Ed@AC
Part of things
Posts: 350
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Seems that these are a little bit unloved out there in the UK interwebs, having had a cast around and found very little out there....or maybe its just me. Anyway, I have a thing about cars of the 80s and 90's, and back in November was offered this little french toy by my mechanic for a silly cheap price. One drive made my mind up for me, this little thing is actually a hoot. Cosmetically its in superb condition, with just a small crack on the rear bumper, and having had a good look underneath it is certainly very solid.  Its a N plated Citroen 1.9Dturbo Elation. Fettled extensively by the previous owner, the car has been converted from Lucus to Bosch fuel pump (for fueling adjustability - but yes this does apparently mean it will run on veg - not that I choose to), injectors changed for 2.2 TD 406 ones, tweaks to fuelling/boost levels accordingly, straight through exhaust and cone filter, 23mm 306 gti-6 master cylinder and larger Peugeot 306 HDI front brake discs and calipers fitted to improve the stopping power. My understanding of the ZX is that it shares it's underpinnings with the more popular 306, but was a lighter car. With the few odds and sods done to this one, its created a fairly rapid motor (although I do tend to get concerned when I see the boost gauge hitting 28 psi in 4th and 5th gears) I have plans to put my own stamp on the car. I want to keep it visually standard looking for that sleeper effect, although intend to source some form of 15" Alloy wheels (ideally Volcane wheels if I can find them, although I have chanced my eye at 205 gti 1.9 Speedlines). Underneath however, I want to tighten up the handling, and have discussed with my mechanic a plan of fitting a Xsara VTS rear beam and anti roll bar, plus polybushing and stiffening the front suspension up. Is there any other ZX owners out there on Retro rides - or anyone who might start me off on my parts quest, with some appropriate OEM 15" Citroen alloys to fit. |
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Automotive Connection - Whoever you are, whatever you drive.
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I ran a ZX 1.9d estate as a daily a few years ago, and it was amazingly reliable. The only mod I did was to add some wheels from a 306, which improved the road holding quite a bit. It unfortunately went to the big scrapyard in the sky when I discovered that the front cross-member had completely rotted out behind all the stonechip.  |
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paulie
Part of things
Posts: 76
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I had a zx volcane td for around 18 months a few years ago, great cars would have another if I could
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Ed@AC
Part of things
Posts: 350
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A volcane TD would have been the holy grail of ZX diesels for me (as sad as that makes me sound!)
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Automotive Connection - Whoever you are, whatever you drive.
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volcane only ran 14" wheels, the 16v had 15's.
I would keep the zx beam and swap the torsion bars, zx camber and toe settings were very different to the xsara.
The 16v had the same bars as a xsara vts, and front spring & damper as a phase 1 (phase 2 was heavier)
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as for bushes the o.e berlingo/partner alloy p-bush and standard front bush will be better than poly stuff, make sure you use the correct lower balljojnts as they are shorter than most 306. if you can, use a xsara steering rack from the vts too, much less turns lock to lock, as was a 16v rack but you wont find one of those  |
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paulie
Part of things
Posts: 76
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A volcane TD would have been the holy grail of ZX diesels for me (as sad as that makes me sound!) Thanks, a guy from Ireland bought it last Christmas. Didn't even view it just had a lorry driver pick it up, and hand over the cash |
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Ed@AC
Part of things
Posts: 350
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Thanks for the great advice Welshpug, guess I will go back to the drawing board in my efforts to make this handle!
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Automotive Connection - Whoever you are, whatever you drive.
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just a thought, would you like a set of early 15" 16v alloys? no use to me as I run bigger brakes due to running 50 bhp more than stock.
don't think I have the centre caps unfortunately, my brother and partner have binned a lot of my stuff recently and I haven't seen them in the process of moving house.
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I miss my 16v.. It was a great car but unfortunately the head gasket went so i sold it on.
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Current retro - 1996 Alfa Romeo GTV / Daily - 2016 Nissan Qashqai
Previous retros - Prelude, Integra, XR2s, XR3s, Orions, CRXs, Sylvia S12, S13, Pulsar, ZX 16v, 205 Gti, MX5, MR2 etc
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simonh
Part of things
Posts: 77 
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If the bottom arms are the same as the 306 (I think they are) then one of the best modifications you can do is the Powerflex P bushes and front arm bushes. That's probably been the single biggest improvement I've made to my 306. It used to chew through standard P bushes in a couple of months and was never exactly precise but now it just goes where you point it. About 8000 miles and nearly a year on them now and still intact. Well worth the extra money.
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personally I don't think they are worth the money at all, buy decent quality stuff and they'll outperform a lump of plastic any day.
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village
Part of things
Always carries a toolbox. Because Volkswagen.......
Posts: 567
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Dec 10, 2015 10:19:22 GMT
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I had a ZX D Turbo for several years before tin worm in the front suspension mounts signed it's death warrant  It was one of the last ones so it had stuff live volcane bumpers, and fog lights. I loved it! |
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"The White Van is strong with this one...."
Chris "Chesney" Allen 1976-2005 RIP
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Ed@AC
Part of things
Posts: 350
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Thanks for the words of wisdom regarding the P bushes etc - mine need replacing so I have had a word with my mechanic on this.
So, Christmas eve came, and I managed to completely snap off the passenger side interior door handle. Joy. The lock on the passenger door has been a little temperamental and pulling the handle to release it signed the handles death warrant.
I needed to use the car boxing day (its always at the most inconvenient times these sodding things break), so decided to try and see if the rear interior handle could be swapped to the front (as swmbo would be in the passenger seat). Joyfully it fits, and I have spotted a ZX in a local breakers which will get raided for a replacement tomorrow.
One thing - there must be a knack to reattaching the lock buttons as after 30 odd minutes of cursing, we gave up (well, its all coming back off again anyway) so if anyone has any helpful hints on that front....
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Automotive Connection - Whoever you are, whatever you drive.
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Ed@AC
Part of things
Posts: 350
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just a thought, would you like a set of early 15" 16v alloys? no use to me as I run bigger brakes due to running 50 bhp more than stock. don't think I have the centre caps unfortunately, my brother and partner have binned a lot of my stuff recently and I haven't seen them in the process of moving house. Potentially interested - especially if you can locate the centre caps (as I am pretty fastidious about these things!). I don't suppose you have any pics of what they look like. |
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Automotive Connection - Whoever you are, whatever you drive.
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Dec 31, 2015 22:17:57 GMT
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love these old citroens had a few including a 1.9 diesel estate cant remember what year she was but didnt have any power steering was a cracking old motor also an R reg turbo estate another good motor which i sadly wrote off but my favourite was an k reg 16v 2.0 zx beautiful car wish i still had it, proper wolf in sheeps clothing, found after months searching on ebay as the ones that came up for sale, which were few and far between, were all a million miles away from me this one was just 10 miles away great condition real belter of a car with an awesome soundtrack when you pushed the load pedal!the interior was a lovely place to be although very french!have a check behind the rear passenger side plastic trim between the tailgate and the rear passenger window seems to be a rust trap bit of a hassle to check out but you might get a surprise-not a good one!however great car ! good luck with yours!  |
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Last Edit: Dec 31, 2015 22:37:15 GMT by waylander
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Ed@AC
Part of things
Posts: 350
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Mar 26, 2016 11:14:07 GMT
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I have today replaced the drivers side headlight as the plastic attachment at the back that the headlight adjuster sits in had disintegrated. Annoyingly, there seems to be a metal clip that retains a metal rod from the adjuster inside the fixing on the rear of the light that is missing. And do you think I can find this clip online anywhere? Or even an expanded/exploded view of the headlight and all fixings so i can get an image of the part or part number I need.... I am off the main stealers then, to get my pants pulled down  |
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Automotive Connection - Whoever you are, whatever you drive.
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Mar 26, 2016 15:55:16 GMT
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I had a zx volcane td for around 18 months a few years ago, great cars would have another if I could wow a car these wheels actally look good on |
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kurt seyffert
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