Just wondering exactly what is involved in putting an engine in the rear of a punto and converting to rear wheel drive? How would you link the gearbox to the axle? What welding would need doing?
What would you need from the donor car other than the engine and loom?

I have this car sat spare and wondering what to do with it

would love to see this done
dnt think it would be very good in all the snow at minute lol

I know it's been done before and in the snow would be terrible!!

its doable for sure. cant see it being an easy job by no means. there is a guy doing a hyabusa (sp) punto which is looking pretty insane.

pretty much everything...what you basically be doing is taking a stock rwd car and stickin a mk2 shell over the top...

i dont really know as he is not saying much,but im prety sure someone on punto mk2 is doing it atm
would be really good fun imo

if was going to be done you might as well do it a HGT
As you might as well enjoy more power from it all

Ziggy

Hi, never actually seen a rear wheel drive fiat punto.. actually in fact if this car exists more likely to be 4WD than rear wheel drive.

but im just going by this,



which clearly shows in Eper a propshaft, and rear differential
if that is the case.. and it was an actual variant.. the chassis could be AWD compatible already.. just needs the bits.

its surprising what can be done if AWD compatible chassis.
I retrofitted the AWD system from a ford Kuga onto an ST focus a while back before i sold the car

RB2009 said:

Hi, never actually seen a rear wheel drive fiat punto.. actually in fact if this car exists more likely to be 4WD than rear wheel drive.

but im just going by this,

which clearly shows in Eper a propshaft, and rear differential
if that is the case.. and it was an actual variant.. the chassis could be AWD compatible already.. just needs the bits.

its surprising what can be done if AWD compatible chassis.
I retrofitted the AWD system from a ford Kuga onto an ST focus a while back before i sold the car

Click to expand...

Punto's aint AWD tho i think, as the exhause drops right down via the middle on the mk2

The image is just a "ROUGH" Diagram, and thats all it will be

Ziggy

Ziggy122 said:

Punto's aint AWD tho i think, as the exhause drops right down via the middle on the mk2

The image is just a "ROUGH" Diagram, and thats all it will be

Ziggy

Click to expand...

Hi, I know what you mean about rough diagram, but normally they wouldnt illustrate it if it didnt exist as a variant.. may find it was only sold in another country for example.

Hard to know if it is AWD capable or not.

Ford Focus 2005 to present model.
Thats not AWD from the factory,

but what not many people dont realise is, floorpan is exactly the same as the Kuga (which is AWD)

Front subframe on a Kuga is lifted from a focus RS.. so you take the RS front subframe, then the rear subframe from a Kuga, rear diff, propshaft.. and hey presto an AWD focus.

when I did it before whole lot just bolted on.. no real modifications required.

did they not make a 4WD panda?
could be possible that in some markets they just lifted the 4WD system from a panda.. panda i wouldnt of thought is suspected of having a propshaft tunnel its such a small car anyway.

Pandas use the same 1200 engine so 4WD would be possible.

The rear engine idea is only any good for tracks and maybe car shows. Road insurance and engineer's report costs would be HORRENDOUS.

The costs are insane. You need a complete running bike to get everything off it except the wheels and frame. Not to mention the punto which can easily end up being a bare shell over a spaceframe chassis. Absolutely no point unsing an HGT engine just get an HGT instead. Though a mid mounted Alfa V6 would be "interesting".

You also need a special subframe and limited slip differential. Search Hayabusa and you'll see what's been done. Fab stuff but you'll need a small mortgage. TBH I would rather spend the money on a Stratos replica which might even be cheaper.

Oh yes welding? - LOTs of it
and some metal fab
and precision machine shop work
and pipe bending/forming

Oh yes handling would be rubbish until the suspension and steering geometry are changed/replaced to suit the new weight balance.

A 4wd Panda was made
An they Made a Limited Rear slip Enabling 4wd panda (saw it on 5th gear one time) - when front wheel spin - the rears kick it give a boost in Pushing forward

And There never has been to my knowledge of a 4wd punto

And yes a RWD punto would be terrible

I'd just buy a 4wd or RWD to start with

Ziggy

Meh, maybe not then. I was looking at something cheap
Maybe see if i can get away with putting a hgt engine in mine and not telling anyone

bredsticz said:

Meh, maybe not then. I was looking at something cheap
Maybe see if i can get away with putting a hgt engine in mine and not telling anyone

Click to expand...

I would atleast tell insurance
for god Sake - please dont be another Positive statistic to the insurance company of people not declaring modifications

Ziggy

To get back to the original question.

Putting an engine in the rear is relatively easy.

You use the whole engine/box/drivetrain assembly/hubs/uprights, but not the rack.

Fabricate mounts based on the front of the car and mount the whole lot in the rear.

I would suggest leaving the radiator where it is and plumb it in using the exhaust tunnel as a route for pipes.

Fabricate lower arms with very short track arms to allow for toe in adjustment on the rear. Do not be tempted to use long track arms mounted on the car, they lead to horrendous rear steering problems.

Wiring is very straight forward, fuel tank moved to the former engine compartment would help with balance.

Really tricky bit is the gear linkage. When its run over such a long distance (it needs to go backwards the forwards) it needs to be accurate.

Have fun.

Cheers

D