ohtagerbilhero said:

I know it's unorthodox for me to be posting here from a country that doesn't even have the 500 yet, but I've got an inquiry in anticipation of its release in America:

Do the 500's 1.2 and 1.4 Petrol engines use the same transmission?

I've got this silly idea that I could take the Panda 4x4 transmission, shaft, diffs and axles and stick them on a new 500 Abarth next year, but since the Panda 4x4 is only available with the 1.2L petrol and 1.3L diesel, I don't know what it'd take to mate that transmission to the 1.4L Abarth engine.

Feel free to flame me for my ridiculous ambition, but if some helpful advice manages to slip through the cracks, I'd be forever grateful.

(Also, since I can't find any pictures of the 500's underside, do you happen to know if the 500 retains the driveshaft tunnel from the Panda? Most auto manufacturers would just route the exhaust through that tunnel, so I just assumed the space would be there upon re-routing the exhaust.)

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ohtagerbilhero said:

I know it's unorthodox for me to be posting here from a country that doesn't even have the 500 yet, but I've got an inquiry in anticipation of its release in America:

Do the 500's 1.2 and 1.4 Petrol engines use the same transmission?

I've got this silly idea that I could take the Panda 4x4 transmission, shaft, diffs and axles and stick them on a new 500 Abarth next year, but since the Panda 4x4 is only available with the 1.2L petrol and 1.3L diesel, I don't know what it'd take to mate that transmission to the 1.4L Abarth engine.

Feel free to flame me for my ridiculous ambition, but if some helpful advice manages to slip through the cracks, I'd be forever grateful.

(Also, since I can't find any pictures of the 500's underside, do you happen to know if the 500 retains the driveshaft tunnel from the Panda? Most auto manufacturers would just route the exhaust through that tunnel, so I just assumed the space would be there upon re-routing the exhaust.)

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RobW said:

4x4 transmission won't take Abarth torque...

why do you think a 4wd Abarth will be better?

please stop wasting your thoughts on such insanity!

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ohtagerbilhero said:

Thanks for the clarification... shame about the weak transmission.

I was actually planning to disable the front diff and go FR. A 2100 lb, 200hp FR hatchback is my definition of sexy, and the 500 is beautiful... can't blame me for wanting to drift one, can you? besides...ALL my thoughts are a little insane in some way.

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ohtagerbilhero said:

Thanks for the clarification... shame about the weak transmission.

I was actually planning to disable the front diff and go FR. A 2100 lb, 200hp FR hatchback is my definition of sexy, and the 500 is beautiful... can't blame me for wanting to drift one, can you? besides...ALL my thoughts are a little insane in some way.

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306maxi said:

Make the car RWD and all bets are off

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Venters said:

Yeah you should try it on Forza 3 with the "asr" off. Decent level of tune and it's quite skittish.

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ohtagerbilhero said:

Yeah... I like 4wd, but lightweight FFs are fun as hell on gravel and dirt...the front wheels can pull the car through excessive amounts of slip angle, and it feels like driving in a video game. I'm still excited about slapping a turbo kit on the 500 Abarth and tossing it around like an idiot.

on paper, the stats of an FR 500 Abarth are close to my old turbo corolla, and almost identical to a turbo miata, so I couldn't resist digging for info... and if it was more straightforward, I'd probably have begged Fiat for a freebie to campaign in Formula D...

what you mentioned about the chassis being designed for FF is interesting... I know Forza isn't the most accurate tuning simulation, but I converted a 4wd Mitsubishi Eclipse to FR in Forza 3 and was really confused by how horribly it handled while drifting.

I'd been considering building this Fast and Furious replica Eclipse, converting it to FR, and competing in drift competitions just to freak people out. (Also, the owner of the red FD from the movie has been drifting as long as I have, and I bet I could convince him to run tandem with me) I'd just hate to spend 6000$ on a car that handles like crap when tossed sideways.

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