Northern Auto Tech - ECU and Blue & Me Repairs
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Panda (Classic) 1994 Fiat Panda CLX "Erwin"

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Introduction

Hi all, it was true what they said, once you start, you just won't stop. The Panda Classic Bug.

Today, I obtained this 1994 Fiat Panda CLX. I have nicknamed this one Erwin, because of the number plate. EDIT: After speaking to Jen, the previous owner before the one I got the car off of, I have decided to re-name the car back to how it was always named - Chaz :)
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Erwin has a 999cc engine with fuel injection (and a suspected head gasket failure :p). The condition of the car is okay, but it is starting to rust in the normal areas (door corners, rear arch, and the panel at the back where the boot lock is mounted), it was last on the road a couple of years ago. I bought the car as it has a few bits I want - namely the wheels and the bonnet vent, though a few other bits may benefit Pandino. The idea isn't to make it a complete parts car though, it may be good enough as a basis for somebody's project?
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I've spoken to Liquid Knight who is looking for a Panda for his engine swap, and this may be a good car to use for that. Unfortunately it's quite a trek with the distance between us, so the fate of the car is still to be determined. We shall see what happens :D It will likely live on my drive for a couple of weeks, but I soon need to find Erwin a new home as I cannot afford insurance on another car and my father wants the space back for his Focus (y)

If anyone is interested then let me know, hopefully I can sort something with Knight but the distance could be an issue. Anyway, one more picture... welcome to the forum family, Erwin :)
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firstcar-Y10 I haven't checked yet but there's apparently no spacers on Erwin - I suppose it's advisable to get 5mm spacers for the rears with the Uno Turbo wheels?
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1994 Fiat Panda CLX "Erwin"

blu73 said:
Sucks to be young sometimes lol.
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Look just insure as normal take the risk yourself of replacing the alloys and springs if there damaged that is the reason increased policy cost Not because of the increased risk of the driver
 
Re: 1994 Fiat Panda CLX "Erwin"

blu73 said:
I would never advocate not declaring stuff!! the wheels maybe as they just fiat wheels, an insurance inspector probably wouldn't even know they aren't panda wheels but not lowering.
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Not with the colour I want to go with the alloys :p Either white or gold, still debating!

Just as easy to always declare, and that's okay with companies like Adrian Flux, no hassle, but Admiral want to milk me for every penny I have. They said that alloys will be covered as an optional extra, I asked if they were sure because they're from an Uno and they said yes it's fine... suspension wouldn't be covered as it's aftermarket though.

Tempted to do just the wheels for now. My cousin is very interested but won't be able to buy for a few months, so I got time to decide what to do with the suspension :) If I can find standard springs I suppose I could always keep the lowered ones as spare as well!
 
Re: 1994 Fiat Panda CLX "Erwin"

If anyone wants to take Chaz on as a project, please speak up now. My parents have asked me to move the car sooner rather than later so I'm going to need to find someone.

If I don't find anyone/my cousin is not interested, I will not be weighing the car in as is for scrap, it will be parted out so that other Pandas can live on. For now, wondering if anyone would be interested in the car as is though. If so, please get in touch!

Thanks :)
 
Well and truly stuck in to my current project I'm afraid, hopefully you'll find a home for him in time, if not are you parting it out yourself? Might be after a few bits, if you're not make sure it goes to someone who'll break it and not just weigh it in as a lump of scrap metal to be cubed and processed!
 
Phiz said:
Well and truly stuck in to my current project I'm afraid, hopefully you'll find a home for him in time, if not are you parting it out yourself? Might be after a few bits, if you're not make sure it goes to someone who'll break it and not just weigh it in as a lump of scrap metal to be cubed and processed!
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That's definitely understandable Phiz, I have had one person contact me so I've taken some more pictures, I still mean to take some more but here's the album of what I've got so far: http://imgur.com/a/27G9N

Already used the wheels so it's on my spares with off road tyres and axle stands... let me know what you think of the rust :p

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If parting it out it will be done by myself, yes. Some parts I might need for mine but others can be sold out for other Pandas. If I do part it out then I'll let you know so that you can buy bits but we'll see what happens, it may not come to that, holding on to hope :)
 
Fingers crossed you find a good home for it, certainly looks worth saving. The rust does look worse than on mine, with my only major issue being the inner rear wheel arch, so from the outside/top it looks fairly rust free, that being said other than the rust coming through the panels on Chaz all look pretty straight. The patch on that sill looks a little agricultural though! Your MOT mans quote seems fair, issue being for some of it they'd probably just stick a patch over the top and not really solve the problem rather than a proper repair, plus I guess that won't include any of the non structural stuff that wouldn't need to be done for an MOT so still a fair bit to be done.

I don't really need any bits as such (y), just a few things that I might be better with! Wheels are one thing I'd be tempted by if you were parting it out, are you keeping them as spares if the car does not go as a whole. Certainly not a priority but it'd be better to keep the winter tyres on rims rather than having to get them swapped over twice a year! Other than that I'm changing the radiator,water pump and thermostat soon as my car has had an issue with coolant... I hope that'll sort it but knowing where there is a good cylinder head might be reassuring! Doors are in a similar state to mine, a generous guy via the Facebook group has offered me some doors which have been welded up and no longer fit properly, was thinking I might fit them (for security) while I fix my original doors but even a rough pair would mean I'd have something on the car to keep the rain/chavs out while I repair mine!
 
Phiz said:
Fingers crossed you find a good home for it, certainly looks worth saving. The rust does look worse than on mine, with my only major issue being the inner rear wheel arch, so from the outside/top it looks fairly rust free, that being said other than the rust coming through the panels on Chaz all look pretty straight. The patch on that sill looks a little agricultural though! Your MOT mans quote seems fair, issue being for some of it they'd probably just stick a patch over the top and not really solve the problem rather than a proper repair, plus I guess that won't include any of the non structural stuff that wouldn't need to be done for an MOT so still a fair bit to be done.

I don't really need any bits as such (y), just a few things that I might be better with! Wheels are one thing I'd be tempted by if you were parting it out, are you keeping them as spares if the car does not go as a whole. Certainly not a priority but it'd be better to keep the winter tyres on rims rather than having to get them swapped over twice a year! Other than that I'm changing the radiator,water pump and thermostat soon as my car has had an issue with coolant... I hope that'll sort it but knowing where there is a good cylinder head might be reassuring! Doors are in a similar state to mine, a generous guy via the Facebook group has offered me some doors which have been welded up and no longer fit properly, was thinking I might fit them (for security) while I fix my original doors but even a rough pair would mean I'd have something on the car to keep the rain/chavs out while I repair mine!
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Unfortunately, while the rest of it looks worth saving, the sills are pretty much shot. I've spoken to a couple of others and to do the sill repairs properly is realistically going to cost thousands, completely replaced and welded in. The seam that holds the sills has literally disappeared on this side, and is made of rust on the other side, with the rest of the sill having its fair share of rust and holes. Unless the one person that contacted me wishes to take the car then the car will be parted out. My assumption that because the sills would need replacing completely to keep it sweet, they won't want it - a welder could patch over it but really that won't tide it over for too long :(

The alloys it had I'm still refurbing and putting onto the red Fizz. The original steels from the Fizz are staying in the garage so that they can go back onto the Fizz when I want to put it back to original so no wheels available I'm afraid. I'll keep some of the other bits back for myself as well, but the doors likely won't be of any use to me if you wanted them. If I part it then once I've taken what I need from the interior you could have the doors if you wanted, I was thinking about taking the plastic trims and windows though so up to you - can always stick some tape/cardboard over the window area as a stop gap for when you restore yours ;)
 
True no one is going to want to take it on and pay for all the welding work required so it would have to be a welder looking for a project. Fairly large project too... clearly cheaper just to buy a better one but more satisfaction fixing one up!

If I could have the doors that would be brilliant cheers (y), only issue being that I think you are about as far from Manchester as you can get without getting your feet wet? Still maybe I could swing by on the way back from the ferry from the Spain trip... guess they'll fit in the boot pretty easy? Guess it depends on if you can keep hold of them for a bit for me, I realise if your parents want the drive cleared they probably didn't have in mind you dissaembling the car and putting the bits in the house! Tried that one with a motorbike once, didn't get away with it, takes up a lot more space in parts:D.

As the doors are the same colour as mine I could weld them up first, taking my time then fit them to my car before fixing up my own doors as spares (though clearly no rush there!). This would mean I'd not have to worry about a car with no doors at any point. Another possible point of interest would be the roof bars, though I'm not convinced they would be long enough (front to back) for our kayaks. It's a funny one really, our boats are 2.8m long and to secure them properly the straps need to be in front and behind the widest part of the boats, which in itself is very long. I'm on a tight budget anyway (after buying so much fiat already:)) so these two factors might well rule out the factory roof bars like those on Chaz.

Is the possible new carer for Chaz on the forum?
 
Phiz said:
True no one is going to want to take it on and pay for all the welding work required so it would have to be a welder looking for a project. Fairly large project too... clearly cheaper just to buy a better one but more satisfaction fixing one up!

If I could have the doors that would be brilliant cheers (y), only issue being that I think you are about as far from Manchester as you can get without getting your feet wet? Still maybe I could swing by on the way back from the ferry from the Spain trip... guess they'll fit in the boot pretty easy? Guess it depends on if you can keep hold of them for a bit for me, I realise if your parents want the drive cleared they probably didn't have in mind you dissaembling the car and putting the bits in the house! Tried that one with a motorbike once, didn't get away with it, takes up a lot more space in parts:D.

As the doors are the same colour as mine I could weld them up first, taking my time then fit them to my car before fixing up my own doors as spares (though clearly no rush there!). This would mean I'd not have to worry about a car with no doors at any point. Another possible point of interest would be the roof bars, though I'm not convinced they would be long enough (front to back) for our kayaks. It's a funny one really, our boats are 2.8m long and to secure them properly the straps need to be in front and behind the widest part of the boats, which in itself is very long. I'm on a tight budget anyway (after buying so much fiat already:)) so these two factors might well rule out the factory roof bars like those on Chaz.

Is the possible new carer for Chaz on the forum?
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My cousin will not be looking for a car for a few months still and as the car has been given the ultimatum to have to go, it will have to be parted out. My cousin said he would be able to buy another Panda with an MOT for cheaper than the repair cost on this one which is true anyway. The person that contacted me never replied so I take it they saw the sills and ran off :rolleyes:

Do you want the doors even if the windows are taken? I was going to take plastics/cards/windows for spare parts for my Pandas but the rest of the door is free to you (the main metal bits ;)) if you can swing by at any point. I can put them round the side of the house or something for a short while, depends when you can next pop to Wiltshire... when is your trip?

I'd suggest just putting some tape over the rust holes and covering up the window with these doors on while you fix the ones you already have. Once you fix those, put them on and keep the rusty ones as spare. Though be warned, they do have a couple of holes and have rusted quite nicely.

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So, looks like the car is going to be taken apart now, but I'll hang on a few more days while I await a reply from the one that contacted me. If not though, then I may be willing to sell a few bits. I'm going to be keeping various spares for myself to keep for Pandino and the (possible) 4x4. If anyone needs bits from a CLX then let me know.
 
That would be great, all I'd need would be the actual steel door itself, all the other bits I can transfer off my current doors. I'll see which doors are in better nick to start off and then fix them while the other doors are on the car, so there is no rush to get the job done and I can fit it in around work! My drivers door is much worse than passenger but at least with a spare pare I am not waiting around for me to finish the job so I can do as good a job as possible.

Timescale wise on the trip that is a very good question. All plans have gone all over the place, the original idea was to have been to Russia and back by now but when we had the issue with visas that got shelved as did the work on the Panda for quite a while! I'm now making decent headway though so hopefully will have it on the road pretty soon. First trip will be a test run to Scotland, then Spain, which we really need to do first half of this year (as work gets busier later in the year).
 
Phiz said:
That would be great, all I'd need would be the actual steel door itself, all the other bits I can transfer off my current doors. I'll see which doors are in better nick to start off and then fix them while the other doors are on the car, so there is no rush to get the job done and I can fit it in around work! My drivers door is much worse than passenger but at least with a spare pare I am not waiting around for me to finish the job so I can do as good a job as possible.

Timescale wise on the trip that is a very good question. All plans have gone all over the place, the original idea was to have been to Russia and back by now but when we had the issue with visas that got shelved as did the work on the Panda for quite a while! I'm now making decent headway though so hopefully will have it on the road pretty soon. First trip will be a test run to Scotland, then Spain, which we really need to do first half of this year (as work gets busier later in the year).
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Unless your doors have lots of holes and rust then yours should be better! But yes, you are welcome to the steel doors for free whenever you can swing by. When you have a better idea on when then pop me a message on the thread or in my PMs or on Facebook! :)
 
Will do, will be updating panda progress in the mean time, finally finished welding up the inner wheel arch so seam sealer tomorrow, then paint after work evening! On to the next items on my long list!

I've got 2 sisters living in Edinburgh and I'm long overdue a visit so that'll be a good first run. I'll also be up in the Cairngorms in late June for my other halves bro's birthday, though that could turn out to be a motorbike trip, or even a trip for the swede beast (volvo) if I can't work out other transport for our Kayaks. We get to Scotland when we can really, one day might even get sorted to move up there! I am heading down to Cardiff late May but unless the Panda is sorted and I've sorted some form of roof rack for the boats that'll be a volvo trip.
 
Phiz said:
Will do, will be updating panda progress in the mean time, finally finished welding up the inner wheel arch so seam sealer tomorrow, then paint after work evening! On to the next items on my long list!

I've got 2 sisters living in Edinburgh and I'm long overdue a visit so that'll be a good first run. I'll also be up in the Cairngorms in late June for my other halves bro's birthday, though that could turn out to be a motorbike trip, or even a trip for the swede beast (volvo) if I can't work out other transport for our Kayaks. We get to Scotland when we can really, one day might even get sorted to move up there! I am heading down to Cardiff late May but unless the Panda is sorted and I've sorted some form of roof rack for the boats that'll be a volvo trip.
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Now I've got the Sisley, I've found out the doors on it aren't as great as I had hoped. I have a feeling the doors are still quite a bit better than the doors on the CLX, the CLX one actually has holes in, but I'm going to have to evaluate them properly and make sure I do one set up enough so that they last nicely on the Sisley. My hope is that I can take the plastic trim off the Sisley door, get rid of any rust and loose paint etc, then get a lot of nice new paint on it and put the trim back on. If that's the case then you are still very welcome to the CLX doors when you can make it. If for some reason I can't do this then I'll let you know but there should be no problems anyway mate :) Sounds like you're a bit of time off doing the doors on your CLX so I should have the time to do my Sisley doors up and take the CLX ones off in that time :D

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Chaz has donated a few little bits to the newly acquired Sisley - washer fluid cap, air filter (looked unused!) and the air intake clips. There will be a few more bits taken for the Sisley as well but if anyone else wants to buy anything then let me know. I've also taken the throttle body seal off for Andy :)
 
No worries, I'll just keep working away until I'm on to the more superficial work (which I'm really looking forward to!). What's the deal with the roof rack on the sisley? Strong tape mentioned in the other thread?
 
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