Technical Fiat Panda 4x4 E314PFL

[andrewlutley]

Hi everyone


Andrew here, from Ashtead, near Epsom, in Surrey.


We already have a Fiat Panda Sisley in the family, currently being driven by one of my daughters. She is keen to go on the Mongol Rally, hopefully in 2019, and I have bought another Panda (E314PFL) so that we can go in a mini convoy.


My Panda was bought in May and I thought that it would be a good idea to tell the story of its restoration on this forum. Others may learn from my mistakes and it will be a good discipline for me. I have a tendency to start projects without finishing them, so regular posts here will help me to keep my eye on the ball. Any suggestions will be very welcome.


The first task was to collect the car from Glinton in Cambridgeshire, 147 miles away, so my daughter drove me up in the other Panda. There was a noticeable smell of petrol on the way back and the windscreen wipers were perished.


I fitted new windscreen wipers: front (Bosch SP16) and rear (BoschSP13). They needed adapters to fit the wiper arms (possibly not original),which Halfords supplied from a Halfords wiper set.
I then took it to my local garage for the MOT. It failed on a U/S offside rear light (defective earth) and a leak in the fuel tank, which explained the petrol smell.




Sourcing a replacement fuel tank was not easy. In the end I bought one from C.T.R. SAS in Italy. They offer two thicknesses of steel and I opted for their heavy duty version. The fuel tank is exposed underneath the chassis and if I am going to be driving over the Mongolian Steppe, I want to minimise the risk of another hole in the tank.




With the new tank fitted and the earthing problem dealt with, it passed
its MOT.




Next instalment: the window blow out.

 

[Sjvarley]

Welcome to the forum. Here theres a wealth of information
Top tip is to ask here first it’s all been done before if not someone will know someone who can. All the best posts photos and regular updates please.
Why not aim for one of the off roading meets that will focus the mind and work rate they are so good to attend check out the
Panda4x4 uk on you tube also the panda 4x4 uk instergram

 

[Freebo]

Hi Welcome!

We've been looking at those tanks but I think youre the first to take the plunge, out of interest how much did it cost you all in?

 

[andrewlutley]

Restoration log - instalment 2 window blow out
An engagement party in Olney, Bedfordshire, which is 80 miles away, gave a good opportunity to road test the Panda.
Everything was going fine until, at 60 MPH in solid traffic on the M25, there was a loud bang.
My wife then noticed that we no longer had a rear right hand side window. The plastic lugs which hold the front of the window into the door post had failed so the window had ripped out the rear hinge. Fortunately, there was no indication that the window had caused any damage to anyone else, no one flashing, honking or gesticulating from behind, so we continued out journey with the extra air conditioning.
Sourcing a replacement window proved very difficult. The Panda glass seems to come either tinted green (for Sisleys) or plain. Some suppliers had a tinted window and some of the people who advertise classic car bespoke window supply just contract the job out to local glass companies. I found a company in London who could make a replacement and could have it toughened, but they would not work from my other window, for safety reasons, and I did not want to take the risk that making a cardboard template would introduce a margin of error which would cause problems at the fitting stage.
Fortunately, my insurers' specialist glass company managed to find a plain replacement window. We agreed that they would let me know when the window arrived but that they would not do the replacement until I had sourced new lugs and hinge to replace the broken ones.
I ordered new lugs and a hinge from R.Auto.In in Italy and went off on holiday.
I arrived back from holiday to find a message that the glass company had arrived to fit the window:bang:.
The fittings arrived several weeks later and I booked another appointment with the glass company. They arrived, only to tell me that the window had the holes for the lug fixings in the wrong place.
Several weeks later, the glass company arrived with a different window, which was correct. However, the hinge which I had purchased from the Italian supplier was missing the plastic fixing which attached to the window.
So, back to the Italian supplier to order the plastic fixing, which is now on its way to me.
Hopefully, I will be able to get the window back in before Christmas.

 

[onemanmade]

Restoration log - instalment 2 window blow out
An engagement party in Olney, Bedfordshire, which is 80 miles away, gave a good opportunity to road test the Panda.
Everything was going fine until, at 60 MPH in solid traffic on the M25, there was a loud bang.
My wife then noticed that we no longer had a rear right hand side window. The plastic lugs which hold the front of the window into the door post had failed so the window had ripped out the rear hinge. Fortunately, there was no indication that the window had caused any damage to anyone else, no one flashing, honking or gesticulating from behind, so we continued out journey with the extra air conditioning.
Sourcing a replacement window proved very difficult. The Panda glass seems to come either tinted green (for Sisleys) or plain. Some suppliers had a tinted window and some of the people who advertise classic car bespoke window supply just contract the job out to local glass companies. I found a company in London who could make a replacement and could have it toughened, but they would not work from my other window, for safety reasons, and I did not want to take the risk that making a cardboard template would introduce a margin of error which would cause problems at the fitting stage.
Fortunately, my insurers' specialist glass company managed to find a plain replacement window. We agreed that they would let me know when the window arrived but that they would not do the replacement until I had sourced new lugs and hinge to replace the broken ones.
I ordered new lugs and a hinge from R.Auto.In in Italy and went off on holiday.
I arrived back from holiday to find a message that the glass company had arrived to fit the window:bang:.
The fittings arrived several weeks later and I booked another appointment with the glass company. They arrived, only to tell me that the window had the holes for the lug fixings in the wrong place.
Several weeks later, the glass company arrived with a different window, which was correct. However, the hinge which I had purchased from the Italian supplier was missing the plastic fixing which attached to the window.
So, back to the Italian supplier to order the plastic fixing, which is now on its way to me.
Hopefully, I will be able to get the window back in before Christmas.

Really unfortunate incident but you are dealing with it well.

Welcome to the forum, we loved to see everyone’s panda here

 

[andrewlutley]

Hi Welcome!

We've been looking at those tanks but I think youre the first to take the plunge, out of interest how much did it cost you all in?

This really hurts me to say so, but it cost me 508.22 Euro. The breakdown was:
Price of the tank: 401 Euro
plus 22% VAT: 88.22 Euro
plus shipping (no VAT): 19.00 Euro
The tank I bought was guaranteed for 40 years. Their 'cheaper' version is guaranteed for 10 years and costs 320 Euro plus VAT and shipping.
They operate three tier pricing structure depending on whether you are a private customer, a car repair shop or a spare parts reseller.
If youneed two tanks, there is a discount.

 

[andrewlutley]

Restoration log instalment 3
Slightly off topic, but here goes anyway
10 days after the window blow out I got a notice of intendedprosecution from Thames Valley police for failing to stop or report an accidenton the M25.
I phoned them up to ask “What accident?” and was told that someone’scar bonnet had been dented by an item of debris which their smart cameras hadidentified as coming from my Panda.
I asked them how I could have reported an accident which Iwas not aware had happened and they said that I should write in with a fullexplanation. I did this and, 2 weekslater, got another letter saying that after careful consideration they decidednot to take any further action.
With the benefit of hindsight it would have been prudent forme to have notified the police of the window blow out in any event. Hopefullythere will not be a ‘next time’, but if there is I will act differently.

 

[Sjvarley]

Hi Welcome!

We've been looking at those tanks but I think youre the first to take the plunge, out of interest how much did it cost you all in?

Tank leaking ? Freebo. It can be plastic coated This will work tank gets heated up then plunged into hot liquid plastic . Basic plastic steel lined tank. It the has to be sealed inside to stop further rust more info message me there are many places that this process can be done Steve

 

[firstcar-Y10]

Hi, interesting times with your acquisition already by the sound of it. Probably prudent to let your insurance company know about the window too - the next thing through the door will doubtless be a claim against you from the driver with the dented bonnet and insurance companies are none too happy about paying out on a claim you haven't told them about!

 

[Derek C]

Tank leaking ? Freebo. It can be plastic coated This will work tank gets heated up then plunged into hot liquid plastic . Basic plastic steel lined tank. It the has to be sealed inside to stop further rust more info message me there are many places that this process can be done Steve

Thanks Steve

Pulling my tank tomorrow and just committed to a lot of money on paint.

Good to be prepared!

DC

 

[Freebo]

Tank leaking ? Freebo. It can be plastic coated This will work tank gets heated up then plunged into hot liquid plastic . Basic plastic steel lined tank. It the has to be sealed inside to stop further rust more info message me there are many places that this process can be done Steve

No nothing wrong with the tank. I just know we were discussing this site a while back and it seems this guy was the only one to buy one so wanted to know their experience.

 

[Sjvarley]

Ah the panda knowledge expands and expands sj
We had a tea bag tank braised it up then paint lined it with £20 petrol proof paint great results for £30.

 

[AndyPanda4x4]

Welcome to the forum!

Any spares required in future just let us know, it'll save you alot of time and money!

Good luck with the Pandas.

 

[P1NKY]

Welcome to the forum!

Any spares required in future just let us know, it'll save you alot of time and money!

Good luck with the Pandas.

:yeahthat: Welcome!

 

[Sjvarley]

Rear windows available someone will have one.

 

[andrewlutley]

Restoration log - instalment 4 electrics - battery isolator


I plan a major overhaul of the electrics over the next few weeks.


The first stage is to fit an isolator switch to the battery. There are a couple of reasons for this. Firstly as a safety issue to reduce the risks of a short when I am doing work on the remainder of the electrics and secondly as a security measure so that I can immobilise the car when I am leaving it parked, particularly if I ever manage to get it touring abroad.


There are plenty of different isolators available, and I went for the quick disconnect version with fuse sold by AES.


This fits direct to the battery negative post. The terminal bridging fuse keeps power running to the radio, alarm and clock if you just want to immobilise the car - trying to start it will blow the fuse. For electrical work, you need to unscrew the switch wheel and disconnect the fuse.



The switch was easy to fit, just a case of:

• removing the negative lead from the battery;
• cleaning up the terminal post and clamp with some emery paper;
• bolting the switch to the negative battery post; and
• reconnecting the battery lead to the post on the end of the switch, tying in the flying lead from the fuse holder.

I used Contraluble electrical grease on all the mating surfaces.


Pictures attached

 

[Freebo]

Oooh, looks like a good idea, I've often thought about getting something like this. Where did you get it from?

 

[andrewlutley]

It came from https://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/mobile/