Mat's BX Blog

Tell us about life with your BX, or indeed life in general!
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by Defender110 »

Loving that Stellar BTW.
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by mat_fenwick »

Thanks, I'm really enjoying it too! Not just the noise, but all the memories it brings back from my teens when I first learnt to drive. I actually took it to the XM meet at Cosford, where someone filmed it...



It's quite amusing driving it through a town and making heads turn - you can almost see the disappointment on people's faces when they realise it's not some supercar but just an old Hyundai!

My £1.20 rear lights arrived, so I fitted them today.

Shiny!
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Old versus new - you can see how the reflector has faded.
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Job done!
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by mds141 »

Would an application of chrome spray paint rejuvenate the old reflectors?
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by Defender110 »

"1.6 my arse" :lol: How come only one tail pipe? sounds ace.
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mat_fenwick
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by mat_fenwick »

Chrome spray would do the trick if it was just the reflectors, but the contacts had also deteriorated. TBH chrome spray is probably overkill, as only the fog light is 'chromed', the others are a more matt silver.

I went for one tailpipe deliberately, to keep it looking standard. Really pleased with the sound, it's got the balance perfectly between knowing it's a V8, without being too intrusive.
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by Tinkley »

The original reflectors will have been vacuum metalised. If you have access to a college with that facility you could maybe get them to redo the metallising, which is much better than chrome spray btw.

There are obviously commercial metallisers but they probably won't do a one/two off except for a silly price compared to replacement. Also the plastic having seen a few years of sunlight (the originals) will be a bit more brittle than a NOS or similar replacement. You really notice the difference with the headlights most.... :wink:
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by mat_fenwick »

Tinkley wrote:The original reflectors will have been vacuum metalised.
I'll agree with that for the fog lights, but it certainly looks as if the rest of the reflectors have been just sprayed with silver paint! I've no idea whether you can get that sort of effect with vacuum metallisation, but it's definitely a different finish/process. Obviously as the fog lights need to have a higher luminous intensity than the others.

As it happens my new job is in vacuum coating (although mainly on glass), but I'd better wait a while before attempting any foreigners!
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by Tinkley »

Yup, the rear ones are a more semi matt, but that will be to get a bit more diffusion and spread on the rear cluster bulbs. The headlights are high gloss - and the fogs - but I don't have them on a paltry 1.6!.

So the injection mould tooling is key for the surface finish, and then the later metallisation just adds the chrome effect. Usually aluminium vapourised.

Your not thinking of gold effect ones are you Mat?....... :lol: Christmas is coming......
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by electrokid »

As it happens my new job is in vacuum coating (although mainly on glass), but I'd better wait a while before attempting any foreigners!
So you've finally made the move :D hope it all goes well for you.
The original reflectors will have been vacuum metalised. If you have access to a college with that facility you could maybe get them to redo the metallising, which is much better than chrome spray btw
I do have a couple of bell jars - and a vacuum pump somewhere. But with my lack of success at finding something as big as the legs for my engine crane.. time I had a tidy up methinks.
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mat_fenwick
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by mat_fenwick »

It's been a while! :oops: New job (with more travelling time) plus preparing the Stellar for paint has meant less time on the internet...

But I've just done a job on the BX which I've been meaning to do for a while - the brown 7-way connector above the gearbox was causing voltage drop on a few of the contacts:

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So I bought a waterproof connector last year:

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Which is sealed both sides:

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Job done!

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The higher current pins such as starter motor solenoid and reversing lights were suffering the most, and sometimes not working (the starter I'd previously put down to the ignition switch). All seems to be OK now though :-)
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by Vanny »

Good to know i'm not the only one putting that job off.

I've had the replacement connectors for 7 years! In fact since I bought the connectors, I've sourced new wiring harness for both sides.

Who knows, I might even get them all fitted if I dont scrap her first!
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Mike E (uk)
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by Mike E (uk) »

What's the connector type Mat and where's it from?

Should do that mod myself.

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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by Tinkley »

I take it that this is the connector near the battery tray? I might have a go at mine as I know at least one connection is not working - you can see the broken wire! though I believe it to be the oil level indicator lead. However as I seem to have another rad thermostat gone, maybe it is this part causing a problem or another broken wire.
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by mat_fenwick »

This is one half of the connector:
http://www.simtekuk.co.uk/product.php/2 ... :::1593628

I was after an 8 way one to include the extra wiring I've added for the oil pressure gauge. I guess in time it would be nice to replace all the exposed ones - modern cars seem much improved in this respect with sealed connectors. Yes, it is the one near the battery tray.
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by Tinkley »

Time for an update from deepest Wales?