Odin
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,406
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Since the van had been slowly destroying my bank balance through it's 13mpg, I had decided I needed something a little more economical for my commute. I say new, but this has been in the family for about nine years and sitting on my drive for about five, whilst I've got on with other things. The Golf and Datsun have gone now though, so I have some room for another retro daily.   Aside from a bit of 'worm on the bottom of the drivers door, the body is doing very well for 18 year old Italian-tin. The funky interior is looking a bit faded but it's quite tidy. 50k on the clock and it's only really been used around town. The motor is the old-skool 900cc jobby, which is quite nippy but it's no supercar obviously. Nice gruff soundtrack though, and it loves to be revved (which is just as well). ;D First time MOT after a couple of jobs, but still a couple of bits and bobs to do. Those with a keen eye will have noticed the Mk1 headlight stuck on for the test, which needs changing to the correct one eventually. It doesn't like starting, which is probably a duff battery from being laid up for so long. Also the radiator fan only works when it feels like it, despite a new switch and the motor, earths, fuse, etc all being ok. Any ideas chaps? Plans aren't extensive for this, since it's just a budget runabout. It'll be getting some rims to replace the stock skinny ones (although it does handle quite well on them) and maybe a slight drop.  |
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Last Edit: Aug 1, 2007 21:29:23 GMT by Odin
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don't drop it! get it jacked up like a little mini panda 4x4  add spray on mud for uber-chic-ghetto-ironic coolness |
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maybe an undercover police style street sleeper ? I honestly don't know what that means but its in my head now |
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Last Edit: Mar 2, 2007 19:04:39 GMT by fastdub
 SPLIT RIMS ARE FOR WINNERS |
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Mike
East Midlands
Posts: 3,387
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Paint it khaki and get some "Park Ranger" stickers on the doors, a gun rack, roof mounted spot lights, and banded steels.
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Odin
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,406
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LOLz at some of your ideaz! It's not getting jacked up though, cos then it would be some sort of 'soft roader' version of the 4x4 variant. No new paint either, because you can see how minty-fresh it looks in the photo. It would be a shame to cover that up with some ropey roller job. Maybe if it wasn't so good I'd nato it. Question for any Panda gurus about: are 1000 springs the same as 900 ones? I don't know whether they altered the suspension at all to cope with all that extra power. ;D |
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I'll ask v8devon....he's done a couple of Pandas in the past (including one with a 1272cc Punto Sporting lump in it that went like schnizzle off a shovel).
That's a tidy car :-)
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hmm, right then, new backbox, some nice little 7x13 compomotives, and a 'v6 turbo innit' badge on the back |
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Neil
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,485
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Panda's will 'ave their day fo sho...
Rid it of the mk1 eye, drop the T1TS off it = w.1.N ;D
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Been thinking about the potential of these recently. Even did the research on panda forums. Sound choice!
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bobz
Part of things
Posts: 343
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The Panda FIRE (999) and the old 903 both have 45bhp. The fire is much smoother, and a li'll more eco'. We had an Uno 45 (903) and found that a chrome pancake air filter off an Beatle (bugpac style) fits straight on in place of the big nasty plastic thing that Fiat put on them.... and it was only about 5 quid from GSF. Sounds much better, and looks the dog's Nice car BTW ;D |
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Last Edit: Mar 4, 2007 0:22:01 GMT by bobz
Don't plan anything, it'll start raining!
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Odin
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,406
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I have rims! Update in the week when I get time and weather for a trial fitment. I'll ask v8devon....he's done a couple of Pandas in the past (including one with a 1272cc Punto Sporting lump in it that went like schnizzle off a shovel). Any luck yet Brian? I'm interested. |
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Any luck yet Brian? I'm interested. I'll have a chat to him tomorrow night m8. ;D |
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Odin
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,406
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So I had the chance to bolt up the wheels I've got today. A quick rundown of things before I show you the pics: Good:The offset maths I did for the back is bang on. I love steelies generally. Even with shoddy balloon tyres on there seems to be little scrubbage. Being Fiat OEM wheels, they bolt straight up. The width is just right.  Less Good:When I initially stood back to have a look, I did think 'good lord, I've made some sort of Italian supermini donk'. Luckily, I have some tyres lined up that are the same outside diameter as the originals. The balloon tyres are causing all sorts of annoyances and need binning IMMEDIATELY. Because of the increase in ride height (tyres again) the front is running some sketchy positive camber. I suspect (hope) this will be fine with the new tyres and some settle. The offset on the front isn't so good. There's some slight sticking-out, but this looks worse because of the positive camber. With that out of the way, onto the pics!  Bit of an overview. The wheels need a refurb, and I am probs going to satin black them. They are a bit too 'in yer face' for me at the moment.  You can see how perfect the rear is, but also the positive camber and slight protusion (is that a word?) of the rims on the front. Finally, any thoughts on silver vs satin black? Or words of doom regarding the positive camber?  Sorry for all this over some rims, but usually my retros stay stock...this is my first proper bash at modifying one. ;D |
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i would imagine that you'l get away with having that much wheel hangin out at the front doesnt seem excessive to me, obviously the pos camber needs addressing. don't know how the camber can be altered on pandas
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Fuzzy
Part of things
Powered by bees.
Posts: 553
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Those wheels are huge! Look good though. Have you joined FiatForum.com yet? The Panda section on there is fantastic.
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Mike
East Midlands
Posts: 3,387
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They look great! Getting the camber correct looks like it could sort out the front. What are the wheels off originally? What tyre size is on them? Oh, and i'd avoid painting them black, you'll lose some of the detail on the wheel and that what makes them ace.
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Odin
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,406
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They look great! Getting the camber correct looks like it could sort out the front. What are the wheels off originally? What tyre size is on them? Oh, and i'd avoid painting them black, you'll lose some of the detail on the wheel and that what makes them ace. They're Barchetta steelies, which probably aren't up for grabs that often. The dimensions of them are great tho, I reckon. The tyres they came with are 195/55, which is colossal compared to the 185/45 I'm probably going with. Either that or 165/50 for a little stretch (but more £££). I don't want to do a refurb in bright silver ideally, because in my mind the rims are almost too big in diameter for the car. I'd rather they were more subtle. Maybe graphite grey? |
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berendd
Europe
why do I need 3 keys for one car?
Posts: 1,449
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are they 15 inch diameter??
try 175/55, rear tyres off a smart fortwo... pretty cheap to get..
they look pretty cewl!
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protRusion is a word donkpanda ftw, i love it. keep the wheels as they are i reckon |
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Liking the look of it, i agree with you though, would look better with smaller tires.
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add spray on mud for uber-chic-ghetto-ironic coolness
Less Good:
