BX14 mpg?

[Kitch]

How short is the gearing? What kind of revs at 70? It'll be mostly town driving though...

Not sure, mine used to pull around 3:45pm at 70mph

VTS conversion is do-able, but pointless. An XU9J4 (16v engine) fits a BX, because they came with them. It's a better engine too.
If you're going to tune a TU in it, go for a VTR block, an AX GTi/106 XSi/106 Rallye head and some bike carbs. Then get a Megajolt box to run the coil pack and go distributorless ignition. Bash a decent cam and 4-branch in it and you're knocking on the door of 120bhp. Same as VTS, but less pointless as you've stuck with 8v out of principle

I would like to see a VTS lump in a BX. It'd certainly be a tidy-looking engine bay, but if you declare it (which in fairness you won't get away with not doing should you have a punt) you're looking at a whacking premium (more than a 16v, which will still be quicker) and you lose the cheap-tax bracket.

[MULLEY]

Just fit nitrous to the 1400 engine, that'll be cheaper & probably more fun

[Defender110]

Just fit nitrous to the 1400 engine, that'll be cheaper & probably more fun

But for how long

[MULLEY]

It'll be allright I suspect that because it only gets used periodically & in short bursts, there is no real extra engine wear as its not like its revving any harder, it'll just rev quicker which i wouldn't have thought would be a problem, but then again i know feck all about nitrous but like the idea of just pressing a button or flicking a switch & you can overtake much safer than a standard slow bx can.

[ghaddon1701]

I achieved low to mid forties with mine mixed driving. They are quite low geared for a petrol. Higher top speeds achievable in the lower gears in a turbo diesel.

Regards Graham

[THE_Liam]

How short is the gearing? What kind of revs at 70? It'll be mostly town driving though...

Not sure, mine used to pull around 3:45pm at 70mph

VTS conversion is do-able, but pointless. An XU9J4 (16v engine) fits a BX, because they came with them. It's a better engine too.
If you're going to tune a TU in it, go for a VTR block, an AX GTi/106 XSi/106 Rallye head and some bike carbs. Then get a Megajolt box to run the coil pack and go distributorless ignition. Bash a decent cam and 4-branch in it and you're knocking on the door of 120bhp. Same as VTS, but less pointless as you've stuck with 8v out of principle

I would like to see a VTS lump in a BX. It'd certainly be a tidy-looking engine bay, but if you declare it (which in fairness you won't get away with not doing should you have a punt) you're looking at a whacking premium (more than a 16v, which will still be quicker) and you lose the cheap-tax bracket.

The only thing about going from TU - XU is in my experience of PSA cars you have to change the subframe and shafts, plus to be honest I've always rated the TU petrols higher than the XU petrols. My 306 S16 did 25mpg everywhere, and my 106 GTI did high 30's and was almost as quick. The XU 16v really drinks for a 2 litre in my opinion...

As for the declaring stuff, I declare all my mods down to stickers and my insurance is always pretty reasonable despite living in a really bad area for car crime and being 25. I'm not really bothered about the tax thing either because it's only £100 a year difference or something like that...

I might give it a go. I have the engine in the shed anyway

Cheers for all the replies by the way

[Dollywobbler]

You still need to consider the hydraulic pump. The pulley that drives it is part of the camshaft on the BX, which is why you have to get creative when fitting a non-hydro engine - even one from a seemingly similar Peugeot or non-hydro Citroen.

[Tim Leech]

You still need to consider the hydraulic pump. The pulley that drives it is part of the camshaft on the BX, which is why you have to get creative when fitting a non-hydro engine - even one from a seemingly similar Peugeot or non-hydro Citroën.

Petrol ones are driven off the bottom pulley Ian so no real worries there.

[Dollywobbler]

Ah, there you go then. Diesels are very different!

[THE_Liam]

The other thing I'm thinking of is an XUD9TE swap. Had loads of 306s with that engine and with a few pump mods and a bigger intercooler you can easily get 150bhp, with bigger turbos I've seen people get 180bhp before any internal work but I assume I'd have to change the subframe and shafts? I'd rather a TD BX to be honest but with not many about you can't be fussy...

[Dollywobbler]

There are certainly BXs like that about. I've experience of being a passenger in one with an XUD9 and by 'eck is it brisk!

[THE_Liam]

It's easy to do as well. An afternoon taking the pump apart to shim the governor and grind the LDA pin, wind up the boost and fuel and stick a front-mounted cooler on it and that's 150-160bhp...

[hilarystone]

The XU 16v really drinks for a 2 litre in my opinion...

I find the 16v very economical for a 160bhp engine - before I had a higher 5th gear fitted I was averaging 30 to 31mpg. Now with the Turbo D 5th gear am getting 34mg or better and I have a heavy right foot. On the Classic Challenge on a day with just pottering I had 38mpg once between top-ups … and another day 34mpg.
I n my experience the 16v is much more economical than the GTI 8v - my 4x4 averages around 28 and my Visa GTi with the 1600 version of the same engine about the same.

[ghaddon1701]

I have averaged 35mpg so far with my GTI 8v. Mixed driving. Hoping to get it a bit better than that. The trouble is its quite exciting to drive compared to a TD

[Kitch]

How short is the gearing? What kind of revs at 70? It'll be mostly town driving though...

Not sure, mine used to pull around 3:45pm at 70mph

VTS conversion is do-able, but pointless. An XU9J4 (16v engine) fits a BX, because they came with them. It's a better engine too.
If you're going to tune a TU in it, go for a VTR block, an AX GTi/106 XSi/106 Rallye head and some bike carbs. Then get a Megajolt box to run the coil pack and go distributorless ignition. Bash a decent cam and 4-branch in it and you're knocking on the door of 120bhp. Same as VTS, but less pointless as you've stuck with 8v out of principle

I would like to see a VTS lump in a BX. It'd certainly be a tidy-looking engine bay, but if you declare it (which in fairness you won't get away with not doing should you have a punt) you're looking at a whacking premium (more than a 16v, which will still be quicker) and you lose the cheap-tax bracket.

The only thing about going from TU - XU is in my experience of PSA cars you have to change the subframe and shafts, plus to be honest I've always rated the TU petrols higher than the XU petrols. My 306 S16 did 25mpg everywhere, and my 106 GTI did high 30's and was almost as quick. The XU 16v really drinks for a 2 litre in my opinion...

As for the declaring stuff, I declare all my mods down to stickers and my insurance is always pretty reasonable despite living in a really bad area for car crime and being 25. I'm not really bothered about the tax thing either because it's only £100 a year difference or something like that...

I might give it a go. I have the engine in the shed anyway

Cheers for all the replies by the way

You may well have to faff around with subframes etc, and in the shopping applications the TU is better than the XU. But for going quickly, the XU is superior IMO. VTS lump has a pretty restrictive head design, and aside from looking neat under the bonnet it's pretty characterless. The XU9J4 is a bllodhound compared with the TU5J4 (that's not knocking the TU5J4, it's just that it's not in the same league of fun.....I own both!)
TU is good on fuel, agreed, although the 2.0 16v XU's have always been decent too in my experience. The ZX 16v I had (same engine as S16) was brilliant on fuel....just slow. The 106 GTi GTi will always be better on fuel because it's lighter, and I'm guessing more aerodynamic.

Declaring stuff.....I used to go by the book, but the older I grow the less I give a fuck! I've been there and seen what happens with undeclared engines etc. The reality is that most of the time the policyholder gets away with it. Not saying it's right, or moral etc. But you don't get thanked or given a discount for being honest - you just continue to get legally robbed each year!

Just my view though, not saying it's right....