Panda (Classic) Project Panda-looking Pandas.

So clean underneath - it ain't natural for a Panda to be that clean and shiny

panda panda panda said:

So clean underneath - it ain't natural for a Panda to be that clean and shiny

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It won't look like that for long - by the time you see it, the underneath will look like all the others (only with no rust, hopefully! ). As I am not a fan of polishing engine bays (I'll keep it clean, but that's the limit), I sure as hell won't be polishing the underneath & putting a mirror under it at shows......

Palio said:

I sure as hell won't be polishing the underneath & putting a mirror under it at shows......

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Oh, come on, you know you want to...! :devil:

BTW, that sound-proofing is excellent (you'll also find that it keeps your feet warm -- especially as VmanC has removed the heater flap...). I had it just about everywhere (even behind door cards) in the Isuzu, and it reduced a very industrial tractor sound to the purr of a modern diesel... (well, not quite: but it made a lot of difference...).

Can't wait to see the finished product, now -- and we always knew it'd be ready for the NEC, didn't we...? (Eventually.)

homeward said:

Oh, come on, you know you want to...! :devil:

BTW, that sound-proofing is excellent (you'll also find that it keeps your feet warm -- especially as VmanC has removed the heater flap...). I had it just about everywhere (even behind door cards) in the Isuzu, and it reduced a very industrial tractor sound to the purr of a modern diesel... (well, not quite: but it made a lot of difference...).

Can't wait to see the finished product, now -- and we always knew it'd be ready for the NEC, didn't we...? (Eventually.)

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Good to hear.

The heater's still there I think (hope) isn't it? Just can't stop the airflow into the cabin (hot or cold as selected, which would be a novelty as Panda's usually have one or the other!) - did I understand correctly?

You're right - I don't think which NEC was ever specified, which is why we got confused!

homeward said:

I had it just about everywhere (even behind door cards) in the Isuzu, and it reduced a very industrial tractor sound to the purr of a modern diesel... (well, not quite: but it made a lot of difference...).

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Oh here we go again, just wait until he digs out the picture...
Isuzu this, Isuzu that...

Didge3 said:

Oh here we go again, just wait until he digs out the picture...
Isuzu this, Isuzu that...

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:nerner:

Palio said:

Good to hear.

The heater's still there I think (hope) isn't it? Just can't stop the airflow into the cabin (hot or cold as selected, which would be a novelty as Panda's usually have one or the other!) - did I understand correctly?

You're right - I don't think which NEC was ever specified, which is why we got confused!

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Yep heater is still there, just constant air flow as you say.

Won't make the NEC if I have too many days like today though :bang:
Trip to Winchester hospital to pick up Barbara's daughter as Grandchild no.2 on the way was a false alarm. :bang:

Finally get back to workshop to get a power cut ten minutes later :bang: :bang:

VmanC said:

Yep heater is still there, just constant air flow as you say.

Won't make the NEC if I have too many days like today though :bang:
Trip to Winchester hospital to pick up Barbara's daughter as Grandchild no.2 on the way was a false alarm. :bang:

Finally get back to workshop to get a power cut ten minutes later :bang: :bang:

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Think that covers it...... Glad there's still a heater, especially for those Summer shows!

Palio said:

Think that covers it...... Glad there's still a heater, especially for those Summer shows!

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You know as I wrote that last post I thought to myself, ' shame you can't like and dislike a post', but you found a way.

VmanC said:

You know as I wrote that last post I thought to myself, ' shame you can't like and dislike a post', but you found a way.

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Gavin and I have been looking for a way to do this for ages. I think he's sussed it...!

I hope you have a better day, tomorrow (which it now is...). :hug:

homeward said:

Gavin and I have been looking for a way to do this for ages.

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Your conversations must be very exciting...

Didge3 said:

Your conversations must be very exciting...

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Surely, anything combining Pandas with ontological and semantic concerns has, by its very definition, young sir, to be the very epitome -- and peak -- of excitement?

homeward said:

Surely, anything combining Pandas with ontological and semantic concerns has, by its very definition, young sir, to be the very epitome -- and peak -- of excitement?

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Oh, and...

homeward said:

Surely, anything combining Pandas with ontological and semantic concerns has, by its very definition, young sir, to be the very epitome -- and peak -- of excitement?

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I applaud your good use of vocabulary, it often goes amiss on the internet.
If you only wrote such seldom used words to dismiss me and my musings then surely you have failed by this rather irritating and persistent reply?

Didge3 said:

I applaud your good use of vocabulary, it often goes amiss on the internet.
If you only wrote such seldom used words to dismiss me and my musings then surely you have failed by this rather irritating and persistent reply?

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Whaaaaa???? (To be pronounced in that wonderful youthful nasal drawl we hear so much these days, oh and make sure that when doing so the eyes and fingers MUST NOT leave the mobile phone screen as cyber friends are much more important than the person standing in front of you)



OOPs I seem to have morphed into a grumpy old man - must try and spend less time with the kids

VmanC: I have an untouched Panda heater box to do what you have done to this one for the same reason. How did you achieve the result? Fiberglass?

lewey said:

VmanC: I have an untouched Panda heater box to do what you have done to this one for the same reason. How did you achieve the result? Fiberglass?

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Hi lewey,

No fiberglass. The back of the cut out panel is the front of the heater box left connected at the bottom but cut up the sides and across the top then pushed back. The side and top are then filled in with sections of plastic cut from the Punto air filter box. I plastic welded them in place using a heated screwdriver and more pieces of air filter housing as filler rod, then I backed this up with Q Bond. This was finally sanded smooth and painted satin black.

homeward said:

Surely, anything combining Pandas with ontological and semantic concerns has, by its very definition, young sir, to be the very epitome -- and peak -- of excitement?

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I dig the Vocab Homie. I havn't heard ontological used in anger since Philosophy classes.

I also dig the Dynamat. It will be very interesting to see how much quieter it makes the car. I see Jay Leno eulogising about it in his videos. It must be decent stuff.

Giacosa said:

I dig the Vocab Homie. I havn't heard ontological used in anger since Philosophy classes.

I also dig the Dynamat. It will be very interesting to see how much quieter it makes the car. I see Jay Leno eulogising about it in his videos. It must be decent stuff.

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Or he's getting paid to say it.

Lots been going on with Panto, not sure I can cover it all in this post but lets make a start and see how far we get...........



The radiator and associated brackets have all been modded, painted and fitted along with new hose pipes. I had to extend the hose from the heater to the inlet manifold otherwise it's all original stuff in there. Cooling system was then filled with this.........



It's waterless coolant which has a180 deg.c boiling point so doesn't pressurise the system like water/antifreeze does so should put less strain on the system. There are other benefits according to the manufacturers which are worthwhile, time will tell. Sorry I can't list them here but I can't remember them all, a quick google should get you some answers though.

The bottom hose where it comes off of the steel pipe at the front of the engine runs fairly close to the exhaust so I may have to wrap it in protective cloth. one of the brackets for the cooling fan is close too, I have moved the fan across to the left as far as possible so I think it's enough, will keep an eye on this area once Panto is in use........






Now that the cooling system was complete I was finally able to give Panto a proper run. I went down the lane and back then let it get up to temp but all the time it felt as though it was running on three cyls. After checking the ign. system and doing a check of the compressions all was ok so I turned my attention to the fuel system. I found that the injector on number 1 cyl. had no continuity through it so was not working. I ordered a new one, then when it still hadn't arrived yesterday I phoned my motor factors, they chased up thier supplier. Apparently when they went to pick the injector there wasn't one on the shelf but they didn't think it was necessary tell my motor factors. It was going to take two weeks for them to get another one!!! :bang:

After getting nowhere trying to find another supplier I had a look on ebay and managed to find one, should be here tomorrow.

I've also been working on the front end, lights cleaned up and fitted, black paintwork behind grille and bumper tidied up.........







Also the grille has been painted, this pic shows the grille and bumper just placed on the car as more work has to be done before they can go on permanently.......



I've since fitted twin air horns and front fog lights behind the bumper so now it looks like this..........



Everything looks a little wonky as it's all still just placed on for the pic, I still have to run the wiring.

I found some small 'Panda sized' fog lights that are very discreet.......



I've mounted them inboard of the vents so that the vents can be used in the future if necessary. I attached them to the bumper by drilling through a strengthening web that's part of the bumper moulding, then using a 10mm thick alloy spacer/strengthener between this and the light bracket. Of course I also had to cut two holes for the lights to poke through......



Next job will be to wire them up to a switch via a relay.

The air horns will also run through a relay and are very loud! They are the same as these fitted to Barbara's Panda (Bo) as here........



I also have some very rare wheel arch trims to go on, trial fitted them yesterday.........



That's it for now, it's getting late, hopefully the next update will include the words "goes like a rocket!"