Lord help me oppo

"BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires" (biturbo228) 09/10/2014 at 05:39 • Filed to: Bad Ideas

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If !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! goes for under £300 I might buy it. Hard to go wrong for such little money, and if it proves to be diabolically slow I'll swap in a 2.2 HDi, drive it for 6 months and sell it for ~£1500!

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duurtlang > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 09/10/2014 at 06:09

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You know what I'm looking at this afternoon? A BX GTI 16V for another Oppo member. The 1.9 diesel is slow but durable. It does sound a bit agricultural.

Jobjoris > duurtlang 09/10/2014 at 06:11

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Not the one in Breda I mentoined a while ago I presume? If so: come grab a cup of coffee!

Jobjoris > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 09/10/2014 at 06:14

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That 1.9 engine will probably outlive you. The hydraulics won't. Actually a damn easy car to work on. Them rusty bits though... You're able to weld yourself right?

Brian Silvestro > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 09/10/2014 at 07:13

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I wouldn't be able to resist if I was there.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Brian Silvestro 09/10/2014 at 08:09

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I'm having difficulty myself...

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Jobjoris 09/10/2014 at 08:24

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Yeah, I can weld :) I wouldn't consider it if I couldn't. I really want one, just for the suspension raising itself when you start it like an 80s vision of a space-ship.

Would be a cool car to drive around for 6 months and then sell on :)

Brian Silvestro > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 09/10/2014 at 08:25

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By the way, that Alfa I bid on went for $12k, a fucking steal. If only I had money...

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > duurtlang 09/10/2014 at 08:29

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Neat :) I'd love a 16v. Slow but durable isn't something I've got in the fleet at the moment, so it would probably be quite useful.

If I get tired of the slow, I would love to do a 2.2 HDi swap. Not sure how difficult it would be, but it would definitely increase the value somewhat.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Brian Silvestro 09/10/2014 at 08:37

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Good Lord that is a steal. I hate moments like that, when you have to let incredible deals pass you by.

I've had to let so many go recently: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1981-ALFA-…

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ALFA-ROMEO…

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alfa-Romeo…

Brian Silvestro > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 09/10/2014 at 08:42

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*breaks down crying*

SO MANY DEALS

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Brian Silvestro 09/10/2014 at 08:47

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Oh, I forgot this one too: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1987-FIAT-…

Brian Silvestro > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 09/10/2014 at 08:48

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*dies*

twochevrons > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 09/10/2014 at 08:56

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Nice! I can tell you now, those seats are some of the best in the business.

My Citroën-mania is flaring up again. Last weekend, I met a guy over here who owns two DSes, and let me drive one ! Now I'm looking at DS and SM projects with a bizarre mixture of terror and enthusiasm.

twochevrons > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 09/10/2014 at 09:00

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I'd say that the 16v keeps most of that durability (at least relative to speed)! My Dad's 16v had been driven hard by previous owners for 320,000km, and it still runs beautifully. He had the valve stems done on it recently, but aside from that, we don't think the engine has ever been opened.

The longevity of those '80s and '90s PSA diesels is amazing, though. I looked at a turbo diesel Xantia with over 400,000km on it once, and a friend of mine has some interstellar mileage (can't remember the number) on his Peugeot 306 HDi that he bought new.

twochevrons > duurtlang 09/10/2014 at 09:03

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Tell me more! I love the 16v (my Dad has one, and I've had plenty of fun driving it).

At some stage, when I have enough money, I may have to engage your services. I've come to the realisation that I need a Citroën in my life again, and all that I can find here are either ludicrously expensive showpieces, or consist of more rust than car.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > twochevrons 09/10/2014 at 10:38

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Hmmm, in which case if I can find an Mi16 engine I might have to stick that in instead :)

The HDi does appeal from a fuel economy perspective as well as speed (with a remap). Not something I'd even considered until I owned the Jaaag :S that thing gulps down fuel if you put the hammer down :)

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > twochevrons 09/10/2014 at 10:44

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'A bizarre mix of terror and enthusiasm'

Perfect way of describing it :) I should definitely feel terror with the projects I'm looking at, but I think the part of my brain that generates that is faulty :)

I'd love to have a drive in a DS. Definitely should be on any car enthusiast's bucket list :)

twochevrons > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 09/10/2014 at 10:48

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It's a shame that so many Mi16s and BX 16vs were cut up for engine transplants. That said, I've driven a Peugeot 205 with a 16v engine swap (briefly driving the donor car for the swap was my first Citroën experience), and that thing is terrifyingly quick.

Even the 16v isn't all that thirsty if you drive it gently – after all, it's only having to move around 1000kg of car. The problem is, it takes an incredible amount of self-control to do so. But I wouldn't be surprised if you could get similar levels of power out of a tuned HDi, and you wouldn't have the handicap of the 16v's ridiculously peaky nature. You could have quite the monster on your hands.

twochevrons > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 09/10/2014 at 10:57

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Anybody in their right mind should run away in horror at the sight of something like this: http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/de… . But I kind of want it. After all, I have to learn how to weld somehow, right?

Driving a DS is an amazing experience. Having driven plenty of other Citroëns, I at least knew what to expect, but it was still incredible. The one I drove had the five-speed manual transmission, but I'd be fascinated to try the BVH semi-auto that many of them were equipped with. It's apparently really good when set up properly, and it has one of the most bizarre shift patterns that I've ever seen:

Jobjoris > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 09/10/2014 at 11:17

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Friend of mine had one, a 1.9d. He got it with 150k kms on it. Sold it when it had over 400k kms on it. Only flaws were in that hydraulics but all the parts were so easy/cheap obtainable and self-service is no problem whatsoever.

It really is a future-classic. Everyone should have had one once in their life. DO IT!

duurtlang > Jobjoris 09/10/2014 at 15:16

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No, in Friesland. I've looked at it for someone else . Whenever I'm near Breda I'd like a cup of tea though!

duurtlang > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 09/10/2014 at 15:21

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I've been looking at a 2.2 HDi swap too. Well, just the transmission, not the motor. For my 406 coupe. Especially now, after my clutch issues . The gearing of the transmission of the coupe is too short, which sucks on the highway, especially on the German Autobahn, 4500 rpm at a modest ~145 kmh is just too much. The gearing of 4th gear of the diesel transmission is similar to the gearing of 5th gear of my 2.0 gearbox, so you can imagine the gain. The gasoline and diesel engines are from the same family, but I don't have a clue if it'll fit. Any idea how I can find out?

Oh, and I shot and made this today. Look for links in other replies here.

duurtlang > twochevrons 09/10/2014 at 15:25

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Find more information about the car here . I'd love to help you with 'my services', which sounds more dirty than it should. Oh, and everybody needs a Citroën in their lives. I was lusting after both this BX and the CX diesel they had, even though it hadn't moved in a year and it's a diesel.

twochevrons > duurtlang 09/10/2014 at 20:16

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Nice! I love those wheels – my Dad's has the same ones, but in dark grey. They're so '80s-French weird.

It might be a while before I have the time, money and garage space for another car, but it's definitely something I'd like to do in the next few years. My dream would be a slightly scruffy, but roadworthy DS, but really anything with the hydropneumatic system would fit the bill. If I could somehow have my Xantia here, I'd have done that and been happy!

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > duurtlang 09/11/2014 at 04:59

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That gif is kickass :) makes me want one even more. As far as I can tell all of the gearboxes are interchangeable. I certainly know the later C5 6-speeds fit on the 406 2.2 HDi. I reckon the 406 forum would be a good place to start. It's not massively active, but I'd be willing to bet someone's done that before :)

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Jobjoris 09/11/2014 at 05:01

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I'm keeping a close eye on it, and DasWauto's just posted this gif which has increased my want manifold:

Jobjoris > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 09/11/2014 at 05:13

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Maybe this 4TC helps you to decrease it a bit:

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > twochevrons 09/11/2014 at 06:50

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Judging by how much of a monster my mate's 2.2 HDi 406 Coupe is (remapped to 195bhp, 325lb-ft) I'd say it'd be terrifyingly quick.

It is a shame how many were cut up for swaps. Especially seeing as a lot of the would have been perfectly serviceable upon their destruction. I suppose I'd be less annoyed if they stuck a different engine back in so at least they're still on the road, but I'd bet a lot were scrapped entirely :(

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > twochevrons 09/11/2014 at 06:55

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That is weird :S

Just seeing that ratty old DS makes me want to make a rat-rod Citroen DS. Take that exact car, stick the shell in a dessicant room to remove all moisture and then clear-coat it to stop further deterioration.

Then, insert modern Citroen turbodiesel, tune to ~220bhp/400lb-ft and get a map that allows you to roll coal.

???

Profit!

twochevrons > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 09/11/2014 at 08:50

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That same thing has crossed my mind. The strange powertrain layout might constrain engine choices a bit, though.

I did read somewhere about a DS that somebody shoehorned the flat-six from a Corvair into, back when both cars were current. Strangely appropriate, since the car was designed around an air-cooled flat-six that never made it into production. I bet that would have been somewhat exciting.

twochevrons > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 09/11/2014 at 09:03

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The idea of a fast Diesel really appeals to me. That same friend with the 16v-swapped 205 has a tuned Skoda Octavia TDI wagon. Holy cats, that thing is quick.

I suppose that having excellent engine interchangeability is a blessing and a curse. In that case, at least the shell was horribly rotten, and since the guy only needed the engine, my father and I took nearly everything else as spares for his BX. But I can't help but see a 16v-swapped car and think "there's another BX 16v or Mi16 that is no longer with us."

The Mi16 really interests me, too. I've never driven one, but the BX/405 chassis is excellent, and with sportier suspension than the BX, I imagine it could be very fun to drive indeed. They sold a handful of them over here, so if I find one close by, I may have to nab it – they go for next-to-nothing since nobody knows what they are.