Mk1 owners Last Call!

The story:
Bought some shockers off eBay - guy had Mk1 engine and box, said if I wanted it I could take it. Thought the box might fit mk2 - some do some don't apparently - so brought it home in towed Panda Ellen 'A' where it has remained since. Now has to go as I'm beginning to work on this Panda.

The Engine:
think it's a 903cc (100GL on block). The guy bought a rolled panda (15k on clock) for the head to replace his on a Y10? He's kept it in his garage - turned it over occasionally and it's been in the Panda since I picked it up in Dec '06 under an old duvet!
It has alternator, carb and distributor (though latter may have come from Y10 - not sure)
Would be worth rigging up on a test bed with a good head - though the (Y10) head with it my be weldable... came with starter but guy said it was no good

It has to go, but I'm reluctant to scrap it as the Mk1 stuff must be getting rare. Has a Mk1 enthusiast got room for it even if only to help a future Mk1 enthusiast?

Don't want anything for it. Could be collected or met half way maybe on one of our weekend's away in motor caravan.
Surely can't let this go for scrap?

got some pics here but can't seem to upload them at present

Hey, yes indeed the mk1 stuff is getting rediculously rare now. I take its not 4x4? I do know someone in nottinghampshire that has 2 mk1's (45's). I will get onto him right away and see if he is interested. Unfortunately I am in the same predicament regarding space and dont even have the room to store the stuff I've got

I will let you know asap!

Cheers,

Si

Si,
yeah we've been down this route before, but if your guy in Notts can take it I'm just up the road on Notts/Derbys border.
I still have the eBayers email somewhere. He may be able to remember if he swapped the carb and distributor or what mileage was on his Y10 at the time.
Got to be worth keeping...
cheers

I'm sure its a different guy this time, lol, I bought a mk1 tailgate and door off him the other day. I couldnt beleive it when I heard he had 2 mk 1's too. Fingers crossed this time though, I hate to see rare parts go to waste.

I just want to check though...does anyone know if there is a difference between the mk1 engine and box and the mk2 903? I'dve thought that theyre the same, in which case perhaps not quite as rare as first thought.

Si

Woah woah... hold on... is there a mk2 903?
Just assuming its a mk1. What's difference?
I could have either... I'll try posting the pics...

Yes, like the panda dance that 'nuovopanda' had was a 903 ohv. It was one of those engines that fiat just introduced again a couple of times after it was replaced by the 999 fire. No idea why, maybe trying to get rid of old 903 stock haha. In which case, maybe its not as rare as first thought. But still, its a huge shame to see it go to waste as dont really see 903 pandas for sale much anymore.

Si

The 903 has been going since the year dot, it certainly wasn't new when it went in to the Panda. One of my first cars was a 1975 127, which had a 903. I think the engine even predates the 127, which came out in 1971 (and won car of the year, IIRC?).

No idea when production finished, but think some of the later Europe-only Pandas (Hobby, Young etc.) had an 899 cc engine which was a sleeved-down version of the 903.

Doubtless there are subtle differences, but they could well have been banging out what is basically the same engine for 30+ years..

Cheers,

Plug

I suppose this was a way of keeping costs down and making them an affordable little car
By 1986 they'd probably sold enough Pandas to merit fitting the new OHC FIRE engine predicting continuing sales.

So I've been looking in my Haynes manual (81 to 91) and on page 50 there is a pic depicting (just) the 100GL cast on the block. So according to the spec on page 24 the 100GL3.000 was fitted to earlier Pandas (up to 1983 it appears). This was superseded by the 146A.000 pre. FIRE engine. The 146 was 903cc as well and the only difference in the spec seems to relate to the size of the oil filter and (see supplement p183) the sump pan sealing strips.
thanks for the input.

tried to make space for it in the garage but failed miserably

Ahh, I think there was a difference between the 903cc and 899cc, the 899cc was put in the ciqucento (or however it's spelt) and I think that was a Fire engine, just like the 769cc Fire in the 750L's

Jon.

No Jon, Plug is correct the 899cc engine is a modified 903.

I stand corrected , thanks for the info

Okay, I've very kindly had a reply from the eBayer where the engine came from.
The unit is from a rolled low mileage panda - all is original but the alternator. The head has a hairline crack (from the Y10) - so if you got a good head.
This has got to be worth saving!

Hi
I am the person in Nottinghamshire who would be very interested in the engine as a spare for my Pandas if you still have it. Please let me know. Only just got back on line after a problem with my internet! Thanks

Still here! and not far away... PM me and we'll sort it!
cheers
mick