Panda (Classic) Mk1 Fiat panda 4X4 restore

[VmanC]

Day 2



Some very silly questions if I may,

Not wanting to break anything, How do I get the dash out? it started with just wanted to get the carpet out but I have to remove the centre consel to do that.
I thought it would be best to start from above so started to remove the front shelth, again, can not be removed with out removing everything?

The front shelf is the last thing that can be removed, so you will have to first remove the instrument pod, as described by pandamonius_maximus. The steering wheel, column switches and cowel may as well come off too. Once all of this is out of the way you will have the two end brackets to undo ( three screws each ), then unhook the top edge of the fabric and it should come away.

 

[goodgirl156]

Thanks for the help everyone. Im up north today so wont get time to crack on till tomorrow night now
I know this is supposed to be a 12month project, but I cant help my self!

 

[goodgirl156]

Hi giacosa, I think I have that part, its a long pease of metal that screws in to the body work, Once thats on, the wiper fits over the top with the plastic bolt?

Some more progress tonight, I managed to get the dash out, cut my self several times and got to see just how far the rot has gone.

The good news is its limited to the top section, the bulkhead/firewall is sound. With the engine out I should gain good access.

So, the question remains, as there are a fair few mounting points for vents, does any one have a scrap panda that I can cut this section out of?

The second photo shows it best. I need the section just above the carpit "castle" retaining bits.
Its the complete upside down "L" section I need where the vents sit in, the scuttle pannel screws in and the window sits on top off.

I will pay a good price for this part....

 

[Giacosa]

Hi giacosa, I think I have that part, its a long pease of metal that screws in to the body work, Once thats on, the wiper fits over the top with the plastic bolt?

Sounds like you already have it although its usually spot welded on rather than screwed on.

Have you considered just getting some sheet steel and just tin bashing it into shape. I make my bits of panel with a small hammer and a wooden step.

 

[swaynie]

im defo looking forward to coming and seeing this fiat and ill be bringing my welding mask and my big mug

i really want a panda to work on envy

 

[Giacosa]

im defo looking forward to coming and seeing this fiat and ill be bringing my welding mask and my big mug

i really want a panda to work on envy

Don't be too envious, Pandas can bite!

 

[goodgirl156]

Day...I have no idear! I think its only the 3rd day I have had to spend some time on the old girl

Today was spent continuing to strip her, make notes, photos, bag and tag every screw/bolt/nut In all honesty, that's what's really taking the time at the moment

Today I:

Got the front carpet out
Removed sound dedining bulk head
striped front doors
striped rear section of car
removed rear light clusters
Removed rear mud gards
Removed rear wheel arch liners
Removed rear glass (VERY easy )
Removed drivers side plastics

Then cleaned the inside out best as I can but will continue tomorrow with compressed air to make sure all the, well soil and straw are gone. I filled a complete wheely bin bag with crap today

Some photos (I have 100's but your not interested in bolt locations ect)

I also had time to take a sander to the rear after the photos and tidy up the surface rust where the wet hay had been Looks much better now

Things that stumped me today:
How the hell do you get the boot off? I cannot see any bolts, there all round? and the pin that goes though is solid both sides?

Where can I get 10ltr of wd40 cheaply!

 

[swaynie]

Don't be too envious, Pandas can bite!

i love welding i would even tig weld everything to make it look prettyi stil want a 4x4 even a complete shed would do

 

[goodgirl156]

You can have mine! Caution, may contain my blood and sweat

 

[VmanC]

i love welding i would even tig weld everything to make it look prettyi stil want a 4x4 even a complete shed would do

'Luke P' has just the Panda for you! needs lots of welding but is low mileage so should be mechanically sound. Then when you've finished you'll have one of the original 500 Sisleys .

 

[goodgirl156]

Well its nice to make some REAL progress instead of simply pulling stuff apart.

Originally I was going to just scrap the boot lid as it was in my opinion far to far gone.
I was however told (and then looked) that the mk1 panda boot lid was different to the others as its got the number plate indentation.

So, with that in mind I have spent two evenings attempting to save the one I have

So I started off with this (I told you it was bad)

Then its angle grinder time, no point peeing about, bad metal cut out

Then its making template and cutting sheet metal, oh the joy

welding

more welding

Im not very good at it yet, ill be taking a night course soon

First stage of final tidying and some filling

Hopefully ill have it finished tonight, its safe to say this is by far the worse rust on the car

 

[pandamaniac]

You are a real martyr to the cause!
Maybe you should be tagged SUPERGIRL and not Goodgirl!
Sterling work keep it up

Dave (Pandamaniac)

 

[pandamonius_maximus]

Wow, great work!! Thats inspiring me to have a go at my old tailgate as it wasnt as bad as yours.

Si

 

[goodgirl156]

Dont be so quick Si!!

Were talking a serious amount of work to save this little devil!
these comments do however make the tetanus jab I had last week due to panda related injury's more worth wile

In all seriousness, the first person to be able to supply me with a cut off section of a panda scuttle/lower windscreen section gets big thanks, possibly even money!

 

[purple haze]

Great work your doing there....Total respect to you for saving this MK1...

 

[Stuartl]

Hi Sam, just got caught up on your restoration this minute, boy are you going to be proud once you are ready for primer. Brilliant work your doing and great to see someone not afraid of a grinder. :slayer:
At the rate your going you'll be finished long before my MK1.

It really is great to see another Panda being saved. And reading through the thread it proves once again what a comunity the Panda section is with everyone chipping to help were they can.
Please do keep the photo updates going, it inspires us all to keep going to.

Well done.

 

[goodgirl156]

Well nothing much in the way of photo stuff today

Breaks are going to be ordered monday
Better filler and rust eater bought today
More final work on the boot lid, rubber to be ordered Monday

More rust areas cut out and replacement metal tack welded in for the time being

And im back off out there, lucky for me the garage is warm, dry, has a phone and the internet! Oh and radio 4 on, im getting old :S

 

[purple haze]

BUMP....any updates?????

 

[goodgirl156]

Update!

The Sci is getting more attention at the moment as I would like that on the road over the next week, I have shocks and breaks to do, but have seen a full coil over kit that may well get bought.

Panda wise, Its just a case of me at the moment doing the mind nummingly boring stuff. Every part thats come off it is being cleaned, This ranges from polishing the lights and rear clusters to opening every bag of bolts, cleaning them in a solution over night, then re-bagging and labelling. No point in putting nasty looking bolts and nuts back on!

I have a list of parts I need to source that's keeping me bizzy, some of which I need before I can make any real progress.

The biggest thing I have to do is get the front welding and scuttle pannel done, I simply cant even start this until I secure another panda to give its life up to save mine Until this is resolved it feels like im making no progress at all and just skirting around bigger issues

 

[pandamonius_maximus]

Update!

The Sci is getting more attention at the moment as I would like that on the road over the next week, I have shocks and breaks to do, but have seen a full coil over kit that may well get bought.

Panda wise, Its just a case of me at the moment doing the mind nummingly boring stuff. Every part thats come off it is being cleaned, This ranges from polishing the lights and rear clusters to opening every bag of bolts, cleaning them in a solution over night, then re-bagging and labelling. No point in putting nasty looking bolts and nuts back on!

I have a list of parts I need to source that's keeping me bizzy, some of which I need before I can make any real progress.

The biggest thing I have to do is get the front welding and scuttle pannel done, I simply cant even start this until I secure another panda to give its life up to save mine Until this is resolved it feels like im making no progress at all and just skirting around bigger issues

Sounds like your a lot more methodical than me. I'm more run at it screaming and slow down when the car is back in one peice again. :devil:

Keep up the work, sounds like its going to be a tidy job!

Si