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Panda (Classic) My Sisley, Panda 4x4 - division north

Introduction

As mentioned before, I'm starting new thread for my recent purchease.
Bought it from forum user, deposit was place without seeing the car first, went all the way down south with rest of the cash and A-frame in boot.

First summary of the car is ( 1 is very poor, 10 is perfect):

  • Originality - 6,
  • Bodywork - 7,
  • Engine - 6,
  • Gearbox - 5,
  • Interior - 5,
  • Structural rust - 8,
  • Visible rust - 8,
  • Previous owners maintain - 7
Plan for the car is to keep it road worthy and in good mechanical nick, join Panda 4x4 UK club and have some play with other Northern forum members.

As it is now, I'm not willing to make any statement what needs to be done as I had only spend about 2h last week by checking and looking at the car in more details way.

That is my bigger worry for now - bloody milky coolant and a bit of mayo under the oil cap.

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How can I confirm my head gasket theory not having coolant presure test kit???
@CLS - your not the only one - aparently it is bloody hard to buy cheepo 4x4 without blown thru head gasket.

The rest of the engine bay seems to be fine,
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Did somebody in here mentioned a black silicone gunk as a fast repair?
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Interior as you can expect from car been used on a farm
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Not the geniune steering wheel and speedo, which does not make much difference to me at all. Roofrack presence evidence
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I dont want to know how this happened.
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Filler pipe still untouched, what sort of DIY protections do you recon?
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And time for the bad boy
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Is that gap between the propshaft and diff is normall?
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Dear FFCP section members, any comments, suggestions and observation are more than welcome, especcialy regards the 4x4 drive train i.e. leaks etc.
Finally!

I think i've found why engine was running hot wit lack of hot air from the heater matrix?
Clearly the person whos been doing head gasket previously din't know what he is doing.
One of the intake manifold water channels hole was blocked by gasket so there was no water circulation at all! Water channel gasket opening is located about 15mm to the right. School boy error but this time not made by me. Pictures will follow tonight.
 
Finally!

I think i've found why engine was running hot wit lack of hot air from the heater matrix?
Clearly the person whos been doing head gasket previously din't know what he is doing.
One of the intake manifold water channels hole was blocked by gasket so there was no water circulation at all! Water channel gasket opening is located about 15mm to the right. School boy error but this time not made by me. Pictures will follow tonight.
When you say 'one of' the water channels, you do realise only one of the water channels in the manifold actually goes anywhere, there's only one opening in the head.
 
Realy slow progress so far, as I'm currently prepering my daily estate for MOT,

New block plug already fitted, there is no way I could remove the old one without use of sliding hammer and old chunky nail.

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Some more shinny bits been brought by my mate in his travel back form Poland.

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The most imprtant thing is that those bearing are not made from rice.

Valve grinding-in process is finished as well, looking forward to start putting head back together.

Bearings will have to wait for now, will be put on when my lift kit will be ready later this year.

Will add couple items for sale as well: rear diff oil seal (centre one), carburattor rebuild kits etc.
 
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Finallly!!!

All assembled together, camshaft oiled before cam cover instaled.

Battery charged and nothing.... does not start.

After priming carb and filter with petrol engine started.

It sounds much different now, smoother and less noisy.

Shame MOT runs out on 26th, and im of for my wedding on 16th, so just couple play days left.
 
Finallly!!!

All assembled together, camshaft oiled before cam cover instaled.

Battery charged and nothing.... does not start.

After priming carb and filter with petrol engine started.

It sounds much different now, smoother and less noisy.

Shame MOT runs out on 26th, and im of for my wedding on 16th, so just couple play days left.

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! As someone who just got married just make sure to relax and enjoy the day :)
 
Brilliant news mate! A credit to your hard work. Have you run it upto temperature yet? Has it still got the hot running gremlin?

No, had no time to take it off stands and drive outside. I'll swap wheels back on to the sisley ( as Black one is now my daily ride ) and streight to my favorite "test lane" St@Xton hill.

Engine still filled with water for now as I'm sure there is much debris left inside water chanels so will give good flush and back on red coolant.

After test drive - valve clearence check planned as they were grinded in so small adjustment might be required.
 
Been out for ride - St@xton hill - tree times up and down.

Engine still needs some fine tune, regards any improvements - yes, when climbing up hill there is no more heavy pinking noise!!!
Sisley temperature gauge reads a bit higher compared to Formula'91 so operating temp shown on guage was +/- 85*C when in traffic and on A64.
When hill top was reached ( 10 min crawling in 1st gear, incline 10-20*)temperature of 100*C indicated but rad fan kicked in after 2 mins when left on idle at the top. Before head rebuild - it was RED on the scale.

Still runing on water, coolant will be applied tommorow- looking forward to see some more improvement.

Will do further investigation/ check but after all i'm pleased with results as under cheavy load engine sounds much healtier now.

Came back to garage and noticed leak from top hose to t-stat housing.
 
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They look cool Jacob, genuine Wellas? You must do they tyre paint aswell!

Is that the only water leak on the engine fixed now? We must catch up after your wedding :)


Andy, they will be heading towards Masham for blasting and powder coating, as it goes for now i'm trying to arrange PAnda Express for collection from Liverpool area.

Re engine - yes, as far as I know it is water tight with coolant inside now.
 
Andy, they will be heading towards Masham for blasting and powder coating, as it goes for now i'm trying to arrange PAnda Express for collection from Liverpool area.

Re engine - yes, as far as I know it is water tight with coolant inside now.

Fantastic, well there's a couple of ideal candidates heading up for the Yorkshire weekend ;) it's a shame you can't make it but I suppose the wedding has to come first!
 
Small issue occured with payment for weller wheels, but it sound like it sorted by now. Been for a test drive, with red coolant this time. 90*C on the gauge in traffic, couple degrees less on A64, no fan at all, after slow climb - St@xton hill 110*C indicated and rad fan kicked in. Other that+ 20*C cooling system in its functionality looks fine. I need source out spare dial cluster for final comparison..
 
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