Sublime Pandamonium II
Discussion
Classic cars; classic bodges.
Sometimes when I buy a classic car and see a repair that makes me want to punch someone in the face it's hard to know who aim my frustration at. With my Panda Fizz however this is a non-issue. One owner from new and all servicing, repairs and M.O.T's have been carried out at the same garage all of the cars life.
I wanted to address an M.O.T advisory before Winter set in so bought a new radiator. Gratuitous "old and new" photo's...
...now the bad...
...Radweld!
Seriously? A £50 radiator (trade mark up) plus an hour's labor would be a £100 job including VAT. Radweld? In case of emergency maybe but a previous flush, repair or service resulted in a £2.99 bodge instead of a £100 repair job. What kind of business are they trying to run?
The ugly...
...a Jubilee clip with a mild Steel screw on a coolant pipe!
It's not like the cooling system is Mecca for condensation is it?
Sure enough it was rusted solid, the screw head snapped clean in half and I had to cut it off. Just as well I have a stash of Stainless Steel ones in my shed.
Okay not the worst bodges I've seen but having read some of the bills in the Fizz's history file I had much higher expectations and am bloody glad I do all the work I can myself.
Sometimes when I buy a classic car and see a repair that makes me want to punch someone in the face it's hard to know who aim my frustration at. With my Panda Fizz however this is a non-issue. One owner from new and all servicing, repairs and M.O.T's have been carried out at the same garage all of the cars life.
I wanted to address an M.O.T advisory before Winter set in so bought a new radiator. Gratuitous "old and new" photo's...
...now the bad...
...Radweld!
Seriously? A £50 radiator (trade mark up) plus an hour's labor would be a £100 job including VAT. Radweld? In case of emergency maybe but a previous flush, repair or service resulted in a £2.99 bodge instead of a £100 repair job. What kind of business are they trying to run? The ugly...
...a Jubilee clip with a mild Steel screw on a coolant pipe!
It's not like the cooling system is Mecca for condensation is it?
Sure enough it was rusted solid, the screw head snapped clean in half and I had to cut it off. Just as well I have a stash of Stainless Steel ones in my shed.
Okay not the worst bodges I've seen but having read some of the bills in the Fizz's history file I had much higher expectations and am bloody glad I do all the work I can myself.
https://www.facebook.com/simone.damiano1/videos/10...
There's a scrap Panda 4x4 for sale on eBay. I've been considering a four wheel drive conversion for the Y10
There's a scrap Panda 4x4 for sale on eBay. I've been considering a four wheel drive conversion for the Y10
QBee said:
I know the car well. I appraised it at £1,995 but it's got some new stickers and it's worth twice that now obviously. Back to the Y10 manifold. I thought it would be a good idea to clean the front of the engine before refitting the manifold so a combination of parts washer fluid in an old trigger spray bottle, WD40 and washing up liquid solution later and you can hardly tell any difference. Apart from number two and three spark plug chambers full of fluids. I took the plugs out turned the engine over a few times to blow the worst of it out and while the engine was running up to temperature (checking gasket seals and burning off cleaning stuff from the exhaust) I painted the airbox the same satin black I have for the tailgate. As the insurance company have a pretension that all Lancia's are sports cars I stuck my Hf Elephant on the box while I was at it.
Edited by Liquid Knight on Tuesday 10th November 17:47
So the story behind my rack...
I'd just been made redundant from an engineering firm and was doing the rounds looking for another job. Got through the interview process and one place and was asked to demonstrate my welding. Common practice just because you interview well doesn't mean you can do the job does it?
"There are welders, grinders and PPE and there's a skip full of steel outside. I'll be back in twenty minutes".
An hour and a half later I had made the Stainless Steel rack. The guy got called away to a meeting, I had got bored and there was a TIG welder to play with. He took one look at my rack and said he couldn't give me the job because they were looking for a dogsbody/apprentice and I was too good, but if anything came up he'd give me a call. I asked to take the rack home and it's lived in my shed ever since.
Turned out to be a blessing disguised as a catastrophe because that firm folded three months later. I would have been back to square one.
I'd just been made redundant from an engineering firm and was doing the rounds looking for another job. Got through the interview process and one place and was asked to demonstrate my welding. Common practice just because you interview well doesn't mean you can do the job does it?
"There are welders, grinders and PPE and there's a skip full of steel outside. I'll be back in twenty minutes".
An hour and a half later I had made the Stainless Steel rack. The guy got called away to a meeting, I had got bored and there was a TIG welder to play with. He took one look at my rack and said he couldn't give me the job because they were looking for a dogsbody/apprentice and I was too good, but if anything came up he'd give me a call. I asked to take the rack home and it's lived in my shed ever since.
Turned out to be a blessing disguised as a catastrophe because that firm folded three months later. I would have been back to square one.
Ah the simple jobs eh?
The headlight stalk on the Y10 was broken but the car came with a replacement set of column switches.
Sadly it was to a different Y10, none of the wiring colours matched and only three of the seven plugs were the same. So I've had to pull the arms from both switches, cut the end off the new one, drill a hole down into the centre of the shaft, weld the old pin in the end of the new rod, support the weld with epoxy filler, shape and paint the new shaft ready to retrofit to the original switch.
The headlight stalk on the Y10 was broken but the car came with a replacement set of column switches.
Sadly it was to a different Y10, none of the wiring colours matched and only three of the seven plugs were the same. So I've had to pull the arms from both switches, cut the end off the new one, drill a hole down into the centre of the shaft, weld the old pin in the end of the new rod, support the weld with epoxy filler, shape and paint the new shaft ready to retrofit to the original switch.
moribund said:
Saw this and thought of you -
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/rover-216-rally-car-hist...
Ideal winter runaround?
Very nice. Bin the standard SU and fit one from a Metro Turbo with a low boost supercharger. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/rover-216-rally-car-hist...
Ideal winter runaround?
Last night my car was a star...
...for about six seconds on Panorama.
For the record and before any moderators remove the image. The actor was not breaking into my car if you at the bottom right of the last picture you can just see my hand where I unlocked the car with the key as he pretended to pull it with a wire hook. This was the "Magic of television". Pandas are notoriously difficult to break into. As the actor found after trying for an hour.
...for about six seconds on Panorama.
For the record and before any moderators remove the image. The actor was not breaking into my car if you at the bottom right of the last picture you can just see my hand where I unlocked the car with the key as he pretended to pull it with a wire hook. This was the "Magic of television". Pandas are notoriously difficult to break into. As the actor found after trying for an hour.
After pillocking about with the Y10 for an hour I thought I'd give my Fantasia a few minutes.
Connected the battery, turned over and nothing. She wasn't getting fuel, so I pulled the pipe, primed the pump and spat the old tasting petrol into the carb'.
Still nothing. Popped the distributor cap, cleaned the terminals and rotor arm.
Still nothing. Took the number on HT lead off and the inside of the cap was full of rust.
Can you see what I did?
8mm Silicone HT leads from my Uno Turbo that have been sat in my shed since 2002 now she's purring like a clockwork kitten FIRE engine should.
Connected the battery, turned over and nothing. She wasn't getting fuel, so I pulled the pipe, primed the pump and spat the old tasting petrol into the carb'.
Still nothing. Popped the distributor cap, cleaned the terminals and rotor arm.
Still nothing. Took the number on HT lead off and the inside of the cap was full of rust.
Can you see what I did?
8mm Silicone HT leads from my Uno Turbo that have been sat in my shed since 2002 now she's purring like a clockwork kitten FIRE engine should.
Bloody stupid unreliable old Fiat's.
My Fantasia hasn't been started for six months. Fitted the rotor arm, connected the battery and primed the carb'.
First turn off the key (no choke) she was ticking like a pocket watch.
Ran out of petrol as she was warming up before I had chance to move her.
I have been looking at electric cars recently and knowing that ULEZ (ultra low emission zones) will be happening in major cities in a while instead of buying a characterless blob I thought about getting hold of an accident damaged electric or hybrid vehicle and converting my Panda to Electa spec'.
Sadly that was before I was sacked back in March. I sold my GSXR250RR-SP to cover my bills in April and to my shame I may have to sell my Panda if I don't start my new job soon.
So today I rehomed a few spiders, gave the old girl a wash and gave the bonnet a once over with some t-cut.
Not for sale now. Does anyone need a kidney?
My Fantasia hasn't been started for six months. Fitted the rotor arm, connected the battery and primed the carb'.
First turn off the key (no choke) she was ticking like a pocket watch.
Ran out of petrol as she was warming up before I had chance to move her.
I have been looking at electric cars recently and knowing that ULEZ (ultra low emission zones) will be happening in major cities in a while instead of buying a characterless blob I thought about getting hold of an accident damaged electric or hybrid vehicle and converting my Panda to Electa spec'.
Sadly that was before I was sacked back in March. I sold my GSXR250RR-SP to cover my bills in April and to my shame I may have to sell my Panda if I don't start my new job soon.
So today I rehomed a few spiders, gave the old girl a wash and gave the bonnet a once over with some t-cut.
Not for sale now. Does anyone need a kidney?
When I sold my Panda Fizz I made a gentleman's agreement with the new owner that if for any reason he could no longer keep the car, let me have first opportunity to buy the car back. I'm not going to mention numbers as that would be vulgar but the price he paid x plus how much he had spent on parts y was my offer to buy the old girl back so effectively the owner only had to pay for fuel, MOT, tax, insurance and labour.
My Punto HGT was recently written off by a shoplifter trying escape from supermarket security and I needed a car to tide me over while insurance and other stuff sorted themselves out.
After a few days of cleaning she was presentable again...
...I even had time to colour match the grille and mirrors with the can I supplied with the car four year ago.
But the MOT was short and where sill repairs had been done before the rust has gone up and inside the car. Without cutting the rear quarters off and peeling the onion replacing rust with metal I can't see the car getting through a legitimate MOT again. A real shame considering all the new parts fitted.
I may use these parts on my Fantasia or I may sell both as a make one from the two kind of project. I haven't decided as yet. Now electric classic conversions are becoming more common place and there is more choice than a knackered or crashed G-Wizz for donors converting my Fantasia as an eco-restomod is looking more possible.
My Punto HGT was recently written off by a shoplifter trying escape from supermarket security and I needed a car to tide me over while insurance and other stuff sorted themselves out.
After a few days of cleaning she was presentable again...
...I even had time to colour match the grille and mirrors with the can I supplied with the car four year ago.
But the MOT was short and where sill repairs had been done before the rust has gone up and inside the car. Without cutting the rear quarters off and peeling the onion replacing rust with metal I can't see the car getting through a legitimate MOT again. A real shame considering all the new parts fitted.
I may use these parts on my Fantasia or I may sell both as a make one from the two kind of project. I haven't decided as yet. Now electric classic conversions are becoming more common place and there is more choice than a knackered or crashed G-Wizz for donors converting my Fantasia as an eco-restomod is looking more possible.
Edited by Liquid Knight on Friday 21st August 16:12
Love the colour but hate that fact it's £300+ a litre. I had a MG ZR in a similar shade the insurance tried to write it off after someone keyed it.
The Fantasia hasn't moved much apart from thinking of selling her, putting a battery on, starting first turn of the key every time and changing my mind about selling her. At least I have a pile of parts for the eco-restomod idea but I have a track day MX5 to get ready in a month and thanks to Covid19 I'm only working two days a week instead of five or six. Meh.
The Fantasia hasn't moved much apart from thinking of selling her, putting a battery on, starting first turn of the key every time and changing my mind about selling her. At least I have a pile of parts for the eco-restomod idea but I have a track day MX5 to get ready in a month and thanks to Covid19 I'm only working two days a week instead of five or six. Meh.
I'm with Franks Charity Track Day Club...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/561769647533221
...the MX5 is the Sceneocide drift car I did a few years ago...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=16...
...looking at two tone green...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
...to replace the protest grey.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/561769647533221
...the MX5 is the Sceneocide drift car I did a few years ago...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=16...
...looking at two tone green...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
...to replace the protest grey.
Gassing Station | Alfa Romeo, Fiat & Lancia | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff