Project Peterborough
Discussion
Project Peterborough. Basically a Panda 4x4 riot van with a roof rack that double up as a tent base and gun turret.
This car will be used as part of the local farmwatch to catch Hare coursers, lampers and other criminals trespassing on private land.
I've mentioned this idea on my Other Panda thread and now it looks like it's going to happen so I'd better get this one started.
Yesterday I went to Skegness to collect a spare wheel holder...
...and ruin the boot of my Fantasia...
...the idea is I can adapt (with a grinder and welder) this...
...relocate the bolts to hold a Fiat wheel...
...and it would look a little like this.
The plan to relocate the spare is so I run a heavier duty battery for all the auxiliary lights and other things the car will need.
This car will be used as part of the local farmwatch to catch Hare coursers, lampers and other criminals trespassing on private land.
I've mentioned this idea on my Other Panda thread and now it looks like it's going to happen so I'd better get this one started.
Yesterday I went to Skegness to collect a spare wheel holder...
...and ruin the boot of my Fantasia...
...the idea is I can adapt (with a grinder and welder) this...
...relocate the bolts to hold a Fiat wheel...
...and it would look a little like this.
The plan to relocate the spare is so I run a heavier duty battery for all the auxiliary lights and other things the car will need.
I've been out in my Fantasia again...
...a little more Paris Dakar...
...than Peterborough...
...but the exoskeleton can be removed so I can clean up the frame...
...and replace this lower plate with something a little more purposeful.
A nice winch mount plate can go there. The headlight section is a little wide...
...but I can trim it around the inner frame. Cut, plastic weld, fill and paint.
The lower mounts are almost a dead fit for the Panda lower control arm mounts...
...provided they are the same on the 4x4 I can easily make that end fit. The top could be a little trickier.
I'll need to weld some box to the bumper brackets along the top inside of the bumper and drill mounting holes through the lot. That will be more complicated than it sounds. I can't mount the bars further back as I'm going to need to trim the top edge...
...to be able to open the bonnet. Any further back and I'll have to modify the inner frame. If I were to do that the exoskeleton won't fit any more and it will look crap.
...a little more Paris Dakar...
...than Peterborough...
...but the exoskeleton can be removed so I can clean up the frame...
...and replace this lower plate with something a little more purposeful.
A nice winch mount plate can go there. The headlight section is a little wide...
...but I can trim it around the inner frame. Cut, plastic weld, fill and paint.
The lower mounts are almost a dead fit for the Panda lower control arm mounts...
...provided they are the same on the 4x4 I can easily make that end fit. The top could be a little trickier.
I'll need to weld some box to the bumper brackets along the top inside of the bumper and drill mounting holes through the lot. That will be more complicated than it sounds. I can't mount the bars further back as I'm going to need to trim the top edge...
...to be able to open the bonnet. Any further back and I'll have to modify the inner frame. If I were to do that the exoskeleton won't fit any more and it will look crap.
So I could have had this...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231015530712?ssPageName=...
...Mad Max rwd only Panda with nothing but a lot of work going for it at a bargain £360
This basket case Sisley going towards £500+
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231015530712?ssPageName=...
This slightly less basket case Sisley...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1988-FIAT-PANDA-SISLEY-4...
...for around the £500-£600
But I decided this would be better...
...with twelve months M.O.T and tax until the end of February for...
£350
The project begins soon.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231015530712?ssPageName=...
...Mad Max rwd only Panda with nothing but a lot of work going for it at a bargain £360
This basket case Sisley going towards £500+
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231015530712?ssPageName=...
This slightly less basket case Sisley...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1988-FIAT-PANDA-SISLEY-4...
...for around the £500-£600
But I decided this would be better...
...with twelve months M.O.T and tax until the end of February for...
£350
The project begins soon.
All the Peterborough stuff is basically ballast. If I want to use the car off road less weight for the little engine to move about would be much better than weighing the poor thing down. If I ever have to go to Peterborough I'll get a hire car for the day...
http://www.classiccars-forsale.com/land-rover-city...
So as with so many of my projects going through the procrastination phase I have changed direction almost completely. The 4x4 will get the FrankenFiat engine originally planned for Guff II (that project will be a little more me now I have more time), the back seat and rear quarter windows removed to make the car a van, some off road additions (winch, tow bar, muddy tyres and a slight elevation). The car will be white with the new graphics and a couple of modern tweaks to make the whole experience more comfortable.
Still no Thumbsnap so this image is from Facebook and may need resizing.
http://www.classiccars-forsale.com/land-rover-city...
So as with so many of my projects going through the procrastination phase I have changed direction almost completely. The 4x4 will get the FrankenFiat engine originally planned for Guff II (that project will be a little more me now I have more time), the back seat and rear quarter windows removed to make the car a van, some off road additions (winch, tow bar, muddy tyres and a slight elevation). The car will be white with the new graphics and a couple of modern tweaks to make the whole experience more comfortable.
Still no Thumbsnap so this image is from Facebook and may need resizing.
Evoluzione said:
Sorry O/T, but do you know what happened to PPCs forum?
It was hacked by a chap called Netty and crashed. They're negotiating terms of it's release from the original server supplier now a new firm has stepped in for the rest of the site. We have a temporary substitute...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/151700698351191/
Further delays getting hold of my 4x4. The Golf the chap has replaced the car with and will be using as soon as it's fixed has melted another ECU.
This gave me a practical use for the 6x6 idea that's been floating around the Fiat Forum.
Also a MS Paint idea of roughly what the 4x4 Van could look like...
...maybe without the chevron but not bad eh?
VW said:
If only everything in life were reliable as...
Also the factory up the road from where I work is closing down and they have a snow plough attachment for their forklift trucks.This gave me a practical use for the 6x6 idea that's been floating around the Fiat Forum.
Also a MS Paint idea of roughly what the 4x4 Van could look like...
...maybe without the chevron but not bad eh?
Fiver for a tow bar to adapt...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231041139631?ssPageName=...
...if it works great if not I have all the bits I need to make it work.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231041139631?ssPageName=...
...if it works great if not I have all the bits I need to make it work.
Okay after a bit of grinding...
...I used welding clamps to hold it in place and mark ready for drilling.
I was dreading this as I have no way of putting the ruddy great bar in my mates pillar drill and after my Diamond disc glowed red hot I went through three normal discs. I have no idea what kind of steel it was made of but it took a half hour just to cut the two corners out. I welded along the newly exposed seams. Normally with structural work I'd Arc it but because my welder was buried under a pile of stuff I had to M.I.G it. Poor welder hit duty cycle five times and blew the extension lead fuse.
The standard drill bits cut through like a fat brides maid cut through wedding cake then this happened...
...to my step bit. Wow!
Anyway this is where progress ended...
...ran out of time as I'm back to work in the morning and have to get prepared.
...I used welding clamps to hold it in place and mark ready for drilling.
I was dreading this as I have no way of putting the ruddy great bar in my mates pillar drill and after my Diamond disc glowed red hot I went through three normal discs. I have no idea what kind of steel it was made of but it took a half hour just to cut the two corners out. I welded along the newly exposed seams. Normally with structural work I'd Arc it but because my welder was buried under a pile of stuff I had to M.I.G it. Poor welder hit duty cycle five times and blew the extension lead fuse.
The standard drill bits cut through like a fat brides maid cut through wedding cake then this happened...
...to my step bit. Wow!
Anyway this is where progress ended...
...ran out of time as I'm back to work in the morning and have to get prepared.
My Panda 4x4 arrived today!
Stuff in the back that needed sorting out...
New slave cylinders, shoes and flexihose for the rear, new pads for the front. Brand new fuel tank (if I put more than £10 in the car it leaks), spare 4x4 cylinder head, spare 4x4 sump, spare front arms, a pair of bottom ball joints, a headlight, set of non-4x4 clocks, brand new back box and a couple of parcel shelves that are knackered.
First repair. The car has passed the last three M.O.T's without a driver door handle.
First modification. Reverse bleeper bulb.
Apart from the classic Dizzy "O" ring oil leak the engine is in fine fettle considering...
...the miles the old girl has been through.
Stripped the back out to find the edges are bloody good but...
...there's an M.O.T fail (lucky the seat had been removed eh? No rear seat, no rear seat belt checks).
Just as grubby as the front seats. They are very comfortable though and demonstrate how much the little car has lived.
The Eagle eyed will have spotted the Holly Grail of Pandaing...
...A PASSENGER DOOR POD!!!!
I thought the internally adjustable mirrors were decedent.
Okay the usual shuttle panel rust hole...
...but the main problem is the car has not been washed for about ten years and...
...the paint has the black spots of death growing in there.
A twice over with a wet sponge and...
...the car (already called "The Ship") is almost presentable.
Now the fun can finally begin.
Stuff in the back that needed sorting out...
New slave cylinders, shoes and flexihose for the rear, new pads for the front. Brand new fuel tank (if I put more than £10 in the car it leaks), spare 4x4 cylinder head, spare 4x4 sump, spare front arms, a pair of bottom ball joints, a headlight, set of non-4x4 clocks, brand new back box and a couple of parcel shelves that are knackered.
First repair. The car has passed the last three M.O.T's without a driver door handle.
First modification. Reverse bleeper bulb.
Apart from the classic Dizzy "O" ring oil leak the engine is in fine fettle considering...
...the miles the old girl has been through.
Stripped the back out to find the edges are bloody good but...
...there's an M.O.T fail (lucky the seat had been removed eh? No rear seat, no rear seat belt checks).
Just as grubby as the front seats. They are very comfortable though and demonstrate how much the little car has lived.
The Eagle eyed will have spotted the Holly Grail of Pandaing...
...A PASSENGER DOOR POD!!!!
I thought the internally adjustable mirrors were decedent.
Okay the usual shuttle panel rust hole...
...but the main problem is the car has not been washed for about ten years and...
...the paint has the black spots of death growing in there.
A twice over with a wet sponge and...
...the car (already called "The Ship") is almost presentable.
Now the fun can finally begin.
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