Sublime Pandamonium II
Discussion
Liquid Knight said:
I'm at work today and it's raining so no progress as yet.
Give my uncles at R W Brockwells Tennyson Avenue King's Lynn a try. Half way between the rail crossing and the college on the left hand side. They do anything from minor interior repairs to complete custom hotrod trim. Not the cheapest but by far the best round here.
Errr......been there, done that, he's already making them for me! World s getting smaller and smaller......Give my uncles at R W Brockwells Tennyson Avenue King's Lynn a try. Half way between the rail crossing and the college on the left hand side. They do anything from minor interior repairs to complete custom hotrod trim. Not the cheapest but by far the best round here.
Right the payday fairies visited today and I need to get the stick out of my backside and set a few targets.
The Fantasia will be back on the road M.O.T'd by next payday. This could be more problematic as it sounds. I needed to move the car today and the brakes were spongy again as if there was air in there. New slave cylinders, new bias valve, new pads, new shoes, new front discs and the brakes still aren't right. The exhaust stank as well, stupid new petrol and it's limited shelf life.
The project Panda (yes the Fantasia isn't a project) will have an engine that works by Christmas (or at least all the bits I have together to see if it works or not) and will be sitting on matching wheels to see what wheel arch modifications I need by the end of the month (Punto GT brakes?).
For the Fantasia I need to re-bleed, check the brake lines and possibly the master cylinder to find out what's wrong and where the air is getting in.
Right that's the list for now. I'll make a start tomorrow afternoon when I get up.
The Fantasia will be back on the road M.O.T'd by next payday. This could be more problematic as it sounds. I needed to move the car today and the brakes were spongy again as if there was air in there. New slave cylinders, new bias valve, new pads, new shoes, new front discs and the brakes still aren't right. The exhaust stank as well, stupid new petrol and it's limited shelf life.
The project Panda (yes the Fantasia isn't a project) will have an engine that works by Christmas (or at least all the bits I have together to see if it works or not) and will be sitting on matching wheels to see what wheel arch modifications I need by the end of the month (Punto GT brakes?).
For the Fantasia I need to re-bleed, check the brake lines and possibly the master cylinder to find out what's wrong and where the air is getting in.
Right that's the list for now. I'll make a start tomorrow afternoon when I get up.
I've been having fun with the Fantasia brakes again in the search for the sponge. With no sign of fluid anywhere on the car It's a one way problem.
After re-bleeding the whole system for the forth time I noticed the bleed nipple on the passenger side front caliper had worn threads...
...so I replaced it with a new one that...
...sheared off.
At least it made a good seal when I tested it I put the car down and drove the car down a private track the brakes were spongy still.
At this rate the red one will be finished first.
After re-bleeding the whole system for the forth time I noticed the bleed nipple on the passenger side front caliper had worn threads...
...so I replaced it with a new one that...
...sheared off.
At least it made a good seal when I tested it I put the car down and drove the car down a private track the brakes were spongy still.
At this rate the red one will be finished first.
So it's obvious there is no air in the system. When the rear cylinder went and took the compensator valve with it. Without a release of back pressure could this have knackered the seals in the master cylinder as well? 
I'm planing to bin the 750 master when I fit the Punto GT brakes and use a twin cylinder pedal box. The Cinquecento master was barely enough to work the brakes on the Guff racer so this would be better if I want the set up to work properly.
I'll take the 750 master off in the morning, inspect it and fit it to the Fantasia to see if this solves the problems. Then order a seal kit for the original master and keep it as a spare.
I'm planing to bin the 750 master when I fit the Punto GT brakes and use a twin cylinder pedal box. The Cinquecento master was barely enough to work the brakes on the Guff racer so this would be better if I want the set up to work properly.
I'll take the 750 master off in the morning, inspect it and fit it to the Fantasia to see if this solves the problems. Then order a seal kit for the original master and keep it as a spare.
I love internet forums. Just when I think it's one problem someone suggests another that's just a possible and would present the same symptoms. So today I'll have the Fantasia up on ramps so I lay underneath her watching the flexible brake hoses to see if they move or balloon at all. The drop in line pressure could be due to this as much as failed seals in the master cylinder. It doesn't cost me a Penny to check and despite being bloody awkward to do the rear brake hoses are a cheaper repair as well.
In red Panda news, the templates for the inlet manifold are back at Optima Stainless Steel and should be done in a week.
In red Panda news, the templates for the inlet manifold are back at Optima Stainless Steel and should be done in a week.
Edited by Liquid Knight on Monday 19th November 13:16
So from under the car I got my assistant to press the brake pedal and I'd look for movement and signs of bulging.
Easy to get to eh?
All looked well and there wasn't any movement I could notice.
As planned I took the master cylinder out of the red Panda and stripped it.
Cleaned all the components and put it back together.
I'm getting fed up of these early nights so I found an old ceiling light and duct-tapped it to a step ladder.
I've swapped master cylinders and will bleed the system again in the morning. The Fantasias master cylinder fell apart as soon as it was off the car. Even though the seals look new there's a gauge in the secondary cylinder seal and none of the pistons have been cleaned. Thick black sludge in the slots reducing the amount of fluid being moved. Hopefully this time tomorrow I'll have brakes if not I'll bin the whole lot and start again.
Easy to get to eh?
All looked well and there wasn't any movement I could notice.
As planned I took the master cylinder out of the red Panda and stripped it.
Cleaned all the components and put it back together.
I'm getting fed up of these early nights so I found an old ceiling light and duct-tapped it to a step ladder.
I've swapped master cylinders and will bleed the system again in the morning. The Fantasias master cylinder fell apart as soon as it was off the car. Even though the seals look new there's a gauge in the secondary cylinder seal and none of the pistons have been cleaned. Thick black sludge in the slots reducing the amount of fluid being moved. Hopefully this time tomorrow I'll have brakes if not I'll bin the whole lot and start again.
All this has left me hungry so I've order a Tacho'...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180780864950?ssPageName=...
...for the red Panda .
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180780864950?ssPageName=...
...for the red Panda .
Throughout my short time within this reality I have read about many dubious and curious topics. The existence of unidentified flying objects, the Loch Ness Monster, conspiracy theories about the assassination of John F Kennedy and Kurt Cobain; the existence of God and Harry Potter. This has all be well documented, critised, argued, proven, disproven and wars have been started over some of them. 
Having said that in the six thousand years or so since human beings have been able to communicate their endeavors via the medium of the written word to my knowledge there has not been one single recorded incident where a stud extractor has been successfully used to remove a sheared bleed nipple from a brake caliper.
With that in mind I took the calipers off the 750 and cleaned them...
...before and after cleaning.
So we human beings are creatures of habit. The last four vehicles I have bought brake fluid for have been the BMW E36 320 track day £999 Challenger, my GPZ1100, Fiat Coupe with Brembo brakes fitted and my GSXR7-11. The last five times I have bought brake fluid it has been the low viscosity Dot 4 stuff.
Can you guess what I've done yet?
That's right I bought the wrong brake fluid.
The lower viscosity stuff was thin enough to pass the seals in the master cylinder giving the same symptoms as knackered seals or air in there.
So I took the front calipers off...
...fitted the tidy shiny ones...
...bled the system through with the correct fluid and I now have brakes!
Not only do I have brakes but they are the best feeling brakes I have ever had on a FIRE engine powered Fiat.
Pity it took so bloody long for me to realise eh?
Having said that in the six thousand years or so since human beings have been able to communicate their endeavors via the medium of the written word to my knowledge there has not been one single recorded incident where a stud extractor has been successfully used to remove a sheared bleed nipple from a brake caliper.
With that in mind I took the calipers off the 750 and cleaned them...
...before and after cleaning.
So we human beings are creatures of habit. The last four vehicles I have bought brake fluid for have been the BMW E36 320 track day £999 Challenger, my GPZ1100, Fiat Coupe with Brembo brakes fitted and my GSXR7-11. The last five times I have bought brake fluid it has been the low viscosity Dot 4 stuff.
Can you guess what I've done yet?
That's right I bought the wrong brake fluid.
The lower viscosity stuff was thin enough to pass the seals in the master cylinder giving the same symptoms as knackered seals or air in there.
So I took the front calipers off...
...fitted the tidy shiny ones...
...bled the system through with the correct fluid and I now have brakes!
Not only do I have brakes but they are the best feeling brakes I have ever had on a FIRE engine powered Fiat.
Pity it took so bloody long for me to realise eh?
Edited by Liquid Knight on Tuesday 20th November 17:18
Liquid Knight said:
Oh crap!
I've just realised.
I've cleaned some bits up, fitted a couple of replacement parts and patched the sill.
That's a full restoration in Channel Five's book. I'd better weld the sunroofs up and paint the car a different colour to add value to it.
They look like ventilated disks.......will the Pandamonium break 100 anythings?I've just realised.
I've cleaned some bits up, fitted a couple of replacement parts and patched the sill.
That's a full restoration in Channel Five's book. I'd better weld the sunroofs up and paint the car a different colour to add value to it.
brake fluid. Me and my performance car aspirations. A couple of M.O.T jobs remain. Firstly the interior needs putting back together where I took it apart to weld the sills.
Second the horn works to M.O.T standards but it's a bit; "eeeeeeeeppp!"
Knowing how small brightly coloured Fiats are completely invisible to other road users I need a decent horn as a basic matter of survival. This is why when I fitted the driving lamps last year I replaced the standard Road Runner "Meep-meep" horn with a trumpeted Fiat Coupe' "BEEEEEEP!". This has now lost it's edge and sounds as pathetic as the original Road Runner one.
One of the problems all Panda have are the earth hedgehogs getting a layer of cack on them. I remedied this last year when I fitted the new horn and driving lamps but neglected the dash earth near the brake master.
So before I get take the front end of the car apart I took the dash earth terminal out...
...cleaned it...
...put it back on and tested it. "Eeeeeeeepppp!"
Bugger!
Time for my usual approach to problem solving...
...there's no such thing as overkill.
I'll get it mounted properly and loomed in place when the weather decides it wants to be November and not April.
Second the horn works to M.O.T standards but it's a bit; "eeeeeeeeppp!"
Knowing how small brightly coloured Fiats are completely invisible to other road users I need a decent horn as a basic matter of survival. This is why when I fitted the driving lamps last year I replaced the standard Road Runner "Meep-meep" horn with a trumpeted Fiat Coupe' "BEEEEEEP!". This has now lost it's edge and sounds as pathetic as the original Road Runner one.
One of the problems all Panda have are the earth hedgehogs getting a layer of cack on them. I remedied this last year when I fitted the new horn and driving lamps but neglected the dash earth near the brake master.
So before I get take the front end of the car apart I took the dash earth terminal out...
...cleaned it...
...put it back on and tested it. "Eeeeeeeepppp!"
Bugger!
Time for my usual approach to problem solving...
...there's no such thing as overkill.
I'll get it mounted properly and loomed in place when the weather decides it wants to be November and not April.
The mystery of the "Eeeeep!" is solved. Even though I fitted the Fiat Coupe' horn trumpet down it still managed to somehow fill with water. My guess would be a combination of puddle splash and condensation. This is probably why the horns are fitted under the bonnet of the Coupe' as they're not British Summer resistant.
So back to the task at hand. I wired up the relay for the air horn and decided a more stealth location would be appropriate. After all the last thing I want is for someone to rip the horns out if I leave the bonnet up for more than ten minutes.
So first off I mounted the pump in the original horn recess on the front valance...
...and the trumpets next to the bumper mount...
...the only give away are the new flat headed bolts on the inner wing...
...a dab of green paint when I do the rest of the car will solve that.
I'm looking forward to my next encounter with a Womling as my nephew scared himself testing it for me.
So back to the task at hand. I wired up the relay for the air horn and decided a more stealth location would be appropriate. After all the last thing I want is for someone to rip the horns out if I leave the bonnet up for more than ten minutes.
So first off I mounted the pump in the original horn recess on the front valance...
...and the trumpets next to the bumper mount...
...the only give away are the new flat headed bolts on the inner wing...
...a dab of green paint when I do the rest of the car will solve that.
I'm looking forward to my next encounter with a Womling as my nephew scared himself testing it for me.
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