Hi everyone, just drove a 1988 Sisley from the outskirts of Cardiff to Fife, Scotland (480 miles), immediately after I bought her yesterday. Used as hell (muddy to the gunnels), but no rust other than the usual (door sills and inside wheel arches), hopefully she'll prove a worthy lass, after a good spa treatment. It's my first for a Panda ever and I'm not mechanically-minded at all. I've been visiting your forum frequently while on the lookout for a Sisley and I wonder if I could benefit from your advice on a few things (I'm putting her in for a thorough check-up next week):

1. What type of oil for gearbox and engine is optimum in your opinion?
2. What sort of tyres (mixed on/off road type) and which brand? Do I get to fit 145/80R13/75S or larger ones? (all four need changing unfortunately due to wear and tear and wheels may need too)
3. Has anyone got a front passenger's door (or a lower door panel) with minor or no rust (the one on the driver's side is rust free) and a roof rack for sale?

Hope I'm not abusing your hospitality in these pages, I would really appreciate any advice. I'll provide feedback on the mechanic's findings and photos when the overhaul campaign starts. Thanks.

Hi, welcome to the forum.

I'll leave the technical questions to the more experienced forum members. Congratulations on your purchase. You may have seen that I bought a Sisley last weekend and I'm overhauling that as well. Yours sound to be in better condition though! I don't think mine would currently make 48 miles never mind 480 miles! Any pictures?

Sorry Steve, no pictures yet, "just drove" was speaking literaly, I just arrived in St Andrews 3 hours ago! I'll have to take it to the mechanic first and see what the verdict is, if it is mechanically and structurally sound in general then pictures and an account of the changes to be made will follow. I read about your attempt to DIY-revamp your Panda, wish I had time and your determination!

I think you're mistaking time and determination for foolishness.

Gentzen01 said:

1. What type of oil for gearbox and engine is optimum in your opinion?

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The topic of gear oil pops up quite regularly, but we don't have any sticky posts with FAQs, so here's the link to the most recent posting:
https://www.fiatforum.com/showthread.php?t=25663

Regarding engine oil, my preference is for a basic 15W40 changed twice a year - you could spend money on exotic oils, but IMHO, frequent changes are better for older engines than synthetic oil.
FWIW your Panda engine could run over 200K miles if looked after.

Welcome to the Forum, and good luck with your Panda.


John H

Hi there,

I have a mint l/h door for a panda if your interested email me at [email protected]

I also have a few other new oe panels

FRONT PANELS
BONNET
TAILGATE
FRONT WING
QUARTER PANELS
REAR PANEL
TAILIGHTS
MIRRORS


Regards Trevor.

That the car managed a 480-mile trip the day you bought it can only be regarded as A Good Sign!

As already stated, 15W/40 oil seems to be best in the older FIRE engines (as fitted, I believe, to the Sisley); my Punto's 1.1 FIRE seems to thrive on fresh Castrol GTX every 4-5000 miles.

No Steve, foolishness it is not, if I had the knowledge or the time to acquire it I would do it too.
John, thanks for your welcome and your advice, will take your suggestion.
Yes, the car managed the trip, but unless a compression test is run and I check the steering system (it drifted constantly to the right, but that could be down to wind/uneven tyre pressure), gearbox (5th difficult to engage), and exhaust (rattling and squeaky sound when not accelerating), then I can say nothing. Of course, if the car is mechanically and structurally sound, then, well... one would expect an old car to have problems and it would be worthwhile spending a few hundred quid to bring it back to top notch level.

Hello again Gentzen,
I've just sent you a PM I believe.
I'm awaiting delivery of a wreck of a Sisely within the next 2-3 weeks. I haven't checked but , according to the spec/mot sheets, it had 3 new M&S tyres and two good others at it's last mot. That was two years ago ... and it hasn't moved since !

Hi again, it has the original steel, cream-painted wheels. However, I didn't examine them I'm afraid.
Regards,

Hi Pandafan, how much would the 5 wheels+tyres go, p&p included to St Andrews, Fife? My e-mail is [email protected].

Gentzen01 said:

unless a compression test is run and I check the steering system (it drifted constantly to the right, but that could be down to wind/uneven tyre pressure), gearbox (5th difficult to engage), and exhaust (rattling and squeaky sound when not accelerating), then I can say nothing.

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The sad news arrived today from the mechanic. The car would require about £500 in welding costs (sills, rear floor and rear cross member holed, prop rear UJ, prop F/rear joint, fuel tank leaking) plus some more in tracking, tyre replacing, clutch, break discs and pads. I paid for the car £350 as a direct deal with the seller (it was auctioned on ebay), apart from the cost of picking it up and driving it all the way to Scotland. Of course, apart from worn out tyres and rusty door sills and the tank leakage problem that became apparent by pure chance during pick-up, I was not informed of any of the other problems, I wonder if the seller himself knew about them at all (but since the check-up cost me just £20 at the garage, he should have done the same before selling the car). What does the forum think of the price, I personally got my lesson this time. Of course I'll keep the Sisley and use it for spares when I buy another 4x4, but I feel it's a crying shame for the trouble I went to.

That is bad news.

It sounds in similar condition to mine. I knew what I was buying though. You must be gutted.

Look at the bright side, you would be able to recoup most of what the car cost you in parts. The seatbelts, inclinometer, interior, etc is worth a few quid.

How about buying a welder and learning to weld?

Thanks Steve, most kind of you, indeed I had a seizure this morning upon hearing the report. I'm afraid welding lessons will have to wait at present, I've got a full-time job (rather physically exhausting) and just started a distance HNC in Computing. I think I shall look for another 4x4 (Sisley or not), this time in a reasonable price and good condition and get the best of both cars plus maintaining a good stock of spares for future use.

Can you or anybody else tell me whether there is a structural or mechanical difference between a Sisley and an ordinary 4x4 edition, apart of course from the addition of leather seat covers, inclinometer and front lights wash? Could someone, in other words, transform a 4x4 into a Sisley?

I keep telling steve to stick the sisley bits on his other panda but he's dead keen on using those welding lessons he took.....


Jim

am i correct in thinking you get hold of a seat marbella and transfer the 4x4 running gear (and all the other bits) over? Might be an idea?

There is no reason why you couldn't Sisleyfy (!?) a standard 4X4 Panda. It would just be a matter of swapping the interior, front bumper and body mouldings.

e505jpy said:

I keep telling steve to stick the sisley bits on his other panda but he's dead keen on using those welding lessons he took.....

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When it comes to cars I'm an eternal optimist. My skills are poor, my knowledge is severly limited and my wallet is having a nervous breakdown. However, no doubt I'll spend silly amounts of money on the Sisley before giving up and buying another one!

That's the spirit!


J