Tuning

[OwenS]

Im thinking of getting my BX krypton tuned or similar....has anyone done anyhting like this??

[Stewart (oily!)]

If it has electronic ignition and has been serviced properly theres not much to gain though krypton tuners do contain some good diagnostic tools if the thing is running badly, replace plugs, filters etc before getting it done though.
Stewart

[cavmad]

I don`t want to put you off but every single vehicle I`ve had that`s been Crypton tuned has ended up worse than before they started. They also always (in my experience) tell you something`s knackered and therefore won`t warranty their work.
The prime example of this was an old Bedford CF camper I bought about 3 years ago. Got some welding and bits done, took it for the test got emissions checked and came back as `fine`. Didn`t tick over especially well so got it Crypton tuned the day before a bloody long journey for holiday.Bloke says engine, dizzy and God knows what else are `completely knackered` and he `wouldn`t go next door in it`. Bollocks I thought, I`m in the RAC so I`m going for it. Stalled once then ran like a dream for about a 300 mile each way trip-no problems at all. I have absoultely no faith what-so-ever in Crypton tuning. Like Stewart says there`s not much to gain and if you replace plugs/filters/oil etc yourself you`ll probably find it`ll be a load better.

[ken newbold]

I too agree with cavmad, years ago I sent my Austin Maxi for Crypton tuning, when I went to collect it they told me there was an imbalance in the compression so they couldn't tune it properly.
The car ran like sh1t.
I took it for my uncle to look at and he said how much have they charged you for this? £36quid I said. (quite a bit in those days)
To which he replied" I can make it run better than that for nowt" and he did.

[OwenS]

my Austin Maxi

Bit off topic I know, but which rides better hyrolastic/hydragas or hydropneumatic?

[AndersDK]

my Austin Maxi

Bit off topic I know, but which rides better hyrolastic/hydragas or hydropneumatic?

Bit off ??
- you completely changed the subject mate

[ken newbold]

very,very similar in my experience. when I ran out of maxi's I moved on to Citroens. A newly charged hyrolastic system rode very much like a BX but the Citroen just has it especially the petrol ones.

[DLM]

I started my motoring career in an Austin 1300 with the usual terminal chassis rot. Though it rode very well I'd rank it as less good than any BX, except perhaps the sportier BX variants, where we're into a "horses for courses" scenario.

As for tuning, Owen, I'd look to the secondhand Peugeot/Citroen parts bin for improvement: your post about fuel-injection may be a better way of looking at it, unless the early AX GT (before the "i") had a pair of carbs, or a better carb setup than the standard. Tuning add-ons are one of the best ways I know of to part with lots of money for relatively little return. Also, remember your insurerers and what their views will be on a modified car. I'm not anti-performance, just a bit skeptical about the benefits of a lot of go-faster add-ons sold. The go-faster normally referers to your money in these cases, rather than your car.

[tom]

Crypton tuning is diagnostic testing. With a skilled operator, it is wonderful at sorting out whether your misfire is due to fuel or sparks. The usual simian is not bright enough to use it properly. A fifty year old with an old tuning rig and a labcoat will know what to do. Anyone else probably won't.
If you want to go faster, though,
David talks sense. Why the fXXk tune the 1400 when there are 1600 cars around that nobody wants?
If that isn't quick enough, there are 1900 GTIs that cost next to nothing; certainly less than the rise in insurance premium for a modded 1.4. Count in the extra group on the insurance and you'll still be quids in. Only a twit would do it!
A well run in Tizzydee is good for 120 and doesn't need tuning. It also does 50 MPG!

[DLM]

If mileage per gallon is no object, there's a nice bright red GTi on ebay (OK - not tax or ticket) starting at fifty. Remember, the engine is that from a Peugeot Gti 1.9 towing an only marginally heavier body around.

There aren't enough of these around that are being loved, but on the other hand, your insurance company may not like it.

If you could find a TZi (even a TZI estate - great fin and a heck of a lot of load room), this again has the same engine as the 205 GTi, but I was surprised to find it had the same insurance rating as a 19TGD, though that may have had something to do with the obligatory alarm/immobiliser (a bit of a nightmare in practice, especially as it was armed from the plip, which gave up when one of the receiver pins rusted away and left the alarm "armed", with no way of starting the engine or disabling the alarm).

What's more. it will have a temp and oil pressure gauge to allay most paranoiaic fears.

[Barnsley BXer]

It's the same as everything,there are krypton tuners and there are krypton tuners.A few years ago my dad had a 1900 gti.It went well to start with,but when a well renowned local tuner had had his hands on it,it was wickedly fast,much faster than the 92 gti hurricane I used to have.Like BXcrazed,I also started my motoring career with an Austin 1300 but the Vanden Plas version.What a beautiful car that was before it succomed to the dreaded tin worm

[M]

I also started my motoring career with an Austin 1300 but the Vanden Plas version.What a beautiful car that was before it succomed to the dreaded tin worm

Must be an age thing - that was my first car to, Austin 1300 Mk2, four door in gleaming white (and shagged rusty rear subframe). VTC 263H.

I believe Gordon Burns does Krypton tuning.....

[cavmad]

I can see the value of a good crypton tune but have yet to find someone decent-I know the timing etc can be set spot on (in theory at least) but that just reminds me of the bad experiences I`ve had. I forgot that everyone had also told me they `wouldn`t warranty the work because the distributor needed attention` on a variety of cars that I`ve owned-it`s just a cop out as far as I`m concerned and I can`t see me using another crypton tuning `expert` ever again.
Funny how so many of us have owned similar cars: I`ve had a couple of Maxi`s in the past and my dad had about 3 or 4 as company cars. He also had an Austin 3 litre which I think had the `C` series engine as fitted to the MGC`s and I`m sure had hydrolastic suspension too. We went on holiday to Cornwall one year when someone ran up the back of us in an AD0 16at a roundabout-turned out to be the father of my brother`s school mate! Wrote his car off and barely marked our 3 litre.
I`ve never owned but always wanted an AD0 16, one day when I have some spare cash I intened to get a good one.

[Mike E (uk)]

Fuel injection is the way to go, even if speed is not your top priority.
A BX GTI is not a very thirsty car.

Carbs are simply not accurate enough at metering fuel.

It is a pity that the only BXs with fuel injection were the 1900cc variants, a 1.4i Motronic would have been a great all rounder, but in those days the 'i' only went on the up-market versions. A 100hp 1.4i would have sold very well I think.

I think there a was a 1.6i, but that had a cat, and the latest 1.9i GTI BX had a Zantia cat engine IIRC and I have driven one of those on an L plate. It felt feeble compared with the earlier version, and used more fuel too.

The 1.9i engine with the 5th gear set fom a 16V car would give superb motorway economy. I know someone who has this set up, and he rates it highly.

I have a turbo D 5th gear cog set in my 16V BX and have measured 42mpg, and I was not pottering along.


Mike

[DLM]

.....but a BX GTi or TZi does seem enormously thirsty when compared to a diesel or turbodiesel BX, and considerably trickier to keep IN tune. I've been there, albeit only for a short time. It was fun, though....