Pigeon Restoration

Tell us about life with your BX, or indeed life in general!
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docchevron
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Re: Pigeon Restoration

Post by docchevron »

It can take a while for a new HG to settle down mind, seen it lots of times, and had similar moments of thinking "it's fucked!" when it wasn't.
Bit late to the party here, but yeah, white smoke can be indicative of a retarded pump.
What's the plan with the rest of the red shell if you still have it?
Smokes lots, because enough's enough already!

Far too many BX's, a bus, an ambulance a few trucks, not enough time and never enough cash...
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Re: Pigeon Restoration

Post by BX Bandit »

Yep still have it and the rate at which I'm (not) doing any work it'll be there when I die!
The scrap man will cometh and pay me a pittance is the eventual plan, although I have a neighbour who works for Simms metals who says she can get a good price for me, don't know what as I've not asked yet. You needs sections or sommat? The only bit I'm cutting out the car is the rear offside door shut piece where it's gone on my 16v
1990 BX 16V Platinum Grey
1990 BX TGD White
1960 Morris Minor Clarondon Grey
1971 Triumph 2000 Auto Valencia Blue
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docchevron
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Re: Pigeon Restoration

Post by docchevron »

I was thinking about shit like inner wings, boot floor, that kinda thing if they too bad?
I could either dispose of the whole shell and give you the weigh in, or replace the tin with some heavier weigh in for you?
Smokes lots, because enough's enough already!

Far too many BX's, a bus, an ambulance a few trucks, not enough time and never enough cash...
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Re: Pigeon Restoration

Post by BX Bandit »

Inner wings were shot but were welded up, think you saw the photographs of them a few years back? The boot floor was good but with the usual n/s exhaust hanger corner repaired. My welding in corners is shocking but you could easily repair that little bit. It's going anywhere fast so there's no rush my end, will try and get photos for you.

Don't want nuffink for any panels you want mucker, best they go to help keep a bx going, especially the legend that is your pink beast! If you look in for sale wanted there are loads of pics of my pink panels under 'tzd going to scrappers'
1990 BX 16V Platinum Grey
1990 BX TGD White
1960 Morris Minor Clarondon Grey
1971 Triumph 2000 Auto Valencia Blue
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Re: Pigeon Restoration

Post by BX Bandit »

Thought I'd post some rust-porn pics of the TGD, as seems always to be the case with this car, bloody brilliant:

Amazed it's still hanging on!:
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Can I get away with treatment and seam sealer on this one? No welding required I hope:
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Perforation baby, perforation baby, this'll need cuttin'n'patchin'
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Never quite understood why they all go here, a flap wheel, rust treatment and a weld job needed here:
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Overall, not too shabby. If only I could stop sweating long enough to prevent welding in a salt bath, this car would be on the road!
Image


Been doing this instead of welding, swimming in the sea at Rest Bay Porthcawl and eating the best fish'n'chips I've had in ages and if I'm not mistaken, the best chips ever! Melt in your mouth they do. Got an ebay account with them now!
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1990 BX 16V Platinum Grey
1990 BX TGD White
1960 Morris Minor Clarondon Grey
1971 Triumph 2000 Auto Valencia Blue
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Re: Pigeon Restoration

Post by BX Bandit »

In other news, the pesky Audi played shit with me on Tuesday. Up come a million esoteric lights not even understood by the germans themselves if you believe everything you read on the web.

ECU warning
ABS warning
Traction Control warning
Suspension level control warning
Exclamation mark warning, one small, one large, both red.

OFFS, why do I always get problems with the 'good' car when the good old BX is off the road for some TLC?

To cut a very long story short, either a leak from the rear wash wipe or a faulty brake pedal switch has caused all of the above.
The problem is compounded by the front n/s suspension air bag having a leak, but it only leaks in level 1 and 2, but not 3 or 4. So, whilst embarrassed by keeping it in Chelsea Tractor mode, it saved me £££ and some work. Except this fault with the rear brake light switch and the failed ABS also insists of lowering the car to level 2. It's now at the point where the compressor cuts out to prevent it overheating before it can raise the car to level 3. So it get's to level 2, cuts out, it sinks, cuts back in and starts from rock bottom again. A bit of help from the jack to stop the car sinking got her back up to level 3.

Just to make matters consistently worse, the car self lowers to level 2 above 50mph.

£200 for a replacement air bag! If it arrives, I'll have the joy of fitting that tomorrow!
1990 BX 16V Platinum Grey
1990 BX TGD White
1960 Morris Minor Clarondon Grey
1971 Triumph 2000 Auto Valencia Blue
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Re: Pigeon Restoration

Post by DavidRutherford »

That sounds horrendously complex. That's also an awful lot of faults on the dash for what would be a very minor fault.

Ahhh, progress.
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Re: Pigeon Restoration

Post by BX Bandit »

It was indeed a lot of lights for one very simple faulty brake light switch. Pleasingly, they all go off and don't re-appear by the simple fitting of a replacement light switch at the remarkably surprising cost of £12!

The air bag replacement went mostly well, aside from a partially stripped thread in glass reinforced nylon. What was wrong with putting a tapped brass insert in to take the union?

Anyway, it has now developed an engine management type fault which embarrassingly leaves me going up hills at about 40 mph on the motorway and be overtaken by Nissan Micras - the mk 2 ones!

One reason I went for a VAG car was that my mate has the software to interrogate and diagnose.
1990 BX 16V Platinum Grey
1990 BX TGD White
1960 Morris Minor Clarondon Grey
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Re: Pigeon Restoration

Post by BX Bandit »

An update on Pidge, the whole front end is now welded up, rust free, full of black underbody stuff and filled with Bilt Hamber cavity wax.

I've cleaned and lubed the windscreen wiper mechanism, cleaned and lubed the dual cabin heater fan motors, all the black interior is in.

There are some minor rust areas on the sills, gladly no welding needed, just surface rust.

Pics to follow.....
1990 BX 16V Platinum Grey
1990 BX TGD White
1960 Morris Minor Clarondon Grey
1971 Triumph 2000 Auto Valencia Blue
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Re: Pigeon Restoration

Post by BX Bandit »

Making some bits up
Image

Image


Big hole under wash bottle/scuttle
Image

Hole along seam in inner wing, the day light is coming from inside the car.
Image

Old rusty bits cut out
Image

Image


Wash bottle/scuttle hole repaired
Image

Wing repaired
Image
1990 BX 16V Platinum Grey
1990 BX TGD White
1960 Morris Minor Clarondon Grey
1971 Triumph 2000 Auto Valencia Blue
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Re: Pigeon Restoration

Post by Defender110 »

Nice job =D>
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Re: Pigeon Restoration

Post by citsncycles »

Yep, looks good. Stangely enough, my 14 was bad on the front of the inner wings, with the area under washer bottles solid, while Timex was exactly the opposite!
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Re: Pigeon Restoration

Post by BX Bandit »

I've posted more pics and progress twice and lost my post both times! Arrrrrrrrgh!

It's odd, I'd of expected the near side to be worse thn the off side on any uk car but this is the opposite.
I have to say that this bx is really very very good for rust. It's in stark contrast to Des's St Tropez (no bragging or smugness intended) but it is coincidentally the same year and colour.

I will post up my photo's but today saw the last of the underbody work, with all welding, priming, seam sealing, cavity waxing and under body sealing all complete. This included dropping the rear subframe and fuel tank! All now reassembled bar rear brakes, aux fuel tank and a few bits and bobs. I also have some minor sill surgery to attend to and my white smoke issue, which I'm hoping will be cured by retarding my over advanced pump somewhat but it may well be camshaft follower shim related.

I've never done work to this extent on any of my BXs before. Front end yes, but never been bothered to drop the rear subframe and fuel tank before but I have to say it was worth the inconsiderable effort, the major pain in e arse being treating the afore hidden rust but then that's just the point of a restoration.

My aim, aside from Normal maintainence and the odd hiccup in the first few weeks is to have hassle free motoring for five years.

I'm genuinely very pleased to of had this car from Jay, she's an absolute cracker and way to good to have been scrapped - which was not Jay's intention by the way, but his remote location put all potential buyers off, except myself in the 11th hour and I'm damned pleased I mate the trip. I know Jay was pleased too, he has an eye for a good BX the crafty butcher!

Pics to follow.
1990 BX 16V Platinum Grey
1990 BX TGD White
1960 Morris Minor Clarondon Grey
1971 Triumph 2000 Auto Valencia Blue
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Re: Pigeon Restoration

Post by BX Bandit »

Onto the near side

Image
IMAG0668 by Neil Pye, on Flickr

Image
IMAG0669 by Neil Pye, on Flick

Two reprobates! Nothing to do with bx's
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IMAG0675 by Neil Pye, on Flickr


Image
IMAG0681 by Neil Pye, on Flickr


Got me gauges in, only the water temp guage rigged up for now
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IMAG0686 by Neil Pye, on Flickr


All the grey gone now, all in black Johnny Cash style!
Image
IMAG0687 by Neil Pye, on Flickr


Onto the rear

Image
IMAG0688 by Neil Pye, on Flickr

Does this thing have to be a certain way up? The bracket has turned to dust!
Image
IMAG0689 by Neil Pye, on Flickr

My aux tank out

Image
IMAG0690 by Neil Pye, on Flickr


Big hole in my offside wheel arch

Image
IMAG0691 by Neil Pye, on Flickr


Cleaned up, de-ox gelled and ready for primer
Image
IMAG0692 by Neil Pye, on Flickr
Last edited by BX Bandit on Sun Sep 15, 2013 12:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
1990 BX 16V Platinum Grey
1990 BX TGD White
1960 Morris Minor Clarondon Grey
1971 Triumph 2000 Auto Valencia Blue
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Re: Pigeon Restoration

Post by BX Bandit »

There's a hole in my boot!

Image
IMAG0693 by Neil Pye, on Flickr


Someone pinched me exhaust hanger!
Image
IMAG0694 by Neil Pye, on Flickr


I even dropped the fuel tank!
Image
IMAG0696 by Neil Pye, on Flickr


Primed and seam sealed
Image
IMAG0697 by Neil Pye, on Flickr


The hole I cut out to repair the perforation on the off side rear wheel arch
Image
IMAG0698 by Neil Pye, on Flickr


Off side undersealed with a (hopefully) hard wearing long lasting blackness
Image
IMAG0700 by Neil Pye, on Flickr


New exhaust hanger
Image
IMAG0701 by Neil Pye, on Flickr


I even dropped the rear subframe! More blackness. I know the die hards would of kept it body colour but I favour preservation, especially in prone areas not normally seen
Image
IMAG0703 by Neil Pye, on Flickr
1990 BX 16V Platinum Grey
1990 BX TGD White
1960 Morris Minor Clarondon Grey
1971 Triumph 2000 Auto Valencia Blue