Technical Panda 30 engine, possible alternative?

[gordinir8]

Looks like 126 engines are hard and expensive to find so i am starting to thinking about alternatives. How easy or hard is to put a panda 30 engine which i think comes only in 650cc or there are even bigger versions?. I have seen that this engine has a different cooling fan and turns ccw instead of cw direction like the 500.
1. Is it possible to put the original 500 cooling fan housings direct to the block?
2. How can i make it somehow turn cw?

Thomas

 

[Luxe]

Hmm good question. I know most people just used the Panda head.

 

[gordinir8]

Check this out:
Panda ''30'' stands for 30hp!! That means that fiat 500 stands for 500? HP
Cool modification don't you think?

 

[fiat500]

Thomas...I was just about to link to that. It does sound great.
It might be easier for you to find one as they didn't come to the UK.
Once you had the correct starter motor and changed the camshaft, I can't think of any other big changes to make it turn the other way, but it is an unusual thing to do so I'm not sure.
It will have electronic ignition fired from a pulley sensor, so that should work both ways but might need adjusting.
I like it!

 

[gordinir8]

I wonder Peter if you can reverse the the diff crown wheel and keep the engine turn as is. It looks in this video but i can't tell for sure that engine runs CCW so maybe he has convert the gearbox.
I know that installing both ways the crown wheel is possible in other cars.
At list it can be done ''by mistake"... in Renault 8

 

[fiat500]

I wonder if you can reverse the the diff crown wheel and keep the engine turn as is.

I doubt it, because the interior of the gearbox is shaped to take the crownwheel. We need a web-page for someone who has done it....in English or Greek.

 

[gordinir8]

Ok then it is not possible, i went to a shop yesterday that he is restoring 500's and he told me that he has just finished such a motor and reverse it so it can fit to a 500. I will ask him about it.
Problem is that there are no panda 30 motors or even cars on sale right now here in Greece or at list i need to look for them. If prices are dead like 100-150 euros it worth otherwise ill stick to an 126. Still looking for one.
Still it is very interesting to know how you can do that mod.

 

[Toshi 975]

Moving the crownwheel is a non starter unless you can make your own gearbox case and bell housing. Whilst it is fun to consider possibilities for engines I am not in favour of crazy engine swoops when you can do so much with the two cylinder air cooled engine depending upon your engineering capabilities or the size of your wallet. Why would you want to try and fit a Panda 30 engine which may well be impossible without a stunning amount of work when you can just fit the cylinder head and carb to get the 30hp from a 650 126 engine then have the option of further mods to get way more hp. That engine in the video looks to have a standard 500 or 126 head fitted and maybe the car has 1 forward gear & 4 reverse

 

[gordinir8]

Well i am not talking about massive modifications here, just buy an engine overhaul it and drop it in. If you start changing and combining things then you need a big wallet and besides i don't want to have a heavy modified 500.
A 126 will do the job, i am just curious about other possible options and the panda mod looks like a reasonable swap although not very popular.
Ofcourse i like to have the original 500 engine look with fan housings etc