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Sept 6, 2020 21:03:54 GMT
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After scheming and researching this for a while I've viewed a few Paos and bought one.
A week prior before that I took delivery of a K10 Micra on 26k miles(!) with the MA12S (1.3) engine and 5-speed manual box.
These two things are related.
The Micra is weirdly perfect inside but leaks rain into the centre console tray and fills the parcel shelf with great efficiency. The exhaust also sounds like it's going to fall off. Somehow it has 12 months MOT on it but I wouldn't bet on it passing the next with any ease.
For the Pao - I went for the cheapest one I viewed and haggled a bit too. The catch(es) here was that it was really quite dirty, featured a carpet stained by anti-freeze from the heater matrix going (previous owner thankfully fixed this), it has some rear arch rust from not being cleaned up there, a shrinking sunroof canvas that lets water in a certain angles, a pretty high milage 1l engine that had nearly no oil in, a 3-speed auto gearbox that judders at low speed, no MOT, slightly under-sized tyres, what I think are illegally small number-plates, crashy springs & dampers, and a rip or two in the headlining.
However, the seller was perfectly honest in stating that it is "solid", and these are all perfectly, if not enjoyably, solvable problems. I also get the make the car mine as I go through fixing it all. My engine swap and skills are not as ambituous or great as others, but I think this is going to be fun.
Some pictures... duh.
A minty Micra arrives.
Now there's a Pao
Cleaning...
Rented a RugDoctor and did the seats...
Morris feeling left out and some Archaeology
Removing pieces and repainting
Glue and clothes peg madness to get the lip of the parcel shelf covering to stay down and stop peeling.
The grille and both bumpers are also now off for paint if the whether holds.
Next jobs:
- Paint said grille and bumpers.
- Replace all the springs and dampers. - LED lights everywhere because I'm weirdly obsessive about them. - Un-seize rear brakes. - Replace sunroof canvas. - Replace all the seals where I can get off-the-shelf shapes that match.
- Engine & trans swap. - MOT. - Go faster bits.
For the engine swap I'll be chickening out and getting some great local guys to do it for me, I have problems I can't be arsed with solving in doing the swap - the best way to remove the engine seems to be to just drop the whole subframe out the bottom, and I don't have a lift. Plus I barely have any metric tools!
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I love these cars - this one looks easy to sort out (bar the engine swap - far beyond me!). Looks like it cleaned up very well indeed, well done, that's my area of expertise and can transform a filthy car given a weekend and (way too much moneys worth I do get told off) lots of detailing gear!
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The Millenium Volcon"Get yourself a Volvo if that's what you really want, you might be dead next year. In the meantime, you could be going sideways in a gigantic land barge."
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Any plans for the wheels? Personally I reckon an inch or two banding on all four, paint original colour with some nice tyres on and maybe some chrome hub caps would look amazing!
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The Millenium Volcon"Get yourself a Volvo if that's what you really want, you might be dead next year. In the meantime, you could be going sideways in a gigantic land barge."
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Only problem is the wheels are alloy, made to look like old steels!
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Sept 11, 2020 16:03:53 GMT
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Interior is pretty much cleaned up and done now. Moving over all the mehanicals and exterior bits... bumpers and grille out to repaint. Spent £70 on high quality LED bulbs, plus four springs and four shocks... feeling poor.
Can't source the spring seat rubbers/buffers anywhere - would cut up rubber sheet do?
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Last Edit: Sept 11, 2020 16:05:54 GMT by halkyon
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Sept 11, 2020 16:37:23 GMT
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I like these because they're so unusual and slightly odd. Add to that a mix of well-looked after Micra 1.3 + 5-speed and you're looking at a usable and excellent piece of kit. A set of wheels will look fab. If they're affordable, what about some BBS-style cross-hatches?
bookmarked!!
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Sept 11, 2020 18:23:58 GMT
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A set of wheels will look fab. If they're affordable, what about some BBS-style cross-hatches? bookmarked!! Very open to suggestions for wheels. The standard 12" gives me a whole two tyre options with the original ratio, some 155/80 Falkens or Nankang. I'm not the sort to go for less comfy squishy sidewall either as the roads aren't getting any better. I've been looking at some 13" Minilites that come in white but not entirely convinced. 13" or 14" steels look like a decent and cheap option if I can be arsed to repaint them. |
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Sept 12, 2020 6:42:46 GMT
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Only problem is the wheels are alloy, made to look like old steels! Wow. I too thought they were steels and pictured them being widened (banded) Cool cars these. I love that retro dash. |
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Sept 12, 2020 11:04:31 GMT
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Only problem is the wheels are alloy, made to look like old steels! Wow. I too thought they were steels and pictured them being widened (banded) Cool cars these. I love that retro dash. That is really interesting. I do love a Pao. Forgiven. |
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Sept 12, 2020 19:43:41 GMT
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Spent a while looking for coil spring rubber/buffers last night and nothing. Anyone know of a car with similarly tiny (100mm diameter) springs that I could use instead?
Also today while I don't have a couple hundred quid spare for a professional paint job or care quite that much, I did have good weather and some paint from Halfrauds.
Bonus - the marketing images for this car were incredible.  |
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Sept 12, 2020 20:34:25 GMT
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Love that image.
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lightyearman
Part of things
GYJDM - Grimsby based Japanese car club - Find us on Facebook
Posts: 639
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Sept 15, 2020 20:50:39 GMT
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I'm always amazed at just how old these things are - to my eye they are a much more modern take on Retroism (y'know?)
I've got this bookmarked to remind me I want one
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'89 Honda CRX siR Glassroof Flint black fully restored track beasty
'90 Nissan S13 Pignose - pass the mig wire
'86 Mini - matt orange, 13" Wellers, Project 2018
'97 LDV Convoy home built camper/tramper van
'04 Saab 9-5 Aero HOT. Anyone want it?
'91 Honda VFR400 NC30 17,000 km from new
'87 Honda XR80 4 stroke baby crosser
'03 Mini Cooper S - honestly, they are fun...
'15 VW T5.1 LWB daily brick
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Oct 10, 2020 17:39:39 GMT
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Engine swap complete. Fog light hooked up, new tyres on, flew through MOT.
My goodness this thing is fun around town, 69 lb-ft is more than enough for 720kg plus my skinny self on 155 tyres.
Just some mad squeaking at the back end to sort, probably trim or the new rear spring rubbers. Will post photos if the weather ever improves!
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Last Edit: Oct 10, 2020 17:42:28 GMT by halkyon
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Oct 13, 2020 13:25:45 GMT
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My Pao has a squeak.
An untracable incessant squeak.
Silent when rocking/bouncing/shaking the car when it's parked up. Never stops squeaking over the smallest of bumps when moving. Sounds like it's in the cabin, but I've checked/removed/greased/oiled everything inside.
Could a squeaky bush 'throw it's voice' and sound like it's something inside at the back?
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Oct 13, 2020 17:56:56 GMT
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I've not been on here for quite some time but Rian's aka Grizz's builds have tempted me back One of my favourite cars, I've had two in the past. I've got a set of wheels & tyres I bought for my second Pao but I never actually fitted them ( long story ) as soon as I figure out how to post pics I'll post some up, please bear with me  pic of wheel fitted to a Pao, not mine but the guy I got them off   |
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Oct 13, 2020 18:01:48 GMT
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My old cars this is the one I should have kept and one of the first in the country  this is the last one  I always wanted an excuse to do a "woodie" look, sadly it did not turn out quite as good as I wanted maybe the next one will |
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Oct 14, 2020 18:21:26 GMT
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Very nice. I like the look of the first one - the sunroof seems to be more hassle than it's worth. I think I've decided on wheels...  |
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What a cool car! Heard of them, but never actually knew what they looked like. Similar style of design to the Figaro inside. That interior looks very 60s-retro.
Good luck with the project - something very different and special.
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Love for old BMWs, Mercedes, Jaguars and Swedish Slabs!
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Oct 29, 2020 17:32:10 GMT
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Decided the car was riding too high on stock Micra/Figaro springs so have dropped it 40mm using a set by Cobra. They're the same length but thinner and look to have a more progressive spring rate. Much better all round I think.
Again it's raining and dark all the time now so I don't have pics yet!
The car is in daily service and I find myself thinking about a better breathing intake and exhaust manifold, but can't TIG weld and people seem to want north of a grand for each manifold. Frustrating. Apparently a Weber 34 ICH is a straight swap on the existing intake with an adaptor plate, but would probably still be out-performed by a rebuilt Hitachi. Ideally I'd put something I find more interesting on it like twin SUs, but that would need a full custom manifold, which again people want over a grand for.
I don't suppose anyone knows anyone who would do manifolds for a little less?
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Last Edit: Oct 29, 2020 17:39:03 GMT by halkyon
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Oct 29, 2020 20:13:47 GMT
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Love these quirky little cars. Have only ever seen one in the flesh though. Love what you are doing and look forward to seeing how it looks after the fettling. Apologies that I can't help with your manifold query other than to say 'yes' to twin SUs 👍 Bookmarked 😎
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