Panther Lima Restomod

[mezy]

New member to this forum, I thought it would be interesting to share my project with like minded people.

My particular Lima was a nine previous owner box of nuts and bolts i bought off Ebay, some might say a bit of a basket case.
only 600 of the series ones were built, I have no idea how many are still turning there wheels, this one sertainly wasn't.
I will post the pictures as it was when i bought it, Her indoors thought i had finally lost the plot,
The guy i bought it from told me it was complete when he bought it the previous year and ran, it had been stood for ten years in a garage.
the first picture is how it was when he first got it, the rest are of how far he got in twelve months, He also admited he was no welder and was in way over his head.

You will notice there is an Essex 3.0 ltr V6 engine which someone had shoehorned under the bonnet at some point. long gone was the 2.3 vauxhall slant engine that panther fitted.

 

[mezy]

After i got the THING home, i decided to cut out what he had done and start over.
One good tap with a lump hammer and the floor he had tried to weld in fell out just leaving the piece of striaght box section where the chassis rail was meant to be.
That was the first job, "bulding a new chassis rail to support the floor, and re build the front chassis leg which nature had mostly reclaimed.
followed by a new floor, this all had to be hand made as no panel work is available at ant price.

 

[JPSmit]

wow, and I thought my Vauxhall was a big project - looks like you have your work cut out for you.

Also, FWIW here is a video about posting pics in larger format. https://www.britishcarforum.com/community/threads/posting-pictures-on-bcf.87521/

 

[mezy]

Thanks JP that should make the pictures better.

 

[mezy]

It wasnt long before i realised the essex V6 was totaly Not the right engine for this car, it was too big too heavy and the gearbox was only a four speed with too big a bell housing,
That engine was sold and i bought a complete MX5 1.8 vvt minus the interior.
The transmision tunnel i had already removed due to the fact it had the origina vauxhall hole for the gearstic, Panther had plated over this and made there own, which again was plated over and another hole made fort he ford gearbox,

The pedal box was toast, was not worth the time to rebuild and modify for a hydraulic clutch, so out came the firewall, I had decided to cut and shut the one out of the mazda so i could use the mazda pedal boxes, servo and master cylinders.

As can be seen the original firewall was two parts with the pedal box on the rear most section, this allowed me to move the new firewall back 4 inches, giving me more room under the bonnet.

I cut out the centre horseshoe part of the mazda subframe and welded it between the front chassis rails, this has the engine mounts on for the engine. THis will stiffen the front end up graetly, and with the engine mounted 4 inches further back behind the front wheels should distribute the weight better.

Engine and box first trial fit, C of G should be a lot better than the orginal.

Dropped the body back on so i can work out where all the clever stuff goes and to make sure of bonnet clearence.

Mazda firewall cut, shut, and altered to fit, even the holes for the heater pipe have been move, pedals are all over the place, dont know why mazda made the clutch pedal that much higher than the brake pedal.

 

[JPSmit]

looks awesome! keep them coming - and, while I am responding to your comments in the Sprodget section RE: Restomods, the MX5 (Miata engine) is a perfect example. My Viva parts car came from a guy with a gorgeous Lotus 7 knockoff in his garage. His plan was to use the Viva slant 4 because of its resemblance to the 907 Lotus slant 4. I could never figure out the logic - the slant 4 is heavy, not especially powerful while an MX5 engine or a Toyota engine is faster, lighter more reliable and so much easier to modify/support. I believe there are times to keep it authentic but you are right - keep it on the road and make it fun!

 

[mezy]

Thanks for the comments JP, The chances of finding a good slant 4 are very remote, did find one but wanted 700 quid for it and it needed a rebuild,
At 400 quid for a complete mx5 it was a no brainer, and with 140 bhp as opposed to 104 and so much lighter it should pick its feet up

 

[JPSmit]

Thanks for the comments JP, The chances of finding a good slant 4 are very remote, did find one but wanted 700 quid for it and it needed a rebuild,
At 400 quid for a complete mx5 it was a no brainer, and with 140 bhp as opposed to 104 and so much lighter it should pick its feet up

exactly to my point - watching with interest

 

[mezy]

there was so much fubar on this car so i am fitting as much mx5 as i can,

showinfg the gearstick which was too far forward, almost under the dash,

so i made a pair of these, this one for the gearbox and another with the wide bit at the front.

this moved the gearstick back a good six inches, now the hand fall off the steering wheel straigh onto the stick.

then it was a case of cuttinfg and shutting the mazda tunnel to fit.

Now the handbrake can go where its supposed to be, not on the floor where Panther put it.

Mazda heater box and blower motor going in.

Mazda steering column and switches mounted, (the originals were toast wrong ones had been fitted anywayincluding ignition switch with imobilizer, mazda wiring loom going in too, including the alarm system but minus airbag and ABS and a bunch of other wiring thats not needed.

then all the bits and bobs in the engine bay, fuel pipes, relays, air box, washer bottle, clutch and brake master cylinder, just enough room for the rad up front, but no room for the battery, so thaats going in the boot same as the MX5, i have all the wiring for it.
,

 

[waltesefalcon]

I am enjoying your build. I've thought for some time of transplanting a 1.8 Miata running gear into an old Spitfire.

 

[mezy]

If you do Walt measure your gear shift placement, if its too far forward the 5 speed can be extended backwards like i have done, there is nothing on google for doing this.
If the stick is too far back for the spitfire then a 6 speed is a must have as these can be moved forward. thers a midget conversion on google shows how this is done.
There is a company here in the uk that stuffs them into MGB's using a heritage shell. stupid money to buy,

 

[waltesefalcon]

If you do Walt measure your gear shift placement, if its too far forward the 5 speed can be extended backwards like i have done, there is nothing on google for doing this.
If the stick is too far back for the spitfire then a 6 speed is a must have as these can be moved forward. thers a midget conversion on google shows how this is done.
There is a company here in the uk that stuffs them into MGB's using a heritage shell. stupid money to buy,

Thanks for the advice. For the time being is just an idea that lives in my head. I have three projects in various states of completeness that I need to finish before tackling a new one.

 

[mezy]

Tore it all down to the chassis now.
Everything gone to the shed for the winter.
Finished all the wedding topside.
For the moment now she is on her side waiting for the final welding underneath, but another project has reared its head that I have to get done before the end of January.

 

[JPSmit]

keep us posted

 

[mezy]

keep us posted

Will do JP. I'm hoping to get the welding all done and a coat of paint before winter proper.

 

[mezy]

Welding finished before winter didn't happen, no surprises there, but the weather is starting to warm up here in the UK so i have had a few good days on it, weather permitting. Seat belt mounts fitted so they will now work properly, boot floor altered to take the new fuel tank i made, clips for the fuel line and battery welded to the chassis rail fuel line from mazda fitted real nice with a bit of tweeking,
So now it is time for the big clean up before i get some paint on it,

Pictures to follow

 

[mezy]

clean up all done. Underside has been painted in black hamerite the seam sealed followed by two coates of underbody shutz.

 

[waltesefalcon]

It's looking good.

You know that's upside down, right?

 

[mezy]

It's looking good.

You know that's upside down, right?

Thanks for the heads up Walt. I will rectify that tomorrow

 

[mezy]

So yesterday was productive. Got it turned over and painted. Cleaned up the firewall. Just need to seam seal and spray the firewall.