Since introducing the Panda to the FF garage, it's been a fairly busy few weeks for the Panda, for me anyways.
For a while now I'd been planning to get some airhorns for the Panda to give it some extra flair and baby Ferrari-ness, mostly because in reality the standard is a pretty pathetic thing that surely can't be classed as a horn
. So bought some FIAMM's for the Panda with some lovely Pingu looking noot noot trumpets which were fitted 05/04/25. It's safe to say this is a proper horn, ultra loud, makes a great noise, makes everyone laugh when you're messing around and makes people completely jump out their skin when used for its intended use. Much recommended upgrade.
Whilst the front bumper was off, some much needed repairs were done. This car has been whacked from both sides in the past, both sides were cracked, nearside completely broken off and offside was splitting. So with a bit of metal fabricating, araldite'ing, rivet'ing, the bumper has got some strength back and now sits how it should rather than being sat low and out on the upper corners.
Also whilst the bumper was off for repair, took the opportunity to take the sill covers off, and while the drivers side had very little dirt inside, the passenger side had potentially a couple kg's of dirt sitting inside, so to anyone who hasn't taken a look inside the covers, do it when you can. However be prepared in advance with replacement clips and some for of adhesive for the covers as they will need reattaching. I'm happy to say that with my Panda it has for the mostpart gotten away very lightly on the corrosion front. Other than a bit on the end of the rear sill edge, there was nothing. And the only other place with some crust was the drivers front wheelarch, which has a little shelf where dirt likes to collect, so clear that out too if you haven't checked. Both areas were treated to some kurust to stop anything that was there surface wise for now, a proper inspection at some stage will happen to see the full extent, but it's a relief to see that this car doesn't seem to be plagued by natural weight reduction.
The following weekend was a lightly organised trip to Caffeine & Machine 'The Hill' which was about a 200 mile round trip for the Panda, which is definitely the most I've taken it in both of my ownerships. It handled the journey more than well, was obviously very fun on the country lanes and b-roads, but was more than capable on the motorway sections too. In total at C&M 7 Panda's gathered, which was nice to see, I'm sure if more professionally organised there would be a greater turnout, but for a first attempt from the Panda group on Facebook, it was a good day. And the Panda managed to achieve an impressive to me MPG figure of 46.3. Which considering the smaller roads around Surrey and Stratford-upon-Avon on either side of the motorway sections, I was very impressed.
Then we come to today where I had two more parts to fit to the Panda. The breather hose which had completely split on all 3 parts. And a rather fancy looking BMC CDA Filter. The original airbox at one stage in its life did have a Powerflow panel filter, but somewhere along the line thanks to one the previous non caring owners, they had thrown that out for a standard paper one, no I don't know what they must've been smoking either, but it clearly led to some very questionable choices
Back to the BMC, not the most straightforward thing to fit, some absolutely terribly printed instructions to show how it should sit in the engine bay, pixelated is putting it lightly, may as well have been a photo of a potato. But the wording was more useful, 3 screws on the battery tray had to be sliced off in order to make room, as well as a bracket holding on the plug for the ignition leads, even after that it is sat in the engine bay very snug, so I lined both side with some Tesa tape the give it something a bit softer to lean against if it does move ever so slightly. It's not the neatest engine bay with some wires here and there for the airhorns and other bits and pieces, but hey, it's a project car not a showpiece, so I'm not overly fussed. The breather pipe was the more scary part to change as I've seen many nightmare stories of the inlet manifold piece snapping off, so I took a stanley blade and put it under a flame to get it nice and hot and cut through the pipe like butter to limit any strain on the manifold. And then made sure the new part was nice lubed up and even put some heat on that too so it could just slide on, but even then it was a bit snug, but thankfully it's all on and that should be the end of my oily smell coming from the engine bay.
For now that will be the last of any upgrades/mods for a bit. Next on the cards will be some Abarth seats as the originals are really starting to give up now. Some new front arms as when I was under the Panda it looked like one side was starting to collapse. Will debate whether I stay standard or keep going with more polybushes for the go kart feel. Maybe some new shocks/coilovers all round. A new headunit to make use of the Pioneer speakers.
But the next day out for the Panda will be Autoitalia at Brooklands in May, can't wait
