Mr FIAT - Your #1 source for vintage car parts
100_2126.JPG
100_2126.JPG

Panda (Classic) Grumbleweed

Overview Gallery Discussion

Introduction

been stubbornly refusing to stir outside the panda section for a long while but put a fair bit of time into tidying the old lad up this summer so thought I'd stick some photos together to show the state of play just now.
So for those of you who aren't al ready au fait, this is Grumbleweed, a 1990 Panda Sergio Tacchini with a mix of scrapyard warrior mods and fresh bits:

look! even found some scenery to take some pics:)





Highlights include the new mk2 golf splitter and chavtastic blue lensed driving lamps (they were reduced OK) in the front bumper, Momo steering wheel, aftermarket gearknob on shortened gearstick, 40mm drop on new standard shocks, mystery retro pepperpot wheels (anybody any idea? came off a Tipo in a scrappy) converted to Uno electronic dizzy, K&N panel filter in standard airbox with shortened intake, Powerflow stainless exhaust rear section with Y10 standard front section, array of extra instrumentation (tacho, oil pressure and volts) and assorted other bits and bobs dotted around that my father in law (the previous owner) fitted and I just find out about when new stuff I buy mysteriously doesn't fit:confused:
Andrew.
  • Like
Reactions: Most Easterly Pandas, RetroPanda, panda panda and 2 others
Click to expand...
lkc said:
6.5 hours :eek: That's England for you ;)

Great to see the two of you and the mighty Grubbyweed again :D
Click to expand...
Thanks, You too. Actually though the biggest chunk of delay was on the A90 into Edinburgh. Annoyingly a road I never even meant to take but took a wrong turn heading for the bypass and drove slap bang into the back of an hour and a halfs delay!!!:bang:
Pic of GW at the show after he'd been plodging in the mud like an excitable 3 year old..
 
Yeah, the central belt sucks as that's where the majority of Scottish folks live. Head my way and we have more sheep than people which is fine by me as sheep don't drive cars and are scared of people thanks to Aberdeen fans
 
firstcar-Y10 said:
Thanks, You too. Actually though the biggest chunk of delay was on the A90 into Edinburgh. Annoyingly a road I never even meant to take but took a wrong turn heading for the bypass and drove slap bang into the back of an hour and a halfs delay!!!:bang:
Pic of GW at the show after he'd been plodging in the mud like an excitable 3 year old..
Click to expand...

Looks a good day, Grumbles looking :cool:. I'm not suprised it was muddy been torrential rain in the borders. Sorry couldn't put in appearance, Lulu is in many pieces at the mo :(
 
Well, a few issues resolved ready for the MOT on Tuesday. I finally got round to working out the wiring on my spare wiper motor and Grumbleweed now has an intermittent wipe for the first time since I've had him. Horn now works again, just a poor contact in the switch. Also when checking the lights I found the rear fog wasn't working. Some considerable time later when I had the rear cluster off, the dashboard in bits and I was studying the wiring diagram to find out why no power was getting through I finally realised the fault was...I only had the sidelights on and the fogs come on with the dip. Doh!
Investigated my rough running too and went to check the ignition timing and couldn't even see the timing marks it was that far out. The bottom screw had worked its way out of the vacuum advance unit so it was flopping about on the top screw, taking the timing with it all over the place. Re attached and reset, the tickover and running is considerably better now.
One more chance Sunday to chase any niggles down. Has to pass or I don't have another day off before Stanford Hall to get him tested again.
 
Last edited:
panda panda said:
..the dutchy?.....
Click to expand...
only fitted to de left hand drive!
might as well not have bothered the other day though. The intermittent wipe function has self destructed again, and the horn I coaxed back into life, and even used the other day (doesn't happen very often) failed to function on the MOT ramp:bang: Got it going again for the pass fortunately.
 
firstcar-Y10 said:
only fitted to de left hand drive!
might as well not have bothered the other day though. The intermittent wipe function has self destructed again, and the horn I coaxed back into life, and even used the other day (doesn't happen very often) failed to function on the MOT ramp:bang: Got it going again for the pass fortunately.
Click to expand...

Nothing beats owning a Panda hey :D
 
panda1408 said:
Your battery is in the wrong way round also:D
Click to expand...
Oh yes, I'd never even noticed that.

Anyway, here's the offending item:

Grumbleweed was running worryingly warm on the way down to Stanford Hall, no heater, and pressurising the coolant. So since I've been building up the bits for an engine refresh anyway I figure it's about time I had this apart before (hopefully) the head goes all out of whack. Plan is to pull the valves out, clean up, lap & re shim. New piston rings, light hone and big end bearings while I've got the head off, then reassemble with new timing belt & water pump. That's the bits I've got so far anyway (shims aside)
HG looks like this when I've gone in. First time I've had a head off but I can't see any obvious fail points on the gasket, possibly been seeping past the seal around no. 4 maybe, but no actual gaps in the gasket. Any more practiced eyes got an opinion?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top