I know this is one of the oldest discussions in the history of time, but here goes:

I will be buying a 98 cinq sporting with a ****ed engine next week so am thinking about doing a 1242 conversion along with an induction kit, mckritch chip and custom exhaust inc. 4-2-1 manifold.

But more to the point, i need to know which gearbox is going to give me a decent top end without screaming its tits off, as i do a lot of long journeys up north, and i cant imagine a constant 4500-5000 revs for a few hours is gonna do it many favours. So considering a six speed box, does anyone know if the one off the new panda 100hp will fit and what will the 6th gear ratio be like?

Any suggestions, comments and advice will be much appreciated

6 speed it the same as the 5 speed and 4500 to 5000K rpm in both of them is 90 to 100mph which of course is against the law

Best best is 14" wheels and the gearbag and diff from a Sei Suite

Certainly with the Mk2 Sei the non-Abarth 5th gear is taller than the 6 speeds 6th. It makes about 200rpm difference around the 60mph mark iirc.

I think Alan is referencing the normal Sei box the (Sei Suite) - the final in the sporting and the normal Sei are different, as are most of the intermediate ratios.

The Suite's 5th with its final is way too tall for a standard engine, the suites 4th overall gearing is close to the sporting 5th...

Noel

sei abarth box ? As they are suited to the standard 14" wheels

Ming

StoneNewt will be able to confirm this but I believe the Mk2 Sei Abarth 5th & 6 speed 6th are the same over all ratio.

Sei Abarth is 5 speed box! AFAIK, it's lower overall, so won't be any use for the intended purpose.

Of the 6 speeds, all FIRE boxes will fit (although you may have to fit a lock stop to prevent the wheels rubbing). For relaxed motorway use, look for one off a car with 13" wheels.

GoBe said:

StoneNewt will be able to confirm this but I believe the Mk2 Sei Abarth 5th & 6 speed 6th are the same over all ratio.

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Correct. The Mk2(.5) Punto Sporting & Panda 100hp (+ GP Sporting?) 6 speed gearbox shares the same gearing as the Mk2 Seicento Abarth for top gear and final drive. The Mk2 Seicento Sporting 5th gear is also common to those two 'boxes but runs the same, taller, final drive as the SPI 'centos resulting in 5th gear being a few % higher.

I have a feeling, though it's hard to tell due to differing tyre profiles & limited contact with SPI Sportings, that the Mk1 Seicento & Cinqcento Sporting run the same overall gearbox gearing as the Mk2 Seicento Abarth.

So overall i am best off with a non sporting seicento box when we consider that the engine will hopefully be pushing around 75-80hp, does that sound like the right solution?

Not really. The 1108 non Sporting MPI boxes fit the engine fine. But you'll need new drive shafts, cables and remote box. And they suffer from the dreaded wet inner CV joint issue which has wiped out many a box.

The easiest solution might be 14" wheels and 185/50/14s. Or, like I said, a 6 speed box from a Punto with 13" wheels.

A non-sporting Punto 6 speed a non-starter, the only one I'm aware of has a really low final drive.

If you want low rpm cruising your only option 'box wise is a suit box & that really wants around 100lbft to make real sense. The other option is to find someone who can make a new final drive set to make a standard box taller, if you're doing that grab a 6 speed or an Mk2 Sei' sporting box as their ratios are much better laid out.