St Tropez restoration blog

[Dollywobbler]

It's a good time to do it. Pipes are about £80 and I can't imagine the labour would be much while the back end is in pieces...

[mat_fenwick]

The pipes may already be included in the price for the work, as they'll have had to have been removed at the rear end to do the work. It would have been easier to remove them by cutting than undoing the unions if they were as corroded as the shell!

[Des Smith]

I don't remember Rob talking about the pipes but I will ask him when he gets back from France. I know he is definitely replacing the fuel lines as they are far gone.

[citsncycles]

I'll add my vote to new pipework - assuming you've the funds it's worth doing.

I can also understand getting the gearbox rebuilt. IIRC the ratios used on the TU engined BX's are specific to that car, and I met a guy at the Bristol show who's been looking for a box for his 14TGE for over a year. I'm looking at the same option with Timex as BE1 diesel boxes seem thin on the ground in good condition.

[Des Smith]

Thanks, Mike. I did wonder about the ratios. I'd like the car finished before July and the idea of scratching around for a secondhand box doesn't fit in with a tight timescale. Then there's the question of how a gearbox is going to get to Chevronics, and that would be factored into the costs. That's not to overlook the fact that it would be a secondhand item with potential issues. I'm happy to go with the rebuild.

[Des Smith]

Here is the latest on the restoration! Before his trip to France for spares, Rob had re-assembled the rear subframe and wanted to check that nothing was stopping it fitting properly back on to the body shell. There's a video on Facebook but here is a still of the epic moment that the work of art was introduced to its mundane resting place.


Offering up the rebuilt rear subframe

More recently, the gearbox returned, fully rebuilt and hopefully a bit smoother. You can see it here, lurking just in front of the newly-fitted front subframe. This item came from Tim's spares stockpile and IIRC he said it came off a valver, so I'm hoping its previous incarnation might lend a brisker performance. No? Oh well, one can always hope... One little wobble that appeared at the last minute was the engine mounting bracket, which wasn't in the right place for a 1400 TU engine. Apparently some nifty fabrication and welding has rendered a bracket in the right place.


Replacement front subframe in place


NSF inner wing welding


OSF inner wing welding

The welding on the inner wings and suspension turret is complete and the primer is on. The bumpers are off to the sprayshop for some paint and should be back next week. In addition, Rob's spares hunt has secured a spare wheel carrier and rear disc covers in good condition. Things are beginning to come together now and I can begin to be hopeful that the car will be ready in time for the CCC rally in July. Lets hope all the nasty surprises and snags are over!

[Tim Leech]

Great stuff Des....did you see it in the months Magazine?

[Des Smith]

Great stuff Des....did you see it in the months Magazine?

Sadly, no. I'm not a CCC member!

It's a good time to do it. Pipes are about £80 and I can't imagine the labour would be much while the back end is in pieces...

News on the pipes is that the front-to-rear pipes are in good nick and Rob has selected the best from the two sets of pipework from the front subframes. That is what I call a result.

[Caffiend]

Sadly, no. I'm not a CCC member!

Since I don't collect 'em, you can have mine once I've finished reading it - which I will have by the National

[Tim Leech]

Great stuff Des....did you see it in the months Magazine?

Sadly, no. I'm not a CCC member!

It's a good time to do it. Pipes are about £80 and I can't imagine the labour would be much while the back end is in pieces...

News on the pipes is that the front-to-rear pipes are in good nick and Rob has selected the best from the two sets of pipework from the front subframes. That is what I call a result.

Well £30 is mere small change as part of the overall resto cost and you get to see your car in print... (and save £5 at the National Rally)

[Des Smith]

Well £30 is mere small change as part of the overall resto cost and you get to see your car in print... (and save £5 at the National Rally)

A good point, well made! Actually then, only £25 but will I be able to fend off all the admiring crowds of jealous DS owners?!

In the news today, yet more indignity as we look up a lady's skirt and see some silver spray paint has found its way on to her bottom. Looks like Hammerite to me but I gather this is some other zinc-based stuff which will dissuade further tinworm infestation. Further blushes will be likely when Mr Moss starts to add stoneguard, but from this point forward she's effectively covered up.


NS rear wheel arch zinc painted


OS rear wheel arch


Rear view

[vulgalour]

That's looking very nice now, will be well worth the effort.

[MULLEY]

I'd recommend getting an insurance valuation once done, you wouldn't want to be under insured. Look forward to seeing it in the flesh at future meets even though most of the work is hidden from view.

[Des Smith]

I'd recommend getting an insurance valuation once done, you wouldn't want to be under insured. Look forward to seeing it in the flesh at future meets even though most of the work is hidden from view.

Agreed. Who do I get a reliable valuation from? I see Footman James might be worth a quote for insurance, but will you ever get the valuation that even begins to match the cost of restoration? Anyone want to stick their neck out and hazard a guess of the value on the open market? I'd say that the 34K St Tropez that sold last month indicates the absolute top figure for a base model 14 so I reckon on somewhere south of £900.

That's looking very nice now, will be well worth the effort.

Yep! Happily all the effort's Chevronic's and I'm just opening my wallet. It means I can skin my knuckles on low-tech work like putting up fences. Less chance of cocking something important up. To digress for a moment, I saved myself £500 by building my own fence, but had to take out one panel once it was up because I'd inadvertently put it in with the lapping on the wrong side. Quite pleased with the job, I must say, but it took me three days of very cautious carpentry. Apart from job satisfaction, I can offset the money saved against the extra I'm going to have to spend on the reconditioned gearbox. Swings and roundabouts...

Take a look at the rear subframe now! Virtually ready to fit and looking rather business-like. Spot the cup of tea that has sustained the spanner warrior as he struggles manfully with the pipework. Give that man a pat on the back for artful reconstruction. I reckon Mat is going to get excited all over again when he sees this!


Rear subframe being assembled

The rest of the more mundane stuff carries on apace. Mostly the new metal patches and repairs have been finished off and the primer is on. I reckon we are getting much closer to the point where she gets re-assembled and carted off to the spray shop. It's all getting quite exciting!


Sill repaired and primed


NS Inner wing welding primed


Front cross member primed

[MULLEY]

Not sure tbh, if you're a ccc member the valuation is free. If i'm honest i can't see your car being worth more than £2-£3k, but what do i know someone else may value it much higher, which would be nice Bx's seem to be just on the verge of becoming collectable & classed as a true classic with prices generally rising over the last 12mths, so anything is possible. Another way to look at things is that they aren't going to go down in value any time soon as they aren't expensive enough to have the downturns associated with the classic car market.