General New engine for Panda 4x4?

[Rubber Seamonster]

Hello all. I'm completely new to the forum but looking forward to getting stuck in!

I've got a 1987 4x4 Panda which has just decided to let it's head gasket go. As it's in otherwise cracking condition and only only owner prior to me, it's definately worth saving, and anyway i love it to much to scrap/break or let it loose on ebay!

Before i take it to the garage to do the necessary, can anyone recommend a different engine for a bit more 'umph'. I'm wondering if a later Panda Fire engine will fit or is it not worth considering due to the 4x4 malarky underneath or other pitfalls? Apologies if this has been asked many times before but i'm only just finding my way round!

Thanks gang, Rich

 

[bandido41]

I think someone has put in a punto 60s motor into one of these, cant remember if it was the 4*4 or not it was a white one on here.

 

[Nuova500]

welcome to the forum. you need panda sports help here, hes the resident big engine man
Im sure he will advise when he sees this.

 

[Rubber Seamonster]

thanks for the quick replies, i'll hold off taking it to the garage! cheers, Rich

 

[Chas Uno]

The 1242 Punto 60 engine will swap in with a spacer for the exhaust manifold. You can also use the original Panda carburettor and inlet manifold though ideally it could do with re-jetting.

One of the other Panda owners did a Punto 60 conversion last year. Xsisley was the member though I haven't seen him post recently?

Panda Sport (Damon) is the one to speak to if you want to go 16v, VTec or Alfa V6 However, I wouldn't go too powerful on a 4x4 as the drivetrain isn't designed to cope with large amounts of power. The Punto 60 engine would be fine and would also give you a nice extra bit of torque

 

[panda-sport]

Another option is to use the 1108 cc version as fitted to the Punto 55 and cinq/sei's. Again you can reuse the Panda carb and inlet manifold and you don't need the exhaust spacer. You will need, however, to fit an electric fuel pump as the 1108 and 1242 are not fitted with a mechanical pump. As Chas (1986Uno45S) states the carb may need re-jeting/setting up. If you want to retain the panda carb make sure you get a SPI engine (single point injection) as the Panda manifold will not bolt on to the MPI (multi point injection) units.

If your prepared to convert to fuel injection then the options open up but there is a bit of extra work for a carb fed Panda.

 

[panda4x4sisley]

Xsisley simply swapped the bottom end. he used same head and carb. it worked fine and gave lots more power and even more torque.
only changes are, as uno said45 said, exhaust spacer and use the punto 60 starter cos panda will no longer fit. dont use engines after 1997 (i 'think'), i just almost did it witha 2003 one untill i realised its too different.
if you do its yourself, it would take you a few days if its your first attempt. its not tought. main difficulty is getting engine in and out.
use torque wrench to fit new headgasket.
urm...x sisyey might pop in to say things i've missed.

 

[panda4x4sisley]

oh, if your near cornwall way, i have a punto starter and exhaust spacer you can have...

also, if its just a headgasket, its an easy job with torque wrench, will take an hour or so.

 

[Rubber Seamonster]

superb! appreciate all the cracking suggestions.

i really like the idea of a Punto 55 or 60 engine and keeping the carb set up for simplicity. I'll get trawling the local scrappys for the right one.

I'm way up in the Lake District near Windermere and each winter the little 4x4 comes into it's own. A couple of years ago we actually had some serious snow and the little thing just kept going despite me deliberately trying to get stuck. It was lovely trundeling past 50 grand X5s & Range Rovers that were stuck on their rubbish super low profile tyres. hehehehehe. I've even got a cracking picture out of my back window of the snow plough following me (though he didn't look too impressed!)

Thanks again all (and any help on getting a little picture of my panda under my name would be great - i've download a photo into signature & somewhere else but it's not appeared), Rich

 

[zulu705]

Use Edit Avatar and choose custom Avatar and hopefully a pic should appear.

 

[maddogmorg]

on the subject, would a tipo 1.4 be an easy enough conversion for a 4x4? has it been done at all? just interested for future reference

 

[Chas Uno]

on the subject, would a tipo 1.4 be an easy enough conversion for a 4x4? has it been done at all? just interested for future reference

Do you mean a Tipo 1.4 engine into a Panda 4x4, or convert a Tipo to 4x4?

Converting a Tipo 1.4 to 4x4 = forget it! Not worth it at all.

If you mean fit a Tipo 1.4 engine into a Panda 4x4, then forget that too! The 1.4 Tipo engine is a totally different design to the FIRE and the ohv engines fitted to UK Pandas. You'd be looking at making custom mountings, adapting bellhouses, custom exhausts, additional wiring etc. not to mention the fact that the 1.4 ohc engine is quite a bit heavier than the FIREs so would mess up the handling.

Really not worth it when the 1242 FIRE is widely available and in a few years the 1.4 FIRE will also be easy to find second hand.

Sorry this is no help!