Really love this thread! So its a Fiat panda, built by Seat in van form, with an engine from Volkswagen...
FrankenTerra!!
FrankenTerra!!
General SEAT Terra van
- Thread starter Alixcompo
- Start date
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General SEAT Terra van
It would seem that one of the most common rust points is on top of the door cills, often hidden until it is too late by carpets and trim.
You'll remember that I had to weld two patches of floor but could't work out where the moisture was coming from.
Not being big on having carpets or painting welded repairs, I kept an eye for new rust after we had had rain.
Sure enough there was a dribble of water crossing from one side of the door seal to the other and running down the inner cill and forming a little puddle exactly where I had welded the plates.
Peeling back the door seal lo and behold minor rust (I'm galvanised you know) not enough to warrant cutting it out and welding but certainly enough to worry me.
The rust was along the seam where the inner and outer cill meet and the door seal taps over.Water was crossing from outside to in where the joint in the seal is.
I gave it a really good clean up and applied good old Gaffa tape, replaced the seal and waited.
So far this appears to be a fix.... Rain no longer creaps across the seal and the tape protects the seam from moisture.
So I would suggest that everybody inspects under their door seal just in case.
You'll remember that I had to weld two patches of floor but could't work out where the moisture was coming from.
Not being big on having carpets or painting welded repairs, I kept an eye for new rust after we had had rain.
Sure enough there was a dribble of water crossing from one side of the door seal to the other and running down the inner cill and forming a little puddle exactly where I had welded the plates.
Peeling back the door seal lo and behold minor rust (I'm galvanised you know) not enough to warrant cutting it out and welding but certainly enough to worry me.
The rust was along the seam where the inner and outer cill meet and the door seal taps over.Water was crossing from outside to in where the joint in the seal is.
I gave it a really good clean up and applied good old Gaffa tape, replaced the seal and waited.
So far this appears to be a fix.... Rain no longer creaps across the seal and the tape protects the seam from moisture.
So I would suggest that everybody inspects under their door seal just in case.
Yes, that's a bad place. I also find that the drains under the windscreen need unblocking every year or the footwells fill up with water.
The real test of any relationship is 'Bleeding Brakes'.
If you are going to stick together as a pair then it is something you have to try before you commit yourself too far.
After the "What the **** are you doing I aint getting anyfluid out........ You're pumping the ****ing clutch pedal" incident I had been trying to avoid risking a (possible final) repeat but the Terra Van (see no name yet) has required a lot of 'calm' bleeding sessions.
Every time I have improved the braking efficiency then the pedal has got just a little near to the floor before it operated.
The culprit turned out to be the rear compensator unit. On the car there is a fixed compensator mounted under the bonnet (on the left wheel arch to be exact) to restrict the fluid pressure to the rear brakes. Basically to stop them locking up. I suspect that like a lot of other things this is more to do with 'Construction, Design and use' regulations that any practical help to the driver (Such as the placement of the door mirrors)
On the Terra van the compensator is linked to the rear axle and is supposed to be variable depending on the load carried.
By physically manipulating this device I could get a 'good' pedal for about five minutes at a time, then it would revert to the soggy though very effective (servo assisted) brake pedal.
So I have 'Plumbed out' the unit. I always have a lot of junk in the back so I need as much rear braking as possible..
After a brief bleeding session, Jan and I are still speaking and the van has an OK pedal.
As soon as I can find my vacuum bleeder they should be excellent.
And I've bought the paint..... Rah...... So now every spare moment will be prepping the body.....
I know how to have fun
If you are going to stick together as a pair then it is something you have to try before you commit yourself too far.
After the "What the **** are you doing I aint getting anyfluid out........ You're pumping the ****ing clutch pedal" incident I had been trying to avoid risking a (possible final) repeat but the Terra Van (see no name yet) has required a lot of 'calm' bleeding sessions.
Every time I have improved the braking efficiency then the pedal has got just a little near to the floor before it operated.
The culprit turned out to be the rear compensator unit. On the car there is a fixed compensator mounted under the bonnet (on the left wheel arch to be exact) to restrict the fluid pressure to the rear brakes. Basically to stop them locking up. I suspect that like a lot of other things this is more to do with 'Construction, Design and use' regulations that any practical help to the driver (Such as the placement of the door mirrors)
On the Terra van the compensator is linked to the rear axle and is supposed to be variable depending on the load carried.
By physically manipulating this device I could get a 'good' pedal for about five minutes at a time, then it would revert to the soggy though very effective (servo assisted) brake pedal.
So I have 'Plumbed out' the unit. I always have a lot of junk in the back so I need as much rear braking as possible..
After a brief bleeding session, Jan and I are still speaking and the van has an OK pedal.
As soon as I can find my vacuum bleeder they should be excellent.
And I've bought the paint..... Rah...... So now every spare moment will be prepping the body.....
I know how to have fun
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The van surely has to be called Bill.
or
Jean Claude Van Damme
or
Van Diesel
or
I'll get mecoat.....
or
Jean Claude Van Damme
or
Van Diesel
or
I'll get mecoat.....
Its interesting to see how the Seat cars evolved in a different direction after the split from Fiat. Kinda jealous of the second bulkhead I bet thats a real benefit to sound levels.
Strangely enough I have been using the Terra very little over the last week or so. In fact not at all since I fitted the bigger boots.
I took it out tonight with the Satnag so I could check the accuracy of the speedo with bigger wheels.
Wow what an improvement. A matching set of tyre will always be a bonus but everything seems improved includin ride.
And the speedo..? Bang on..........
I took it out tonight with the Satnag so I could check the accuracy of the speedo with bigger wheels.
Wow what an improvement. A matching set of tyre will always be a bonus but everything seems improved includin ride.
And the speedo..? Bang on..........
Isn't it amazing how chaotic life can be from one week to the next. Just as well I don't plan anything and simply lurch from one pile of poo to the next.
Fortunately twixt poo piles are Pandas and fings which make me smile a lot.
Did I ever mention the mirrors on the van.? The brackets had been repaired so many times that they had only a little bit of horizontal movement. So to actually see anything at all involved repositioning the seat.
I'd noticed some nice cheap VW Transporter mirrors on the Bay for a mere 25 sovs delivered.
When they arrived I pulled one out of the box and OMG it seemed to be not just large or big but actually flipping mahoosive.
I took to carrying them around (suitably concealed) and asking people their opinion. "Does my van look big in these..?
I used the original mounting position (cos I'm really lazy) and made some quickie mounts. No time to paint them but they are rusting in nicely and already match the rest of the vehicle.
I have to say that I can see loads in them and I'm considering a pair for the 'Neglected Green One'
Despite buying paint I have had no chance to proceed in that direction other than the occasional moment with a bucket of water and a pad of 600.
The little van has been earning it's keep tho and I'm really pleased with the regular 50 mpg its achieving. Almost halved my weekly fuel bill.
Fortunately twixt poo piles are Pandas and fings which make me smile a lot.
Did I ever mention the mirrors on the van.? The brackets had been repaired so many times that they had only a little bit of horizontal movement. So to actually see anything at all involved repositioning the seat.
I'd noticed some nice cheap VW Transporter mirrors on the Bay for a mere 25 sovs delivered.
When they arrived I pulled one out of the box and OMG it seemed to be not just large or big but actually flipping mahoosive.
I took to carrying them around (suitably concealed) and asking people their opinion. "Does my van look big in these..?
I used the original mounting position (cos I'm really lazy) and made some quickie mounts. No time to paint them but they are rusting in nicely and already match the rest of the vehicle.
I have to say that I can see loads in them and I'm considering a pair for the 'Neglected Green One'
Despite buying paint I have had no chance to proceed in that direction other than the occasional moment with a bucket of water and a pad of 600.
The little van has been earning it's keep tho and I'm really pleased with the regular 50 mpg its achieving. Almost halved my weekly fuel bill.
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proper mirrors them! i quite like them.
Not much to report other than the van is coming up to it first thousand miles since I MoT'd it.
Fuel consumtion sufferers with motorway use (and the fact that the back is crammed out with junk) but remains excellent. It may go as low as 45 Mpg. Been crusing at about 55 - 60 so that everything stays calm and I can hear radio 4.
Brake pedal still a bit spongy despite tinkering.
I suspect a lot of play in the linkage and I'm considering making an adjustable rod between thre linkage and servo. At the very least it will bleed through its full travel.
Definately intend to change the clutch. The pedal is very high and the release bearing rattles like a wasp in a tin on tickover.
Aside from that it's excellent
Fuel consumtion sufferers with motorway use (and the fact that the back is crammed out with junk) but remains excellent. It may go as low as 45 Mpg. Been crusing at about 55 - 60 so that everything stays calm and I can hear radio 4.
Brake pedal still a bit spongy despite tinkering.
I suspect a lot of play in the linkage and I'm considering making an adjustable rod between thre linkage and servo. At the very least it will bleed through its full travel.
Definately intend to change the clutch. The pedal is very high and the release bearing rattles like a wasp in a tin on tickover.
Aside from that it's excellent
if it was a fiat, i would say that the thrust bearing was "standard issue fiat thrust bearing"
mine has only done 3k and it makes a right racket, as does fallouts, as did my cinq, as did my grandads tepo van. i think its just a fiat thing..:shrug:
mine has only done 3k and it makes a right racket, as does fallouts, as did my cinq, as did my grandads tepo van. i think its just a fiat thing..:shrug:
Cor; it's been a bit windy........
You may recall I fitted some back door stops to prevent the doors folding right back and breaking the rear light lenses.
Well they work; a huge gust of wind and............
Cracked the top left hinge. They are only ali castings.
Shall I buy one..? Where from and I will be using the van tomorrow so.........
As Mrs Beaton said so famously "First catch you rabbit" or in this case; find some steel that is the same thickness as the original bracket.
10mm plate. I don't think this one will be breaking.
The piece was marked out by drawing around the broken part but not including the pivot parts.
This is because I was in a hurry and wanted to keep the job a simple as possible.
This should help it to make sense. To make the hinge pivots I drilled a suitable bit of round bar.
I have the advantage of a small lathe in my shed so I didn't have to faff about looking for suitable tube with the right size hole through the middle.
You'll notice that the 'suitable round bar' was in fact a 12mm bolt with the head cut off.
I welded it either end both sides (not in the middle) and marked out where the holes for the bolts were going.
I didn't have time to measure anything so the holes were drilled out deliberately oversize to allow for "adjustment"
By making the pivots in one piece and then cutting out the middle ensure that the hinge pin will line up perfectly.
I'm going to post this before I lose it and carry on in another post.
You may recall I fitted some back door stops to prevent the doors folding right back and breaking the rear light lenses.
Well they work; a huge gust of wind and............
Cracked the top left hinge. They are only ali castings.
Shall I buy one..? Where from and I will be using the van tomorrow so.........
As Mrs Beaton said so famously "First catch you rabbit" or in this case; find some steel that is the same thickness as the original bracket.
10mm plate. I don't think this one will be breaking.
The piece was marked out by drawing around the broken part but not including the pivot parts.
This is because I was in a hurry and wanted to keep the job a simple as possible.
This should help it to make sense. To make the hinge pivots I drilled a suitable bit of round bar.
I have the advantage of a small lathe in my shed so I didn't have to faff about looking for suitable tube with the right size hole through the middle.
You'll notice that the 'suitable round bar' was in fact a 12mm bolt with the head cut off.
I welded it either end both sides (not in the middle) and marked out where the holes for the bolts were going.
I didn't have time to measure anything so the holes were drilled out deliberately oversize to allow for "adjustment"
By making the pivots in one piece and then cutting out the middle ensure that the hinge pin will line up perfectly.
I'm going to post this before I lose it and carry on in another post.
I'm back. So how do you get the bolts in exactly the right place.?
I suppose I could have fitted the hinge and marked/welded them in place on the van; but then it was dark and raining by this time and it's dry in the shed.
Using the broken bit of bracket with the bolts in; I place it on a piece of cardboard and bashed it with a hammer, thus marking the bolt positions
Again I cannot stress enough that the reason I drink beer at home is purely for the cardboard in the boxes. And never mind 'Bitcoins' I consider 'John Smiths Original' as currency.
So with a template of precisely where the bolts position I can do this.....
Remember the holes were drilled a bit big to allow a little 'wriggle' room.
So this is it so far. I should have cut the bolt heads off to make it look better. But then I could have painted it as well.
Ah well soon it will be rusty and match the door mirror mounts.
Aesthetics can all happen next time I get a chance to play.
I suppose I could have fitted the hinge and marked/welded them in place on the van; but then it was dark and raining by this time and it's dry in the shed.
Using the broken bit of bracket with the bolts in; I place it on a piece of cardboard and bashed it with a hammer, thus marking the bolt positions
Again I cannot stress enough that the reason I drink beer at home is purely for the cardboard in the boxes. And never mind 'Bitcoins' I consider 'John Smiths Original' as currency.
So with a template of precisely where the bolts position I can do this.....
Remember the holes were drilled a bit big to allow a little 'wriggle' room.
So this is it so far. I should have cut the bolt heads off to make it look better. But then I could have painted it as well.
Ah well soon it will be rusty and match the door mirror mounts.
Aesthetics can all happen next time I get a chance to play.
Today is Wednesday. Next Monday I'll begin to strip the van for painting.
So barring a major weather crisis the Terra will be finished by the end of that week.
If the power of collective thought can make any difference at all then I'd ask all forum members to think positive vibes for the weather over Hornchurch Essex............ Especially wednesday as I suspect that will see prep over and major spraying occurring.
:worship:
So barring a major weather crisis the Terra will be finished by the end of that week.
If the power of collective thought can make any difference at all then I'd ask all forum members to think positive vibes for the weather over Hornchurch Essex............ Especially wednesday as I suspect that will see prep over and major spraying occurring.
:worship:
Painting has been delayed for one week.
Not enough vibes I'm afraid
Please redouble your efforts for next Monday & Tuesday.
I thank you
Not enough vibes I'm afraid
Please redouble your efforts for next Monday & Tuesday.
I thank you
Painting has been delayed for one week.
Not enough vibes I'm afraid
Please redouble your efforts for next Monday & Tuesday.
I thank you
I've organised a full blown drum circle over here
Nice and sunny today!
Right then; we're back on for paint.
I've spent today stripping off the bumpers lights etc.
Prepping Monday paint Tues all being well and then Wednesday rebuilding.
Had a bit of a panic as the brand new doors I have for the van are of course MK1 Fiat items requiring bolt on hinges while the originals are SEAT weld on jobbies.
Thankyou Purple Ronnie for donating a pair.
Pics and update tomorrow.
Back to the positive vibes:slayer:
I've spent today stripping off the bumpers lights etc.
Prepping Monday paint Tues all being well and then Wednesday rebuilding.
Had a bit of a panic as the brand new doors I have for the van are of course MK1 Fiat items requiring bolt on hinges while the originals are SEAT weld on jobbies.
Thankyou Purple Ronnie for donating a pair.
Pics and update tomorrow.
Back to the positive vibes:slayer:
Why didn't I go for paint when it was warm and dry..?
Ah anyone could have done that.
Notice how my SEAT skuttle is flat not like the Panda
Tomorrow it's cutting back what's done and painting the doors and Purple Ronnie's bonnet (I had the choice of one with a bit of rust and the other with a dent; I chose the dent)
I've properly finished the back door hinge and made another for good measure
Wednesday will find me building the front doors (glass etc from the originals into the painted bare shells) And spraying the (steel) back bumper 2 pack black (acrylic)
Ah anyone could have done that.
Notice how my SEAT skuttle is flat not like the Panda
Tomorrow it's cutting back what's done and painting the doors and Purple Ronnie's bonnet (I had the choice of one with a bit of rust and the other with a dent; I chose the dent)
I've properly finished the back door hinge and made another for good measure
Wednesday will find me building the front doors (glass etc from the originals into the painted bare shells) And spraying the (steel) back bumper 2 pack black (acrylic)
