Kallista Project, MOT'd and Handed Over

[Uncle Jimmy]

You wanna put a Rover V8 in that m8.

[tommotech]

You wanna put a Rover V8 in that m8.

This particular car is the earliest 1.6 production car, according to Panther Car Club records, an '87 1.6 project is on the cards that will have a 2.9 V6 Cologne transplant though.

[tommotech]

After an FTP this morning I found time to have a look at the CVH engine from the Kallista. A decent washer at work made a good job of getting things clean. Have some engine photos;

 

 

 

 

 

Residual oil had a carbon / burnt whiff about it, evidence of carbon deposits around the engine and bores polished due to carbon build up on the piston crowns. Usual CVH issues where owners neglected service intervals and often used incorrect oils.

 

There is bore wear present, meaning a rebore is necesssry. The additional capacity will come in useful for the tuning aspirations.

 

Need to find time next week to get the cylinder head assessed.

[Guest Hooli]

If you're dropping a 2.9 in then you need to do what some bloke did in Fast Ford years ago - Cosworth 2.9 V6 & a little blower on the side. I think it went in a pop or mk1 Granada.

[xtriple]

I like these but didn't they all have two tone paint jobs?

[tommotech]

I like these but didn't they all have two tone paint jobs?

Many did but not all.

[xtriple]

Many did but not all.

 

I stand (lay down actually) corrected. Bollox, they look better two tone! In fact, everything looks better two tone, maybe. Panther (what was the name of the bloke - Bob Jankel?) seemed to turn out some very interesting cars with minimal funding, the Kallista just one of them. Which one seemed to use a lot of bits from the Firenza?

[tommotech]

The next project has two tone paint job, gold over green. Not the best combination in my view.

 

The Lima used a Chevette floor pan and Firenza bits.

[xtriple]

The next project has two tone paint job, gold over green. Not the best combination in my view.

 

The Lima used a Chevette floor pan and Firenza bits.

 

Thank you.

[tommotech]

Fetched the car back from having a tailored hood fitted, ooh suits you sir!

Looks a nice job.

 

[Sudsprint]

Love the "PANTHER" stamped into the vinyl of the door cards

[tommotech]

Got a bit of a shock today, CVH pistons for the hemi head engine are made of unobtainium! No one has oversized pistons in stock and Mahle as well as Federal Mogul no longer manufacture them. There are some non descript ones on eBay but I'm not sure I'd trust them.

 

The option is to fit lean burn pistons and procure a corresponding head with kidney shaped chambers. Therefore I decided to measure the bores properly with an internal micrometer. The worst wear step measured at 80.13mm and quickly recovered to 80.02mm for a bore size of 80mm. There was no ovality and the gap of an inserted scraper ring was perfectly acceptable. Other wear steps measured at 80.08mm.

 

The bores cleaned up well with dressing stones (glaze buster) so new Goetze bevelled rings will be fitted to the standard pistons. Not all is lost, head and camshaft to sort next, engine wise.

 

In other news the steering column is out to have EPAS motor inserted.

 

[Guest Hooli]

Another engine option is a RWD Zetec as got popular in Escorts for a while. They look pretty much like a DBA once you hang webbers off them & sound good too.

[Insideimsmiling]

Love the look of these and it really suits all black, gives it a classier look I think. Jankel's work was very much overlooked in many ways and Panther were successful at a time when few other smaller British outfits were able to produce such diverse and interesting machines. I read somewhere that he was planning to revive the marque following its demise in Korean ownership but died before the planned new Panther got off the ground. It mentioned in one of the classic car mags recently that his son is hoping to get the prototype up and running in the future, so the last ever Panther may well still get on the road as a one off.

I never expected to see this marque gracing the pages of AS though,what a bargain, but it looks like quite a major project. It's up there alongside an AC 3000me as one of my dream garage drives.

[tommotech]

Another engine option is a RWD Zetec as got popular in Escorts for a while. They look pretty much like a DBA once you hang webbers off them & sound good too.

Zetec would be a great option and something I would consider, particularly a 2.0 engine. However the provenance of this car kind of dictated the visual and mechanical direction of the project.

 

On the plus side a 2.9 V6 has been sourced from a banger outfit (bought by them and not used in anger) for the other Kallista awaiting salvation.

[garethj]

Zetec would be a great option and something I would consider, particularly a 2.0 engine. However the provenance of this car kind of dictated the visual and mechanical direction of the project.

 

I understand what you mean, but I wouldn't see a problem in putting another engine in as a temporary fix while you hunt down some other pistons.  That would still let you enjoy the car for a bit.

 

Now you've mentioned the doors are modified MG Midget it jumps out at me, before I'd never noticed!  Cracking project though, please keep posting.

[tommotech]

On to the brakes and braided hoses fitted all round. Used the PTFE braided hose and union ends from Car Builder Solutions, what a fantastic place that is!

[tommotech]

Had a good day on project Panther today, fuel tank is in and a few fiddly bits of trim sorted.

 

Should have the modified steering column early next week and brake servo back from being refurbed.

Cylinder block is now painted blue and the gearbox is wearing a nice new coat of black satin.

 

No exciting pictures unfortunately, should have some to show progress next week though.

[tommotech]

Spent some time on the Weber carb this afternoon. It has been patiently sitting on the bench at home, having been cleaned and the barrels polished. A new rebuild kit and it's now ready to fit.

Found some cruddy fuel remains in behind the diaphragms.

 

Seems strange that there are people around now that don't have a clue how to strip and set these up.

[tommotech]

It's not just Red Bull that gives you wings, the rear ones are now fitted!

 

Attendance at the Restoration Show is looking more likely.

 

[Guest Hooli]

32/34 Weber? I seem to recall the XR3 had 38/32 with square chokes

[tommotech]

32/34 Weber? I seem to recall the XR3 had 38/32 with square chokes

I seem to remember the 38/32 being on Pinto's, but I could be wrong. Scimitar SS1, XR2 and XR3 CVH engine I had to deal with were this carb. The 38/32 could have been fitted as an upgrade though.

[Guest Hooli]

My memory might well be wrong, but I know I got a square choked webber off a XR3 to fit to an Onion 1.6, along with the 1.6i exhaust and manifold it made it go like a 1.6i.

[tommotech]

My memory might well be wrong, but I know I got a square choked webber off a XR3 to fit to an Onion 1.6, along with the 1.6i exhaust and manifold it made it go like a 1.6i.

I shall be fitting an XR3i exhaust manifold, I understand it is one of the best CVH mods and cheaper than a four branch. I'm looking at ceramic heat insulation coating too.

[Guest Hooli]

Yeah the 1.6i manifold looks like a four branch, the carbed motor got a flat square thing obviously designed to choke it so the injections were quicker.

[Guest Hooli]

From memory the injection manifold is longer, so you'll have to sort the exhaust to fit. But I doubt that'll be an issue with what your already doing.

[tommotech]

Electrical work undertaken and front bumper fitted and modified to take over-riders from a Maxi. Looks better than the bulky old plastic items akin to ugly US 70s crash regs work around.

 

 

Gaskets, bearings and rings procured, engine rebuild next.

[tommotech]

Cylinder head work today, porting and polishing. New parts arrived so rebuild commences.

 

 

[tommotech]

Rear end coming together nicely, really need to make time to build the engine now.

 

[320touring]

Looks spiffing:)