Thread: The Panda- Pretty Much a Racekar

As many of you know, I purchased the Panda from Dave (Drunkie) in March. I wasn't planning on making a thread, mainly because I don't plan on doing much to the car besides fixing a few things and doing a bit of upgrading on what has already been done. However, quite a few people want me to start a thread, and now I agree, it's a special car that deserves to keep being documented. Needless to say, this car is already incredible, he had a great vision when he put it all together.



Like I said, I don't plan on doing much, as Dave already has done pretty much everything. I am just making it a bit lighter and making it more garage queen, even though it's a driver . Here are the future plans-

•2-piece GT500 rotors to replace the heavy ones that are currently on it.
•Re-vinylwrap roof.
•GXP front seats.
•Tint windshield
•Would love to find an identical set of wheels that weigh less than these do, as they're super heavy.
•TEP built trans, 1" chain, all teh goodies.
•New vent visors, these ones have cracks around the edges and whatnot

Done-

•20% all around tint.
•Repainted lip and spoiler.
•Deck lid without a keyhole and no dents
•Aluminum coolant elbows and new belts 8/1/14
•Morimoto ballasts
•ZZP billet fuel rails, poly square and round dogbone bushings
•Bully-Flo stage ? heads, stock polisher valves, decked
•80lb injectors and a 340lph fuel pump
•Ceramic coated headers
•Mezerie electric water pump
•MLS head gaskets and ARP studs, as well as ARP stainless header studs
•Shaved core support and strut towers
•new core support, frame sectioned to remove all rust
•Shortened coilover struts
•Custom exhaust setup
•Roof rails... done the right way for an 04+
•GXP rear brakes
•Mickey Thompson Streets


4/1/14... It got dropped off from Balkan Express, who was the shipping carrier, Vitalie was great to work with.







ZOMG, it's a white car!










Backing it down, yeah, it scraped a little










Panda, meet Gold Prix.





First drive with it

Awesome man can't wait to see her develop with you as the new owner... 2 piece GT500 rotors have been on my list for 2 years haha I really want to lighten up those rotors as well lol the cheapest i have found are on Ebay and Baer makes them.. they are the Baer Eradispeed rotors

Great to see this car still on the forum, can't wait to see all you do with it

Forever in love with this car

Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk

take all the stickers off of it.

And video it while you do it and send it to dave lol

While you are in the process of painting, have the holes in the front bumper filled. I dislike the white plugs that are there now. I think it will make the front that much cleaner. Congrats on the buy, I'm glad it went to someone who will not destroy it.

Originally Posted by Bio248

take all the stickers off of it.

Originally Posted by Below Average Joe

While you are in the process of painting, have the holes in the front bumper filled. I dislike the white plugs that are there now. I think it will make the front that much cleaner. Congrats on the buy, I'm glad it went to someone who will not destroy it.

Yes, those will be plugged and the "pontiac" letters will also be filled. Thanks!

I wouldn't fill in the Pontiac if it were me. I'd take a pic of the vinyl wrap on the lip and send that to Reflective Concepts and see if they could make some inlays for you for the Pontiac on the front. I know it's small, bit it might look good.

Originally Posted by Below Average Joe

I wouldn't fill in the Pontiac if it were me. I'd take a pic of the vinyl wrap on the lip and send that to Reflective Concepts and see if they could make some inlays for you for the Pontiac on the front. I know it's small, bit it might look good.

front inlays already exist at Reflective.

Great to see it wound up where it's appreciated. Good luck with it and thanks for the thread : )

I know, but I was trying to say a custom designed inlay to match the lip.

How light are the Baer rotors? Can't seem to find the specs. And is it light enough to justify $600??

They are 18 or 20lbs if memory serve me correctly... they are like 25-26 right now

.. that would be like 10 lbs per side of weight dropped .. so yes I think it's worth it.. you will Def feel a difference between a 20lbs rotor and a 25 lb rotor

Yes, I do believe they're a bit less than 20lbs. I found a set that weigh 11.5lbs less than factory, but they are $1300.

waaaa really? damn so only 14lb rotors?? thats sooo worth it then!! that would be a 23lb weight reduction for each corner!! thats huge!! where and what are they? i would like to gander at these

Originally Posted by Alix0r

waaaa really? damn so only 14lb rotors?? thats sooo worth it then!! that would be a 23lb weight reduction for each corner!! thats huge!! where and what are they? i would like to gander at these

Where are you getting 23 lbs of weight reduction per corner?

Originally Posted by 92builtbird

Where are you getting 23 lbs of weight reduction per corner?

I'm assuming he got that due to the fact that it is unsprung weight. It's also rotating weight too though, so I think they will be very noticeable. Goal is to shed 100lbs (50 actual pounds) of unsprung rotating weight between wheels and the rotors.

Originally Posted by 92builtbird

Where are you getting 23 lbs of weight reduction per corner?

1lb regular weight = 2lb unsprung weight. . Approximately..that's how

.. obviously it's not that simple but that is good for what we kinda of want to know in order to drop weight