Gone and done it again, but this one you'll know!

[Kitch]

Ha! It probably wouldn't be much slower

[Tim Leech]

Lordy thats more pickled than I remember, the subframe was like that when I bought it though, (has it been in a salt bath for the past two years lol!) ive been under it quite a few times but never saw that kinda corrosion, mind you im no mechanic and cant weld either.

Hats off to you Kitch.

[Kitch]

It was probably there - that kind of corrosion doesn't happen in a short space of time. Could have been concealed by underseal; I think what's happened is that it's been jacked up in the wrong place in the past and has damaged the underseal, which has then allowed water to ingress and work it's own up the arch.

[MULLEY]

That car did always look lovely, shame about the underneath, but if anyone can save this car, then its in the right hands. What might be worth thinking about is, there are so few of these around now, that might be justification in itself to save the car even if there is quite a lot of work involved. Once it's cubed, there is no going back.

[Kitch]

Had a result yesterday/today having done a compression test. Decided to investigate further as to why the power's down and perform a compression test. First spark plug I get to.......hardly done up at all. Not loose, but not sealing tight. Then, get to no.1.........loose! Performed test (cold admittedly - I can't run it up for long as it pisses LHM everywhere) and was happy with the 150psi or so results. Refitted plugs (although they'll be replaced yet) and didn't start car again til today. My god does it sound alot sweeter! They can't have been sealing right!

So, after a few days' thinking and some planning I've decided to go for it and sort the car out. It's going to take more time and money than I'd hoped, but I think the car is worth it. If (and only if) I get the car right, at the moment the plan will probably be to sell it, although it will be sans air-con (as BAH will be getting it).

Found some more crumbling around the boot floor area, but that's not too big a deal to put right.

So, it's going to be engine out and cambelt/water pump done at same time. Then subframe out, weld body, sort the leak from the octopus and get the engine bay right again with wiring niggles fixed, coolant hoses checked and changed etc. I'll also get the power up into the 150's, because otherwise it just won't go like a valver is supposed to.
Then it's fuel tank out and change the HP pipes over the tank. I'll sort the brake pipes at the same time.

So good news it that (unless the rot turns out to be terminal once it's apart) the plan is to save it

[Paul296]

It's a prime example of a car being kept clean and polished and that being regarded as 'looking after your pride and joy' when underneath it wasn't receiving the attention it needed. As a car ages the body becomes less important and the underneath and mechanicals start to take centre stage.

I think that's an important and salutary lesson for anyone wanting to keep their BXs on the road for the foreseeable future. I'm definitely guilty of thinking 'it looks nice so it must be nice', but have long had a creeping suspicion that nothing could be further from the truth when you're talking about a 20+ year old car. This valver sort of confirms that. I hope you decide to get it sorted Kitch: it's a lovely looking car that might just have got lucky when it fell into your expert hands (assuming you decide not to scrap it that is!)

[Caffiend]

So, after a few days' thinking and some planning I've decided to go for it and sort the car out.

- can we have lots of in progress pictures please? - assuming that it won't have to be recycled to keep other less rotten ones on the road!

[mds141]

I find that a combination of used engine oil, infused with derv and waxoyl, liberally applied to the underside (of the car) with a pared down paintbrush is as good a rust preventative as any of the proprietary products available off the shelf. Good excuse to get messy as well!!

[Tim Leech]

Thats great news Kitch!

[Kitch]

So, after a few days' thinking and some planning I've decided to go for it and sort the car out.

- can we have lots of in progress pictures please? - assuming that it won't have to be recycled to keep other less rotten ones on the road!

Yes you can

[Kitch]

It has to join the queue though......

[saintjamesy89]

Ooh what a lovely pair!

[Mike E (uk)]

I would like to put my 16v on the dyno.
Can you do Sundays?
took it for a spin last night and it whizzed along rapidly.
Still got the sticky front height correction to sort out, somedays it is fine, other days can't get it up in the morning.

Mike.

[Tim Leech]

, somedays it is fine, other days can't get it up in the morning.
Mike.

It happens to us all Mike

[Kitch]

I would like to put my 16v on the dyno.
Can you do Sundays?
took it for a spin last night and it whizzed along rapidly.
Still got the sticky front height correction to sort out, somedays it is fine, other days can't get it up in the morning.

Mike.

If Sunday is the only day you can do then I'm sure I can arrange something. Just let me know when.