free and nets some good power gains. I paid Rs. 13,400 for the system in Delhi. The basic system was Rs. 12,000 with an additional 1,400 for a flex pipe section.

But I would not have purchased the system if given the chance to inspect the actual system prior to paying.

The major issue with the Automech is the fact that the exhaust header ports are significantly smaller than the stock ports. This was a real shocker for me. My guess is that there is about a 25% reduction in area of the port on the Automech header.

The internal welds are very poor. There are many stray pieces of metal that will cause turbulent flow. The way to make a really good high performance exhaust is to ensure that the internals are smoother that the external piping. This is not the case with Automech.

The mid pipe and the muffler pipe start to slope down as they head to the rear of the vehicle. This is done to push the muffler down in order for the muffler tip the rear bumper. This is the wrong approach in my view. The muffler should be up high like the stock unit. The tip should then be turned down or the bumper cut.

Another issue was the last flange between the mid section and muffler section hangs way down and has scraped a couple of times already. They used the wrong type of connector. Stock uses a slip type of joint that takes much less vertical clearance. Automech should have just copied this.

Pics attached:

RedMM340 · 12th July 2008, 12:41

Pics of the installed system:

planet_rocker · 12th July 2008, 12:50

where is the video of the exhaust note?

please upload that ASAP

man this is tempting me

- if i ever feel like putting a FFE - i will stick Elektra, Chennai to fabricate one for my GTX

please upload a high quality video of the exhaust note.

does the endcan / exhaust tip touch the speed breakers while going over them? it is hanging quite low.

govigov · 12th July 2008, 13:54

nice buy.... worth the money for 85k !

sfilinto · 14th July 2008, 11:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedMM340

Palio 1.6 GTX – Initial review of a used 2002 model

But the engine was in good shape and seemed to have full compression.

a bit curious on how you tested this. is there a machine which can do this ?

RedMM340 · 14th July 2008, 16:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfilinto

a bit curious on how you tested this. is there a machine which can do this ?

Most shops do not have compression testers, so I had to rely on my own judgement. Started the car with a cold engine and looked for any smoke, and found non. Just about the best way to just drive a car. If the engine has good power and pull hard with no smoke, chances are that the compression is good.

sahakar · 17th July 2008, 23:14

Folks,
Do any of you have any clue on the best Tata-Fiat A.S.S. in Bombay. I am gonna be getting a S10 for my daily office travel end of this month and wanted to get it up to near new condition.

planet_rocker · 18th July 2008, 16:36

@ RedMM - what happened to the video of the exhaust note? please upload a video of the exhaust note

how is the car behaving after the FFE?

RedMM340 · 19th July 2008, 00:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by planet_rocker

@ RedMM - what happened to the video of the exhaust note? please upload a video of the exhaust note

how is the car behaving after the FFE?

I just am not sure how to upload a video. Is this on the TBHP site or an outside site? I have video capablity on my pocket digicam, so let me know how, and I will give it a try.

Despite the horrific weld quality and smaller than stock diameter header tubes, the performance increase is significant. It revs effortlessly. I have a hard time keeping it below 4k rpm. I prefer turning the radio off and enjoy listening to the motor revving!

Elito11 · 19th July 2008, 09:20

Awesome thread Gaurav! The amount of work done on the Palio really shows your knowledge and commitment!

I am sure this thread will become a must for all guys planning to mod thier palio's in future!

Elito

jkdas · 19th July 2008, 09:46

The opening of exhaust header is different, oval ofr OE and round for other. Wasnt that an issue?

And its got CatCon?

11th July 2008, 11:15	#61
planet_rocker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bong-land Posts: 2,323 Thanked: 426 Times	@ RedMM - the paint job looks really good. the front black grill looks really good - the black ORVMs looks great as well. have you considered getting the bumper grill painted black? i am sure it will look great.
	() Thanks

11th July 2008, 11:28	#62
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,704 Thanked: 23,478 Times View My Garage	Aah congrats MM! Its good to see another KA 03 MA in Delhi
	() Thanks

11th July 2008, 13:36	#63
vigneshram BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Stuttgart,DE Posts: 357 Thanked: 49 Times View My Garage	Hello MM, Do one thing,align the bonnet and change the rubber bushes that make the hood seat on the frame.i think that should solve your issue. Vignesh 1.2 Siena ELX
	() Thanks

12th July 2008, 12:27	#65
RedMM340 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: on the move Posts: 457 Thanked: 34 Times	Automech exhuast system is installed. O.k. the Automech is now installed. The good news is that it really freed up the exhaust, and the Palio motor now just revs effortlessly to redline. The sound is just fantastic. I have hard time keeping it less than 3k rpm. Italian motors just love to be revved up and this 1.6 DOHC unit is no exception. Pure mechanical music. The Automech system is a mixed bag. There are some aspects that are good, but as an automotive perfectionist, I found some serious problem areas. Overall, Automech provided a low cost, complete package with decent fit up using stock hanging points. The mild steel exhaust system is very free and nets some good power gains. I paid Rs. 13,400 for the system in Delhi. The basic system was Rs. 12,000 with an additional 1,400 for a flex pipe section. But I would not have purchased the system if given the chance to inspect the actual system prior to paying. The major issue with the Automech is the fact that the exhaust header ports are significantly smaller than the stock ports. This was a real shocker for me. My guess is that there is about a 25% reduction in area of the port on the Automech header. The internal welds are very poor. There are many stray pieces of metal that will cause turbulent flow. The way to make a really good high performance exhaust is to ensure that the internals are smoother that the external piping. This is not the case with Automech. The mid pipe and the muffler pipe start to slope down as they head to the rear of the vehicle. This is done to push the muffler down in order for the muffler tip the rear bumper. This is the wrong approach in my view. The muffler should be up high like the stock unit. The tip should then be turned down or the bumper cut. Another issue was the last flange between the mid section and muffler section hangs way down and has scraped a couple of times already. They used the wrong type of connector. Stock uses a slip type of joint that takes much less vertical clearance. Automech should have just copied this. Pics attached: Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

12th July 2008, 12:41	#66
RedMM340 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: on the move Posts: 457 Thanked: 34 Times	Installed Automech Pics of the installed system: Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

12th July 2008, 12:50	#67
planet_rocker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bong-land Posts: 2,323 Thanked: 426 Times	where is the video of the exhaust note? please upload that ASAP man this is tempting me - if i ever feel like putting a FFE - i will stick Elektra, Chennai to fabricate one for my GTX please upload a high quality video of the exhaust note. does the endcan / exhaust tip touch the speed breakers while going over them? it is hanging quite low. Last edited by planet_rocker : 12th July 2008 at 12:52.
	() Thanks

12th July 2008, 13:54	#68
govigov Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Cochin!!!!! Posts: 1,730 Thanked: 1,215 Times View My Garage	nice buy.... worth the money for 85k !
	() Thanks

17th July 2008, 23:14	#71
sahakar BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: LA <--> Bombay Posts: 473 Thanked: 214 Times	Folks, Do any of you have any clue on the best Tata-Fiat A.S.S. in Bombay. I am gonna be getting a S10 for my daily office travel end of this month and wanted to get it up to near new condition.
	() Thanks

18th July 2008, 16:36	#72
planet_rocker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bong-land Posts: 2,323 Thanked: 426 Times	@ RedMM - what happened to the video of the exhaust note? please upload a video of the exhaust note how is the car behaving after the FFE?
	() Thanks

19th July 2008, 09:20	#74
Elito11 BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Delhi Posts: 508 Thanked: 108 Times	Awesome thread Gaurav! The amount of work done on the Palio really shows your knowledge and commitment! I am sure this thread will become a must for all guys planning to mod thier palio's in future! Elito
	() Thanks

19th July 2008, 09:46	#75
jkdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Thiruvananthapu Posts: 9,687 Thanked: 1,495 Times View My Garage	The opening of exhaust header is different, oval ofr OE and round for other. Wasnt that an issue? And its got CatCon?
	() Thanks