Panda (Classic) Project Panda-looking Pandas.

[Palio]

More progress today.

As Homeward went to the trouble of bringing down the new roof bars from Gavin it would have been rude not to fit them.





For those that might be wondering how these are fitted, above are the covers that hide the bolt at each end and the captive nuts that sit inside the box section which runs down either side of the roof.






These are the slots that the captive nuts fit in to to give the bars the correct positioning on the roof. You need to drill the holes so that the bits that stick through the slots end up central in the slot, this allows you maximum adjustment in case you don't drill the holes in quite the right place.




This is where I drilled the back holes, seemed to allow everything to line up nicely...........





Job done.

Gavin, who'd have thought six months ago when you were getting nowhere finding a second hand set that you'd end up with new ones!



Also today, the John Ashley exhaust manifold arrived.

I have to say that John has been very helpful and cooperative in the making of this. It took a while as they are very busy but it's here now.

The main problem is that they build these manifolds to fit a Punto but the 16v engine in a Panda only gives a space of 4.5" before the manifold hits the radiator. John was able to build me one that hugs the block a little closer so it now protrudes by 5.5".




In order to gain the necessary clearance we will mount the radiator as far forward as possible, as in this pic..........




The rad. would normally sit where the holes are but now will sit on the ledge just in front of them. Unfortunately the wiring loom is mounted along this ledge so this has to be re-located. At first I was going to run the loom under the brackets that normally hold the radiator but realised that it would be exposed a little to the heat from the manifold. My solution was to run the loom inside the front panel, as below........





I did have to cut off the headlight plug in order to feed it through, then re-attach with some solder and heat shrink.

The manifold will eventually be ceramic coated but we wanted to make sure it would fit first.

All the individual parts are looking really good. Can't help thinking it looks like more than 2 weeks work to pull it all together, but that's why I'm not doing it & sitting doing Tax Returns ( :life: ) instead!!

Have to thank homeward for the roof bar lead, although I did end up spending nearly £450 on 3 sets of roof bars, which some might say was :nutter:

:spin:

 

[VmanC]

Well I finally got to the workshop today after being out with flu this week, proper flu! not just man flu you know .

I now have the modified bonnet back from the painters, heater box has been modified to clear the inlet manifold, crank pulley has had the outer of the two machined off to allow it to clear the inner wing, and the mohair sunroofs are now fitted...........




I managed the whole day so I must be over the worst of it, that means I will have a very busy weekend to try and catch up.

 

[purple haze]

Mohair roofs..def the way to go...

Prefer the car at the back though...

 

[homeward]

...that means I will have a very busy weekend to try and catch up.

Good luck...!

Prefer the car at the back though...

...but it's only got one door...!

 

[Alixcompo]

The thing I have never understood about Mohair is that I can understand shaving it but ' How do you catch a Mo in the first place'.........?

 

[homeward]

The thing I have never understood about Mohair is that I can understand shaving it but ' How do you catch a Mo in the first place'.........?

Panda Mo...?

 

[Alixcompo]

OMG I am soooooooooo embarassed:worship:


What I meant was................ It's no good.......... I'm just off for a walk on a railway line.....

 

[VmanC]

The thing I have never understood about Mohair is that I can understand shaving it but ' How do you catch a Mo in the first place'.........?

The hardest part is finding one in the first place! They are a very rare and valuable breed.

 

[Alixcompo]

Don't try to drag me in any deeper than I already am.
I'm very sorry...... Isn't that enough..... You don't have to milk it...........

 

[homeward]

OMG I am soooooooooo embarassed:worship:

What I meant was................ It's no good.......... I'm just off for a walk on a railway line.....

Don't try to drag me in any deeper than I already am.
I'm very sorry...... Isn't that enough..... You don't have to milk it...........

Sorry, Alik: I couldn't resist....

 

[Alixcompo]

I'm traumatised now y'know

 

[homeward]

:hug:

 

[Panda Mo]

The hardest part is finding one in the first place! They are a very rare and valuable breed.

You just have to use the right bait!

?

 

[Palio]

Well it's looking like Panto! will be finished soon (Vernon's doing 16 hour shifts :worship: ), so wish me luck next week - we've just compiled a list of modifications to notify to the insurers - there's a few, but at least some of the panels are original!!

I guess I'll soon find out whether a Panda with lots of modifications with a request for a high agreed value falls within the criteria of something Mr James would like added to my classic policy! :chin:

Watch this space.........

Well, not sure about progress, but Vernon will be along later with an update!

I have, however, made progress with the insurance. I must admit I feared I'd have to go to one of the other insurers & wasn't convinced Peter James would be happy with all the upgrades. After emailing a very detailed list earlier today, I received confirmation of the price to add Panto! to my policy. All seems good, happy and much quicker than the few days to refer to the underwriter they warned me to expect.

I really can't recommend Peter James more highly based on my experiences. Loads of Club members have also gone across to them, and are equally happy. Btw my call was answered by a person in 2 rings, and she actually helped - no foreign call centres, no mechanical "press 5 to be cut off", and no passing you to different departments. A big

 

[VmanC]

Yes as Gavin said, I have an update, not a great one though

The fact is that events have conspired against me and it is almost certainly not possible to get Panto road legal for the NEC. During the few days left it is not only necessary to finish the rebuild but also take him to a custom exhaust specialist and get an mot, I can't see this being possible.

So, plan F is to concentrate on getting the interior and exterior finished so that we can still show him at the NEC but A frame him there. Then when it's all over, finish the rest to complete the project.

It wasn't just the flu that caused this, there was another challenge elsewhere, but more of that after Monday when the relatives will have been notified.

 

[VmanC]

You just have to use the right bait!

?

Ahhh, 10 brownie points each. Kerching!

 

[VmanC]

Managed to get back to Panto today. We're trying to move it along as much as possible now, fully aware that it won't be finished for the NEC, but even as a work in progress display I think it will be of interest.

We had it running today despite an initial problem with the crank sensor, fortunately the one on my Punto 75 engine was the same.

Here is how he's looking now...........

 

[homeward]

Here is how he's looking now...

Looking good; but not so sure about that big white aerial....

 

[Palio]

Looking good, keep going!

The insurance starts on Thursday, not that it's driving anywhere yet.

 

[VmanC]

Looking good, keep going!

The insurance starts on Thursday, not that it's driving anywhere yet.

I know, it's starting to look so good I can't wait to have that first test drive .