Engine swap...

[D,arcy]

Hullo to members of the forum. Has anyone swapped out a diesel engine(1905cc) for a petrol engine(1905cc SRi) and what problems
can one expect during the change. The new engine will be attached to the original 4 speed auto box. The obvious will be the electrics
and the possibility of a wiring loom change?
Any helpful advice will be appreciated.Thanks.

[jamescarruthers]

Gearing!

[jeremyC5]

Don't fuel tanks have a different sized hole for the filling station pump nozzle ? re: petrol vs diesel.
will you need to replace the fuel tank as well ?
and you'll need to put on a petrol gauge to replace the one that measures diesel ... !! Lol

[Kaapelimies]

The diesel gearbox will be just fine, it's a little bit longer as diesel tends to use less revs. This will off course mean a little bit longer time to go 0-60. You will find that the car "crawls" quite willinfully as diesel has lower idling. Rev gauge has to be changed or use the sensor from the diesel engine (behind the block). Electrics are no problem as the ECU loom is separate. Though I would suggest you find an original BX loom as the 405 has ECU in the engine compartment if i remember it right? BX has it under (in your case) the drivers seat (we have it under the co-drivers seat here ).

[jamescarruthers]

On an auto it's more complicated than just the gearing. On an XM, the valve block on the autobox (controls shifts, therefore gears) was changed from diesel to petrol (or vice versa, I can't remember). It worked *technically* but was horrible to drive as it was in the wrong gear at the wrong speed.

Can you at least get the valve block from the petrol car when you get the engine if it as auto too?

[Kaapelimies]

You can shift the gear changing points by adjusting the kick-down cable so it's not a big problem.

[jamescarruthers]

That's not what a kickdown cable does.

[Kaapelimies]

Yes it does in these old boxes. I had a petrol box fitted in a diesel (with a diesel torque converter), so I do have a hunch on what you can do .

[Defender110]

Don't fuel tanks have a different sized hole for the filling station pump nozzle ? re: petrol vs diesel.
will you need to replace the fuel tank as well ?
and you'll need to put on a petrol gauge to replace the one that measures diesel ... !! Lol

No there is no issue using the same fuel tank and fuel gauge sensor, the diesel tank will just need to be flushed out with petrol before filling.

[JayW]

That's not what a kickdown cable does.

Seconded.

[rutter123]

Whilst on the subject of engine swaps does anyone know of any radical engine swaps into a bx? I'm aware of the European guys who put a xantia v6 lump into one but not heard of anything else.