They're still out there!

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 4:59 pm

Ken, what a find. That's lovely. Let us know what it needs and hopefully some more pics, when it's all done. (Mind you, doesn't look like it needs a lot).

Kitch · Post by **Kitch** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 4:59 pm

Nah it wouldn't be that, Ken's up north somewhere.

ken newbold · Post by **ken newbold** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 9:56 pm

I can confirm that this one has been upt north for some time, previous owner had it for about 3 years.

It seems like he may have been telling the truth, so far I've only found the handbrake cables to be US and the o/s droplink. The rear tyres are a bit low so I'll do a swap with the fronts and put some better ones on the front.

Awaiting the arrival of new timing belt, antifreeze and LHM, if they dont arrive tomorrow, it's out with the wet vac and shampoo all the interior.
I've changed the oil & filter, air filter and fitted new pump belt, new alt belt to fit along with timing belt. The front brakes are now serviced with handbrake adjusted up.

Once the cambelt's done, I'll turn it round and have a look at the rear arm bearings and brakes.

Hopefully should be in for MOT before the end of the month.

Ian_Fearn · Post by **Ian_Fearn** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 10:04 pm

I was telling somebody at work today about how cheaply you can buy and run a BX.

Just to very quickly tot that lot up though at a specialist would (i guess) run at something like:

Cambelt, HP Pump belt, Alternator belt £200

Rear arm bearings £100/side so £200

Drop links £50

Discs and pads £150

2 new tyres £60

Handbrake cable £40

Add in a basic oil and filter change plus an air filter and you're looking at around 800quid at a garage.

Doing it yourself though:

Cambelt etc £35

Rear arm bearings £50

Drop link £25

Discs and pads £35

Tyres still £60

Handbrake cable £15

Plus oil and filter and you're looking at around 220quid. BARGAIN for a full on BX midlife crisis.

tim leech · Post by **tim leech** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 10:07 pm

True! So hopefully it will make them worth abit more as people thing they costa fortune to fix!

DLM · Post by **DLM** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 1:59 pm

I've just spotted a very similar silver TZD turbo right in the middle of Portsmouth - with a disabled sticker on it. I'll bet it's used for transporting a wheelchair around, which Tom will testify a BX estate is excellent at doing.

DLM · Post by **DLM** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 2:11 pm

And, thinking more along the "still out there" lines of course there's my new acquisition (free red TZD turbo estate). Apart from diesel money to collect and new plates, it has cost the following to put a new ticket (and shine on) on:

T-cut, stockingette and polishing sundries - £10
Front Brakes - swap from old car - £0
Brake pipe - from spares stock - £0
Accelerator cable (Tom's stock) - £0
Number plate and other bulbs from sale stock - £0
Welding - (though I'll do some more myself) - £105

Tom's time and elbow-grease - priceless.....

Possible future costs :

accumulator (seen the Eurocarparts option)
Waxoyl to treat underside after removing remaining traces of Welsh mountain track and paddock.
Possibly a rev counter sender (if the original isn't just mispositioned)

Now if I could just call in the Channel4 cleaning team to dispose of the German Shepherd hair all over the interior, I'd be well away.

tom · Post by **tom** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 6:03 pm

Thought it was speedo cable and you forgot to mention the front spheres! Still a cheap motor though!

ken newbold · Post by **ken newbold** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 9:53 pm

No work done on mine today due to being late home from work, however yesterday saw the timing belt done, a final check and oil up of all pipework at the front end and car sat back on it's "feet".

Gave it a quick once over with the autoglym.

tim leech · Post by **tim leech** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 10:10 pm

Ahh cant beat a bit of valeting therapy works for me everytime.

ken newbold · Post by **ken newbold** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 6:12 pm

Think I've just wasted nearly 4 litres of LHM.

Had an hour to spare so decided to change the LHM and clean the filters, turns out filters were spotless and the LHM clean, this is the first BX I've had that didn't have any sludge in the bottom of the tank.

It's least now I know it's clean.

Barnsley BXer · Post by **Barnsley BXer** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 6:18 pm

Better safe than sorry

ken newbold · Post by **ken newbold** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 8:55 pm

Might have found out tonight why the previous owner was so willing to scrap this car.

No panel lights.

Last time he'd had the panel out, he'd managed to break almost every possible bit of plastic under there, including the speedo cable.
Well I was fitting new cables anyway.

so now it had a full set of working panel lights and everything is screwed back as it should be.

ken newbold · Post by **ken newbold** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 7:55 pm

Not had the best day today.

As suspected the car had a dodgy o/s rear arm bearing. Luckily a good replacement was in stock. Both rear discs were shot (why do they always suffer on the backface) as were the pads.

I had some used discs and pads so I thought I'd be able to finish the job today. However the n/s also has a knackered wheel bearing.

So jigger it. first thing tomorrow I'm on the phone for some new pads and discs and new bearing.

Barnsley BXer · Post by **Barnsley BXer** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 7:57 pm

Oops

fogot to post here too.Seen it in the metal,soto speak.Very nice Ken,very nice