General Fiat panda 2WD customise

[Rolandako]

I have a 2004 2WD panda. Use it on dirt roads and would like to customise by increasing ground clearance and putting bash plates. Is raising clearance possible ? Anyone know how ?

Thanks so much

 

[koalar]

You could just buy the front struts and springs second hand from a 4x4 and see if it's enough, 4x4 rear damper would be nice slightly stiffer to match the springs

Another 20mm via spaces are possible under the rear springs

Another 20mm via front spacers are possible but you will also need an adapter to extend the strud thread, you will need a spring compressor to fit them

You may have to extend the drop links 20 mm to stop them rubbing an the drive shaft, but I think you should be able to get away without

Malatesta kobra 185/75/14 or similar will give you another 10 mm approximately, fit on Punto/500 steel rims, they will require bumpers to be cut and 20 mm hub spacers possibly a bit of arch cutting, Speedo will be out, here in the UK you will need to keep the wheels inside the body to be road legal, after market arches,

The oversized tyre will make steep hill a problem due to the gearing, especially with the 1.2

You also need to sort out the exhaust, this is usually the lowest point

You are pretty much on you own, wanting to lift a 2WD, much of the development you will have to figure out you self

 

[Rolandako]

You could just buy the front struts and springs second hand from a 4x4 and see if it's enough, 4x4 rear damper would be nice slightly stiffer to match the springs

Another 20mm via spaces are possible under the rear springs

Another 20mm via front spacers are possible but you will also need an adapter to extend the strud thread, you will need a spring compressor to fit them

You may have to extend the drop links 20 mm to stop them rubbing an the drive shaft, but I think you should be able to get away without

Malatesta kobra 185/75/14 or similar will give you another 10 mm approximately, fit on Punto/500 steel rims, they will require bumpers to be cut and 20 mm hub spacers possibly a bit of arch cutting, Speedo will be out, here in the UK you will need to keep the wheels inside the body to be road legal, after market arches,

The oversized tyre will make steep hill a problem due to the gearing, especially with the 1.2

You also need to sort out the exhaust, this is usually the lowest point

You are pretty much on you own, wanting to lift a 2WD, much of the development you will have to figure out you self

You could just buy the front struts and springs second hand from a 4x4 and see if it's enough, 4x4 rear damper would be nice slightly stiffer to match the springs

Another 20mm via spaces are possible under the rear springs

Another 20mm via front spacers are possible but you will also need an adapter to extend the strud thread, you will need a spring compressor to fit them

You may have to extend the drop links 20 mm to stop them rubbing an the drive shaft, but I think you should be able to get away without

Malatesta kobra 185/75/14 or similar will give you another 10 mm approximately, fit on Punto/500 steel rims, they will require bumpers to be cut and 20 mm hub spacers possibly a bit of arch cutting, Speedo will be out, here in the UK you will need to keep the wheels inside the body to be road legal, after market arches,

The oversized tyre will make steep hill a problem due to the gearing, especially with the 1.2

You also need to sort out the exhaust, this is usually the lowest point

You are pretty much on you own, wanting to lift a 2WD, much of the development you will have to figure out you self

Thanks so much. Not easy I see .

 

[koalar]

Thanks so much. Not easy I see .

Secondhand 4x4 struts and rear springs are bolt on

Not sure how much extra it gives you, I can probably work it out, somewhere on here I written the ride height for all models


I can tell you now the biggest problem off roading in the 1.2 is when the front wheel both drop into a hole you will hit the bottom of the catalytic converter, I turn the U clamp the other way round, give an extra CM or so

 

[porta]

I have a 2004 2WD panda. Use it on dirt roads and would like to customise by increasing ground clearance and putting bash plates. Is raising clearance possible ? Anyone know how ?

Thanks so much

There are kits available to ‘pack out’ your struts with. Freely available in the EU, they are essentially spacers, with longer bolts, that fit between the strut and mounting.
As @koalar says, you can also fit the 4x4 strut bits front and rear. Be careful you don’t go too far as your driveshafts will pop out!

 

[Rolandako]

Secondhand 4x4 struts and rear springs are bolt on

Not sure how much extra it gives you, I can probably work it out, somewhere on here I written the ride height for all models


I can tell you now the biggest problem off roading in the 1.2 is when the front wheel both drop into a hole you will hit the bottom of the catalytic converter, I turn the U clamp the other way round, give an extra CM or so

Sounds good ! What should I tell the mechanic to do ? What to buy ? That would be amazing if you could help…also I am replacing numbers …can we use the 4x4 bumpers ? Any other tips for making it a little more rugged looking also welcome

Thank you so much !!!

Best from Athens

 

[Rolandako]

Sounds good ! What should I tell the mechanic to do ? What to buy ? That would be amazing if you could help…also I am replacing numbers …can we use the 4x4 bumpers ? Any other tips for making it a little more rugged looking also welcome

Thank you so much !!!

Best from Athens

Can I put wider wheels ?

 

[porta]

Suspension lift kit / body lift kit for Fiat Panda - SPACCER

www.spaccer.com

As for wheels, you can put wider wheels on but beware to get the right offset (stamped on wheels), you may also have to be prepared to cut the bumpers and do some hammer work to the wheel arches.
You can retrofit the 4x4 bumpers, be aware that the front cross ones require much more work and require the lights and trims to be purchased (not cheap and certainly not common)
Rather than fitting 4x4 bumpers, you could modify the existing ones by, for instance, cutting the lower lip off and attaching an aluminium plate and, perhaps some slots with grillwork?!?

 

[Rolandako]

Suspension lift kit / body lift kit for Fiat Panda - SPACCER

www.spaccer.com

As for wheels, you can put wider wheels on but beware to get the right offset (stamped on wheels), you may also have to be prepared to cut the bumpers and do some hammer work to the wheel arches.
You can retrofit the 4x4 bumpers, be aware that the front cross ones require much more work and require the lights and trims to be purchased (not cheap and certainly not common)
Rather than fitting 4x4 bumpers, you could modify the existing ones by, for instance, cutting the lower lip off and attaching an aluminium plate and, perhaps some slots with grillwork?!?

Nice idea !! Thanks so much

 

[koalar]

No idea if the mounting points are the same

Heres the ride heights for the rear


Rear springs being stiffer should raise the height a far bit though

Probably worth it for off road, the 0.8mm extra thickness in the coils will not compress so easily going over rough surfaces

 

[koalar]

4x4 suspension plus 20 mm need the drop links extending

4x4 suspension plus 30 mm has other clearance issues, but I can't remember what