BX 2.0 CT Turbo, it begins....

[Tim Leech]

I have this daft idea of fitting a XU10Te from a Xantia Activa/406 or XM CT to a BX, WTF in fact, is it stupid amounts of work or is it possible.

[Kitch]

Not impossible by any stretch, but fairly pointless.

[Vanny]

Nothing is impossible, but its not a straight drop in by any means! There are all kinds of foul points i think you have to move an engine mount (or make a new upper bracket) or something equally annoying. Not to forget the ECU is bus based and not self contained, and i seem to think they have a built in immobiliser?

Looked at it with someone about 10 years ago now, and it simply wasn't worth the hassle.

[Tim Leech]

OK worth a thought, if you bought a donor car with everything that would make it easier I guess.

Is there any easier option?, I love the 16TRS as its so mint, the bodys pretty perfect as is the shell and interior.

[MULLEY]

Convert to a turbo diesel, that way you know the 1.7 engine or the 1.9 dturbo engines will fit

[Kitch]

I'd like to do a 2.1TD, a 2.0HDi or a V6.

Or.....a 2.0i 16v Xantia lump with a turbo.

If you're starting with a TRS as a base the diesel options would be best, as otherwise you're better off starting with a 16v if you want a balls-out fast petrol car, purely for the handling of the power.

Having said all that, I actually think the best engine you could replace that with (if you wanted to be different) would be a Saxo VTR 1.6 TU. The gearing is fairly relaxed, they're punchy and they can happily achieve 35-40mpg. They're also more refined than a TU and practically bomb-proof. Power-wise they're pretty much the same as the XU, but they're a shite load easier to work on. It's a much better engine - that's why it replaced the XU5. Only drawback that I can see is weight - iron block means the engine weighs slightly more, but then counter that with the lighter MA gearbox instead of the BE.

All the BX 14 TU parts will adopt it to fit properly too.

[hilarystone]

The Activa engines are really thirsty - I don't get much north of 25mpg with my Activa. It may be a bit better in an BX as its a lot lighter but I don't they are inherently efficient engines unlike the 16v.

[Tim Leech]

Cheers guys, the saxo engine has less power than i have now, so not really worth it plus dont want it to be a diesel, was after something to make me smile when I buried the loud pedal...decisions...

[Vanny]

why not just lob an 8v gti engine in? hardly slow, and you could turbo it for the extra poke. or a late zx 16v if you can find one, more reliable than an mi16 i believe. the newer the engine the harder the conversion, but yes a complete ish donor helps.

i did look at all the hdi option at one point and again its the wiring thats the problem. on a petrol car you can at least fit an aftermarket ecu to resolve some of the difficulty with electronics.

[Way2go]

why not just lob an 8v gti engine in? hardly slow, and you could turbo it for the extra poke.

Interesting.......do you know of anyone who has done this and the results?

[Tim Leech]

Where do i get one???

[Vanny]

Its been done to death in a 205, google it, basically you stick the battery in the boot (which is a doddle mind) and put the turbo where the battery was, with some trick exhaust. Kits come up on eBlag from time to time. Oh and on 205GtiDrivers.

[frog]

Yeah, I would love to turbo my valver, but that damn hp pump is in the way. Can't move it to the other side thanks to the intake manifold.

I've had daydreams about an XU10J4 or J4RS with xantia ancillaries (pump), might need its intake too, then could you do away with the FDV also? Would free up some room above the gearbox for a suitable sized turbo, then you just have to play with intercooler positioning and piping, exhaust manifold, aftermarket ecu, ?intake manifold, turbo oil feed.

Sounds expensive!

I'd just go down the Gti XU9 route for WTF, add a thinner head gadget for some more compression, maybe a cam. Sounds fun!

[Vanny]

bigger alternator and an electric pump might solve the hp pump issue. that or if you fit a micro alternator you can probably squeeze in the twin out xantia pump.

[Kitch]

Cheers guys, the saxo engine has less power than i have now

I'll bet you £1000 it doesn't!