Progress on 17RD D526 WCW

jrdpod · Post by **jrdpod** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 8:54 pm

Some of you will have been following my exploits on this car.

Unfortunately, a pre MOT check has found some major underside welding required. This is mainly around the rear subframe, and also in the front n/s inner wing and rear o/s sill.

As my mechanic friend has quoted up to £600 to fix this, I've decided to SORN this car, and carry out some major restoration at my leisure.

There's also an issue as to whether the diesel will pass it's smoke test - it has done 267K.
Overall, the car is very "tired", having been neglected prior to my receiving it.
I want to restore it because it's one of the older BXs still running around, is an unusual iris blue colour, and dare I say for sentimental reasons.

I have a BX Meteor, J544 VHJ which I can put on the road quite quicky, and this will become my "everyday car" for the moment. And I hope to bring this to the Citroen rally at Godmanchester

I'll keep BXClub.co.uk informed of progress on D526 WCW.
This will be my first big car restoration project.
All feedback and encouragement very welcome!

Regards
John Podgorski/jrdpod.

tom · Post by **tom** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 9:21 pm

If a friend tells you that a BX will cost £600 to weld back together, listen to him.
You can buy a bloody good one for that and there is no room for sentiment in business.
Throw it away, having first plundered it for spares.
It is knackered, will never, ever be the car it was and there are much better cars to learn restoration on than a BX. If anybody thinks that I am being overly negative, then they are wrong. We cannot all be Docchevron and he had a better car to start with as well as lots of skills. Look on Ebay and buy a good one for half that.

Kitch · Post by **Kitch** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 9:47 pm

Well I'll step in and be wrong.

If you, like Tom, run a BX purely because it satisfys your interests in all thing mechanical, yet proves cost effective and sensible and money is your priority, listen to him.

If you enjoy this particular BX and have a strong attatchment to it, then plunder your hard earned into it and enjoy! I'd say a D plate BX thats cracked nigh on 270k miles deserves some reward personally. Yes better cars are available for less money. If that bothers you, drop it. If it doesn't, do it.

Easy

Kitch · Post by **Kitch** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 9:50 pm

Just on the side, that isn't meant to degrade Tom in any way. I just meant if you share his line of thought then he's probably right. If you are attatched to that car, then he will seem overly negative.

artic-steel · Post by **artic-steel** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 10:03 pm

there is no room for sentiment in business

Maybe so, but he did say 'restore at my leisure',you need to seperate business & pleasure,for me the day the sentiment goes out of BX's is the day i sell up.

Restore it & enjoy it

Barnsley BXer · Post by **Barnsley BXer** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 11:16 pm

I'm with Kitch and Arctic here.Lay the car up.Take a welding course,buy a MIG and do it up in your spare time..Good luck JR,you know it makes sense

tom · Post by **tom** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:25 am

It seems to me that there is a better solution that would make everybody happy.
Adam's GT is up for grabs. It is an early car, needs minor repairs and you have all the bits. Even with the cost of having them professiionally refinished, you would have a fine example for much less than the cost of welding this one up.

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 10:05 am

Now there's a thought...

BCXM · Post by **BCXM** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:02 pm

If the car is a mkI it is worth doing..Welding is'nt the most pleasent job but done bit by bit it would make sense.

The last mkI I had needed a new subframe as it was rotten and other bits and pieces. The work done far exceeded its market value, but rareity of the model was important to me. I even retro fitted power steering.

till some bastar* nicked the car...

Kitch · Post by **Kitch** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 6:23 pm

Can't work out for the life of me why someone would nick a BX, let alone a mk1!

BCXM · Post by **BCXM** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 6:44 pm

The other day my 19RD had the drivers door lock damaged and the cowling covering the steering column was ripped away. As for the Mk I I thought it was taken by rogue scrappers but I got parking tickets a after week it was stolen

Kitch · Post by **Kitch** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 7:09 pm

Oh yeah, rogue scrappers....I hadn't thought of that.