Mat's BX Blog

[MULLEY]

It would look a lot nicer with re-claimed slate tiles to match the rest of our house. Polycarbonate will just look filthy with the amount of rain you've been getting.

[mat_fenwick]

I agree that slate would look better, but we want to make the most of any sunlight we get! For the price of corrugated sheet we can bit it if it looks crap, and with plants growing up it might look OK.

Almost finished now:





A lovely day here today, and the camera is obviously not used to sunlight!

[Paul296]

. . . the camera is obviously not used to sunlight!

Ah! I thought your car was being abducted by Aliens for a minute. It did seem a bit odd that if you could nick any car in the world you'd go for a Ford Focus!?

[vulgalour]

clear corrugate isn't too bad, if it's finished off well. Polycarb sheeting tends to look better, but that's reflected in the price and greenhouse glass is better yet, but again reflected in the price. Slate might look better, but would certainly make no sense.

[Dollywobbler]

Our conservatory is polycarb sheets. It's all filthy and cracked. Mind you, it's a good 20 years old I think! We're about to rebuild it all...

I think corrugated plastic can look good. It's not a bad height for you to be able to clean it.

[mds141]

clear corrugate isn't too bad, if it's finished off well. Polycarb sheeting tends to look better, but that's reflected in the price and greenhouse glass is better yet, but again reflected in the price. Slate might look better, but would certainly make no sense.

Pun intended?

[vulgalour]

I do love a good pun, but that was entirely unintentional!

[mat_fenwick]

Leaning (no pun intended) more towards corrugated at the moment - may buy one sheet to start with before fully committing to it.

Back to the BX and I drilled out the spot welds on the rear wing, so I could tease open the seam a little. The rust was worse than I hoped it would be, but marginally better than I feared. If I could find a new wing section I think I'd fit it though, given the rust around the filler flap.

[mds141]

Eeek!!

[citsncycles]

I wonder if there's a connection between rot round the filler flap and whether an auxilliary tank is fitted? Timex is certainly one of the rustier BX's around, but the area round the filler is fine!

[Tim Leech]

I wonder if there's a connection between rot round the filler flap and whether an auxilliary tank is fitted? Timex is certainly one of the rustier BX's around, but the area round the filler is fine!

I always wondered if diesels would last better than petrols, my DTR is 28 year old this year and done 182000 miles but the filler and the surrounding panel seems sound, where the other side had to be replaced.

[mat_fenwick]

I think the auxiliary tank does give some protection to that area from what is directly thrown up by the wheel, but more importantly it stops it from being hosed out. So anything that does get thrown up there will tend to stay. Also, the top of the tank does give a ledge for dirt build up to start from. I wish I realised all this 9 years ago! Despite being thoroughly hosed underneath before coming off the road at the end of last year, the area behind the panel was caked in dried mud.

All else being equal, diesels will tend to fair better as any fuel splashes will leave an oily residue. Not sure how much would find its way to the rear of the panel though. Doc has found a panel which should be on its way to me soon, so hopefully will be able to make some progress shortly.

[Vanny]

All the BX's that i've ever taken apart have had an aux tank and half a field sat onto of the tank and wedged between the filled neck and the body (isn't gravity great) so yeah, i'd say there was a definite link! And i find the pressure washer doesn't knock it down either so i periodically whip the wheel off and clear the area by hand on mine.

[citsncycles]

I was wondering about retro fitting the extra tank to mine but I don't think I'll bother now, as I value the state of the panels more than the 90+ miles between fills.

[Dollywobbler]

Hmmm. Guess I'd better give the TXD a clearout then! I do like the increased range from the longer tank. It's such a novelty to be able to cover well over 500 miles between fill-ups.

Will hopefully be with you before 10 in the morning Mat. May even try to be earlier than that as I need to be back here by late afternoon.