ACTIVA MADNESS: Engine transplant or ACTIVA implants?

[davoxx]

Got the ACTIVA delivered an all. Good condition, just needs to put her back together. glad she is not going to be scrapped ....

(looking for a set of front fogs for a mk1 with the plastic surrounds, also a rear wiper for mk1 with the water pipe on wiper not cracked - with cover)

I have 3 choices which I'll put into separate comments . so you can quote them easier

To be honest, I'm leaning towards option two, but depends on finding an HDi engine. Is there anything I should be aware of while looking at one?
If I did go down this path.. anything else i should wire up/hook up while the car is dismantled?
Is there a pug cruise control for the manual HDi?

[davoxx]

Option One: fix the current engine - 2.0TCT
this depends on if the head is warped and needs a skim or not.
i think it might be as the delivery guy left it on to charge the battery (i think) having completely forgotten that there is no rad.

[davoxx]

Option Two: drop in a new engine - 2.0HDi
depends on how much an engine costs and how much to get it changed (don't trust myself to change it unaided).
i think (could be wrong) that it has the same base as the 2.0TCT and should just slot in?
is there anything in particular to look out for on the 2.0HDi when shopping for one?

[davoxx]

Option Three: stick the ACTIVA gear on an normal XANTIA.
this is will save me from having to pay 720 euro in VRT as they reckon the car is worth 2G ... who knows what they are smoking.
will take a lot of time and effort, but I'll know if we can make the ACTIVA the phoenix of cars!!!
I'll probably swap the sub-frames but I'll take note of the differences if any for future reference.
Also I'll have a normal looking ACTIVA in a non ACTIVA colour - even with the winter pack!!!
wonder if I can have an ACTIVA estate?

[andmcit]

How about

Option 4: fit a 2.1TD with a manual box

Option 5: fit a v6 with a manual box

Speak to Addo as he's currently hatching a plan with a wagon and ARCS bits.
Alternatively, check out Hattershaun's V6 manual Activa at a meeting over
in the UK sometime. I know a V6 Activa estate would be nice but
somewhere along the way a decent car or three will have to die to this end.

Despite the way things look as far as UK values go, these are mega rare
cars so keeping it original would be the best way to maintain one of the
survivors - I'm thrilled you've taken it on as I really did consider buying
it myself but my circumstances are a bit sh!t at this end. That'll be twice I
nearly bought it as Gareth Xantiaman offered it once before on this forum.

I'd suggest sticking the head back on with a decent gasket. The petrol heads
aren't susceptible to warping but do 'crock' gaskets once in the lifetime of
the engine and their compression ratio is nothing like a TD's.

Andrew

[Deanxm]

I will second that, the heads are strong but severe heat will anneal it and render it scrap though.
I voted to keep the TCT, its a good engine thats easy to work on, cheap to maintain and will run 180-200bhp fairly cheaply and easily, this is V6 power levels.
ok it wont give the economy of the V but then you cant have it all don't ruin a good car by fitting a plastic modern oil burner engine, if you must do as Andrew says and fit something with some balls, use the 2.1XUD

D

[Citroenmad]

I voted for option two, as id love a HDi Activa, that would be perfect for me

[addo]

As to the HDi transplant, you should check that the Activa diesel subframe is the same P/N as the regular diesel car of same motor type.

If the HDi has a motorised TB, cruise control retrofit would be harder.

Personally I would fit an Alfa GTA engine/box and blindside the ECU as required...

[andmcit]

You're talking Alfa v6 24v yes? A truly fabulous engine.

It'd be the electrickery that'd scare me off miles in the opposite direction
although the involved/heavy spannering wouldn't.

Andrew

[addo]

Possibly the best sounding non-inline six made. I don't actually think the electricals would be too hard, other than the dash display.

So much of the Xantia is "dumb" standalone computers it would still work, given volage and appropriate sensors.

[Citroenmad]

Id love a Alfa 166 as a play thing, but im a bit put off by its complexity.

I saw a gorgeous 166 today, in a very nice dark aubergine colour, it looked fantastic.

If your wanting the car as a daily driver, id go with the HDi, if for a toy then a V6.

[davoxx]

a lot of suggestions ...

a v6 is outta the question for two reasons - engine and road tax in ROI = 1300
2.1 TD is the old version of the 2.0HDi (110 hp) i thought? and i thought the 2.0HDi is a better engine?

I understand about keeping it original ... but i have a sickening feeling that it is warped .... true I'll know about the head later, but I've been told that they do go if the engine is running and overheats especially the TCT as the produce the most heat of the engines .... i'm hoping it is not gone ... but i want to have a plan of action if it is gone.

Alfa = no .. never did trust a second hand alfa engine, they generally go boom once they've been sold on ...

I'm always going to use a manual box


I see nobody likes the idea of implanting Activa into another xantia ..... so we'll call that plan z .....


still tempted by a diesel activa ..

[Citroenmad]

The HDi is a bit more economical than the 2.1, it has power through more of its rev range too, but performance is actually similar.

The 2,1 is more baqsic, less to go wrong and very well proven.

For its extra refinement and economy id go with the HDI, but mainly because you could get it tuned or remaped up to around 135-140bhp without problems, which would be beneficial to match the handling!

[Deanxm]

The XUD would do the same and you dont have any electrics to mess around with, you could also run it on veg i believe with the right pump and thats very cheap motoring.


D

[XantiaDaveEire]

Option Three: stick the ACTIVA gear on an normal Xantia.
this is will save me from having to pay 720 euro in VRT as they reckon the car is worth 2G ... who knows what they are smoking.
?

Dont get me started on the vrt here...

What a joke it is, all xantias according to them are valued at €2000,i was looking at a 96 xantia and the vrt is €560 ...as much as the car would cost in the U.K !!

I checked the vrt on a 04 c5 exclusive and it was €601.....

Where the hell is the logic in that??