Panda (Classic) 4x4 Monster V8

[aquamarine]

For andyholli (V8 fix) and JamieK (local - ideal runabout..)

http://www.gumtree.com/p/other-car-parts-accessories/4x4-3.5-v8-fiat-panda-/1125635297

 

[andyholli]

Yep - that ticks a lot of boxes.
I also like the irony of swapping a chassis that, let's say, - can occasionally throw up corrosion issues, for one that.. oh, hang on.

As far as I can tell, it just needs a Dragon Man wiper conversion to be perfect.

 

[Dragon Man]

yeah.. get that gas converted and i tell you, that would be my daily driver.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

If the engine matches the chassis (ie it's a 1972 V8) then it will be lucky to get 14mpg so even with an LPG conversion is still going to cost twice as much to run as standard panda running on petrol, not to mention the huge raft of problems the early V8s suffered from. It's a great toy but certainly not a daily runner.

 

[Liquid Knight]

I wonder what he did with the Panda bits.

 

[mrcinquecento]

If the engine matches the chassis (ie it's a 1972 V8) then it will be lucky to get 14mpg so even with an LPG conversion is still going to cost twice as much to run as standard panda running on petrol, not to mention the huge raft of problems the early V8s suffered from. It's a great toy but certainly not a daily runner.

Rip it out and fit a 2/300 tdi from an early range rover/defender/early discovery, turn up the fuel pressure, jobs a good un

 

[panda panda]

Just shows how compact the original Range Rovers where and not the ridiculous "sports barge" they are now.

We had a mk1 on the farm in the 70's just as OPEC found they could hold the west to ransom and doubled petrol prices overnight.

We traded it in for a v8 SD1 and a diesel series Land rover.

I think Dad always regretted he didn't have the diesel conversion instead though I do remember the tailgate practically falling off due to rot!

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Just shows how compact the original Range Rovers where and not the ridiculous "sports barge" they are now.

I used to have an 86 Range Rover classic and my current neighbour has a 2014 Range Rover sport and another has an older 2010 Range Rover and I'd say the Classic is as big as the Range Rover and bigger than the sport.

They really aren't that small but strip the body off and there isn't a lot to them.

 

[dragonwagon]

Best bet with that is to tip the v8 in the bin and fit an AMC/Chrysler/Jeep 4.0 six in there. Gutsy, reliable and good on LPG.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Best bet with that is to tip the v8 in the bin and fit an AMC/Chrysler/Jeep 4.0 six in there. Gutsy, reliable and good on LPG.

Mine had a 3L Isuzu Diesel engine which are cheap to source (usually found in the trooper or Vauxhall Monterey) and there is an adaptor kit to fit them to the ranger over gearbox.

 

[dragonwagon]

Mine had a 3L Isuzu Diesel engine which are cheap to source (usually found in the trooper or Vauxhall Monterey) and there is an adaptor kit to fit them to the ranger over gearbox.

There's also an adapter kit for the Iveco / Sofim 2.5/2.8/3.0 diesel out of the Daily or better still complete with much stronger box out of a Santana.

 

[JimMagill]

Anyone found out how much it is yet?

 

[Dragon Man]

if i was to swap the engine to diesel, i think i would have to go common rail just for the power and economy increase over the old indirect injection system.

the 3.0L multijet would be nice

 

[andyholli]

Madness!
- All this talk of installing boat anchor diesels instead of that silken, woofly piece of aluminium loveliness, in order to save a few pence after 15 thousand miles that will take years, if ever, to drive.
You don't hear Rover V8s very often anymore, and I miss them.
Scowly face.

 

[dragonwagon]

Thank goodness for that. I did have a V8 in mind for my Series 11 at one point, however that notion was rapidly ditched to keep the old 4 banger petrol - at least that's reliable !
V8's can be more trouble that they're worth.
Currently enjoying the sound of an AMC 242 (aka 4.0) six in a Jeep. Lovely.

 

[kolza]

Madness!
You don't hear Rover V8s very often anymore, and I miss them.

There is one in Scarb'ro, small cab, lwb with wiliams Ifor sheep roof attachment over the rear. One of the most characteriscit engine sound round here.

 

[Liquid Knight]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131560140050?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

It's a sham I had to scrap the Guff II shell. This could have worked and you can get mounts for Rover V8's to fit.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

- All this talk of installing boat anchor diesels instead of that silken, woofly piece of aluminium loveliness, in order to save a few pence after 15 thousand miles that will take years, if ever, to drive.
You don't hear Rover V8s very often anymore, and I miss them.

More like swap the V8 out because it will have broken, the V8s are as brittle as the alloy they are made from and are renowned for breaking ts the sight of a hill especially once they get old.

On top of this an old worn Range Rover V8 will need an oil change every 3000-5000 miles and trust me they take a hell of a lot of oil, you also need to keep the coolant system in tip top shape with regular coolant changes.

Sling a diesel in and it will last forever.....unless it's the oem Italian VM diesel with 4 individual head gaskets

 

[mrcinquecento]

More like swap the V8 out because it will have broken, the V8s are as brittle as the alloy they are made from and are renowned for breaking ts the sight of a hill especially once they get old.

On top of this an old worn Range Rover V8 will need an oil change every 3000-5000 miles and trust me they take a hell of a lot of oil, you also need to keep the coolant system in tip top shape with regular coolant changes.

Sling a diesel in and it will last forever.....unless it's the oem Italian VM diesel with 4 individual head gaskets

The later tdi units are tough as old boots, simple and with the fuel pressure turned up actually do shift pretty well.

Absolute no brainer in my opinion, sound is the only thing you really lose.

Not that you can hear the v8 when it's broken anyway

 

[andyholli]

I found two possible re-engine options here


Either back to Fiat power or up to a big block...

...No brainer.