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Panda (Classic) Grumbleweed

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Introduction

been stubbornly refusing to stir outside the panda section for a long while but put a fair bit of time into tidying the old lad up this summer so thought I'd stick some photos together to show the state of play just now.
So for those of you who aren't al ready au fait, this is Grumbleweed, a 1990 Panda Sergio Tacchini with a mix of scrapyard warrior mods and fresh bits:

look! even found some scenery to take some pics:)





Highlights include the new mk2 golf splitter and chavtastic blue lensed driving lamps (they were reduced OK) in the front bumper, Momo steering wheel, aftermarket gearknob on shortened gearstick, 40mm drop on new standard shocks, mystery retro pepperpot wheels (anybody any idea? came off a Tipo in a scrappy) converted to Uno electronic dizzy, K&N panel filter in standard airbox with shortened intake, Powerflow stainless exhaust rear section with Y10 standard front section, array of extra instrumentation (tacho, oil pressure and volts) and assorted other bits and bobs dotted around that my father in law (the previous owner) fitted and I just find out about when new stuff I buy mysteriously doesn't fit:confused:
Andrew.
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Reactions: Most Easterly Pandas, RetroPanda, panda panda and 2 others
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albert011163 said:
Fork type breakers are bad news and are more likely to cause damage to the joint than using a large hammer correctly.
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exactly. Trusty father in law however has a proper screw out BJ breaker which he forgot to bring over for last time, hence the delay. Fork's Ok for getting it apart .. for the last time.
 
now we're underway!
Before:
after:

old arm ground out with extreme prejudice and replaced with new pivot bolt, discs and pads changed, wheelbearing changed, spare hub carrier with better bottom balljoint cleaned up, painted and fitted. hammerite splashed liberally round calipers:D
now got a brake pedal not unlike a normal car:eek:
 
and that's the other side done: bottom arm on, outer CV boot changed, track rod ends changed for new both sides, bracket at the front crossmember for the tie rod changed for good one off scruffbag (uh oh, started down the spares car route now:() and all tracked up. whole front end feels tighter and more 'right' than it has for a long time(y)
 
so a year on and I'm still messing about with the front suspension. NOS tie rod on to put to bed the worries since both sides snapped over the winter and new hub carriers with bottom balljoints fitted as that's about the only thing I haven't changed yet. Better be good now.
 
So, I've set to over the last couple of days and undone a couple of things. Lowering springs are now finally off again, replaced with much less shiny red, but considerably superior in every other way, standard springs with a coil out the back and a coil and a half out the front to keep the lower ride height. Massive, massive improvement. The last 2 NOS tie rods in the world (seemingly) are now off again too to make room for a Lancia Y10 ARB. Difficult to tell how much difference the ARB makes what with changing the springs at the same time but it all seems to work together pretty well.
 
lewey said:
What was it that was so bad about those Lesjofors springs Andrew? Or what is it about your new solution that they do better, objectively speaking?
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They managed a rather wierd combination of being too soft (lots of body roll) and yet gave a really crashy ride. You can see on the rear axle where the bump stops have been bottoming out, in fact when I took the old axle off last year the centre of one of the spring seats had been punched right through where the rust had got to it. Now to be fair I have changed shocks when I've put everything back together so that may have helped matters with the ride, but roll in corners is noticeably less too now (and that's with the ARB fitted with both sets of springs).
Also, purely unscientifically, if you get both sets of springs off the car and knock them with a spanner, the standard springs 'ring' while the lesjofors just 'clunk', and that's kind of how they feel on the car.
 
In other news, redone the bottom half of the tailgate, and finally done away with the strip of grey in between the stripes, as I have found some new stripes which are a bang on match so I could take the old ones off and paint all the way up to the black. Fresh stripes back on today and it's looking good. Pics to follow when it's finished.
Also refitted one of my amps back in the boot driving the four speakers already fitted (no wide boy sub this time), wired in and working well, as usual some tidying to do... which I may or may not get round to before I change my mind again:eek:
 
Only a couple of weeks till the Scottish show so working on getting Grumbleweed all rugged and interesting ready.
Yesterdays project: saw this rather smart instrument pod on ebay so...


Next job is to try and get the engine bay respectable enough to park next to Vernon now he appears to be making the trip:eek: Muchos Gunk and I'm pulling random brackets and things out and spraying them:


Quite a bit left to do on that one then..
And a little mystery next project teaser....
 
Well tbh I've ruined the paintwork on the bonnet so if I don't get a sunny day and a friendly spray can in the next 2 weeks, lifting it is probably my best option:eek:
 
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