Berlingo XUD9TE project (Y THO?)

[Guest Hooli]

I just don't like FWD vans, they never feel safe. I think the ones I drove had comedy tyres fitted too, which helped*.

 

Give me a RWD any day, I'll even get a 49 seater coach sideways over a bridge...

[Lacquer Peel]

I've not driven a big FWD van, I imagine they're not great but these are nearly as good to drive as the cars they're based on. I wonder if mine being the lightweight '600' model helps there.

 

75W80 seems the go to oil for a Xsara gearbox.

[Arthur Foxhake]

My fwd transit handled perfectly.

Better than a rwd mk5.

 

I do now own a mk5 van tbf.

More to do with rust issues than handling. Mk6/7 vans and onwards rust so badly they make the early ones look positively solid.

And the fact you can boost a 2.5Di with no ill consequences.

[MrDuke]

Big RWD vans are pretty awful to drive when they're unladen, unless you spend all your time on dry tarmac. Gr9 4 drifttorz, yes, not so great when you're stuck fast on a damp and slightly muddy slope with no traction whatsoever.

[garbaldy]

/\ Rwd for fun and broken deliverys.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OKGnyh5jIWM

[Lacquer Peel]

I don't think that's RWD, must be handbrake turning it.

[Richard]

I've had FWD and RWD versions of the same shape Transit and the FWD one was much better to drive. It handled better, was much quicker despite being 15PS down, used less fuel and felt more stable. It even had more headroom in the back because the FWD floor is 4" lower. One thing the RWD does score on is traction, I don't think I've ever got stuck with it and the FWD used to get stuck all the time.

[bub2006]

The RWD sprinters at work are awful. No weight holding arse down and a bit of damp means spin in first and traction cutting power soon as you go to second. Bloody dangerous sonetines

[Lacquer Peel]

They're okay as long as the tyres have a decent amount of tread, not down to the wear markers like Large Retail Chain allows...

[twosmoke300]

The RWD sprinters at work are awful. No weight holding arse down and a bit of damp means spin in first and traction cutting power soon as you go to second. Bloody dangerous sonetines

If you park a sprinter on two empty crisp packets you are stuck !

[twosmoke300]

They're okay as long as the tyres have a decent amount of tread, not down to the wear markers like Large Retail Chain allows...

Disagree - my works one was terrible with new michelins or contis

[Arthur Foxhake]

I've had FWD and RWD versions of the same shape Transit and the FWD one was much better to drive. It handled better, was much quicker despite being 15PS down, used less fuel and felt more stable. It even had more headroom in the back because the FWD floor is 4" lower. One thing the RWD does score on is traction, I don't think I've ever got stuck with it and the FWD used to get stuck all the time.

The fwd vans have a better final drive in the gearbag, making them quicker in real terms than vans with higher power and RWD .

My 80ps fwd van would piss all over my bosses 100ps rwd van in the lanes. His was revving at 3.5k at 60mphish on the motorway, I would be breaking the speed limit at those revs.

 

And the RWD ones don't fit in a carwash, so that was me completely out.

[Richard]

Why don't they fit in a carwash? Is it not basically the same choice of shells?

[Arthur Foxhake]

Yeah, but they have to raise the body on the chassis to accommodate the diff on the RWD. Bigger wheels as well, 6 stud axle as opposed to the 5 stud fwd.

[Bucketeer]

I hope everything comes together for you with the Xsara (and Xsara seller) but as a back up I just noticed Panhard65 is selling a turbo XUD Synergie on the sales/wants thread for £75. I know it's many distances away but pre-booked MOT drive back and weigh in the rest to recoup travel costs could be an option.

[Anthony]

What grade of gearbox oil is recommended for a PSA 'box? Pricing up all the parts now.

75W80 is the right grade - don't be tempted to chuck any old stuff in there as the synchros are really fussy in my experience.

 

Total BV (now called Gear8) is the OE stuff and is surprisingly reasonably priced from the dealer - indeed, last time I bought some the dealer was the cheapest supplier!

 

You'll need 2 litres btw.

[Lacquer Peel]

I hope everything comes together for you with the Xsara (and Xsara seller) but as a back up I just noticed Panhard65 is selling a turbo XUD Synergie on the sales/wants thread for £75. I know it's many distances away but pre-booked MOT drive back and weigh in the rest to recoup travel costs could be an option.

Good shout but the late XUD9TEs have some electrical bumpf, I don't think it's as straightforward a conversion.

 

Thanks for the gearbox advice Anthony.

[Arthur Foxhake]

The electricity is not a problem when you put a proper pump on, just chuck it all in the bin and forget it even existed.

[Lacquer Peel]

That's what I mean, it'd still need an older Bosch pump.

[Arthur Foxhake]

One will be turning up next week.

 

Or are you worried the synergy may become permanent...

[Lacquer Peel]

 

Jings! Not good. RIP DW8. There's still a fair bit of oil showing on the dipstick, so it could be leaking from the head gasket area.

 

Xsara collection on Saturday, service bits ordered, getting torn into it next weekend. I hope it all goes together okay.

[Lacquer Peel]

The Xsara seller isn't around until Sunday morning, FFS! So much for the "collection within 48 hours" stated on his listing, apparently he suffered a family bereavement and did sound cut up on the phone when I spoke to him last week, but this has thrown a spanner in the works.

 

I may be purchasing Reb's Polo 1.9D while I'm in Perth so at least I'll have transport while the van is (still) off the road.

[chaseracer]

I may be purchasing Reb's CRAIL SPESH Audi 0.5 while I'm in Perth so at least I'll have transport while the van is (still) off the road.

 

FTFY... 

[The Moog]

I may be purchasing Reb's Polo 1.9D while I'm in Perth so at least I'll have transport while the van is (still) off the road.

Its becoming an AS Slag 

[Richard]

It won't be for long. It's terminally rotten and the MOT runs out in March. Ideally suited to an unfussy man who is desperate to get mobile.

[320touring]

Gawd bless its lil cotton socks!

[Supernaut]

I really want to get involved in all these XUD shenanigans, but it's all happening at least 2 hours from me. Bloody Aberdeen being out on this peninsula.

 

Good luck LP!

[Lacquer Peel]

I really want to get involved in all these XUD shenanigans, but it's all happening at least 2 hours from me. Bloody Aberdeen being out on this peninsula.

 

Good luck LP!

Beer and a spare bedroom on offer.

[Supernaut]

I'm busy this weekend, but if you need a hand during the big works happening in future, I'm up for a trip to the highlands.

[Lacquer Peel]

https://youtu.be/DpoXLpoUbww

 

The Xsara's engine runs like a great.

Nearly all of the parts have been collected, just need to put it all together...