Sublime Panda-monium II

[sportpanda]

The red Panda is a bit odd. It's an early mk2 but has lots of mk1 parts. Maybe these have been replaced over the years with the earlier parts because they're cheaper or the supplier ordered the wrong bits because 1986 was the transition year from mk1 to mk2. Old cars are brilliant.

Nope, they are all the right parts for a 750 (aka 'motorsport shell'), they have lighter (mk1 style) seats, lighter shell,low ratio "drag strip" gearbox, tunnel seatbelt mounts, fixed rear windows etc. The 750L is more akin to the 903/999 Pandas.

To move the brake master cylinder you need the pedal box from a 4x4 or post 92 Panda which will bolt straight into the shell.

I also have a couple of sets of the alternator/frame/air con unit sitting on the shelf

[Relentless Rob]

That's good to know. I've never had a Panda 750 before and could make out parts from both mk1 and mk2 and thought it was some kind of weird hybrid. I might still have a pedal box from a 4x4 in a box in my loft. I'll get back to you about the compressor bracket if I come up empty here.

Something we've discussed before; the newer cars have cable gear linkages. Provided I ensure the cables don't get snagged can't I pretty much put the selector where I want it?

Before I start cutting and welding rust; I thought I'd treat myself to a little clean work.

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Healthy and safe. Three millimeters thick in accordance to NHRA and MSA regulations, thick enough vee butt weld and frapped tidy. I'll make up a set of base plates when I get time and bolt it through the floor and "L" brackets to be bolted through the seat belt mounts. Diagonals will have to wait until either the payday fairies come to visit or I'll get my local forge on the case. If I go for "Guff" colours I'll paint the cage orange.

In green Panda news. I've fitted the new light bulbs, taken the grille off the red Panda, cleaned it and primed it...

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...ready to paint green tomorrow and fit to the Fantasia Sunday.

P.S Here's the eBay links for the pipe and elbows.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170804316622? ... 1361wt_905

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230604847553? ... 609wt_1097

[Relentless Rob]

Another day and another Fiat FIRE engine in the back of my Panda.

This one was advertised as a 1.4 8V and for £50 I went to have a look. As soon as the cover was off I knew it was the 1242cc 16V from a Bravo/Brava. I bought it anyway because it has a few interesting features.

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Inlet manifold, engine loom, alternator, starter motor and AC pump; there's my £50 back next free listing weekend.

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The 16V head can go as well.

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Placed the alternator on the engine and tried the AC pump and kompressor for size...

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...looks almost doable doesn't it?

The pulley from the AC pump has an electronic clutch.

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N/A to Supercharged at the flick of a switch?

[Rob Bell]

Could do, or perhaps disengage sc at high rpm when it's benefit is less to reduce mechanical drag?

[Relentless Rob]

Today I have been taking bits from two different engines and fitting them to the wrong one.

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Panda 750 distributor fitted on the 1108 Sporting test engine.

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Swapped the alternator bracket and bits over.

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Needed the 1242 crank wheel to line up the drive belt for the...

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...supercharger.

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A bit close but I have an idea.

All the eBay stuff is here...


http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/robert060379/ ... 4340.l2562

...the usual 10% off if you're a member of the PPC Forum.

[Relentless Rob]

Plan 463a...

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...could work.

[Steve33]

I fancy coming next sat but need to do some overtime so i can get the puma running what you doing supercharger? i cant see the small
Thumb pics.

[Renrut]

Unless the panda engine bay is significantly different that supercharger will be fighting for space with your knees...

[mjslonergan]

Unless the panda engine bay is significantly different that supercharger will be fighting for space with your knees...

Would that not be a classic Italian design then

[Relentless Rob]

Compared to the Cinquecento and Seicento the Panda engine bay is massive.

I'm clearing the bulkhead at the moment and stopped for a spot of lunch. You'll be surprised what I found when I too the heater matrix out.

[Relentless Rob]

My nicely tidied rear is now an eBay firesale shed.

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So I worked up front today and cleared the bulkhead on the red Panda instead.

Got the heater matrix out without any incident.

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I'll keep it as a spare in case the one on the Fantasia Panda fails. I've found some interesting stuff when stripping out cars but today has got to be one of the best.

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A family of half a dozen North American Flatworms. Just like the Grey Squirrel these little blighters are taking over and killing our more common indigenous population to the verge of extinction. So I did the most humane thing possible. Left them on the roof of my shed for the birds while I had lunch. As the circle of life continued I got back to work.

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Hmmm, interesting shelf there I'm sure I can put it to good use later. See what I mean about the size of the engine bay Will-will-will-will.

Sorry.

The only rust spot was where the battery clamp used to live...

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...I'll fill that when I fill these now they are surplus to requirements.

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Reassembled the dash...

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...who needs a Stack?

[mjslonergan]

Are you sure they are flatworms, they look like common or garden Italian tin worms to me

[Relentless Rob]

I've been ill in bed all day and don't know if it's the water that flooded my ear Sunday (took my nephews swimming) and ended up in my chest via my Eustation tubes, my nephews chest infection or stripping a car full of flatworms, rat and mouse poo.

Either way I'm fed up of daytime tv so back to stripping the interior.

[Relentless Rob]

Today's wildlife update was a little disappointing. Just a couple of spiders but the interiors stripped out.

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Where the drivers side sill has gone and the passenger side's been patched it goes all the way up. Yipee more welding.

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Seat belt anchors. Just as well they're obsolete now.

Just need to drill out the spot welds holding the seat runners in place and transfer the Kirkey-esque seat from Guff 1.


When I cut out and weld up the bottom of the door frames I was thinking of adding the bars from the back seat to re-enforce the floor pan.

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Either that or make a pair of door bars when I re-skin the rusty ones.

[Relentless Rob]

Fiat X-1/9 1.5 carb' arrived yesterday.

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The plan was to run the 1369 block with the 1108 head and Punto 75 cam'. With forced induction the carb' from a 1.5 would roughly be jetted right for the air/fuel ratio and easily adjusted if not. The second choke would hopefully be timed to open on boost. In theory. A simple mounting plate on a ninety degree pipe shaped to fit the end of the supercharger would have supplied the draw through set up.

Now I have the wrong block I'm pretty much back to where I started. Unless I can adjust the X-1/9's Weber to suit the smaller block effectively.