BX 16V Auto

Ian_Fearn · Post by **Ian_Fearn** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 6:05 pm

I got a call today off a chap in the CCC wanting to know if an auto box could be put into a BX 16v?

Without knowing anything about the auto box i'm assuming like most auto's they're pretty fragile. So potentially the power of the 16v might not be suitable but i suppose the question is:

Is it possible?

Kitch · Post by **Kitch** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 9:15 pm

No other question in the world's history of ever has ever made this following word so fitting.

Why?

(Unless he's disabled and wants to experience the engine, in which case I retract above comment!)

Mr B · Post by **Mr B** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 9:32 pm

I doubt the BX auto box would take the power but I suppose one from a V6 Xantia or even an XM would take it, providing it would fit.

Kitch · Post by **Kitch** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 2:04 pm

The Xant V6 box is controlled by an ECU so you may encounter problems. Andy C will have a spare in his garden among the plantation no doubt. Technically it would bolt on however. The later XM with ES engine uses the same setup so same story again. The earlier ZP engines were a different layout i believe.

The strongest contender I'd say would be the auto box from the XM 2.1TD's or if you can find it....one from a 2.0 16v Xant or 406 because they're all XU engines and very similar, all be it a cast block. The ratios on an auto box would give it on par performance with a milkfloat however, mainly because the 16v thrives on 4.5k + rpm and short gear ratios which autos obviously don't usually have!
Plus, for the economy the 16v gives when it is having its neck rung, you expect it to deliver the performance for the amount of cash it's swallowing!

Would be better to fit a 2.0 CT engine like in an Activa. Very low rev band and a punchy turbo would keep it shifting. Would be smoother than a pint of John Smiths on a hot day. Fuel bill would hurt though!

akarso · Post by **akarso** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 9:46 pm

It's an old thread, for sure, but I thought it may be an interesting update: I have 16v with auto in it, namely 4HP14, previous owner fitted it and have been driving the car for a few years. It's a bit strange driving experience, though.

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 9:50 pm

Blimey, get some piccies of your car up on the site pronto please & have you filmed said beast on youtube, we've gotta see this thing being driven

Otherwise i may not believe you

akarso · Post by **akarso** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 10:02 pm

MULLEY wrote:Blimey, get some piccies of your car up on the site pronto please & have you filmed said beast on youtube, we've gotta see this thing being driven Otherwise i may not believe you

Well, for now I have only two photos taken a month ago: 1, 2, but these are shots from the outside, so nothing fancy. I'll get some movie this week.

I wasn't even aware that this car is such a rarity

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 10:49 pm

I assume the 16v engine was put into a GTi or TZD body, by the look of it (no 16v body kit).

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 10:52 pm

Very rare, possibly as rare as the only 2 Turbo Diesel auto's, one in the UK & one in Holland that are known on the site.

Lovely looking car with ace alloy's, looking forward to seeing it on youtube.

akarso · Post by **akarso** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 7:05 am

Philip Chidlow wrote:I assume the 16v engine was put into a GTi or TZD body, by the look of it (no 16v body kit).

indeed, body shell is 1.6 pallas, but most of the parts were swapped with damaged 16v (except for the seats, unfortunately, and aircon radiator and compressor). Later on it was bought by a person with leg disabilities. The man put auto in there and drove the car happily for a few years, even attending two amateur sports events.

Then it was bought by me

EDIT: here is the movie from the ride. Another one I've made shows interior and engine, but since it's nothing special I didn't upload it yet.

Post by **docchevron** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 2:41 am

Interesting stuff.
I have toyed with the idea of stuffing an autobox in my 16v since my left leg as less use than a labour politician these days, although I ws going to have an epicyclic and diff made specially for it..

I assume the flexiplate is from a 8V GTi auto for the CAS?

akarso · Post by **akarso** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 7:23 am

docchevron1472 wrote:I assume the flexiplate is from a 8V GTi auto for the CAS?

I have no idea how it was made, I thought it was pretty much bolt on mod. I can ask previous owner all technical questions, if You want.

BTW - is there any other autobox that would fit in the car, or any way to make stronger the one I already have?

First of all, I am not yet sure if I want to keep current setup, it's tempting in many ways, but I have a feeling that crankshafts are made of rubber every time I floor the pedal

But keeping it or not, I'd like to rebulid and tune the engine, probably n/a. My aim is somewhere between 180 - 200 HP (on the flywheel). I doubt that 4HP14 will be able to stand the torque, then. So either swap for manual, swap for stronger auto, or strengthening current transmission (have no idea if it is possible and no idea about the cost).

Post by **docchevron** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:20 pm

Well, the auto has no flywheel as such, it's replaced with a flexiplate, sot he teeth ont he flywheel that are used to sense engine position would be required to tell the ECU where the engine is..
AFAIK the 8V is not the same as the 16v teeth, although I've never actually checked..

I'd be amazed if the autobox would take 200BHP for very long TBH.
I imagine it would melt!

ZF are really very helpful if you have lots of money and tell them exactley what you want. They built me a box for a TD to spec, and it works very well, but it took then 3 months to make it and get it to me, and it cost, er, rather a lot more than the car is worth by a fairly scary margin.

The siemens box off the V6 should cope with it, but it then comes back to the problem of the CAS and how to drive it, and fitting it all in a BX!

You could just tune it and see how long the box lasts?
Wouldn't have thought the torque converter, brake band or clutches would take it though for long...

Really interesting stuff though, it's something I've been idly thinking about for a while..