So..... I have a 56 plate Doblo 1.4 petrol mpv type car. I was wondering if the Doblo platform is based on another Fiat platform,or is it its 'own model' as it were ??
The reason I ask,is because I have fitted a replacement gearbox from a grande punto 1.4 and this has a slightly higher diff ratio......great on fast roads/motorways,once you've got it wound up.....it'll do 95+ and still going,but it struggles a bit,when pulling away on steep hills (because of the longer gearing. Now, I was wondering if a larger engine from another Fiat model could be fitted ? I was thinking a 1.8 (turbo maybe?) or a 2 ltr.....


Anyone got any suggestions as to the best way to go,please ??
I know that the Creation Camper guy fitted a 2.4 turbo (from a Stilo),but I don't want to go that far (yet...hehe). Speak to me people !!

Jayen4 said:

So..... I have a 56 plate Doblo 1.4 petrol mpv type car. I was wondering if the Doblo platform is based on another Fiat platform,or is it its 'own model' as it were ??
The reason I ask,is because I have fitted a replacement gearbox from a grande punto 1.4 and this has a slightly higher diff ratio......great on fast roads/motorways,once you've got it wound up.....it'll do 95+ and still going,but it struggles a bit,when pulling away on steep hills (because of the longer gearing. Now, I was wondering if a larger engine from another Fiat model could be fitted ? I was thinking a 1.8 (turbo maybe?) or a 2 ltr.....


Anyone got any suggestions as to the best way to go,please ??
I know that the Creation Camper guy fitted a 2.4 turbo (from a Stilo),but I don't want to go that far (yet...hehe). Speak to me people !!

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The "Grande Punto" and the late model (2010 > ? I'm out of touch with Brit number plates and ages) were the same as the Vauxhall Combi, built as a joint effort. It's more "GM" than Fiat.

The 223 and before is Fiat - although you can swap some gearboxes etc because of the engines - seem to remember someone getting a good return out of sticking a Brava box on their 1.9JTD?

Your bottleneck is your engine IMHO - if you want a sleeper, get hold of a 223 1.9JTD and a whole world of Alfa Romeo / Fiat goodies and tweaks are there for the choosing. The 1.9 is way underworked and you'll hit 145 / 150 BHP for peanuts. Over that and the standard clutch will be the limitation, not the engine - it wont necessarily break up, but it will not be able to put the power through without slipping.
Get 140 BHP ish and lose some sprung weight and you'll scare Golf drivers.

Ask me how I know this

Thanks for the info,Sinny......
My car is a 2006 year,so not the latest Fiat/GM shape.
Your point about Alfa (and other Italian makes too) is interesting,as there is a breakers yard not too far from me,who specialises in Italian stuff..... I want to stick with petrol engines as I may want to 'LPG' it later.
The fella at the breakers yard did mention that he had a 1.4 turbo (120 bhp) grande punto,which would be a fairly easy swap..... Looking for something a bit 'more' tho',hence why I said maybe a 1.8/2.0 of some sort..... I shall have to research what was out there,which was produced around the same period. I'm sure there will be something that's not too difficult.

If you really want to fill yur boots and stay petrol, you'd probably be able to shoehorn a 1.75 TBi or a 1.9 or 2.2 JTS engine out of an Alfa into it, as they all went in the same space as a JTD and probably used similar or the same mounting points with adaption.

You'll need new up-rated brakes all round and front springs I would expect, although you could probably fit the front suspension off a 1.9JTD Doblo and cover that.

I suspect you'd be on your own as to actually doing it, and your insurance company would have a fit and tell you to Foxtrot Oscar.

Chopping in your petrol for a JTD would be by far the simplest (and cheapest) route to the sort of performance you want if you can give up you LPG dream...