Sublime Pandamonium II
Discussion
So as promised the track control ends were changed today. One was knackered (not bad considering they are more than likely the one fitted in the factory twenty four years ago) and since it's been replaced the car nolonger has any wobble (I thought it was the suspension bushes)...
...the other not so bad. I also noticed a tiny hole in one of the CV gaters hope the puncture repair glue holds long enough for M.O.T as I'm out of money to replace them.
So for those who need to know here's how.
1/ Jack the car up safely and remove the wheel.
2/ Inspect the track rod end to access whether it need replacing or not.
3/ Loosen the locking nut at the end by a quarter to a half turn.
4/ Now remove the 17mm bottom nut.
5/ There are various methods to remove the track rod end. Some prefer the joint splitter whilst other use a clamp and flat plate. Personally I hit it with a hammer.
6/ Use a clamp or stilson to hold the track rod in place as you turn the end to remove it.
7/ The fit the new one in place.
8/ Hold the new track rod end down and tighten the new nut up before tightening the locking nut.
9/ Finally refit the wheel, remove the car from the jack and enjoy.
...the other not so bad. I also noticed a tiny hole in one of the CV gaters hope the puncture repair glue holds long enough for M.O.T as I'm out of money to replace them.
So for those who need to know here's how.
1/ Jack the car up safely and remove the wheel.
2/ Inspect the track rod end to access whether it need replacing or not.
3/ Loosen the locking nut at the end by a quarter to a half turn.
4/ Now remove the 17mm bottom nut.
5/ There are various methods to remove the track rod end. Some prefer the joint splitter whilst other use a clamp and flat plate. Personally I hit it with a hammer.
6/ Use a clamp or stilson to hold the track rod in place as you turn the end to remove it.
7/ The fit the new one in place.
8/ Hold the new track rod end down and tighten the new nut up before tightening the locking nut.
9/ Finally refit the wheel, remove the car from the jack and enjoy.
Edited by Liquid Knight on Saturday 4th August 16:38
Where my obsession started...
...this is (was) Cica (Slovak for kitten) the Fiat Panda Bianca that was the first car I had on the road.
999cc FIRE engine with a 4x4 inlet manifold and carb' hoiking the power from 45 to 55bhp, Uno Turbo wheels on hubcentric spacers, lowered 30mm, and an all Kenwood stereo with a CD head unit, KFC1066 front speakers, KFC1266 speakers mounted in the door panels, two more KFC1066 speakers mounted in the rear trim panels, 6x9's on the parcel shelf and an 8x100w amp running the lot. I did have a twin sub box but preferred being able to carry stuff instead. I have some sunnier photo's somewhere I'll have a did about.
...this is (was) Cica (Slovak for kitten) the Fiat Panda Bianca that was the first car I had on the road.
999cc FIRE engine with a 4x4 inlet manifold and carb' hoiking the power from 45 to 55bhp, Uno Turbo wheels on hubcentric spacers, lowered 30mm, and an all Kenwood stereo with a CD head unit, KFC1066 front speakers, KFC1266 speakers mounted in the door panels, two more KFC1066 speakers mounted in the rear trim panels, 6x9's on the parcel shelf and an 8x100w amp running the lot. I did have a twin sub box but preferred being able to carry stuff instead. I have some sunnier photo's somewhere I'll have a did about.
Working on another Fiat today.
This Dolbo' belongs to a friend of the family who was told two years ago he had six months to life due to Cancer. In his words "it's a typical NHS waiting list blunder". He can't clean his van due to the near constant pain he's in, because he's a pensioner he can't afford to get it done and due to the way he was brought up he is too proud to ask. So I asked if I could borrow the van to do an eBay run in exchange for giving it a once over with a wet sponge.
The van never left my driveway but I needed it long enough to give the old girl a full valet.
Should be a pleasant surprise for when he leaves hospital later.
In Panda related stuff. The Fantasia is moved to the second driveway. Until the Payday fairies visit I can't afford the M.O.T test let alone if she fails on anything. Cycling to work then.
I've removed the dash vents from the 750 in preparation of filling the holes in the bulkhead so I don't get gassed out first time I start the car.
This Dolbo' belongs to a friend of the family who was told two years ago he had six months to life due to Cancer. In his words "it's a typical NHS waiting list blunder". He can't clean his van due to the near constant pain he's in, because he's a pensioner he can't afford to get it done and due to the way he was brought up he is too proud to ask. So I asked if I could borrow the van to do an eBay run in exchange for giving it a once over with a wet sponge.
The van never left my driveway but I needed it long enough to give the old girl a full valet.
Should be a pleasant surprise for when he leaves hospital later.
In Panda related stuff. The Fantasia is moved to the second driveway. Until the Payday fairies visit I can't afford the M.O.T test let alone if she fails on anything. Cycling to work then.
I've removed the dash vents from the 750 in preparation of filling the holes in the bulkhead so I don't get gassed out first time I start the car.
After ruining the windscreen trying to take it out...
...just as well I needed a new one anyway; I set about filling the first vent hole.
I ended up with a plate about an inch too big due to the amount of blow through where the metal was so thin the paint was load bearing.
Completely unnecessary but I like it.
...just as well I needed a new one anyway; I set about filling the first vent hole.
I ended up with a plate about an inch too big due to the amount of blow through where the metal was so thin the paint was load bearing.
Completely unnecessary but I like it.
Just started the car for the first time in a little over a week. Ordered a pair of new CV boots as the drivers side front has started leaking a little bit (puncture repair glue didn't work) as soon as their done I'll get the Fantasia booked in and hopefully M.O.T'd. Insurance is due in October so I'm looking at the possibility of having the Panda on a Classic policy.
I chose Green Insurance because of the Carbon offsetting and quality of cover but I'm earning £200 a month less this year and doing exactly the same job with the same hours and need to save money wherever I can if I'm ever going to get the other Panda finished.
I'm getting fed up of it as much as you guys are.
I chose Green Insurance because of the Carbon offsetting and quality of cover but I'm earning £200 a month less this year and doing exactly the same job with the same hours and need to save money wherever I can if I'm ever going to get the other Panda finished.
I'm getting fed up of it as much as you guys are.
I nearly binned the FINE engine because I could get a Punto 75 for less than it would cost for the inlet manifold plates to be made up. 
I need to keep things in focus.
With that in mind and my comments on your and Andy's thread. A road set up for this car would involve one of the X-1/9 carb's and suspension tweaks and a track set up would be the TDM carb's and other alterations. That's why I asked to see if you guys did it and see if it would be worthwhile following suit.
I've mentioned my car enough on that thread so's not to upset other followers I simply asked the question.
Good to know you top flight guys inspire the driveway builders eh?
I need to keep things in focus.
With that in mind and my comments on your and Andy's thread. A road set up for this car would involve one of the X-1/9 carb's and suspension tweaks and a track set up would be the TDM carb's and other alterations. That's why I asked to see if you guys did it and see if it would be worthwhile following suit.
I've mentioned my car enough on that thread so's not to upset other followers I simply asked the question.
Good to know you top flight guys inspire the driveway builders eh?
I'll get this...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gazebo-3m-x-6m-Marquee-M...
...gazebo in case Iceland decides to blow it's top again.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gazebo-3m-x-6m-Marquee-M...
...gazebo in case Iceland decides to blow it's top again.
Cycling to work has taken its toll on the Fantasia. She failed to start today and ran the battery flat trying. 
I wanted to get the brakes cleaned and bled properly before I booked the car in for M.O.T sometime this month as the aforementioned cycling is starting to effect my lower back in an unpleasant way.
So she's on overnight charge and I'll get it done tomorrow before work weather permitting.
Nothing done on the 750 I'm torn between spending money on a spay booth and getting the bodywork done or spending the same on the inlet manifold and getting the engine done (well put together at least).
I wanted to get the brakes cleaned and bled properly before I booked the car in for M.O.T sometime this month as the aforementioned cycling is starting to effect my lower back in an unpleasant way.
So she's on overnight charge and I'll get it done tomorrow before work weather permitting.
Nothing done on the 750 I'm torn between spending money on a spay booth and getting the bodywork done or spending the same on the inlet manifold and getting the engine done (well put together at least).
Edited by Liquid Knight on Saturday 22 September 19:56
Just tried to start the old girl again and for the first few minutes I completely forgot the most simple principal of aqua-dynamics/pneumatics. If there's no fluid in a pump it won't pump. I needed to manually prime the fuel pump (by taking the pipe off the carb' and creating a vacuum). Needless to say the combination of toothpaste, mouthwash and stale petrol is somewhat becoming. But the Panda fires up first turn of the key again and still purrs like a well balanced FIRE engine should. Pity it's too wet to get anything else done.
The HGT Coupe' 20V Turbo is a weekends work if anyone wanted to undertake it (if I had the funds it would be in my top ten projects to do list). Fiat did a couple of prototypes in Portofino Blue one was the test platform that was thrashed to heck and broken up the other is in a private collection somewhere. Fiat decided against it as it was quicker than the flagship Coupe' and would take sales away. Shame really as basically all the Focus RS ever was is a copy of this idea. Unlike the Focus however Fiat used the 20V Turbo engine and use the running gear from a Delta to make a couple of four wheel drive Coupe's. With the modular platforming a 20V Turbo four wheel drive Bravo was suggested but shelved as they weren't allowed to use the 20V engine in rallying and it would sink the already failing Alfa 147 GTa.
The Bravo 20V Turbo four wheel drive is probably one of the best cars that was never built.
The Bravo 20V Turbo four wheel drive is probably one of the best cars that was never built.
Gassing Station | Alfa Romeo, Fiat & Lancia | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff