General onyx firefly picture of car collected today

[unclespevie]

well i finally got the heater matrix in and plumbed(with my copper pipe plumbing skills) and engine fired up, ticking over like a dream, revs pick up instantly so i let it get warm and checked the fan kicks in, yes it did...cooool. oh and the exhaust note is mint.....

so next job is finish the doors so i can mark and pre fix the rear on...then permenantly fit the doors to frame.

then big job is to fibreglass all the holes(rear lights and bit chopped out for tank) then fit rear permantly......not looking forword to that...

so i could maybe give it a spin up the street this weekend.....and even video it for you.

will c

kevin

 

[purple haze]

Oooo...video......look forward to that..

 

[spyder steve]

I think a lot of us are really looking forward to a video thats a huge step forward. Steve.

 

[unclespevie]

darn blast, didnt get the car out quick enough sat, sorry no vid this week, will try next saturday.

allen fletcher called over for some bits, fired it up for him and well i think he was pleased with the pandas demise to becoming an onyx.

kevin

 

[spyder steve]

I believe that building cars such as the onyx actually benifits a lot of standard cars as it highlights worn out parts on all the cars that would often have been overlooked, and maybe led to their demise. It also finds replacement parts, such as bushes bearings etc. And as with my car things such as the polo heater unit could easily be retro fitted to any panda. But wheather these things would have been found out without big mods is doughtfull. In short I feel they do more good for the breed and is worth the sacrifice of one that would have been scrapped anyway. Steve.

 

[unclespevie]

Need some ideas on how to resolve the issue at the rear where i had to chop out for tank, if you zoom in the picture you will see that the tank hangs down slightly so i was thinking of using the same piece. fix at top part and pull out from bottom them fibre glass the sides to make a step sort of thing....but its off centre so would look hidious....



or try to fit a compleate rear bumber over the top from a say MX5......dunno really.

kevin

 

[unclespevie]

Well at the moment(17:30) i have a halogen heater under my engine on the onyx......just realised that i filled with water, no coolent as a test for leaks and didnt change it before the cold snap....so defrost it then will drain it and see.

thing is will it damage the block if start it to defrost it quicker or just use th heater till the block warms up...

kevin

 

[spyder steve]

As regards your cutout on the rear valance I would have cut the whole thing off and refixed it on the base of the bumper. Then rebuilt it around the rear arch. Allways remember that you have to re glass from the back, you want to leave the top or face surface as undisturbed as possible, the surface jell coat is hard to get back to a good smooth finnish around curves in particular. You have no room to work between the tank and body I think you will have to remove the boot section reglass the valance the put the whole lot back. Even if you decide to just have a centre peice raised around the tank you will have to cut more out to centre it all the maybe drop down the numberplate to hide some of the repair.

 

[purple haze]

What about using the type of mesh used on grilles to cover the fuel tank?

You can buy sheets of different types in B&Q. Just bend it in a nice curve. Make a curved plate to attach to either side to attach the mesh. Would match the exhaust.

 

[unclespevie]

was actually thinking of cutting out some more to centre it and using some mesh....then thought of safety for the tank itself, unless i make a U shape out of sheet steel and make like a exterior cover round the tank from underneath first,

getting close to starting the fibre glass on the rear lights so need to do all of it at once rather than bits n bobs here n there.....

more to ponder about ...

kevin

 

[spyder steve]

What rear lights have you gone for?

 

[unclespevie]

well i cant get any sierra ones with the bulb holders so gonna fibrglass the space, fill and rub down then fir these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6-REAR-95...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3368e1630c

what ya think

 

[Nathan126]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sierra-Sa...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item19cd81cf98

Don't know sierra's too well, but they look the part?

 

[unclespevie]

Cheers nathan but i need Sierra MK1 lights with the bulb holder.......

like the preverbial rocking horse xxxx....

but will keep looking....

getting a bit warmer now so just finish off mounting the door covers and then glue in then its onto the rear.....

kevin

 

[Nathan126]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SIERRA-CO...2420065?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item2a194293e1

Is that black one a mk1?
Just trying to help

 

[unclespevie]

emailed them and waite n see if they have any...

some out there but no bulb holders.....no good without the bulb holders..

kevin

 

[unclespevie]

Well i managedto get some MK1 rear lights with bulb holders...had to pay £55 tho...mind you the parts sold from donor paid for it....

thanks guys

kevin

 

[spyder steve]

Glad you got your rear lights, I still can't get my reversing lights to work. But on the other hand I have got the screen, it is a 126 screen, will take a bit of fiddling to get it in as it was bonded but I want to fit it using the rubber seal I know you have to push a string in the u channel and pull it out to pull the rubber around the front of the screen, but do you use a nylon string or wire of some sort. does anyone know? Still a bit cold to finnish the glassing and touch up the paint in places thats really the next job. The little fiddly bits seem to take the longest. Still grinning Steve

 

[unclespevie]

use nylon cord, its easier.....also you could spray some silicone in the rubber that would make it easier fir the cord to move..

having big trouble trying to get the doors lined up...loose fitted the fglass door to frame but catches on the door piller near hinges when you open it.....

still will plod on....need to get the doors done so i can remove rear and start fglassing the weak points.....and where the cut out is as well for tank....

kevin

 

[purple haze]

Tip....

Put the window screen rubber in a bucket of hot water. This will soften the rubber and help a lot. As was just said, use silicone as well or even glass cleaner works well.