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Panda (Classic) Grumbleweed

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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.
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Reactions: Most Easterly Pandas, RetroPanda, panda panda and 2 others
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making progress. Got the conrod bolts (£45!!!) changed one, next one snapped off in the rod when we tried to torque it. Much swearing later we got it back out, refitted the piston with 2 new bolts and decided to leave the other rods with the old bolts in.
So now head's back on, new belt and camshaft timed in, just the manifolds and carb/ exhaust to refit and we can fire it up.
 
So having failed to take any pics of the engine work, here's some pics of it back in again: Satin black inlet manifold & block now(y)

and here's an enginehttps://www.fiatforum.com/gallery/data/500/WP_20140721_001.jpg ...


and my nice cleaned, painted and bushed gear linkage, with new rubber boot:

and what I got when it was in bits: Exhaust manifold all cleaned & painted

head back together, oil pressure sender finally cleaned & painted, looked hard up

Valves, before and after

sorting out shims

Paint it black!!


This was interesting, look at the ports on the inlet manifolds, top one is off Scruffbag, bottom one is what was(is) on, been opened out a lot by the looks of it(y)
 
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Oh well, who needs first gear anyway
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Sounds suspiciously like something`s stripped in the `box, got virtually no drive in first gear, just a catastrophic grinding noise. Realistically Grumbleweed`s out of commission now until the weather improves as the box will have to come off again on the drive.
 
firstcar-Y10 said:
Oh well, who needs first gear anyway
frown.gif
Sounds suspiciously like something`s stripped in the `box, got virtually no drive in first gear, just a catastrophic grinding noise. Realistically Grumbleweed`s out of commission now until the weather improves as the box will have to come off again on the drive.
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Which gearbox is Grumbleweed rocking at the minute. The Y10 box or its original.
 
Giacosa said:
Which gearbox is Grumbleweed rocking at the minute. The Y10 box or its original.
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This is the Y10 box, had a good innings anyway. Looks like quarter of a million miles is about the limit then. Still got the other box in the garage which will probably just go back in as is now, no major issues other than the traditional graunchy 3rd and a habit of oozing oil round the bell housing gasket but I can't help feeling I could just be opening a can of worms opening that one up just to renew a gasket which is more of a nuisance than a real problem.
 
Sorned as of midnight
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First time in about 7 years but the gearbox is shot, it's cold, and I'm a wimp and don't fancy tackling it on the drive in January. Plus any Panda time I do get in Roofus is due an MOT at the end of January and I haven't really even looked much since I got him, and he at least needs some welding on the rear arch seams
frown.gif
 
Right. Sun's out, I'm off work, family's on a trip down to London, GW is taxed again, the gearbox gets swapped today!!
Let the side down yesterday already though, after only 3 months off the road he wouldn't start yesterday, discovered the nice new (ish) fuel pump just wasn't pumping any fuel, even after I primed it. Spare one on and a swap of fuel line from pump to carb after the next fuel pump just pumped fuel straight through the walls of the pipe rather than in to the carb and we were in business.
 
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