Broken Cylinder Wet liner - 1.6TRS

[Colin Winn]

Hi folks: a very long time ago I approached the forum with this matter. My poor old petrol BX 16TRS that served me well for many years and is on 110,000 miles still sits in its garage in Burgundy, no closer to being repaired. It blew a wet liner. I know this, because I'm the annoying sort of guy who can undo things, but then finds some things are too complicated/suffers from lack confidence to continue on his own without a hand to hold (having said that, I've done just about everything that can be done to a 1970 Triumph Herald over the course of 23 years - so I'm reasonably capable). I stripped it back to take the head off and had a jolly good look at the crack that caused the water loss and overheating. I even constructed a pegged tool that locked the flywheel whilst I pulled more than many tens of pound/foot and several back muscles to undo the crank bolt. It's up on a trolley jack and stands. I understand that it is easy enough to continue to dismantle the engine and the method is to undo the piston bolts, remove the crankshaft dropping all the bits out underneath and then replacing. Problem (apart from funds as my wife is divorcing me) seems to be to get only the parts needed - Citroen dealers seem not to be interested - and that, in France, where loads of BX's still roam around! My thoughts then turned to a recon engine, and to 'simply' whip out the old one - I tried a commercial company someone recommended to me (VEGE?) but after submitting a form with all the car details never got a reply. Is it really hard to get a recon engine? Or would contemplating replacing the liners and piston sets be the better option (I'm sure I couldn't replace all the timing bits and bob by myself and make it work!)? General thoughts appreciated - loads of other BX owners must have been in this position before.

[Linegeist]

I'd be rather inclined to offer beer tokens for a decent second-hand engine from a member of this forum.

(a) You'll have a better chance of getting a decent lump than if you risk fleabay
(b) You'll stand a better chance of getting some hand-holding from the seller
(c) It'll be a straightforward swapout, leaving you with a whole slew of spares from your original engine should this happen again.

For what it's worth, I have a running 1.6 petrol engine stored on a pallet in my workshop - unfortunately, I live rather long way away from Maidstone.

[citronut]

i agree with Bob it will probably be easyer to just swap the engine for a good second hand lump,

as a re/con lump will cost you heap's of dosh,

and for delivery from Bob to Maidstone, if you register on the FCF which is the sister forum to this one, they have FCF international corrier's set up, this allows members to help eachother out by moveing bit's and bob's about just for bear token's,

regards malcolm

[sdelasal]

You may be able to arrange transport for the engine though this site too.

http://www.shiply.com/

Steve

[Jaba]

Actually it is easy to remove and refit a wet liner without too much dismantling.
You just need to get the sump off, undo the big end from the offending pot, remove the piston upwards then manoeuvre the liner out upwards too.

You will then need only a replacement liner and o-ring seal with or without a matching piston.

[Linegeist]

He would, however ...................

Problem ............... seems to be to get only the parts needed - Citroën dealers seem not to be interested - and that, in France, where loads of BX's still roam around!

[Jaba]

Citroën dealers seem not to be interested - and that, in France, where loads of BX's still roam around!

Are they ?? I have just returned from two weeks in Normandy and Brittany.
My BX seen total count was THREE. And only 1 XM too. Loads of Renault 21s though. Perhaps the BXs hydraulics is seen as too complicated and expensive to keep the cars going compared with the Renaults.
You see loads of BXs on Leboncoin for sale because of hydraulic leaks or head gasket problems.

I drive more in France than UK these days. I do see more BXs than over here though but almost never on the autoroutes.

[Linegeist]

Well, I lived just outside Versailles for 3 years, and I return there regularly to meet up with the friends we made. I see no end of BX's (and CX's and Ds's too......) and they tend to be well cared-for (to survive French drivers they have to be enthusiast-owned).

In rural France (and around Versailles can be quite rural) folks don't chuck a car away just because there's a problem, and there's always a useful village mecanique ready and willing to fix it for a small fee. I learned about Citroen hydraulics from just such a bloke - a retired Citroen techie who spent his weekends teaching this rather dense German geezer how to figure out French cars. He always had a gaggle of 10-year-old cars in his back yard in various stages of (dis)repair.

I suspect that, like the UK, you don't see many 1980s Ford Escorts in Henley - but you see lots on Anglesey.

[Tim Leech]

I saw just two bx whilst in Paris in may, lots of Renault 21s and Merc 190's oddly enough, and more 206's and clios then you could shake a stick at.

[Linegeist]

I saw just two bx whilst in Paris in may, lots of Renault 21s and Merc 190's ............ .

You had time to look.........?

I've been around l'etoile more times than I care to remember - and I could never remember what cars I saw while on it. Must've been the massive jolts of adrenaline.

[KevR]

Quite a few BXs in this part of Normandy Jaba. I saw three this morning. Although come to think of it, they were all mine...

They're getting a bit rarer though, partly due to the recent scrappage schemes. But otherwise they still go for reasonable money and as Bob says, people tend to hang on to cars here until they completely expire. You can't base anything on observations in Paris – as most French people will tell you, Paris isn't really part of France at all...

As for BXs on motorways, anyone who cares to look will see us scooting along in the 1990 TZD estate tomorrow, on our way from Normandy to the Alps to ride up a few cols and watch the Tour.

[Philip Chidlow]

...scooting along in the 1990 TZD estate tomorrow, on our way from Normandy to the Alps to ride up a few cols and watch the Tour.

You sure know how to make me feel jealous!

[KevR]

...scooting along in the 1990 TZD estate tomorrow, on our way from Normandy to the Alps to ride up a few cols and watch the Tour.

You sure know how to make me feel jealous!

I suspect that when I'm sweating my nuts off grinding up the Col de la Colombiére on tuesday I may feel less smug about that....

[Colin Winn]

Wow - thanks to all for the advice(s). I never expected to get any replies and have been cowering under the awning of real life since I posted my original message. I'll privately e-mail some of you kind people to enquire further about various possibilities in this matter. I think you're right about most places having some local teccies who are always willing to pitch in for a decent soiree and a few bouteilles of vin rouge (or the rather excellent cremant in Burgundy!), but for some reason where my car lies, there seemed to be no-one around - only a renault garage the floor of which you could eat your dejeuner off but who doesn't wnat to seem to do anything to mine unless I pay him a Sun King's ransom. I'm a bit oif a novice in this forum game (don't get much time), so if my messages don't come through properly, please excuse . . . cheers all - I'll keep pondering (and reading, of course)

[KevR]

Hope you get it sorted Colin - I reckon a replacement egine's your best bet bet, all things considered.

Back to the subject of spotting BXs in France, just got back from the alps trip. Didn't see anything much interesting on the motorways (except several little Eriba Puck caravans, which I'm rather fond of). But we did lots of N-roads and back roads, and saw lots of BXs, from scruffy daily drivers to a few obviously pampered, shiny ones. Quite a few XMs, a decent amount of 2CVs (plus a couple of 2CV vans and a couple of Acadianes), and one or two amis, CXs and Meharis. Not one H van though - but having said that, got home to find someone had parked an H van horsebox on my drive. Ah, that'll be a friend wanting to borrow my hub puller and for me to help him sort his brakes....