General Curious about an engine swap

[hpotts188]

I've been looking at swapping the engine out of my 1.2l 2007 169 fiat panda for a 2022 Abarth F595 1.4 t-jet engine. Am i being reasonable or stupid?

 

[koalar]

It's been done

Not cheap
Not simple



Fitting a 100hp is

Simple
Reasonable cheap
Been done many times

But does require a donor vehicle and swapping ECU, body computer, dash and part of the loom


The original 1.2V engine had been tuned to 157HP probably not good on the road

Very expensive tens of thousands

Anything possible depending on budget

 

[hpotts188]

I'm just concerned mainly about putting too much horsepower because of the weight of it and the condition of both the rear and front axle I can put about 200-250hp but I feel like that's way too much power for the panda to deal with

 

[koalar]

I'm just concerned mainly about putting too much horsepower because of the weight of it and the condition of both the rear and front axle I can put about 200-250hp but I feel like that's way too much power for the panda to deal with

The C510.5.21 gearbox 420nm+ of torque without problems (official is 300nm)

The driveshafts normally broke first

At 450nm the differential use to occasionally bust

C514 (official is 300nm) I'd expect the same

Another one fitted here

200hp Panda | FIAT Panda (Mk3)

So, I did a thing. Significantly more details can be found in the YouTube series

www.fiatforum.com

Suspension and brakes is just a matter of throwing money at the problem

It's cheaper just to buy a performance car if you want performance, especially as the brakes and suspension come already done

If you want the fun of building something yourself, it's simpler to start with a car that's got a one race make, fiat 500 for example has adjustable top mounts, tubular suspension arms adjustable anti roll bars, front and rear are available of the shelf, for the panda there's nothing as far as I know

Which is why it simpler to just to buy a 100HP

If you want something like this



Your talking serious money, €22K will buy this

Less than the money spent on it

 

[DaveMcT]

Panda 169 was the base for the Fiat 500. The main structure, body shell, scuttle and suspension were pretty much the same. But, that was at least 10 years ago. The 500 and more recent Pandas have obviously evolved. But how much evolution? Probably not that much beyond weight saving and cost saving. Are parts interchangable? Such items are not intended to be swapped, so don't expect new stuff to work on older body shells.

If you want to put an Abarth Turbo into a Panda then go for it. BUT start with a 100HP because it has discs all round and ABS that can use the rear discs properly. If you want a cheap Abarth, start with a damaged repairable. Much less effort. If you want to build the 100HP that Fiat should have made, then good on you but don't expect it to be cheap.

Then there's insurance. Specials need special underwriters. Talk to Adrian Flux before going ahead.

 

[Dan at Adrian Flux]

Hi.
Please do please feel free to give us a try for insurance if you have any issues.
Regards,
Dan.

 

[hpotts188]

Speaking of insurance lol that would be the most expensive part of the build

 

[Decronium]

I'm just concerned mainly about putting too much horsepower because of the weight of it and the condition of both the rear and front axle I can put about 200-250hp but I feel like that's way too much power for the panda to deal with

It's far too much power for a Panda. Doesn't mean you shouldn't do it.

 

[hpotts188]

That's all I need to hear I know it's expensive but it's an outlandish stupid project only for the fun to see if it works if I can keep it on the ground

 

[Decronium]

That's all I need to hear I know it's expensive but it's an outlandish stupid project only for the fun to see if it works if I can keep it on the ground

You won't. I'm in the process of filming a daily driver episode and its nearly all me failing to pull out at roundabouts

 

[hpotts188]

Just wouldn't know what else too do, I'm lowering it, new alloys maybe even steel wheels for the extra weight, roll cage for reason whatsoever adds to aesthetic but to keep it down I don't know what else I could do

 

[MrMagoo]

If it's an outlandish stupid project, go all out and make it mid engine, in the same vein as a Renault 5 Maxi Turbo.

 

[DaveMcT]

If it's an outlandish stupid project, go all out and make it mid engine, in the same vein as a Renault 5 Maxi Turbo.

Or use a 4x4 differential to your six speed box and a 4x4 back axle. Obviously everything is interchangeable and diff ratios match (Oh yes!) so keep that engineering machine shop handy.

I weighed the 100HP alloys and the pepper pot steels I replaced them with. The steels were the same weight, but have not buckled and with neat centre trims, they echo the Alfa Spyder style.