1.1 Engine

I'm hopefully getting a mk1 with the 1.1 engine. Any advice, dos/don't's or be careful for that flying off's would be great!

Very easy engine to work on - dead simple and pretty much all operations can be completed with the engine in the car.

You want to change the breather pod on the back of the engine block.  This is a tight fit and will probably skin your knuckles but is definately worth doing.  You will also want to change the timing belt if you don't know when it was last done.  This couldn't be simpler - line the marks up, loosen the water pump which acts as the tensioner, take the old belt off, put the new belt on, tighten up the water pump and make sure the timing marks are still lined up - it takes me about 30 mins to change (unless I've been supplied with the wrong belt - then its 30 mins plus a trip to the motorfactors).

Servicing couldn't be simpler - well it could be if it didn't have a "points" coil but its still dead simple…

Get yourself a Haynes (or similar) repair manual which will show you step by step exactly what to do…