General Saving the 4x4 Country Club.

[Alan.D]

Part 1

In Early May pu2 (Andreas) asked the panda section if they wanted a 4x4 panda for parts. After a few posts and pics of the car it seemed sacrillage to scrap so we thought we would help.

On the 12th of June myself and Tony made our way to Manchester with the task of removing 2 engines one from the 4x4 and one from Tony's selecta and mating the engine of Tony's with the gearbox of pu2's 4x4. This was also the day that I was going to London to pic up the Barchetta, so the schedule was very very tight

Tony was fully able to help with Andy being the original novice, lots of graft was done but with so much to do it got to that stage where it was inevitable that it wasn't going to be completed, the final straw was a starter motor that wouldn't fit the block due to a strenthening spar. This spar is not on any of the Panda engines but didn't affect Tony's selecta as the starter motor is fited through the g/box to the flywheel rather than the opposite method of Andy's. The spar was about 2" too long and the back of the starter hit before the mounting bolts could be fixed it was a crushing blow as we were really in that fixit mode and certain without this we would have got the engine back in and running at least BUT it wasn't to be. Both myself and Tony were very disapointed but you can only do so much in a day and with not having all the tools in the arsenal se la vie.

We only stopped briefly for a propper Italian lunch cooked by Andreas and on this score he really wasn't a novice it was FAB

So late on I left to go and get the Barchetta

Below were the pics of the day.

 

[AppleSei]

Can the panda actually tow a barchetta, i.e. kerb weights and that?

 

[Giacosa]

Those wee dogs must nearly be mechanics by now

 

[Alan.D]

Part 2

I attempted to get back to finish the work but with other commitments and Andreas being away with work it wasn't to be till yesterday.

This is how the day went......

Being a bit smug and only thinking the engine was to be stuck back I left late and got to Andy's after 12 This was my BIG mistake forgetting as well that Tony wasn't going to be there to help this time

I had a good look at what was still to be done then wheeled the engine to the side got the dremil out and removed 2" of the spar to get the starter fitted this was the easiest part of the day and worked very well ensuring none of the strength of the block was removed the starter slipped in and then got the engine under the panda to lift into position.

All was going well till the mounting points just wouldn't line up and due to the extra weight of the 4x4 box was twisting/shifting eventually we finally managed to get the front mounts in position then the rear wouldn't alighn once I removed the mount from the box it seemed to just slot in.

The slowest part of the day was putting all the ancilliaries back together as it always seems to take a bit of time but again it seemed to go well.

One stumbling block however appeared, someone I won't mention who removed all the leads from the engine so being unsure of which was no 1 on the cap tried all the different combinations but it wouldn't fire I then realised I hadn't fitted the ignition plug :bang: Then went back to square 1 it still didn't fire

I checked the advance unit and it was completely f**ked so fitted a spare availale and it still wouldn't start Finally Andreas asked if the plug on the carb should be on :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: the Panda then burst into life :worship:

I thought Andreas was going to have kittens he was quite emotional but thankfully stoped short of kissing

From then on even though the struts were a b@$t@rd to fit spirits were high, I finally asked what time it was as we started to loose the light and finally got finished about 10 with a short stop for another Italian lunch

I'd like to thank Andreas for his hospitality during this and the previous time I was there. And it was a pleasure to help out.

There was no pics on this occasion as it just didn't seem to happen anyway the Panda now has a new heart which was the main aim of the exercise. Having looked over the rest I can't see why it wouldn't sail through an MOT so here's hoping that it does.

 

[Alan.D]

Can the panda actually tow a barchetta, i.e. kerb weights and that?

The 4x4 panda's gross towing weight is 2100kg so was about 400kg lighter. They recommend 80% of the towing cars weight as a maximum but the legal weight is as stated

 

[Alan.D]

Those wee dogs must nearly be mechanics by now

 

[Tony M]

excellent news Alan & Andy

so glad you could manage to sort it all out, I look forward to seeing the car in the flesh soon. hopefully driving there... but we will have to see how that goes.

good to hear that the strengthening bit on the punto block came off without any issues too... perhaps the aligning thing has something to do with the connections to the gearbox, as they seemed to be the only part of the engine that was completely different.

 

[Alan.D]

You were missed mate. And I appologise for today. As I was leaving at about 11pm from Andreas's I got a call from the Mrs in tears, the daughter had split with her boyfriend and gave the Mrs so much grief she broke down.

I was going to go straight home then, but the Mrs told me not to So went to my mates caravan for the night got there at 01.00 then as his Jeep had blown a bottom hose and he didn't have any tools, got the ripped parts off this morning before breakfast & then drove home.

 

[christopher watson]

the daughter had split with her boyfriend

Has she really, I think its time i visited you again Alan :chin:

 

[Alan.D]

Do'H :bang:

 

[christopher watson]

Do'H :bang: