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Tuning Performance Panda Pondering thread

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Tuning Performance Panda Pondering thread

Alex, you are indeed mad but you are also someone that gets things done and fast. So good luck (y)

If have haven't already, have a look at the following site that goes through the build process for the Y'ntegrale that Trevor Nicosia built a few years back. This took a Y10 turbo and a 8v Delta integrale to make a 300bhp monster. Never got 100% finished as he couldn't get enough cooling into the engine.

http://www.nyssa.ltd.uk/Y10/

Does make for a crazy car though



Cheers

Dave

http://www.nyssa.ltd.uk/Y10/
 
I had similar thoughts about using a different Panda and, due to the effort and work that has gone into my current 1242 16v Panda, I will be selling her at the end of summer so that someone else can enjoy her whilst I use a different, less fortunate panda for the subaru conversion.

Actually I would very much be interested in a part exchanging my 1242 16v Panda for another normal panda - preferably a mid 90's CLX like my current one!

Cheers for the thread dave :)

Trevor is a legend for a conversion, and especially as Lancia parts are so expensive and hard to come by. With subaru running gear I'm hoping it will be a lot cheaper to source any parts and tune as they are mass produced and very easily available.

Whilst on the subject - In France, in a city called Rouge, I saw a Lancia Y10 GTe parked next to 3 Fiat Pandas!!! I almost wet the bed!!
 
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That's a fantastic idea!! I'd love to see it. I've been toying with the idea of a big bike engined 126 with quaife chaindrive diff and fully independent suspension... Basically a bike engined track special with a 126 body dropped on top... 150+ bhp in a microcar!! My organisational skills mean that 126s will probably be priceless antiques by the time I get round to it :)o) but in your case I imagine by next spring we'll be seeing photos :worship:...

Vern and I were talking about a mid engined rear wheel drive track special panda potentially based around an MGF or a Westfield back end... Again 150bhp rear wheel drive but a 300bhp 4x4 Panda would be something special. BHP per tonne you would be considerably more powerful than almost any supercar I can think of!!

Good luck and keep us posted!! Luke. (y)
 
I went through a phase of wanting a bike engines 126 too! There was one on ebay recently infact that was bike engine ready and had some type of Audi differential setup that I can't quite recall.

My original 'finalé' idea was to fit a Fiat 5 cylinder 20vT engine in a Panda with matching gearbox etc as they are good for 300bph and have a LSD in the gearbox as standard.

But then I decided that if I was going to be a proper nutter, then I would have to be a PROPER nutter and with the amount of torque that a Subaru puts out and the miniature weight of a Panda - you would have a car that would absolutely destroy anything it came across up 100mph.

Despite the short wheelbase it should handle pretty well with AWD, although traction will be impossible at full throttle.

Can't wait to get measuring up a Subaru and start properly jotting down the ins and outs of the job. I want to decimate some innocent vehicles at Santa Pod next year too :D
 
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do you have a physciatrist Alex? cause you need one! that idea is mental!

Theres a guy on the PPC forum who is doing the same thing (subaru engine and runnig gear with a mini.

whole new subframes have been made and loads of other bits and pieces.

the biggest problem i think you'll have is keeping it cool, limited space for the coolers you'll need, plus the rad.but with it being a box engine it's fairly low so will get cooling from underneath quite well i expect.

You'd need a full cage though i expect which will ruin the sleeper look at lights especially with a bumbling exhaust too.
 
The measurement that concerns me most is the distance between the front driveshaft centre and the front of the engine. I've not seen under the bonnet of a Subaru but would imagine the engine sits quite far forward?

Another worrying measurement springs to mind, the distance between the nearest hospital and where you crash it. :p
 
Hmmmmmm... No traction at full throttle... Hmmm...

:idea: I wonder if there's a way to run some kind of traction control into the ecu... It'd be nice to be able to floor it and get all the power the car could handle without having to buy a new set of tyres every week...

It'd take more computer/engine management knowhow than you can shake a stick at but it'd be handy!

If you could switch traction control on and off and you had an eco button for town driving it could be economical, downright rapid and completely loopy all at the same time.. Kind of Jeckyl, Hyde and Hannibal Lecter Panda!! :devil:

Luke (y)
 
Well as I hope to be using the complete Subaru running gear; there is no obvious reason to why I can't actually use the standard ESP functions from a Scooby as I think they are just little sensors and studded rings, similar to ABS, on the inside of the hub/wheel.

Roll cage will be a definate yes, although when it comes round to it I'll be opting for an 'invisible' type that closely follows the inside shape of the car. Scooby exhaust note will most likely confuse people to the point where they pass out :)

Indeed there could be some driveshaft/propshaft and gearbox length issues but I'm hoping it's nothing a few cups of tea and some inginuity can't sort out. If a guy is doing it in a Mini, then theres definately hope for a Panda!

As for cooling there are plenty of ways to get creative. Radiators can be run the full length of the car if needed, as I saw in a VW Beetle which had a 1.8 subaru engine conversion and all the radiator hoses running down the heater channels to the radiator in the front (as they are rear engined).

In similar motoring news, I started work on my Beetle again today! (if anyones a VW fan :)) It's been laying dormant for a year whilst I've been at Pandas - but now my Panda is done, save for a few repairs after the theft attempt, I'm going to get the beetle done quickly and sold so I can have some more room for the ScooyPanda project if all goes to plan.

Alex

-edit-

VmanC that hospital comment was hilarious! I almost choked on my crumpet :D lol
 
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Last time I looked an Impreza was bigger than a Panda; that being the case there WILL be some drive/prop shaft issues............ :bang:

But surely that's the point!! :D

Again... can't wait until this project's underway and some pic are up...

Luke.
 
I'm hoping just to be able to shorten the prop shaft and leave the driveshafts their normal length; as shortening driveshafts means you'll need shorter wishbones and other suspension components, by which time you've got into a terrible financial mess!
 
As far as the track of the car is concerned I reckon you've got a choice... Wider arches which would spoil the sleeper look but as you're going for a complete sub-frame/chassis swap you could just slice the whole shell straight down the middle and splice some strips in to fit the width of the subframe...

Super wide but normal looking panda...

Luke.
 
Sounds like the start of a joke..."Whadya get when you cross an Impreza with a Panda?"

Alex...you're mad!! (y)
 
What is going on in this thread!!!!!????!!!!!

Talk of VAG engines, Diesels, Subaru's......Aghhhhhhhhhhhh!

Ok, phew i'm alright now...to be honest ive been taunting myself with thoughts of 1242 engines...was gonna go with punto 75 or 16 valve, but i have now decided that im going to do a bit of old fashioned engine tuning...porting, polishing, breathing etc. Had even thought maybe a y10 turbo but i havent got the means to do that much work...i think Si has found it more than enough with his marbella...bet it will proplerly shift once its all sorted though. Also some food for thought...may only work with injected panda's, but with the Cinquecento you can take the cam out of a punto 60/75, stick it in the 1108 cinq. lump, set the clearances and shims to the punto and you instantly have a fast road cam. Talk of 2000 extra RPM. Might be worth looking into as its more Abarth style - making the most of the little engine ya got. :)
 
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I'm in the French Alps at the moment, never seen so many Panda's! And they are all 4x4 models too :D

Obviously they are all workhorses - the door bottoms and sills seem to be held together with duct tape and zip ties :p

If anyone is interested I'll be selling the ENTIRE 1242 16v Conversion and sport upgrades soon!!

You get:
Complete 16v engine with re-sealed sump and full top end gasket replacement (stem seals, inlet and exhaust gasket etc etc). Complete loom ready to fit with de-coded ECU, upgraded fuel pump, induction kit, gearbox, Lancia Y10 ARB with new bushes and new trailing arms to fit the panda.

Basically it's a a ready to fit conversion which I have been using with no problems and with everything to make your Panda into a 0-60 in 8 seconds beast!

In a couple of months I'll make a proper advert with pictures and more info as you might also get the shocks, springs and upgraded brakes depending on how things work out.

I'll probably want around £300 for it all. . . . or I'll do a straight swap for a road ready Panda of any age/type. (I need another to drive around whilst Red is being worked on)

I've been here (in france) for 3 weeks and can't wait to get home and drive the Panda. Think I've got withdrawl symptoms!

Bye for now :)
 
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