Advise before I do it

rossnunn · Post by **rossnunn** » 15 Feb 2005, 23:53

Ok as you lot know the ZX is broke & needs fixing, I need some advise.
Its a 1.4 SPI 3Dr (Elation) that I've done bits and pieces to (lowering, electric windows etc etc). It has 87K on the clock and is leaking alot of oil from the front, drivers side of the headgaskit. It has a dry or worn bearing in either the PAS pump or the alternator and has a low end knock that unless its my brain tuned into it is slowly getting worse. The whole thing shudders away from the line when cold & I have a fight with the synchromesh everytime I downshift from 3rd to 2nd & somethinges snag gears on the way up.
Now do I:
a) Spend a few hundred getting it all fixed. Running the risk somthing else might brake
b) Spend a few hundred on a 1.4 MPI engine
c) Spend a few hundred on a 1.6i, 2.0 16v or 1.9TD depending on insurance
d) Throw the whole thing away & write it off as a bad investment
Its due to come off the road and the end of the month & I'd like to get it back in service as soon as possable. A mate has a workshop & is quite happy to do anywork it needs for a few pints at the local.
Thanks in advance.
Ross

oilyspanner · Post by **oilyspanner** » 16 Feb 2005, 00:15

Looks like you might be in the market for a good low miles engine and box, its probably the cheapest option whilst getting your value out of the mods you have done, the car itself cant be that tired at 87k compared to many its only a baby yet.
Stewart

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » 16 Feb 2005, 00:16

Throw it away and start again. Doing engine changes to a budget is nearly always impossible unless you have a donor car - and if thats the case - probably better to go the other way and take off any good bits on yours.
jeremy

tomsheppard · Post by **tomsheppard** » 16 Feb 2005, 01:00

How many of those 87000 did you do. How much have you spent. Divide that by miles and there's your investment. 10,000 miles for £1000 is not expensive by todays standards.
Modify it and see your insurance figure go up like the lost lamented Concorde, keep it standard and you'll have to find a motor for it. ZXs are cheap. if the shell is a good one, then an MOT failure and the hire of an engine crane could just be an option but
If you cost your time, then you'd be better off doing as Jeremy says. If your mate is competent, then it should rightfully be more than a few pints! I'm always suspicious about lowered cars, especially with small engines. If you are going to thrash it to death, buy a Diesel!

rossnunn · Post by **rossnunn** » 16 Feb 2005, 02:14

Ok all fair points.
I bought the car about 2 years ago with 75K on it and all was well. The main reason of going for a engine change over a replacment car is that a 3dr ZX's are quite rare (although a few have gone through ebay latley) & I'd like to keep the shell. I have not long had the rear beam bearings & bushes done as well as some other bits & pieces. It would seem a shame to scrap a N reg car when the only thing it has wrong with it is the engine.
My mate is a Mechanic my trade & used to work at Citroen back in the days of the ZX. I have always used him & am happy to let him do the work.
The other factor here is cash. I can get together £250 which I'm told would do for the engine & fitting. I cannot afford to go out and buy another ZX on the same or later plate as these still old their value quite well, and going backwards is not something I'd want to do unless forced.
I'm not one for 'thrashing' about but do like the thing to look the part.
This would also be the first major bill for the car since its existance.

adamskibx · Post by **adamskibx** » 16 Feb 2005, 05:53

Sounds like the best option is definately the engine change. Its quite unusual that the engine should die at that milage. My BX 1.4 has just hit 80,000 miles and performs as new so far. Im not sure but I think the engine in the BX 1.4 is the same except for the fact that its a carb engine, not fuel injected, but I wouldnt have thought the main body of the engine would be any different (I may be wrong but it will be compatible to some extent).So dont limit your search to ZX cars for their engines. The Pergeot 306 has the same engine exactly, I think, and also the old 205's etc. Its almost certainly this 1360cc 'TU' unit. Your Citroen friend will know whether any of these changes are possible. Im sure you could pick up a very low milage BX14 etc for next to nothing if its failed the MOT on other things. Failing that it looks like I might have to get rid of my BX before June for parts or for repair as the front subframe got bent in an accident with a rock. Im sure you cant wait that long but I wont be expecting anything much for the bits or nothing at all for the whole car. Just think of it as a last resort strategy as its some time away and I need the car until June when the MOT expires but if your ZX is still needing an engine then and you havent got round to it im sure my BX14 willl be available. Cheers, Adam

rossnunn · Post by **rossnunn** » 16 Feb 2005, 05:58

Thanks Adam.
Yeh one of the plus sides to owning a Cit/Pug is there is a whole viraity of engines that will go in.

Daniel B · Post by **Daniel B** » 16 Feb 2005, 14:36

Hi Ross,
no experience myself, but sounds like a done deal.
Knowing a mate who is apparently technically competent is a huge bonus, the key factor being whether you can find a suitable replacement lump.
To keep costs/insurance to a minimum I would assume you would want to get an identical replacement unit.
You can always change it again a few years down the line, as you say the 3 drs are pretty rare.
Good luck.
Dan

rashmore · Post by **rashmore** » 16 Feb 2005, 14:46

Go for the swap, relativley easy to do if got equipment which your mechanic friend will have. Look at pug 309 also, as my mums pug 1.4 is exactdermondo the same as bro's zx 1.4

adamskibx · Post by **adamskibx** » 18 Feb 2005, 23:45

Thats interesting about the 309 engine being the same as I know at one point the "1.4" engine in the 309 was totally different to the BX one. Maybe the BX got the updated TU one first and the 309 used the older 1.4 as in a 1989 What Car magazine I have they do a comparative test between the two and they comment on the different engines of the two cars. The artical was titled "Big and basic or small and equipped" or something to that effect and they compared a Ren.5, Metro GTE, 309, Escort I think, all at the same price and the smaller cars obviously being further up the range. You dont get articles like that anymore.

bikeboyz · Post by **bikeboyz** » 19 Feb 2005, 04:44

Keep the car you have and find another engine. The engine will be a 1360cc TU series motor, these are found in Citoen AX, later BX, ZX, Saxo and Peuegots 106, later 205s, 206, 306 some 309, and 405. You may need to combine your exisiting fuel injection system to the new engine. Peugeot 309 employed the old Simca designed engine for early models, so you wont find a TU motor in cars before 88, or 89.