1971 Met Panda "Rosie" - Now with MOT and TAX :)

[pskipper]

Well we've finally got round to starting to restore Rosie. Full strip down and return to Metropolitan Police colours with the original engine, HS4 carb, mini airbox, 5 speed box and front disc brakes. Neither of us have done this much work on a car before so it's slightly daunting but at least it's not as bad as polo2k's (although there's 20 quid riding on who finishes first )

Anyway, some pictures.....

Rosie up on ramps with a little help from our neighbour


Lynda has been having too much fun poking holes with a screwdriver , a previous owner had too much fun covering them with fibreglass


More holes


Holes and fibreglass


Rotting inside the sill, but not bad as the paintwork suggests it's the original 1971 sill.


We found an original quality control sticker

That's all for now but we'll update as things go on....

Philip and Lynda

[Fingolfin]

Looks a treat. You have our solidarity during the chipping away of fiberglass! Honestly, what's wrong with people? The car's solid steel. Keep it that way. Fiberglass may be good (to some people -- not me) for outer wings, but it's not for structure.

At least you've got seatbelts, though! I'll be following your resto with interest.

[patricklambert]

seems to be a thing with the police ones! my panda cars covered in fibreglass good luck with it looks more solid than mine!

[polo2k]

could it be police fibreglass?

[patricklambert]

Weight saving

[pskipper]

So we've finally removed all the wings, petrol tank and lots and lots of 'structural' fibreglass
Inner wings
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Looked a solid suspension hanger, but no, it was full of fibreglass
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Inner wings on the other side were also fibreglass
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As was a good chunk of the side of the car [frame][/frame]

Being married to a conservator means you find out the history of the car by removing paint with a tiny scalpel. Layers go BMW red, grey primer, bermuda blue (police masking the white doors when they sold her), police white (1971-1972/3), bermuda blue (factory spray job), red lead primer, bare metal.
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The holes polo2k put in her with one finger following her MOT failure which made us wonder whether now was restoration time.
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More holes, polo2k having knocked off some poorly welded patches I'd done (don't trust rental places when they tell you the generator is powerful enough for welding!)[frame][/frame]

That's not all the holes, we've got a list of around 21 panels we think we'll need plus a new rear wing and that's just to get body work solid. Still it will be a good learning experience?

[pskipper]

Wow, that last one was my 500th post!

[polo2k]

Congratulations!
daunting isnt it.

Ill have to stick my hear round the door some time

[pskipper]

Welder arrived today, just need to buy panels now

[pskipper]

A month later and we've got going again...
[frame][/frame]Turns out the end of the sill was rotten too
[frame][/frame]But gave me a chance to try my hand at fabricating a repair panel for the first time.

[frame][/frame]We have a solid rear drivers side floor again
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And shortly afterwards a solid B pillar and outer sill. The home made panel was a satisfyingly good fit

Unfortunately I also found some more structural filler, but only a small area and I should be able to repair it properly

[pskipper]

I've removed the Mildly Modded bit from the title as we've decided to do the modifications to the traveller when we do it. Our plan is to have make a veg oil diesel minor

[pskipper]

Okay, managed to get quite a bit done this weekend, inner sill is on, old rotten boxing plate extension panel removed and a new one fitted, front half of the inner wing in place and front flange panel in place (ran out of gas so they are tacked in with gasless wire, I'll put in proper seams when I get a new gas cylinder. Still need to grind down the welds but happy with it so far
[frame]New boxing plate extension[/frame]
[frame]Repaired inner wing and flange[/frame]
[frame]Solid inner sills [/frame]

[pskipper]

Rear OS quarter (other than boot floor which I'm leaving until both inner wings are metal again) is solid metal again Just got to grind down all the welds

[mogbob]

Keep going !! It's great when you tip over the balance point between existing rusty metal to new sound metal..it feels like you are winning the war.
You will have the satisfaction of " knowing " it's been done properly.

Well done.

Bob

[polo2k]

your well overdue an update, i heard grinding the other day

[pskipper]

Okay, here is the demanded update

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Drivers side looking much more solid, still a lot of grinding down of welds to do but now we have ear defenders this can go ahead without listening to high pitched buzzing all night

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Replaced the bottom of the A-pillar, just need to put the repair for the hinge pillar on and close it all off! Lynda did her first welding on Rosie by seam welding in my spot welds.

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Final update picture, a replacement drivers side floor pan, previous pictures showing tools resting on the old one may have suggested all was well with this but it had become so thin over the years that moving the drivers seat flexed the floor in a quite scary fashion. Now it's solid.

Also need to put a small repair to the box section and then that's the main body half done

[pskipper]

Busy couple of days, took Friday off to make a long weekend and got to work on Rosie, Dad in Law turns up tonight so I'll be being sociable tomorrow and Monday!

Yesterday I discovered that the insert that holds the door bolts in place was beyond repair so had to order a new one.
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Door bolt insert arrived next day from ESM so I was able to finish off putting the a-pillar back together

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Repair section for the box section made and welded in.

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The new inner wing panel hides a lot of work rebuilding the sills and inner arch, all done properly rebuilding the panels rather than just patching.

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Last but not least the other side of the passenger side a-pillar complete with repair section.

All that's left now is a small repair to the inner sill just behind the crossmember, replacing the rear passengers side inner wing and flanges, replacing the boot floor with something with less holes in and repairing the bottom of the boot surround! Writing it down makes it sound like an awful lot but I'm 3/4 of the way around the car now!

[ptitterington]

Looks like you are doing a really good job there. Keep up the good work

[polo2k]

looks like im at risk of being out £20!

[ptitterington]

I must say, I quite enjoy welding when the steel is a bit thicker. Made a new door for a mate for his horsebox and added a bit to an existing door. Plus added something, ...can you see what it is yet as Rolph would have said....

Sorry im just a pervy builder (as my wife keeps reminding me)