hi there,

i am a newbie on here and i need you help with my Vtec (d16z6) engined fiat panda.

i have been using Retro rides to document my progress and now only have a few jobs left until MOT time but i am stuck and need you panda experts to help!

Link to my Build thread On RR:
http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/156585/vtec-panda-unfinished-project-on

She is now driving but needs exhaust to be fabricated which should be fine but i really need rear suspension help!

i have heard of motorbike suspension being used and bining the spring and damper but it would help me no end to see some pictures/ have some info of how it was done...

alternatively i will buy lowering springs and may have to chop them a bit to get to my goal height (if anyone has some springs to donate or i could buy that would be great).

look forward to your input!

Chris

Not changed any of my suspension myself so I'm not the best to ask, but I have looked into lowering springs - you can get H&R, Spax or Pi lowering springs (from most expensive to cheapest). H&R and Spax are 40mm lower and Pi is 30mm lower, but if you're going to cut them anyway, suppose that doesn't matter too much - just be careful with them and make sure the absorbers can take it!

I'm sure some others who have tried the above can give some more input... good luck with the project!

Hi Chris,

Alternatively ( cheaper than choping Spax pair) you can use Cityrover rear coils.



Rod diameter is slighty beefier ( 0.5mm iirc) but the biggest advantage is that them coils are dual rate, so by having play with the grinder on either side you should be able to achive desired height and stifenes.
Rear shocks from 4x4 mk2 are much shorter.
From the top: 4x4, 2wd.

There was a guy on here a while back who made a REALLY low Panda, I just can't remember his name or anything else that would allow me to dig out the posts!

northernchap said:

There was a guy on here a while back who made a REALLY low Panda, I just can't remember his name or anything else that would allow me to dig out the posts!

Click to expand...

Oh! I might know the guy you're on about. Is it Chris, the guy with the Colour edition who lowered his? Attached a picture of it...


If it is (and even if it's not), here's a link, flick through the pages and you'll see him talking about the suspension somewhere https://www.fiatforum.com/members-motors/345096-chriss-1994-panda-colour-resto-mod-9.html

My mistake, it was my brain lying to me again - the thread was on Retro Rides:

http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/95618?page=4

However, looks like Japanda already knows about that one!

Thank you for all your input Guys.

the plan for her is to get it to next years retro rides hill climb so having an adjustable setup would be best!

for short term if it looks too costly the shorter dampers and city rover springs may be the best option... anyway keep the suggestions coming please very helpful so far!

Big Thanks to Kolza i have found some inspiration for fitting quad/ motorbike shocks to the panda :slayer:

Kolaza i have looked into city rover springs but they are as expensive as lowering springs do you have a cheaper source for these? might use them for the front setup.

e: Newbie - Vtec engined panda project - suspension help
Hi Chris,

Alternatively ( cheaper than choping Spax pair) you can use Cityrover rear coils.

Click to expand...

now just to source some shocks with the right open and closed lengths & spring tension.

I go for scrap yards, £12 a pair normally. Cityrover coil diameter is 114mm iirc, much to big for front use. While your at the scrapyartd get a pair of rear coils of MG ZR, they fit to panda front shock/top mount and being 11.3mm rod even cut down should work well on your setup.

Right I have finally decided on the open and closed lengths of the shocks I am after I now just have the mission of trying to find some that meet the bill for under 100£ for two??

Anyone have any experience with shocks of this mini length.. or could recommend any one who might be able to help?

Also I have a OEM panda back box in great condition but I can fathom out how it fits has any one got any pictures fitting guides? It’s a 92 fire 1000 … Honda exit from the manifold is the same diameter as the inlet to the back box although the tail exit is tiny haha, might end up blowing the box apart we will see.. I need it on the rd. by the end of this month…Wish fulI know as I have to give my GF her car back as she need to sell it!

Last issue brakes.. I have now rebuilt all the standard brakes front and rear but I fear I might need to renew/upgrade the master cylinder.. is there any advice for cost effective upgrades for the MC?

Sorry for all the question

So my rear coilover build is well under way just need to try and find some springs to match im thinking around 200 lb per rear corner anyone know what they are as standard?

Brakes are finally bled well and feeling strong so with with the rear suspension sorted out it will be just the exhaust to complete with a general tidy up of everything for MOT.

I would like to post some pictures (might make my thread more interesting but there doesn’t seem to be a quick way

If you're looking to post pictures then you can do it through the gallery or just press attachment in the post. Go to advanced, click the paperclip, add your image attachment, press attach, and there you've got an image attached to the post Or just use an image hosting website like imgur.com

Sounds like the build is going well, looking forward to seeing it

Japanda said:

im thinking around 200 lb per rear corner anyone know what they are as standard?

Click to expand...

There were two types fitted to 750 and 999cc:

Bench mark was set to : length of compressed std scoil under force of 257daN equals to170mm

coils were grouped as:
1) yellow > 170mm,
2) green <= 170mm.

Corverting daN to lb/in ( which you've used)

257daN = 2570N => 262.06kgf =>577.75lbf

170mm = 6.69in

577.75/6.69= 86.30lb/in for std panda rear coil spring.

So 200lb/in will be more then double the std figure wich might be bit too stiff.
For comparison rear coils of Rover 25 have comprasion rate of 21N/mm when MG ZR have 30N/mm ( std panda is 15N/mm)

kolza said:

There were two types fitted to 750 and 999cc:

Bench mark was set to : length of compressed std scoil under force of 257daN equals to170mm

coils were grouped as:
1) yellow > 170mm,
2) green <= 170mm.

Corverting daN to lb/in ( which you've used)

257daN = 2570N => 262.06kgf =>577.75lbf

170mm = 6.69in

577.75/6.69=86.30lb/infor std panda rear coil spring.

So 200lb/in will be more then double the std figure wich might be bit too stiff.
For comparison rear coils of Rover 25 have comprasion rate of 21N/mm when MG ZR have 30N/mm ( std panda is 15N/mm)

Click to expand...

Please ignore my above calculations in GREEN.
Big mistake been done.


Uncompressed std panda coils spring is 267mm
So with 257daN force applied it goes down to 170mm.
That gives us 97mm(3.81in) of compression.


577.75/3.81=151.64lb/infor std panda rear coil spring


So 200lb/in will be stiffer. Does the SPAX coils have the spring rate given?


The coil overs will be probably dual rate so this makes it harder to calculate.

Please ignore my above calculations in GREEN.
Big mistake been done.


Uncompressed std panda coils spring is 267mm
So with 257daN force applied it goes down to 170mm.
That gives us 97mm(3.81in) of compression.


577.75/3.81=151.64lb/infor std panda rear coil spring

Click to expand...

Thank you very much Kolza very informative as usual!

i am using some Gaz Da shocks with adjustable damping and height, i am looking at 8 x 180lb springs or the the other option is 8 x 140Lb

also tried to find the info on spax springs but no luck so far

i dont suppose you know the Front spring rate?:worship:

Of course he does.
Give him 5 minutes and a calculator.
Dave

pandamaniac said:

Of course he does.
Give him 5 minutes and a calculator.
Dave

Click to expand...

Need bit more actually as still at work.

FDNY21 said:

If you're looking to post pictures then you can do it through an image hosting website like imgur.com

Click to expand...

please DON'T..!!

as when somebody wants to use the thread for their own reference in months to some - they will be dead links..,:bang:

the forums own are still quick and simple ..

Charlie

FDNY21 said:

Or just use an image hosting website like imgur.com

Click to expand...

varesecrazy said:

please DON'T..!!

... in months to some - they will be dead links..,:bang:

Click to expand...

I will agree with Charlie in 100%

It would be apreciated if you guys could not use external hosting websites if you realy want to add to panda classic section. There is recently a strong trend to attached photos rather that uploading them to gallery. It's not the right way to do it as well as same as user can't be bothered to spend 35 sec uploading photos there will be other users which will not be bothered to click on every other thumbnail.
Sorry for off topic.

Back to front spring rates.

Uncompressed std panda front coils spring is 350mm
So with 208.5daN force applied it goes down to 213mm.
That gives us 137mm (5.39in) of compression.

468.72lbf / 5.39in = 86.96 lb/infor std panda frony coil spring


Gaz Da shocks are looking yummy.

varesecrazy said:

when somebody wants to use the thread for their own reference in months to some - they will be dead links..,:bang:

the forums own are still quick and simple ..

Charlie

Click to expand...

I can still see my links on imgur from years ago. Just make sure you SIGN IN and you're all good, so no worries if you've got an account, only takes a few seconds. Though as you can see in my post, I mentioned it last, because it really is last resort for if you can't upload through the site.

kolza said:

It would be apreciated if you guys could not use external hosting websites if you realy want to add to panda classic section. There is recently a strong trend to attached photos rather that uploading them to gallery. It's not the right way to do it as well as same as user can't be bothered to spend 35 sec uploading photos there will be other users which will not be bothered to click on every other thumbnail.
Sorry for off topic.

Click to expand...

Point taken. Though if you press the arrow next to "attachments", you can press images that you've uploaded and it actually embeds them into the post. This way, they are not thumbnails, and they will not disappear, they will stay there. There's no issue with doing it like that, it works perfectly for embedding, just like the gallery? Obviously use gallery if you want it to be viewable elsewhere, but if only attaching to a post for that purpose, I'd assume no harm done...

Sorry also for off topic, but I think attaching it isn't too big a deal. You can still embed it into your post quickly and easily

EDIT: Looks like thumbnails are just moved for embedding really. But in that case, at least the thread doesn't get too clogged up with my big images, and you can easily click on the images you're interested in as a visitor