Does anyone know if the front passenger side driveshaft on the Panda came in different lengths? Looking in the Porter manual there seems to be variations in the track on various models and I'm wondering if there were different lengths of driveshaft?

The reason I'm asking is because now that I've driven the 'Rat a rather serious problem has showed up: the passenger side drive shaft keeps popping out at the diff. Draining out all the brand new oil I just put in it yesterday (ouch ) and removing the gaiter I can see that it doesn't go into the diff far enough. Or could the suspension geometry of the MK1 and MK2 Pandas be subtly different?

I'm really hoping all I need to do is get a drive shaft from an earlier Panda (as this kit was based on MK1 Panda parts). Failing that, any idea how much it would cost to get mine modified to make it longer?

EDIT: Just went back out to the garage and undid the driveshaft at the hub so I could slide it into the diff. Made some rough measurements and I reckon it needs to be at least 15mm longer to be 'in safety', but 20mm would be better.

OK, I suppose I should consider myself lucky. This lot could have been inside the gearbox.


It fell to pieces as I laid it on the floor. All three bearings are knackered now. Oh well, this is the first real setback I've had on the build so far. It's not the end of the world. Plenty more to be getting on with in the meantime.

I don't suppose anyone's got a spare passenger side driveshaft (the right length) I could buy? If not, a good one I could buy and modify? In fact, is there someone who could supply me with a modified one?

I've now measured the driveshaft as accurately as I can at 53.5cm.

Hopefully, FIAT made some of them 55cm.

Sorry Rick I just dumped 2 recently bad timing

Not sure about the MK1 but there are 2 part no's for the N/S driveshaft
7636134 £48.72 7553588 £55.34

I don't know if one is longer than the other but it is a possibility

I chucked the old ones. Wish I hadn't now. They were in a bad state but at least I could have compared them to see if they were different. Did a Google search earlier and managed to find somewhere fairly close to me (in Wales that is) that modifies propshafts. If I don't manage to get one the right length I'll get a 'normal' one and have it modified. Looks like it'll be a simple job. If I could weld I'd try it myself.

Does the fire engine and gearbox 'sit' in the same place as the Mk1 986 across the car? It may be worth checking how far the other driveshaft fits into the box, it may 'tight' for room and give trouble later.

I think the two part numbers are because of the different drive boot seals.

Keep up the good work Rick... cheers Damon

I assume because the MK1 and MK2 4x4 Pandas have the same gearbox they 'sit' in the same place in the engine bay. When I fitted the FIRE engine I used the old MK1 top gearbox mount and as far as I can tell it's in the same place. Looking at all the mounts, they look as they should, ie straight up and down if you know what I mean. It's no big deal to get a driveshaft modified but I'd prefer to spend the money elsewhere. Unfortunately these unforseen problems have a habit of cropping up and if I need to I will spend the money on a modified driveshaft. I'd just prefer not to . Don't suppose anyone has a MK1 driveshaft lying around they could measure?

Your saying that the Mk1 956cc engine and the Mk2 999 fire engine have the same gearbox ? From what I've read in the past thought they were totally different

Alan.D said:

Your saying that the Mk1 956cc engine and the Mk2 999 fire engine have the same gearbox ? From what I've read in the past thought they were totally different

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I still have the old one here to compare with. Externally they're identical. I don't know if there are internal differences. All the mounting points, bolting holes, gear lever mechanism etc are exactly the same. I suspect the FIRE engine is based on the old block with a new head. I can't imagine FIAT will have designed a totally different variant of the FIRE engine just for the 4x4.

It was about marrying a Y10 turbo to the panda 4x4 box and was told it couldn't be done due to the differences in the gearbox but the Mk1 would fit. If that's not the case i forsee a new project in the future. Panda 4x4 turbo rallye :chin:

I read somewhere recently that the 4x4 was electromechanically selectable on the Y10. This may be a different 'box but then again, it may just be an addition to the Steyr Puch box. I'd suggest trying to find a Y10 manual to use to compare with the Panda manual or ask on a Lancia forum. I also read in the same article that the Y10 4x4 engine was something like 1050cc. Again, this may point to a different box. A Panda 4x4 turbo would be something to behold! Let's hope the boxes are the same.

It was more the problem of marrying the engine as the Y10 turbo used an engine very simmilar to the Mk1 panda which was stated wouldn't match the Mk 2 4x4 gearbox

OK, just so you know I'm not talking through my #### here are some pics so that you can compare with your own gearbox. This is the MK1 gearbox and engine I removed from the 'Rat. These are BIG as I haven't cropped or compressed them and were taken with a 5.0 megapixel camera. They work out at about 2.5MB each in size.

Image 1

Image 2

Image 3

It looks the same, if not very simmilar hmm

I think there is only one way to really find out... firstly find a Y10 turbo engine (hard part) then try and stick it on...

I suspect you would have very little difficulty selling on a good turbo engine to a Y10 owner.

UPDATE: Maybe good news, maybe not. I've been tinkering with the engine and gearbox mounts today to see if I could get any movement in the direction I want to make the driveshaft fit and I've discovered that the gearbox bracket that attaches to the bottom mount is different on the MK1. Superficially they look the same but the MK1 bracket is shorter than the MK2 by about 10mm. I'm in the process of changing it which will swing the bottom end back a bit and I have also managed to move the enine sideways by about 10mm. Watch this space....

Won't be able to test if this will solve it though as I can't drive it with the drive shaft in the state it's in . However, things are looking better than they did a couple of days ago.

UPDATE 2: I've now fitted the MK1 gearbox bracket. I've also modified the mount I had to have made for the cam side of the engine which drops that side down by about 5mm. With all that and the sideways movement I managed to get (good job I designed the new mount with a slot instead of just a hole ) the driveshaft now sits further into the gearbox and the engine sits better in the bay. I won't be able to check if that's done the trick until I get a replacement driveshaft or this one repaired.

I had a look at ePer and you can buy the spider bearing separately for about £45. If I don't manage to get another driveshaft before my next trip up here I'll do that. Hmmm, just thought, I just need someone to take the spider bearing off a spare drive shaft and send it to me...

Have a look on ebay, because you sometimes see spider bearings for £5-£10

Alan.D said:

It was about marrying a Y10 turbo to the panda 4x4 box and was told it couldn't be done due to the differences in the gearbox but the Mk1 would fit. If that's not the case i forsee a new project in the future. Panda 4x4 turbo rallye :chin:

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Hey Alan I have a Y10 Turbo gearbox on my dining table so I can help. The gearbox to look at is identical although the ratios are taller. The thing that differs is the bellhousing. If you swapped the Turbo bellhousing onto the 4x4 box it would work.The Turbo uses the Fiat Brasil 1049cc OHC engine ala 127 Sport which is different to the 903cc Dance/45 OHV engine, the Steyr Puch 965cc OHV engine and all the FIRE motors. I was offered a Y10 Turbo engine recently Alan so I can always pass it on as I aleady have one (if I manage to convince the owner to part with it)

Giacosa said:

I was offered a Y10 Turbo engine recently Alan so I can always pass it on as I aleady have one (if I manage to convince the owner to part with it)

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I am desperately trying to think of a car to put that in :chin: