Uno turbo engine into a panda?

[wheelspinner]

A mate of mine has bought a panda 4x4 he also has the remains of an uno turbo in his shed how easy is it to swap out the engines do they share the same block???

Regards

Steve

[GrumpyOldMan]

They have different engine blocks : The Uno Turbo engine is based on the old Fiat SOHC, first designed for the 128. Depending on the model year, the Panda will either have the ancient OHV engine or the comparatively high-tech FIRE unit.

However, you might be able to install a SOHC block, using the mounts and configuration that Fiat themselves used on the Lancia Y10 GTie (based on the Panda and using a 1300cc version of the OHC engine). Still, I have no idea if there will be enough space for the turbo and associated plumbing.

I would also think that the Panda 4x4 system will not survive for very long with all that torque passing through it, but that's just an assumption.

[paulmi16]

As far as I can remember (I had one years ago) the 4x4 Panda has a different engine to the normal Panda and I think its because of the transfer box/4 wheel drive system.

But don't let me stop you....

[grumpybadger]

Does the 4x4 engine not turn the other way, like the 850?.

[eddbmxdude]

Jun 24, 2008 7:56:55 GMT GrumpyOldMan said:

They have different engine blocks : The Uno Turbo engine is based on the old Fiat SOHC, first designed for the 128.

Does that mean we would be able to put an uno turbo lump into a 128 fairly easily?

[bazzateer]

Uno turboed 128? Hmmmmmmmmm........................

[grumpybadger]

There's a few clips on you tube of some.

[Blue850]

The 128/ Strada/ Uno OHCs are based on the same block, I think the Lancia Y10 GTie is based on the 127 'Brazil' engine, the Y10 Turbo is definitley a turboed version the old 127 Sport 1049 cc engine . The original 4wd Panda had the 965cc OHV engine from an Autobianchi A112 and later the 999cc FIRE unit

[eddbmxdude]

Jun 24, 2008 11:02:18 GMT bazzateer said:

Uno turboed 128? Hmmmmmmmmm........................

How about an Uno turbo'ed 128 pickup?

[magnetteman]

The Fiat dealership in Finchley built one in the 80's, although that was based on a 2wd Panda.

My ex bro-in-law was good mates with the owners. They had a real laugh with it but a lot of problems initially. Heat was the main enemy.

Once that was cured the right foot was the enemy! They forgot to fit a top stabilizer backet and, even though it was only a mildly hotted up engine, when he did a hard launch the engine twisted round and pushed the rad right into the front panel and crushed the lot!

Damn fine sleeper though..

[GrumpyOldMan]

Jun 24, 2008 12:21:15 GMT Blue850 said:

The 128/ Strada/ Uno OHCs are based on the same block, I think the Lancia Y10 GTie is based on the 127 'Brazil' engine, the Y10 Turbo is definitley a turboed version the old 127 Sport 1049 cc engine . The original 4wd Panda had the 965cc OHV engine from an Autobianchi A112 and later the 999cc FIRE unit

After your post, I decided to look things up, which proved how rusty (ahem) my Fiat-related memory is :

You are absolutely right that the GTie uses the 'Brazilian' SOHC, and not the Lampredi-designed one. The source of my confusion was the capacity of 1301cc, which is common between the two engines, but the GTie is 76.1mm bore and 71.5mm stroke, not the super-oversquare 80.5x63.9 of the Lampredi equivalent.

And therefore GTie mounts won't be of much use to install the Uno Turbo engine. My apologies to wheelspinner about the mistake

[Rich606]

Am I right in thinking that the Panda 4x4 doesn't have a centre differential either? Interesting handling and lots of driveline wind-up if you were to cane it on the road?

[miaspa]

Jun 24, 2008 15:48:38 GMT Rich606 said:

Am I right in thinking that the Panda 4x4 doesn't have a centre differential either? Interesting handling and lots of driveline wind-up if you were to cane it on the road?

Is that why my Panda 4x4 used to go wider and wider if I keep circling a roundabout?

[Fuzzy]

Here's an Uno Turbo 2WD already done (and for sale) www.sarano.nl/foto%20panda%202.htm

The Uno Turbo engine is generally considered too heavy and too much of an engineering nightmare to fit in a Panda. The MK2 4x4 uses a 999cc, carb-fed FIRE unit. A 1.2 8v conversion from a Punto has been performed on a 4x4 and apparently it was brilliant. The 4x4 system can only be used at low speeds, so if you're planning to do some 4WD drifts down country lanes at 80 then you've got a serious engineering task ahead, or a broken 4x4 at the end of it.

A FIRE trasplant is much easier and has less weight up front compared to an Uno Turbo transplant. Easiest is a 1108cc (Cinq/Sei sporting) or 1242cc 8v (Punto) swap. Bit harder is a 1242cc 16v (Punto Sporting) or a 1368 16v (Panda 100HP, some Puntos and Stilos (but Stilos have a different mounting set up) but the 16v swaps give you at least 90bhp to play with from the start and can easily be tuned to about 120 with little effort.

Standard Panda gearbox isn't the best for big power/torque, though, so be careful!