BX 2.0 CT Turbo, it begins....

[Kitch]

You'll have to get a crack on....Ryan's a year old on New Years Eve! He won't be in nappies forever

[mike22861]

like the TCT engine ive had 4 Activas only ever had one engine fault a blown turbo that wasn't really the engine just ancillary I do have a spare 99 TCT sat at home but I wouldnt put it in a BX it put a PUG 205 1.9 Rally engine in and turbo it take me back 20 years lol

[docchevron]

I always found the TCT worked better in the XM than the Xantia, and I have no idea why!

A V6 will go in a BX with some chopping, i looked into this a long time back. Just never did it.

Personally I reckon a D6C is fast enough as is really..

[Philip Chidlow]

Finding a suitable donor might be harder than you think, and I tend to agree that an XM might be the better option... BUT as you are talking about making WTF go faster and cruise better - and you want petrol - a Xantia 2.0 16v might be a good idea. Again, finding a donor might be tricky. If it was me I'd find a BX GTi 8v - auto preferably - and fit that. Superb engine/'box combo. A bit thirsty when pushed but a joy to drive.

But then again, I would also seriously consider a 1.9 TD from a Xantia. Fairly plentiful and a great engine too. Use some ingenuity - spending some time and effort/money - and put some better sound insulation on the bulkhead/bonnet too and it'd be a decent (and economical) cruiser as well as having enough grunt to keep you entertained.

[Mike E (uk)]

Why not just convert the BX into a BX16V, it's just a matter of swapping bits over which are designed to fit it.

You can cost it up before you start, and you know it will all work.

The only mod reqd to make it a good cruiser is the taller 5th gear.

You would get the cleanest example on the road, & it would be worth money when finished too. ( unlike a modified BX.)

If the engine is in good fettle, you don't need to rev it hard to make good progress, and I know I've said it before, but if you think your BX16V needs more power, it probably is not running properly.

Nitrous is available if you really want to go mad.

Mike

[Tim Leech]

To resurect this thread, I am collecting a 2.0TCT engine and box out of an early Xantia Activa very soon, apparently it was dyno'ed at 211bhp before the car had a suspension failure and was broken.

All I need now is something to fit it in (it wont be my Xantia), maybe a white BX 14E? would it be easier on a car already fitted with EFI?

I appreciate any input, i am sure there are those who will laugh and hope the project fails but I will look to make it work. Will the standard BX drievshafts (maybe from a TD I think) fit the Activa box etc, also I will need a bigger radiator and get the BX hp pump to work, all things that will be fun and games!

[citronut]

make sure its a TU engined 1.4 Tim, otherwise you wont have the engine/box mounting points on the inner wings,

i have a white M reg XANT that just needs an engine you could purchase from me

regards malcolm

[Tim Leech]

Thanks Malc, but then it would be just another Xantia 2.0CT!

I may end up fitting it to the blue 16TRS unless I can find a XU petrol with a good shell but busted engine?

[Philip Chidlow]

"Although if you do a TCT conversion on a BX... AND GET IT READY FOR THE CCC2014 ...I'll eat one of my kids........" No I won't but hey. What a project!

[Kitch]

It won't be easy. For a kick-off you need the ML5T gearbox, which won't fit the BX without some intensive modification. You could possibly fit a BE, but how well it will stand up to the torque is unknown. IF it is kicking out 211bhp (which I doubt - there are lots of funny figures floating around) it will also be dishing out around 240lb ft of torque. Believe me, with the stock 150bhp it'll make a BX fly with very little effort, but it's not going to be easy to fit that.

Your best bet (as far as I'm concerned) is probably to run a stand alone management system, like GEMS or even make a Megasquirt system for it. I don't think there will be a BX out there that will lend itself to an easy conversion, so you're best off starting with a good shell, getting all the hardware to fit and then plumb in an ECU to fit. You've got the advantages of being able to map it then too.

Not going to be cheap, I reckon for a garage to do it (properly) you're looking at a good few thousand (speaking as a garage who does such things). Unless you're going to take a few evening courses in mechanics and fabrication

[Tim Leech]

I did think about the gearbox, and maybe fitting a 16v/or TD gearbox box instead, I dont want to start hacking the BX shell about if I can avoid it, as its an XU petrol will it mate up to a BE3 ok?

Its a long term project, I will stick it in my lock up, make a list of what I need to buy/replace and what Ive got and take it from there.

I take it if you removed the injection and fitted a pair of big f*ck of carbs it would kinda defeat the object? Would it be easier if the donor car has efi already?

Im not touching the GT but have the 16TRS an 19TZi which could be used unless I find a cheap GTI 8v.

[mat_fenwick]

It would probably be more difficult to get the fuelling right over the full rev range with carbs, than with a proper mappable ECU. Do you have the ECU and loom from the Xantia? I think what Kitch is saying is that it may have some sensor inputs (road speed perhaps) which aren't applicable to a BX installation.

If I ever bring in enough money from spannering to give up the day job this is the sort of project I'd like to take on for people! I.e. something that requires a bit more thought than simply carrying out servicing and repairs.

Good luck with it - I'd be inclined to fit a BE gearbox and see how that goes - it's unlikely you'll be doing mega miles in it so a shorter lifespan (unless catatrophically shorter!) might not be an issue. A drop in solution for a bigger radiator would be that from a turbo diesel, but if they're hard to find it might be easier to get one made to fit in the space available. If it was me doing the project I'd probably try and make the original ECU work, but that would be more down to cash rather than it being the ideal solution.

[Kitch]

It would probably be more difficult to get the fuelling right over the full rev range with carbs, than with a proper mappable ECU. Do you have the ECU from the Xantia? I think what Kitch is saying is that it may have some sensor inputs (road speed perhaps) which aren't applicable to a BX installation.

If I ever bring in enough money from spannering to give up the day job this is the sort of project I'd like to take on for people! I.e. something that requires a bit more thought than simply carrying out servicing and repairs.

Good luck with it - I'd be inclined to fit a BE gearbox and see how that goes - it's unlikely you'll be doing mega miles in it so a shorter lifespan (unless catatrophically shorter!) might not be an issue. A drop in solution for a bigger radiator would be that from a turbo diesel, but if they're hard to find it might be easier to get one made to fit in the space available.

Move down here Mat, I'll give you a job!

[Kitch]

I did think about the gearbox, and maybe fitting a 16v/or TD gearbox box instead, I dont want to start hacking the BX shell about if I can avoid it, as its an XU petrol will it mate up to a BE3 ok?

Its a long term project, I will stick it in my lock up, make a list of what I need to buy/replace and what Ive got and take it from there.

I take it if you removed the injection and fitted a pair of big f*ck of carbs it would kinda defeat the object? Would it be easier if the donor car has efi already?

Im not touching the GT but have the 16TRS an 19TZi which could be used unless I find a cheap GTI 8v.

The problem with a BE is that it was never designed to take the torque levels, and torque is what kills gearboxes, not power. The 16v has a decent amount of power when you scream it, but it's pretty gutless overall. The TD in a BX, or even a Xantia only kicks out around 150lb ft at best.
The 2.1TD, the 2.0 HDI 110 and the CT all used the ML5T box, and they've all got torque figures around the 180lb ft mark.

That said, my Picasso is dishing out 206lb ft these days, and I think that's got a BE4 in it! A BE would physically fit - I suppose trying it for a while won't hurt as they practically bolt on. Just sacrifice a gearbox in the name of research! You'll need to change the flywheel though, IIRC.

Carbs are shit, avoid those. The standard injection system on the CT is pretty restrictive, but the fact you chose a BX that already has EFI makes no difference.....they're completely different systems from different eras. As Mat says, the Xantia uses road speed inputs, suspension ECU inputs (and outputs to it).....all sorts.
Individual throttle bodies would be good, but they'd need a helluva custom intake manifold making. Personally I'd stick with the standard injection manifold, try and find a larger plenum, get someone to machine the head so it's actually capable of shifting some air and fit a Megasquirt system or similar to the original components. That way YOU control what the ECU needs to know, and how it deals with it.

Or someone who knows what they're doing does. I work with a Megaquirt guru - it's a simple system and not well regarded in geek tuning circles, but for what you want it would be fine.

[Tim Leech]

Thanks for all your input guys, I am rather green when it comes to this kinda thing BUT I will give it my best shot, getting a td radiator and gearbox wont be an issue.

Theres no ECU with the package (it was only £100 though) so I will have get one, so will ask on the FCF for that. Also I will no doubt need the Xantia downpipe with lambda probe etc and then mate that to a BX TD/16v exhaust.

I imagine theres lots of sensors that will need plumbing in, rev counter pick up, distributor issues etc etc!