Citroen Zx`s don`t rust? ( looking a gift horse in the mouth )

[D Spares & Tyres]

I used to buy and sell a lot of cars around 10 / 15 years ago and bought lots of Zx`s at auction as they were good sellers and were never rusty unlike the rest of the sub £1000 bangers.  We just thought they didn`t rust. Turns out they do, it just takes longer than other cars....

 

This one I acquired free off this very forum from six cylinder as a spares car due to a knackered automatic gearbox.

 

Turns out the gearbox was fine, it was just a dodgy selector so rather than break it I decided to do it ( not a euphemism, I mean actually repair it )

 

Some panels have bad laquer peel, others have no laquer. It looks so shoddy I have decided not to paint it.

 

It needed a back axle so I took one off another Zx I had laying about ( this one owner for 18 years £40 ebay purchase )

 

So back axles on these are an easy job, done loads over the years. Wasn`t expecting to find so much rot thought which I discovered while the boot carpet was out. rear floorpan rotten too. Ah well,I`ve gone so far now I have to finish it and besides the car is worth bugger all with no mot, the only financial value is the engine which is worth £150 all day but I doubt any other fool would repair it so I have to fix it to save its life. I quite like it though and will probably use it as a run about, the auto box really suits these

 

Anyone with a good memory and a love for Zx`s ( hello mouseflakes ) will remember that there were two free Zx`s on offer. The other was a tidy K plate TD with a snapped cambelt. This one is now fixed. It has the cylinder head off `the moogs` old 405 and I`ve tweaked it slightly. It is now running around 110 bhp. It goes very well. Not on the road yet though as I don`t need it but it is ready for an mot. Just need to turn the fuel down a tiny bit for the emissions.........

 

 

Will update tomorrow......

[JayW]

Mine is pretty frilly round the back end but it's just gone through MOT just fine. Will probably need some patches next year though. Can't complain, it's a '97 with 180k

 

I still maintain that these in diesel form are the simplest, most reliable Cit all-rounder ever made.

[bramz7]

Mine is fine from the vague glances I've given it underneath. A scuff on the rear arch really needs sanding though.

 

I took the spare wheel out a few weeks back and was actually quite shocked at how clean it was around that area, like genuinely no marks/dirt clean. Shame one of the previous owners (the original I assume) banged every door on a wall, the paintwork on these seems pretty poor. 

[sierraman]

At least it's a fairly easily patched part where you can access it. Once it's welded up its done then.

[Lord Sterling]

Must try these ZXs. Always admired them from afar, still do. Plus I reckon Beko needs to bring his up.

[beko1987]

You've been a passenger in mine! I should have chucked you the keys Mo!

 

I've heard they can rot, both of mine have been rust free though luckily. Current one due to the previous owner painting oil everywhere over its life, which means only light surface rust here and there, but even simple jobs involve getting filthy!

 

I like ZX's, they have become my 'go to' car. Yes I look at other chod and want to own it, but the ZX will always be a car I go to if I just need a car quick and want to know what I'll get.

 

Mine needs work, not alot, but some work. Current list includes:

 

Steering column (hopefully sorting tomorrow)

Strut top mounts and bearings

Discs and pads all round

Driveshafts and intermediate bearing

rear shocks

gearbox fluid flush (or just top up)

Oil change, it's rattling its tits off at idle at the moment in an increasingly alarming way

Engine is down on power, confirmed by bub2006's test drive where he directly compared it to his xantia 1.9td (no black smoke though, and it's not horrific yet IMO)

 

Nothing too big, or too expensive if I chip away at it.

 

Don't get a baggy volcane though, I wish I had a normal one for slightly more softer suspension.

 

Hats off to you for all that work though! I have misgivings about my rear beam, sometimes the wheels look like they have a slight camber to them, but I put it down to the surface its parked on at the time. Plus the rear tyres are worn on the inner edges as they got swapped from the front, where they got scrubbed out due to bad tracking (now fixed). Having dropped the rear axle to change the bushes, it doesnt look like a hard job, so if it does go, it might get another beam. Apparently it had one in 2007/8 from an 80k 306. Certainly ties up as it has ABS rings fitted, on a non ABS car.

 

I encourage everyone to own a ZX if they get the chance! Anyones always welcome to a drive of mine, bub2006 did and I think liked it once he got over the stiff steering and baggy brakes!

[D Spares & Tyres]

Must try these ZXs. Always admired them from afar, still do. Plus I reckon Beko needs to bring his up.

Theres two not far from you that you can try