DSCI2132.JPG

Panda (Classic) SEAT Marbella (Mk1 Panda replica).

First thing I've done is replace the bolts that were holding on the front bumper with some posh clips which lay flush with the bumper...I was getting told off by the scrutineers for having sharp edges exposed :eek:...

Before...
Photo1969.jpg


After :devil:...
WP_20150308_14_29_07_Pro_highres.jpg


WP_20150308_14_29_26_Pro_highres.jpg


Next I moved onto the improved cooling plans...

The radiator was quite covered up despite my attempts to add some speed holes!...

WP_20150320_16_17_56_Pro_highres.jpg


So with some abuse with the jigsaw...
WP_20150320_17_30_13_Pro_highres.jpg


Added a structural re-enforcement as the top slam planel was not so suprisingly wobbly with most the panel cut away!!...
WP_20150321_18_50_34_Pro_highres.jpg


Next improving the oil cooler air flow...conveniently the white primer SEAT used makes for easy marking out of the cut lines...:slayer:
WP_20150320_17_30_36_Pro_highres.jpg


All cut out and ready for painting...
WP_20150320_17_43_17_Pro_highres.jpg


Finally had a quick go at making an improved (for cooling) front mesh grille. It got dark before I could complete it and needs some edging added but should look quite cool I think...
WP_20150321_18_48_17_Pro_highres.jpg


More to update tomorrow I hope! :devil:
 
nice work as usual (y) I know its not really about looks with this car particularly but i can't help thinking some ABS black plastic mesh would look so much better...

Like this stuff... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221533152369

Or at least some black paint on that metal mesh
 
This post contains affiliate links which may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Yeah, I'm also thinking better in black. maybe even in the bodywork gloss black...Will see how it looks in silver when I've finished the general design though. Might just put the old plastic one back on if it ends up looking a bit tacky. Decisions decisions :D
 
Well tidied it up a bit today so a better idea of what it will look like now:
WP_20150322_11_42_20_Pro_highres.jpg


It slopes more than the headlights which I think looks quite cool. Welcome second opinions though:D

And I've added a rubber trim strip to the bottom to make it a bit safer and blend it into the bumper better.

Will make a decision on colour after it is fixed in place but I think it's general form will stay the same...

Also I think the grille has changed each year it has been competing! Will be easy to spot when a photo was taken in the future :devil:
 
Last edited:
I do like a nice sunny weekend...so much more gets done :)

So I think all the cooling mods are complete apart from mounting the y10 turbo radiator fan which should be better than the one I'm currently using.

The grille I'll leave as it is and see how it looks after a bit of time passes. Easy to paint black at a later date but not easy to go back to aluminium finish after!

Side picture shows the slope of the grill better. Makes lifting the bonnet much easier as well as looking a bit different and cool of course. :devil:
WP_20150322_12_38_12_Pro_highres.jpg


I then added a extra vent in the bumper in front of the oil cooler. It is only on one side though, but seemed pointless to add another one just for symmetry. :eek: Looks more racey with random vents in odd places anyway I think :D

Possibly too many rivets but should stay on ok haha...
WP_20150322_14_29_47_Pro_highres.jpg


WP_20150322_14_32_24_Pro_highres.jpg


WP_20150322_14_32_05_Pro_highres.jpg


WP_20150322_15_13_12_Pro_highres.jpg
 
I think it's looking great - and form is definitely following function, but I'd like to see it with the grill's rake matched to the headlamps' for comparison... please.


'Droop Snoot' stylie.

:D ok I'll, I'll snap a photo of it when I take it back off to paint the front panel. I might have cut it into shape and limited options a bit now though :eek: Possibly a 2016 grille option haha. This changing grilles each season could turn into an obsessive tradition though...I must be careful! :D

This thread makes me so jealous. I miss my turbo, so much fun :D
Would love to put the combo of turbo and Panda (well almost in your case ;)) together. (y)

It's Panda enough :D...well it's the demented offspring of almost all the Panda spin-offs out there...just missing some 4x4 stuff I think...which would be quite an interesting project in fact :devil:

But yeah, would be great to have another Panda turbo beast to race against, so I say go for it :slayer:
 
Its not that expensive really in the scheme of things, people make out its a much bigger deal that it is. If you can weld or have a mate that can weld then the only real expensive bits are a turbo and some kind of management. Rest is mainly time and effort in my view so long as you are not going completely silly and thus requiring forged rods and pistons - but lets remember here that my old seiT nowadays is running around 160bhp from its 1108 8v turbo engine and that doesn't have fancy rods or pistons and neither does it blow up.
 
Well I'm not eating for a month but the car has been treated to a hybrid turbo from Turbo Solutions...

WP_20150326_17_42_54_Pro_highres.jpg


Will get that fitted soon I hope and also I'm going to fit a new oil pump, as they said it failed from oil starvation. Will also clean out the engine with flushing oil once all installed and primed properly with oil...as long as I don't find anything out which indicates that this is a bad idea for a turbo car. Cannot justify spending much more on this car, it is turning into a money pit! A really fun one though! :devil:
 
back in the day alot of turbo car had issues with oil starvation cause the line tends to be pretty small and could easily be clogged - s13 200sx was well known for doing it and was common for people to swap out the line for a slightly bigger one. No idea what line this uses but maybe worth new wider pipe and new fittings..
 
Hmm interesting, will look at doing that as well. Thanks guys!

I'm also going to turn the engine over (ignition disconnected) with the turbo removed to see if on cranking oil is coming through.

I want to fit a permanent oil pressure sensor to the entrance of the turbo as well but might be too much effort. Would be great if I could rig a warning light to come on if oil pressure at the turbo drops too low though. Possibly not much I can do though if it does just block completely for a bit under full load.
 
turbos can survive quite a bit of abuse when it comes to oil. (i made a jet engine out of one with no oil feed. lasted quite some time while glowing red lmao)

for the oil pressure it should be as simple as just fitting a T inline if it is a steel pipe.
i would have it on a light and a buzzer/beeper.. you dont always notice a light.

Talon has a buzzer fitted to the oil light that only buzzes when the engine is running, and the oil light is on.

when the alternator belt snapped and snapped off the oil pressure switch it became quite annoying.
 
I've tried something a little new this time...it's a how to (potentially) on how to make a fibreglass bonnet :slayer:

So I decided not to make a mould, and use the bonnet itself as a mould. The bonnet is smaller / narrower than the span of the outer wings anyway so being slightly wider by a few mm's isn't a huge deal. To protect the bonnet I used cling film (FYI...this works to some extent but the heat damages the paintwork unfortunately :()...

WP_20150406_12_22_20_Pro_highres.jpg


Then I used modelling mesh to give it a bit of extra strength:

WP_20150406_12_41_27_Pro_highres.jpg


Cut the fibreglass matting to size:

WP_20150406_13_04_16_Pro_highres.jpg


And mixed up the resin and painted it on with a brush (you seem to need about 2.5 to 3 litres) and I mixed up batches of 400ml at a time which seemed the most you could put down without it setting.

Then once set you just pry off the fibreglass with the help of a lever like item (plastic squeegee in this case to be gentle with the old bonnet...didn't know at this stage that the paintwork had been tarnished / cracked from heat generated by the resin setting)
WP_20150406_17_05_14_Pro_highres.jpg


Et voila:
WP_20150406_17_30_24_Pro_highres.jpg


It is very flimsy though so will be adding aluminium bracing to the back of it...probably using rivets...

And it fits...although looks quite ugly and needs a lot of sanding / filling before can be painted...
WP_20150406_19_21_25_Pro_highres.jpg


I can add cooling vents quite easily now as well which is also quite exciting :devil:
 
Last edited:
Back
Top