General Engine... change?

[edmundhill685]

I do love the look of the panda, and in black its my ideal panda.
However even with a 1-litre engine I find it a bit slow.

As Jeremy Clarkson once said about a Panda that he later sawed in half... "the interesting thing about this car, is it doesn't have an engine. Instead it has a field mouse called Gerald who spins in a wheel. If he runs fast enough he can propel the car to 60 in 23 seconds...."

I was interested to see in another thread, talk about engine changes. I've done engine changes in rusty old 2cv's before, and would be interested in how I could go about upgrading the 999cc SPI FIRE engine.
How easy is it to transfer the engine from the 1.1 automatic? Or are there other fiats with compatible slightly larger engines?

My current engine starts juddering suddenly at 90mph, or when being revved hard, what could this be? My old Panda used to be able to cruise right up to 100mph happily.

 

[bandido41]

i think one or 2 people have done a 1242 conversion in the panda that should be quite suitable for you (they usually get the motors from puntos)

 

[panda-sport]

Hmm, how fast do you want to go.

The easiest upgrade for your Panda is to fit the 55bhp 1108 SPI engine form the Panda Selectra, Punto 55 or spi Cinq/Sei sportings. You would just need to change the engine, all your current manifolds, wireing etc can be used. The Pandas ecu should also cope.

The next step up is the 60bhp 1242 8v spi engine from the Punto 60. It needs a 10mm spacer in the exhaust manifold and I would use a matching Punto ecu.

Then there is the 75 1242 8v mpi engine from the Punto 75. This will require the Punto inlet manifold, ecu, wiring and fuel pump.

Then there are the 16v's in 1241 80/85bhp and 1368 95/100bhp options.
Here's my guide to my car swop most of which will also be relevent for the 75 swop:
https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-classic/119200-how-fit-16v-fire-engine-panda.html

There are also other options, for example you an reuse your ecu in all cases with a relevent re-map. Any questions just ask

 

[edmundhill685]

Hmm, how fast do you want to go.

Well, to be honest, not much more, i dont want to hurt the fuel consumption to much, or up my insurance premium alot either, so probably the first option of the 1.1 would be fine. This i imagine is the simplest option to.
I would get hold of an engine at a scrapheap, but is there any info on the net on how to do this swap?

 

[panda-sport]

I would get hold of an engine at a scrapheap, but is there any info on the net on how to do this swap?

Not realy as this option is just the same as replacing the current engine. Get on to ebay and get a Haynes or Porter manuel. Follow the instructions for removing and refiting the engine but just swop in your 1.1 block. While the engine is out its also best to fit a new clutch and cambelt.

 

[panda4x4sisley]

i think we need a sticky with links to all the engine swaps done, and all details...

 

[edmundhill685]

i think we need a sticky with links to all the engine swaps done, and all details...

good plan