Panda Matt
Part of things
Datsun Owners Club Wannabe
Posts: 734
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Having been on R-R for a while, I thought it was probably about time to get my car up on R-R R-R... I bought my car on 21st August 2002. I was moving to the Isle of Wight to live with my girlfriend who had a job here, and had decided to keep it. I needed something running, and big enough to move house in (my brother had inherited my last Panda, and the bug was in pieces). I was really after an air-cooled van, but fancied a squareback type-3, but ended up with this instead, as it was the best I could afford at the time. Went to essex, stayed in Romford with a couple of friends. I hate that Lahndan, but had arranged to see a few cars in one go to minimise the disruption. Bought this one as the best of the bunch. Named 'Gina' by the previous owners. Went to B&Q to stock up on electrical tape and striped it in the carpark before driving ~240 miles home to Bolton:  Car ran like a dream other than a scary petrol leak on to the exhaust which I noticed back in Romford... Drove it round like this for a while, then had some fuel system gremlins. Sorted them, then failed the MOT. Nearly bodged it for just another year but bit the bullet and decided to get it sorted properly: Was much worse on the passenger side for some reason:      etc... Decided to get it sorted by a local firm specialising in "classic german car restoration". IVS. They had helped out with some of the fuelling problems, seemed friendly and efficient and had been recommended by a VW and Porsche owning loose aquaintance. Car went in March 2004... |
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Last Edit: Aug 26, 2007 16:20:16 GMT by Panda Matt
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Panda Matt
Part of things
Datsun Owners Club Wannabe
Posts: 734
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...I had said I was in no desperate rush (as I was struggling to afford it!). Took out a loan to pay the 70% deposit required, and work commenced at a gradual pace. I stripped the car there in a couple of weekends, and then the work started proper: Chassis:  Body:    In the process, extra problems = extra money had been found, which I paid out for... Got a set of replacement doors and fibreglass wings:  (Late Nov 2004) Shell painted Jan 05:  |
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lovely build
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 once again rocking with 1117cc and 4 gears! |
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Panda Matt
Part of things
Datsun Owners Club Wannabe
Posts: 734
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2005 passed slowly, and then, around August time, I was told all was well and that the car was ready. Oh, and that more stuff had had to be done to get it through the MOT(!?!??!), and I owed another hefty wodge of cash. This is where the good people of R-R helped out and suggested things which helped bring the bill down. Trading Standards told me off the record that I was not the only person that had an issue with this particular company. <edit> Found the old thread </edit> As I was saying, picked it up, went off to work, got about 10 miles and then a lot of smoke from the engine. I was not a happy bunny. I think in retrospect that it was an excess of oil in the engine spat out over the exhaust. The brakes were very dodgy (were fine back in 2004!) and I had a flat tyre... After much to-ing, froing and other problems (paint finish, missing parts, etc etc...) I actually got my car back in June 2006.   It's not perfect, needs an interior, needs the leaks stopping, needs lowering! and a few bits and pieces, but I've had a lot of fun driving it now I've got over the feeling of being ripped off. Since those photos: New tyres (from the very helpful and well priced blackcircles) on wheels I got for much cheapness by accident from a friendly guy in Stockport. New discs, pads, front calipers - intended for CaRS, but master cylinder went - replaced that. (Thanks to T3D for helpful advice and quick response, shame about City Link. Then handbrake cable went before MOT, so did that, bought drums and shoes just in case - didnt need them! Sorted out the heaters, got some halogen bulbs, a few bits of tidying around and about, now looks a little something like this:    |
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Last Edit: Jan 14, 2007 21:57:38 GMT by Panda Matt
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Panda Matt
Part of things
Datsun Owners Club Wannabe
Posts: 734
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Future plans (need to put this on to help kick myself into doing them): - Rear seatbelts - friends get worried at the lack of safety features and would be happier to go in the car more frequently with them
- Gentle (1 spline) lowering to the front - can't whack it too hard with the stick due to road conditions
- Find a garage/workshop to use to get out of the weather. May have something for next year, but it's at least 6 months away at present...
- New window seals all round, combined with some polycarb windows
- Look into polyurethane bushes, and sort out some new shocks.
- Collect all the little bits and pieces that have been lost - seals, knobs, etc etc... and get them stick on!
- Oil temp/
oil pressure gauges. Rev counter would be nice
- Quickshift kit - original gear lever, but the clever little metal bit that reduces the throw (as discussed in the main forum the other day).
[/s] 20/01/07 [/li][li]chrome/polish wheel nuts. May need the wheels to be slightly darker grey for the full effect... [/li][li] Strip and clean down floor in preperation of... 08/04/07 [/li][li]Fit carpet (bought already - from Spirit of the 50's (website seems to be down at the moment)). Get seats recovered - maybe new seats? Get vinyl for sides [/li][li]Get manifold made to fit supertrapp muffler and fit! [/li][/ul] Fingers crossed for the R-R show next year (yeah right...) Matt |
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Woah, that looks a billion times more serious than i ever imagined! Did a carbon fibre replica cross ya mind?  Great work - inpressive devotion matt. I'm gonna read it all properly tomorrow... |
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 it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts  |
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mrj
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,662
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very nice... and it seemed a had way to go... i think the same way will be for me; as the shell from mine is in similar conditon, and i also have fibre glass wings to go on the car... funny, my girlfriend voted for orange, and i was toying about the idea, of blacking out all the chrome... as fot the colour, we are still unsure, but i am far away from painting the shell at the moment... but nice to see all these TLs coming out |
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- 1971 VW 1600 TL Fastback
- 1978 Passat GLS Variant
- 1980 Audi 100 5E
- 1981 VW aircooled panel van (sold)
- 1983 VW Jetta Mk.I
- 1984 VW Polo Coupé
- 1984 VW Passat hatchback
- 1987 VW Passat Variant
- 1987 VW Passat hatchback
- 1988 VW T25
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Now read. Bloody hell, not lacking effort on your part, you have done well to keep going, The Fasty will start paying you back at some point I expect/hope. Looks great and fun, and you know it razzing round the IoW. |
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it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts |
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You're right, it's not mine  Looking good! Glad to see it out on the road, remember some of the problems you had with the garage. I'm a bit divided.... i was surprised to see '90s style' lighting changes and smoothing going off, but then i thought hey - how often do you see that these days? Looking pretty fresh and more importantly, sounds like you're pretty chuffed with it Let me know how the carpet pans out... was looking at the Sot50's brochure at some show or another but couldn't built up the guts to yog that much cash on something that might not fit. Also think it worthwhile getting my door seals sorted first  |
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Never trust a man
Who names himself Trevor.
Or one day you might find
He's not a real drug dealer.
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Panda Matt
Part of things
Datsun Owners Club Wannabe
Posts: 734
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Woah, that looks a billion times more serious than I ever imagined! Did a carbon fibre replica cross ya mind? Great work - inpressive devotion matt. I'm gonna read it all properly tomorrow... Funnily enough, yes. Plan for next year includes collecting bits of scrap from work to build moulds and re-make engine cover, decklid, wings, bumpers, bonnet.... (in order of difficulty)... and only maybe. I'd really consider some of our glass over the carbon though - there's no real need for the extra strength IMHO. very nice... and it seemed a had way to go... I think the same way will be for me; as the shell from mine is in similar conditon, and I also have fibre glass wings to go on the car... funny, my girlfriend voted for orange, and I was toying about the idea, of blacking out all the chrome... as fot the colour, we are still unsure, but I am far away from painting the shell at the moment... but nice to see all these TLs coming out It stayed orange as that was the original colour - it would have been wrong to do it any other colour. It's unashamedly a 70's car, and unashamedly a 70's colour! As for the black chrome - there is a specific reason for this. Lets just say 'Jeans' and leave it at that Looking good! Glad to see it out on the road, remember some of the problems you had with the garage. I'm a bit divided.... I was surprised to see '90s style' lighting changes and smoothing going off, but then I thought hey - how often do you see that these days? Looking pretty fresh and more importantly, sounds like you're pretty chuffed with it The smoothing: The 'concept' (oh dear!) was to do something that to a civilian looked factory. I wanted to keep the scuttle vents, but they got filled in anyway  The rear window vents I was less bothered about, and at least it should stop the rust... As for the rear view, I'm still not 100% sold on it. I was never a big fan of the numberplate light/duck tail, but it does look a bit like it's trying too hard now... I really like the front indicators (80's polo/golf/any other VW you'd care to name) and think they work really well. The main drive behind doing the work was that if I didn't save it, no-one else would - it's an undersireable 70's version. Rare, but just not being saved. Somewhat Ironic now that we have 3 competing for space on the RRRR section It's funny - there are a lot of negatives still associated with the car (due to garage experience), but it is getting better with time and distance |
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Bioshock
Posted a lot
It aint hip to be square.
Posts: 1,861
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Bloody gorgeous! Well done on keeping the faith with it |
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Almera GTI = ugly bird who turns out to be great in the sack = Win
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Well done on sticking with it mate. When I saw the blacked out chrome the first thing that came to mind was also 'JEANS'...good stuff;)
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You've been telling me you were a genius since you were seventeen ... in all the time I've known you I still don't know what you mean !
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Dec 16, 2006 14:43:33 GMT
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Nice one Matt ;D didn't realise she had so much rot  Looking cool nor tho lovwely job |
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Panda Matt
Part of things
Datsun Owners Club Wannabe
Posts: 734
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Dec 17, 2006 10:31:53 GMT
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Nice one Matt ;D didn't realise she had so much rot Looking cool nor tho lovwely job Spider, thanks for posting I thought you might be interested in the progress so far <edit> - for the benefit of everyone else, spider is the very nice gentleman who sold me the car. Spider, make sure you take a look round the site as well! Funnily enough, the rust didn't get noticed at the first MoT I had - I think it wsa rusting inside out, but it definitely got spotted for the 2nd one. I could have bodged it up for another year, but bit the bullet and got it stripped back, which just found more and more problems.... Just spent a small fortune on some rear seatbelts (from GSF and gauges (from Big Boys Toys) can't wait to get them fitted. After christmas, it's time to give T3D another call and stock up on more bits. <edit #2> Thanks muchly samyboy, grizz, reanimation, dazmax, gotwood for all the nice replies! |
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Last Edit: Dec 17, 2006 10:36:07 GMT by Panda Matt
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Panda Matt
Part of things
Datsun Owners Club Wannabe
Posts: 734
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Jan 22, 2007 19:45:11 GMT
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Quick update: Got bored of waiting for BBT, so bought some Audi VDO gauges off ebay, sorted out a temporary bracket solution this weekend:  -almost as many wires as there are in the car. Some judicious snipping and connectorising means that the lights and voltmeter now work - tried getting a photo, but you can't see them without the flash, and can't see the lights with the flash:  As I said - temporary bracketry - I think I need a centre console... ...and the lights are red, in contrast to the light bluey-green of the main dials - another thing to sort out... Also found that the numpties (of the now apparently shut-down IVS) appear to have welded a flat panel where the rear seatbelt mountings should be, so those are on hold for the moment... Next on the list is a service and fitting the senders so the temp and pressure gauges can read something... Oh! nearly forgot - also fitted a short shift kit thingy. Really rather simple, but an extra pair of hands is recommended for re-fitment as it's a pain to keep everything in the right position. Gears work nicely though now - pleasant slick changes and feels much more secure. Recommended! |
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Last Edit: Jan 23, 2007 18:07:53 GMT by Panda Matt
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Jan 22, 2007 22:05:36 GMT
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Nice one Matty, anyone still beavering this time o year away deserves a chufty badge IMO (i'm trying), great action. Can you carefully drill through the sheet metal to get to the mount thingy (after estimating its whereabouts)? |
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it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts |
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Panda Matt
Part of things
Datsun Owners Club Wannabe
Posts: 734
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Nice one Matty, anyone still beavering this time o year away deserves a chufty badge IMO (i'm trying), great action. Can you carefully drill through the sheet metal to get to the mount thingy (after estimating its whereabouts)? I'm fairly sure the mounts have been cut out completely - i don't think there's anything underneath to use... Serviced the car at the weekend, fitted the oil temp and pressure senders and wired it in. Pressure gauge is working fine, but the temp gauge isn't. I'm using a sump based sender and I'm worried there isnt enough clearance between the top of the sender and the oil filter. Of course, it could be the gauge thats knackered... On the polycarb windows front, might have found a local marine place to do them - just need to know how much it's going to cost me... |
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does the mk1 golf steering wheel go straight on ?
i've got one lying about that used to live on my polo
but i've got a '89 model now with the fat splined column.
changing steering wheels is a long way down the road
for mine cos i'm just collecting parts ATM but it'll stop me
flogging it if i know i have a car it'll fit.
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Panda Matt
Part of things
Datsun Owners Club Wannabe
Posts: 734
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Feb 20, 2007 20:34:28 GMT
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does the mk1 golf steering wheel go straight on ? i've got one lying about that used to live on my polo but i've got a '89 model now with the fat splined column. changing steering wheels is a long way down the road for mine cos i'm just collecting parts ATM but it'll stop me flogging it if I know I have a car it'll fit. I don't think it's a direct fit - I got mine from a guy on VZi (Big Al maybe?) who had it fitted to his. It's an odd combo of wheel and boss, and needs sorting out at some point really. I'll get a better photo next time I have my camera to show you how it looks... |
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Great work - inpressive devotion matt. I'm gonna read it all properly tomorrow... 
The rear window vents I was less bothered about, and at least it should stop the rust...
