Build
Diary
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Wiring problems solved at last! I managed to acquire a working wiring loom which I stripped from a scrap Panda 4x4 myself to ensure I got what I wanted. I removed all the old front wiring loom and installed the new one. There are still some niggling problems like the interior light not working, the handbrake light not working, and the 4x4 selector light only working intermittently but they are minor problems. Everything else works as it should so it was a major step forward to completion. While I was working on the wiring I also made a couple of extension harnesses from the front loom to the back one as it was a tight run from the front of the cab to the back and I wanted a tidier installation. I had all the bits I needed from the other useless looms so at least they did have some small use. |
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| Once I'd installed the new loom I carried on with the interior. Having made and installed all the side and rear panels the last time, I removed them all and carpeted the floor. Once this was done I re-installed all the panels and bolted the seats in. The interior looks almost complete now. All that's needed is to made some panels for the underside of the dashboard to hide all the wiring and fixings. | ||
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| I then decided to fit the prop shaft. This was a really simple job, just requiring the Rat to be lifted at the back to allow me to work under it. This was achieved by hitching the engine hoist hanging in the garage to the rear bull bar and lifting to the required height. The Rat is now a proper 4x4 again! | ||
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Once
all the work was done I had to take it outside for a couple of gratuitous
photos as it was a lovely sunny day. Looking good, although I'm
now a bit concerned about how low it seems to be sitting at the
front. I'm sure it shouldn't be that low.
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| It hasn't all been good though. Prior to this trip to work on the car I learned that my mother had decided to move to a smaller house in the local village so I'd need to find a new home for the Rat. To this end I acquired a trailer to transport it back to Wales with me. I found one on eBay which was unfinished and a bit tatty, made an offer for it which was accepted, and brought it with me, intending to make it suitable for the Rat. It was a shortened caravan chassis that was going to be used for a Mini so therefore had good suspension and brakes and was also quite light as it was of mainly aluminium construction. The previous owner had already adapted the chassis to carry a car by making two ladder frames and fixing them to the chassis outriggers at the correct width apart. It was just the right size for the Rat. All I needed to do was make two ramps to load it, attach wheel arches, attach a trailer board with lights and fit a winch. I got most of it done this trip except for the ramps. Fortunately the house move was delayed until May, possibly June so I had a chance for a return trip to finish the trailer and do a bit more work on the Rat before taking it back to Wales. | ||
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| Finally, before garaging the Rat once again, I fitted the doors and took some photos. This is pretty much how it will look finished. To finish the exterior all that's needed is to fit the windscreen and paint the doors. | ||
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