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Panda (Classic) Charmania

Overview Gallery Discussion

Introduction

Just finished a little project in time for Brooklands, so some of you may have seen it there. Bought just before Christmas coz my Daughter needed to upgrade from a pushbike back into a car, and I wanted to get some ideas out of my head and into the metal ;).

I did lend her one of my Pandas while she waited for this one, so please don't think I made her cycle through the winter just coz Daddy wants to play :p.

Some pictures of the finished item.........











She's a Fiat Panda 750 Mania (Daughters name is Charmain, hence the threads title) Bought from Ebay for £103.
No tax or mot, poor performance, and no exhaust silencer, but bags of potential :). This was her the first day on my drive....





First part of the plan was to get her road legal, briefly, this involved

£80 of welding to inner sills.
Replace o/s/f wheel bearing.
New tailpipe.
Re-set cam timing.
Full service and clean up.

After this little lot the total cost was about £250 and this is how she now looked............



Now for the fun stuff :D.

Again, briefly, this is a list of work carried out to bring her from the above picture to finished.

Go faster stripe made from cutting up a couple of viper stripe kits and making my own design.
Wheels and tyres from a 127 sport, refurbed by myself and fitted with 10mm spacers on the rear.
New standard shocks with new Spax coil springs lowering car by about 40mm.
Replace side repeaters with Rover items fitted with chrome bulbs.
Replace orange front indicators with clear ones, also with chrome bulbs.
Clean and paint suspension and brake parts as I go.
Remove gearbox, free off and lubricate clutch mechanism and gearchange linkage.
Strip interior, refit using light grey trim from another of my Pandas.
Fit Seicento Sei front seats.
Fit sportier pedals, gearknob, steering wheel, and chequered trim to door handles and horn button, plus red/grey overmats.
Make custom roof lining to tie in with chequers theme.
Fit radio/cd player & six speakers (2 x dash, 2 x rear side panels, 2 x rear parcel shelf ).

I think that's everything. If anyone would like to know more,full build details can be seen in these two threads which have been running since before day of purchase..

https://www.fiatforum.com/auction-watch/215832-another-red-mania-birmingham.html

https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-classic/219521-charmania-chapter-two.html
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Couldn't do my planned work yesterday so decided to get Charmania in and give her a polish and wax so that she's set for the winter. The mot's coming up soon too so will renew that before I start on the engine swap :D.
Here she is, all clean and tidy...........



Will be making sure the underside is protected soon too, don't want all that nasty road salt causing havok :mad:.
 
Thanks Rele,

Yes, it's a Volvo 1800es, a project for the future. My Dad owned it for thirty years but kept it unused in a garage for the last twenty five, we've now bought it from him to restore, but only after a few Pandas have been finished off first ;).
 
Well it's not all rock'n roll and magazine shoots for Charmania, failed the mot :(

One track rod end rubber boot was split ( no wear though ), and the handbrake efficiency was low. Track rod end was easily renewed, and got some brake shoes coming tomorrow. Also, the handbrake link in the drum had seized at the pivot point.

Not too bad really, should be ready for a retest tomorrow.
 
VmanC said:
Well it's not all rock'n roll and magazine shoots for Charmania, failed the mot :(

One track rod end rubber boot was split ( no wear though ), and the handbrake efficiency was low. Track rod end was easily renewed, and got some brake shoes coming tomorrow. Also, the handbrake link in the drum had seized at the pivot point.

Not too bad really, should be ready for a retest tomorrow.
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Sparky failed on all of those once (amongst other things) and I treated him to a new rod end, tracking reallignment and full on brake service before the retest... It was gooooood ;)

All the best. And good luck tomorrow! :)
 
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Luke P said:
Sparky failed on all of those once (amongst other things) and I treated him to a new rod end, tracking reallignment and full on brake service before the retest... It was gooooood ;)

All the best. And good luck tomorrow! :)
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According to Will & Lucy (Sparky's new owners) Sparky has had a sex change, now known as Sparketta. :)

Charmania will only be ready for the retest tomorrow, not actually booked it yet. (y)
 
Eek!! That car was always a bit of a ragged eared Tom cat to me... Liked a brawl with the odd Audi estate on the A roads and sometimes won!! ;) I suppose a responsible owner should really get emasculate their cats!

Well good luck when she goes in... :)

Luke.
 
Well, new brake shoes fitted today, and the handbrake levers are nicely freed up. The handbrake now locks up the back wheels :), those levers are worth a look if your handbrake isn't up to scratch.

Retest is 9.30am tomorrow so fingers crossed.
 
Good luck to Charmania for tomorrow Vernon.

Kevin has had Poppi MOT'd successfully without any advisories before I collect her (y)

The Coupe did likewise just before Christmas and the 166 passed last Saturday so another years motoring. Hoping to get the 'grale back on the road this year, so hopefully I am as lucky when that one goes under the testers scrutiny!

In terms of failures, the most :eek: I've experienced was on my old W124 estate .......

MOT_MAY2009.jpg


Typical of the Hammers really... :D
 
I know rules is rules but that really is taking the mickey,
I have got a Chesterfield sticker and as we are at the bottom he will probably laugh and it will pass its MOT
Dave
 
In terms of failures, the most
redface.gif
I've experienced was on my old W124 estate
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Snap (y). I've got a 300TE (1988). My partner Barbara uses it most of the time, loves it so much she gave up her modern Peugeot 407 est. They are a great model, but Pandas are no worse when it comes to mot, even with regards to rust!

Which reminds me, Charmania passed :), so now, after finishing a couple of other little jobs first, I can start the fun job of making her more dynamic :D:D:D.
 
My 1994 280 W124 "magic carpet" estate was a smashing car and I do miss her - but not the "bio-degradable" engine loom that these later models were fitted with :mad: :doh: :mad:

I'd have another, but either one thats had that sorted or a pre-M104 engine - which I think yours probably is Vernon.

Although no where near capable as an out and out load carrier as the Merc, the V6 166 has (so far) proved a worthy successor as a luxury ride for the family :D
 
Good to hear positive comments about the Alfa as I am tempted by them :slayer::yum:
Yes, mine doesn't have the later loom, must be a nightmare when those later ones start to go!
 
Luke P said:
Sparky failed on all of those once (amongst other things) and I treated him to a new rod end, tracking reallignment and full on brake service before the retest... It was gooooood ;)

All the best. And good luck tomorrow! :)
Click to expand...

Oops! Meant to put 'Like' for this post, fingers are too big for an iPhone :eek:
 
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Well it looks like Charmania has lost patience waiting for her sporty new engine and has taken matters into her own hands, as a result I am sitting in a services car park with a blown head gasket. She's got a bit above herself since appearing in a certain magazine. :(
 
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