Citroen ZX 1.9TD to Normally Aspirated?

[coxy1965]

Hi, I have a 1.9TD 'R' Reg that I wish to convert if possible to normally aspirated (just because that's what I Prefer) engine. I have a donor 1.9 non turbo engine and manifolds from a 'N' Reg car. Does anybody if the block, crank and pistons are the same in both engines? If the pistons are of a different compression ratio and that's all that is different, then it would not be too much of a problem swapping the pistons over together with the normally aspirated head, injectors and pump. Does anybody know if the above is possible?
Many thanks, Matt.

[philoldsmobile]

I couldn't imagine any good or simple way to do that as removing and re plumbing the engine is only the start.. even if you could, it would be impossibly slow and uneconomical.

[_Nathan_]

Troll surely.

The 1.9TD was a very reliable unit, quicker and more economical than the N/A engine.

Why on earth you would want the worse engine setup is mystifying.

[philoldsmobile]

I couldn't imagine any good reason. There is a good reason all diesels are turbo these days..

[MC Bodge]

N/A diesel? No thanks.

[Hub]

You prefer it?! I had a 1.9d ZX as my first car and wished I'd gone for something with more go. It wasn't even reliable!

I can't help otherwise, sorry, except craning the whole engine in is easier, no?

[MJK 24]

OP - I have recently gone the other way with an old Volkswagen 1.6 diesel. I was able to establish that the bottom end was the same so just fitted the turbo head, manifolds etc.

If someone can prove to you that you're bottom end is the same as the NA version (I'd have a small wager it is) then you just need a NA head or even just the manifolds.

You'll probably need the NA pump too. I had a 1.9 NA in a BX years ago - great engine and fully understand why you're looking to do this. More economical in my experience too. I've certainly lost 5mpg adding the turbo to mine.

[Mr Happy]

Isn't the NA version only 55-60hp where the turbo one is about 90hp?

If you'd prefer the NA one, then swap the whole lump rather than stripping and mixing/matching. You'll need a new exhaust downpipe but it will drop in on the same mounts, use pretty much the same electricals (preheater relays etc) however you will have to re-pipe the inlet to go to the throttle body rather than the turbo inlet.

Crazy way around though, imo.

[rb5er]

I had a zx TD, very frugal and nippy although so depressing it was unreal.

I can`t imagine any reason why you would want a less powerful, less frugal engine and go through the hassle of working on the car for the privilege of making it even crapper.

[MondeoMan1981]

1.9 is 68bhp or 72bhp I think ?

My old man had it in a S-reg 306 many, many moons ago.

OP are you running on home brew biodiesel ?

[MJK 24]

Mr Happy said:

Isn't the NA version only 55-60hp where the turbo one is about 90hp?

If you'd prefer the NA one, then swap the whole lump rather than stripping and mixing/matching. You'll need a new exhaust downpipe but it will drop in on the same mounts, use pretty much the same electricals (preheater relays etc) however you will have to re-pipe the inlet to go to the throttle body rather than the turbo inlet.

Crazy way around though, imo.

NA will be around 70bhp I'd say. Enough to pull a ZX along whilst getting near 60mpg.

[Mr Happy]

MJK 24 said:

Mr Happy said:

Isn't the NA version only 55-60hp where the turbo one is about 90hp?

If you'd prefer the NA one, then swap the whole lump rather than stripping and mixing/matching. You'll need a new exhaust downpipe but it will drop in on the same mounts, use pretty much the same electricals (preheater relays etc) however you will have to re-pipe the inlet to go to the throttle body rather than the turbo inlet.

Crazy way around though, imo.

NA will be around 70bhp I'd say. Enough to pull a ZX along whilst getting near 60mpg.

I can't see the point in changing though, you go from an engine that is gutless off boost, to one that is gutless all the time.

I've driven both the XUD9E and the XUD9TE and to be honest, the turbo unit gives near 60 to the gallon as it is.

[coxy1965]

Hi, thanks for all your comments. I was told the NA engine was more economical! If this is not the case I will keep the car as a TD.

[coxy1965]

TD it stops then.. just need a way to bypass the annoying keypad immobliser!

[Mr Happy]

coxy1965 said:

TD it stops then.. just need a way to bypass the annoying keypad immobliser!

Put the code in, leave the engine running, unplug the pad.

That was how it used to be done when unlocking ECUs for 306 S16s to give up their engines for 205 GTIs.

Not 100% on doing it for a diesel though, as the TD doesn't have an ECU, it's a coded fuel pump (iirc)

[MJK 24]

coxy1965 said:

Hi, thanks for all your comments. I was told the NA engine was more economical! If this is not the case I will keep the car as a TD.

It may be by a small margin. However I doubt you'd ever see a return on the cost of changing everything.

[omgus]

Now I must admit that I fking love ZXs, any car that can take speed bumps at 60 is always fun.

The 1.9td is the pick of them (excluding the Volcane 16v), reliable, nippy and frugal. My mechanic has run his on anything that will combust for a good few years.
However a well maintained 1.9d should also run forever and considering that you can pick a non-turbo d up for about £250 the money you'd spend in the conversion is pointless.

[_Nathan_]

Phenominal how the passive rear steer helped you go round corners at 70..

[AndyT77]

coxy1965 said:

Hi, I have a 1.9TD 'R' Reg that I wish to convert if possible to normally aspirated (just because that's what I Prefer) engine. I have a donor 1.9 non turbo engine and manifolds from a 'N' Reg car. Does anybody if the block, crank and pistons are the same in both engines? If the pistons are of a different compression ratio and that's all that is different, then it would not be too much of a problem swapping the pistons over together with the normally aspirated head, injectors and pump. Does anybody know if the above is possible?
Many thanks, Matt.

I once had a 306 NA diesel and whilst it was very reliable and rode very nicely, the lack of grunt was soul destroying! Don't do it.

[coxy1965]

If the TDis as economical and reliable as the NA then I wont.... I promise!