Rich's BX 19TRS

[saintjamesy89]

Wish I had known about this trip, I live only a few miles away from the area and have visited these places hundreds of times with family/dogs etc, my dad lives in Wool too (just outside Wareham). Jealous...

They will be on again next year... I'll post details in good time.

A combined 2CV BX convoy might be fun.

Does sound like fun, pretty places and interesting (if often busy) roads. Albeit a tad unfair on the 2cv-ers, they couldn't compete with a carbed 1.9 and a turbo dizzle!

[Dollywobbler]

I wouldn't bet money on that Tom! Ask Mat Fenwick... (though I must concede that while he was quite alarmed, he did manage to keep up with me and my 2CV...)

[saintjamesy89]

Really?!?! I know they're light, but still only a 600cc 2 cylinder with 30 odd bhp, in my mind will never be quicker than a 105 bhp petrol or 92bhp TD, especially the TD with all that torque.

Is yours a special tin snail then Ian?

[mat_fenwick]

I think it was more the driver...

Obviously in terms of outright speed they're not quick, but I was certainly surprised at the speed at which they can corner! Local knowledge of the roads probably helped too, and meant he could keep momentum up whereas I'd be braking and having to accelerate more often.

[Rich]

Is yours a special tin snail then Ian?

No but the driver's mad

As for keeping up... On the narrow, muddy, slippery roads we used I had trouble keeping up with them.

[saintjamesy89]

Ah, all down to terrain then Mum used to have a 2cv, loved the noise it made, it had pink sticker splats on the side too, fond memories.

[Kitch]

Really?!?! I know they're light, but still only a 600cc 2 cylinder with 30 odd bhp, in my mind will never be quicker than a 105 bhp petrol or 92bhp TD, especially the TD with all that torque.

Is yours a special tin snail then Ian?

Don't go giving yourself an extra 4bhp....unless you've fitted a 1.9?

[saintjamesy89]

I though 1.7 td's were 92? Maybe not, juts looked it up and they're 88bhp.

[Kitch]

I though 1.7 td's were 92? Maybe not, juts looked it up and they're 88bhp.

92 is the 1.9.

1.8 has 88 (sometimes rounded up to 90, as you do....)

[Rich]

I've been getting woried over the last two or three days because the BX has developed a bad rattle from the near side when I go over big bumps.

It's worse when driving over the rumble strips at the entrance to the car park at work and thoughts of big suspension bills have been going through my mind.

The cause...

That'll be the plastic tub of chewing gum in the passengers front door bin!

D'oh!

[Rich]

Things have been pretty quiet on the BX front for the last few months as I have been getting on with other projects. The main project being the removal of the engine from our H Van to cure it's many oil leaks...



One front crank case seal, gearbox input shaft seal, a new clutch and a rear hub seal later and the engine is ready to go back in after a clean.

Anyway! Back to the BX. The only thing to report is that it passed it's MOT yesterday with no problems but the BX will be off the road until the end of June as I've sorned it. There is no problem, I am just juggling car taxes. Melanie threw the keys to our Focus at me whilst grabbing the keys to Dilly, our Red and White 2cv with her other hand now the 2cv is taxed and in use after the winter layup. So I will be in a F*&d until the tax is up at the end of June when it will be swapping sorned workshop space with the BX.

That said, the workshop is pretty full and the BX only just fitted in...



Happy days

[Des Smith]

Every year just after Christmas a couple of members of 2CVGB organise a raid to the village of Imber which is situated in the middle of Salisbury plain and used by the Military (and Top Gear) as a play ground.



Today village is largely rebuilt and used to practise urban warfare but the church is maintained and used for a few services every year.

The last time I was on Salisbury Plain was in 2007 - spent three scorching days on exercise which included patrolling and ambush drills in Imber. It must have been a lovely village in its day and so typical of the MOD to make promises they don't keep. IIRC, the buildings were constructed for Cold War FIBUA (fighting in built-up areas) training and designed to resemble German houses. Just up the road is another camp constructed as an Afghan compound for Op Herrick training.

In defence of military training areas, they're a bit more important than playgrounds - They are an essential part of pre-deployment training and lessons learned here save lives in theatre. Another unexpected upside is the positive benefit to nature - spend a little time on MOD training areas and you get to see an amazing amount of flourishing plant- and wildlife.

I've only just caught up with this blog. Very interesting, especially the dramas with the carb. Pleased you got it sorted out! I had a 16TXS for a while but I couldn't get on with the leisurely progress with an automatic gearbox and the auto choke did my head in, so not surprised you did a manual conversion. Nice and simple!

[Rich]

Well it's been a while...

A quick fleet catch up in pictures...

I put the engine back in the H after fixing the many oil leaks



...and had the starter refurbed after it packed up out side the house (which was convenient)



The floors were given a lick of paint and some rubber edging to stop the rattles...



... just in time for the first 2cv camp of the season in Somerset...

[Rich]

In July we also attended the fantastic Nostalgia show near Codford, Somerset...





... and then won best H at the 2CVGB reg weekend



which also gave us a chance to get the 2CV out of the workshop...

[Rich]

Next up was the 2CV world meeting which is a bi annual event hosted by a different country each time. this year the circus rolled into Alcaniz, Spain. Here we are arriving with friends (it was 48degress in the sun, 38 in the shade )...



...and it was a good job we had the van to sleep in as the camp site was a car park to a race circuit...





It is true what they say, there really is nothing in the centre of Spain...