Technical Turbo Panda Project

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Technical Turbo Panda Project

They won't fit politely. Before any other fitment clash or usability issues, space between the chassis and the edge of the arch is not large enough to accommodate any suitable tyre. The front wings on my Uno were pulled and wheel arch extensions fitted to accomodate a 195 width tyre on a 7" wheel and Unos are quite a lot better off than Pandas to start with in this respect.

I'm not going to go too mad with the tyres, 165/60/14"'s, hopefully this will be ok.
 
I'm not going to go too mad with the tyres, 165/60/14"'s, hopefully this will be ok.
I wouldn't put a 165 tyre on a 6.5" rim, nor would a good tyre fitter. 6.5" is just too wide for a Panda IMO. Try offering it up and you'll see what I mean. Anyway, we must stop talking about this in Alex's thread. :p
 
Progress has slowed, but pleased to say it is still coming along :)

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Now most of the hard part is done, its the little bits which are taking the time! For example taking a week to source just 1 oil pipe for the turbo, and 2 weeks to figure out and acquire boost piping!

I was hoping for a first fire up some time this week, but some parts still playing hide and seek so no doubt will be next week at best.
 
erm.....a lot lol

Well, in the grand scheme of things, probably not that much.

The way I see it, I wanted a retro, useful car thats as fast in a straight line as cars which would cost upwards of say 3 or 4 grand i.e Impreza WRX STI, Civic Type R, cosworth etc etc.

But with that, comes the insurance too. All these modern cars are like insurance group 17 - 20 which is obviously not going to happen as I'm only 20.

Inclusive of buying the car and the first stage of mods (16v engine, suspension, ARB etc) I think it will be finished for less than £2000.

With remaps and later upgrades it will probaby have gone outside of that figure, but 2K on a decent little project car and daily runner isn't too bad I dont think.

Hell, I paid £1200 for a rotten beetle which only drove for 6 months!

But the fact that the insurance is like £200 has a massive effect on bringing the overall cost down compared with other fast cars.

Are you thinking of doing the conversion?

Its not rocket science, but its not nuts and bolts either.

Speaking of conversions, I had a pretty great experiance last night. Went out in my mates Mazda MX5.......except it has a 3 liter twin turbo Toyota Supra engine in it.

My pants are still in the wash.....

:)
 
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Finally!!!

Boost piping sorted. Major nightmare trying to acquire the outlet from the compressor wheel but stumbled across some mental tuners (with the mx5) and they actually had my exact turbo with all the bits I needed!

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Next on the list, a few more bits of water hoses, blow off valve hose, couple of nipples here and there, dipstick and then I can turn the key!
 
Well I am getting seriously close to turning the key now.

My main obstacles have been overcome : turbo lines, boost pipe and little odds and sods I was missing like the dipstick and oil cooler hose.

I have spent a rediculous amount on gauges and the remaining boost/water pipe which will all be arriving tomorrow.

I had a bit of fun tonight and fitted and wired up the rest of the new 'Stack' gauges. Yes its a **** camera phone picture, but oh well!

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I made a little backing plate for them too! The amount of time it took to make is done no justice by how it looks, it look like 2 hours just to get the holes exactly 52mm!

Anyway, the gauges live in the slot where the directional fan louver thingy was. A little tight, but it will do for now.

Just need a radiator fan (think big and very powerful!) and a to make an exhaust before the initial start up, some time next week.

I'm also making an intercooler water sprayer, powered by the now redundant rear washer motor and pipework. Only £20 for all the bits from america!

yaaaaaaaay :slayer:
 
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Well all was going well untill I tried to connect my radiator.

I bough this 'amazing' superflex pipe which is supposedly able to bend into tight radius'. However, it is UTTER shyte. Honestly, may aswell have just thrown away £40! I did however manage to connect one pipe which I have wrapped in silver heat tape (to stop heat soak into the engine bay).

The fuel lines are all done now (also heat wrapped) with a little plastic in line fuel filter there too.

Tomorrow, off to the hydraulics shop again to get 2 vacuum nipples and then the wiring begins!

Bought tons of lovely Red wire conduit, so the loom should look very tidy indeed :)
 
I have a word or two.....'time consuming' lol

The amount of time it is taking to think of, create / buy solutions to small problems i.e connecting the radiator to the thermostat, or suss out the wiring and fitting the idle control valve.

Its just rediculous!

Anyway, if everything goes to plan and I can sort out the wiring issue then first startup should be on Friday!

I feel somewhat alone in the world of insane Panda's atm. Surely there must be other people undertaking a similar thing.

I mean, I'm already thinking of my next engine conversion!!!
 
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I feel somewhat alone in the world of insane Panda's atm. Surely there must be other people undertaking a similar thing.

Perhaps you have stumbled on the reason that only a few people actually complete these sort of projects. They are massively time-consuming and require focus and effort you can only really put in when you are highly self-motivated, have no kids and no girlfriend (or an understanding one). You're doing a conversion for which there is no information. Welcome to the lonely club. Did you think it was going to be easy? :p

You have achieved a hell of a lot in a short space of time. Some people would take a year or two to do what you have. Chin up. Perhaps you should have a few days off!
 
You have achieved a hell of a lot in a short space of time. Some people would take a year or two to do what you have. Chin up. Perhaps you should have a few days off!
yeah, ages yet, Stanford Hall's over a week away yet, looks like you'll be there with it then looking all chilled and bragging about your week to spare:eek:
Amazing progress, looks great.
 
Perhaps you have stumbled on the reason that only a few people actually complete these sort of projects. They are massively time-consuming and require focus and effort you can only really put in when you are highly self-motivated, have no kids and no girlfriend (or an understanding one). You're doing a conversion for which there is no information. Welcome to the lonely club. Did you think it was going to be easy? :p

You have achieved a hell of a lot in a short space of time. Some people would take a year or two to do what you have. Chin up. Perhaps you should have a few days off!


hahaha this is the best and most true reply in the whole world. It should be carved into stone.

I did actually have a night off tonight, but instead I was taking the engine out of a Citroen ZX. Words cannot describe how easy and great it is to work on a Panda after what I've just been through.

Fun fun fun! :)

Also, more pics tomorrow. I've got like - air ducts, filters, scoops, hoses and allsorts coming in the post.

So excited!!!!!!

I will say one thing that I find pretty strange. When looking at other peoples car projects and seeing insane projects where the engine/block are split open and there is genuine tuning going on I always thought to myself like 'damn thats so cool, pretty sure I'll never have a project like that'

Then funnily enough I have the most insane project I've seen for a while and it doesn't really seem like anything special.

Wierd!

I'm sure that will change the first time its out on the road though :)
 
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