BX rescue mission! 4x4 for the win!

cavmad · Post by **cavmad** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:26 pm

Young Mr Vanny and I set off at some unGodly hour this morning (well, about 08.45, but it felt unGodly as I didn't really get any sleep last night) to whizz up to Vodka-ville to rescue Citroen7's newly acquired BX 4x4.
Right, cutting to the chase we arrive at said address and looks like no-one's in. Quick search of the car (remember Vanny's a scouser

) revealed the keys. Seller said he'd have the battery charged before we got there so Vanny shoved the keys in and guess what? Flat as a fluke, and the ignition was dodgy too

. No way it was going to start so after some manouvering of truck, Vanny's ace skills with spanners, a jack and some blocks of wood he had the suspension up. Time to winch it on and that was a task of it's own: Vanny remopved front bumper (or there wouldn't have been one left!) and very slowly we winched it on bit-by-bit using some wood on the ramps and floor to raise the arse end up enough to get it on without destroying the precious (and very cool) stainless exhaust. Anyhow got it on after Vanny's sterling efforts and off to go.
Journey back was only eventful due to the insanely high wind speeds on the M62 which meant some fun overtaking an artic and then getting down to 45mph up a hill.
So we arrive at Vanny's and in no time he's hooked up a good battery, buged a known good ignition on and after a few attempts, BINGO!, it fired up. Have to say it sounded awesome with the stainless exhaust which has just the right growl to it.
Front came up but back wasn't having it due to LHM coming out at a huge rate of knots from an HP pipe at the back. So, out with the jack and block of wood again (we removed the block when it was on the truck as I didn't fancy it moving or falling off) and with some crafty work with various planks of wood and broken paving slabs it was off the truck after some time, effort and a great deal of care was used.
Car looks pretty good to me and sounds well, I reckon once Vanny and Robin have spent a little time on it it will be a belter.
Right, enough waffle, have some pictures...

First off the vain attempt at starting it with jump leads outside seller's house...

The real deal, genuine 4x4 outside seller's house...

Lining up ready for action!...

Hurray, she's on...!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch it's time to get ready to offload it...

And just for good measure have a free picture of the most abandoned Mini van ever!

toddao · Post by **toddao** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:34 pm

Good work fellas. High visability jackets too! That 'ranch' of Vanny's looks interesting - what was it's former use? Is that where The Great Train Robbers were hiding out?
And of course - great motor - what's the story behind that? You blokes have been working hard, considering it's meant to be a holiday!

citroen7 · Post by **citroen7** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:36 pm

what can i say guys a sterling effort i shall be handing over some beer tokens tomorrow when i get "over there"

cavmad · Post by **cavmad** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:44 pm

toddao wrote:Good work fellas. High visability jackets too! That 'ranch' of Vanny's looks interesting - what was it's former use? Is that where The Great Train Robbers were hiding out?
And of course - great motor - what's the story behind that? You blokes have been working hard, considering it's meant to be a holiday!

I'm sure Robin will fill you in with the details of the car and how he got it, it sure looks the part too.

*ps Vanny is in the pictures and I'm not sure about hidden cash!

citroen7 · Post by **citroen7** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 2:12 pm

bought off flea bay about 6 weeks ago for £250 it is a one owner car with 60k on it. It was originally given away by citroen in a competion and won by a lady who lived not far from the guy i bought from.
so stage one of the transfer to a proper bx home is complete! hopefully it will not take long to get it "over here"

simonbx17 · Post by **simonbx17** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 2:44 pm

good work bxunderbirds with bxunderbird 1 and 2

those saxo alloys look quite good on a bx fill the arches well i was thinking of getting these but wasn't sure

good job.

cavmad · Post by **cavmad** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 2:59 pm

Oddly enough it has 'Citroen UK' on the number plates and I thught this must have meant something. Imagine it'a fairly unique now, especially with it's history and mileage.

ellevie · Post by **ellevie** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 5:07 pm

Sterling work there !
That's a really sweet looking motor.

Vanny · Post by **Vanny** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 5:31 pm

Another BXP Rescue Car safely nestled in at the RSPCBx Liverpool branch, will have to see what the land owner says though! It is missing the correct fuel relay, and the burst pipe is the high pressure feed to the rear which is annoying and not easily bodgeable being a 4x4

impressive bit of kit under there and i didnt realise it was a Torsen rear diff, that will be why the rear box never fails then!

will be interesting to see it go with working suspension!

nstarmore · Post by **nstarmore** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 8:28 am

Now thats dedication, very nice car that and a bargain to boot, with those wheels and that exhaust it looks quite serious, funny considering on any other family saloon that exhaust would look silly.

Does anyone know how many of these are actually left now, surely it must be less than 10 by now?

simonbx17 · Post by **simonbx17** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 8:44 am

yes, i faith in you vanny after all you got your 16v back on the road

i had a guy approach me once when i was a1 wokingham car spares he said he had a yard full of 4x4's and if wanted anything i should give him a ring

i think he said he lived in newbury

but alas i never got in contact with him

i'll see if i can find his number

what a versitile bx the 4x4 is shame they didn't do the estate in td 4x4 now that would be a great bx.

cavmad · Post by **cavmad** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 3:53 pm

Not sure on numbers remaining nstarmore, but it'd be good to know. Dean (Barnsley BXer) has one and I'm told my local Cit specialists have 'one or two' round the back unused including an estate, and I think there was talk of one (another estate) on here a few months back at a garage for sale, though can't recall what happened to it.

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:00 pm

cavmad wrote:there was talk of one (another estate) on here a few months back at a garage for sale, though can't recall what happened to it.

It's got a white BX turbo diesel estate sitting on top of it at my local breakers

I whipped its reversing light switch and connector, and now my 16v can reverse in the dark!

cavmad · Post by **cavmad** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:41 pm

Cheers Jon. I think it's now officially classed as 'work in progress' as Vanny is something of a guru with these things and the back end is on ramps now.

Phil: take it the estate is beyond reclaim now?