Mat's BX Blog

Tell us about life with your BX, or indeed life in general!
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electrokid
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Post by electrokid »

Looks like a great place to be and a good way to be there. I was looking for an archtop a little while ago but the enthusiasm has waned somewhat and replaced by other interests - though I can't describe the current project - wall building and privet planting as particularly interesting.
1992 BX19 TGD estate 228K Rusty - SORNed
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mat_fenwick
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Post by mat_fenwick »

electrokid wrote:I can't describe the current project - wall building and privet planting as particularly interesting.
Ooooh, I don't know Brian - there are probably enthusiast forums for those things too!

This weekend has been mainly spent welding the Discovery. I knew it needed a 'couple of patches' in the front footwells/inner wings but the true extent was only revealed when I took the outer wings off….

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Fortunately I had a large amount of galvanised sheet in stock, along with plenty of wire and welding gas. However my mood was not improved when the welder decided to fail after only two patches. We have one local(ish!) hire shop but they don't hire welders. After a lot of searching around I found one a mere 40 miles away which I duely went and collected.

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Many burns/cuts and a coat of paint later!

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Still need to put it all back together as I'm venturing over to Norwich tomorrow.
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1993 1.9 TZD Turbo Estate
1996 3.9 V8 Discovery
1993 VW LT35 campervan
1985 Hyundai Stellar V8
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Post by Defender110 »

It's always worse than it initially looks, youve done a lovely job there mind.
How's the boot floor/ rear x member on this one?
Kevan
1997 Mercedes C230 W202
2003 Land Rover Discovery Series 2 Facelift TD5 - Daily driver / hobby days and camping.
1993 Land Rover Discovery 200tdi Series 1 3 door - in need of TLC
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mat_fenwick
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Post by mat_fenwick »

Thanks. It sunk in a while ago how much easier it all is if you go right back to shiny metal rather than grind back surface rust. My home made box section won't win any prizes, but is nicely galvanised and strong! I painted it with Zinga and have sealed all the welds; tonight's task is to spray with black waxoyl (I find this reasonably abrasion resistant but doesn't let rust eat away hidden underneath like underseal can) and replace the wings/carpet/trim etc.

The rear cross member is excellent, no rust in any of the seams and boot floor area is still solid but rust has got inbetween the layers of metal. As a slow down tactic I've wire brushed as much as I can away, treated it with phosphoric acid and then filled the seam with waxoyl.
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1993 1.9 TZD Turbo Estate
1996 3.9 V8 Discovery
1993 VW LT35 campervan
1985 Hyundai Stellar V8
2016 Hyundai iLoad
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rmattila
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Post by rmattila »

mat_fenwick wrote:Thanks. It sunk in a while ago how much easier it all is if you go right back to shiny metal rather than grind back surface rust.
That's so very true. (Just as it is true that it will be a lot nicer in the morning after the night before, if you skip that last drink or two. And as easy to remember when the heat is on.)
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mat_fenwick
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Post by mat_fenwick »

:lol: That's a lesson I have yet to learn! Still, at least I don't have 257 days before I can put it into practice... :wink:
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1993 1.9 TZD Turbo Estate
1996 3.9 V8 Discovery
1993 VW LT35 campervan
1985 Hyundai Stellar V8
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electrokid
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Post by electrokid »

Ooooh, I don't know Brian - there are probably enthusiast forums for those things too!
Don't you mean 'institutions' :lol: Had to dig out about a cubic meter of earth today - I say earth - I mean clay - and the only way to break it up was with the sharp end of a crowbar ](*,)
but the true extent was only revealed when I took the outer wings off
Which is why I'm not taking the wings off the Granny :-)

Excellent job there Mat :-)
1992 BX19 TGD estate 228K Rusty - SORNed
2002 C5 HDi SX estate
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mat_fenwick
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Post by mat_fenwick »

Something I'm very excited about - the BX will hit the road at the beginning of next month! Really looking forwards to driving it again, despite driving the 205 daily - it's just too frantic for me to relax whilst driving it, fun though it can be. (At least I know there are unlikely to be any sudden failures waiting for the new owner, I've done close to 1000 miles in the last month and it has all worked 100%).
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1993 1.9 TZD Turbo Estate
1996 3.9 V8 Discovery
1993 VW LT35 campervan
1985 Hyundai Stellar V8
2016 Hyundai iLoad
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Post by Tim Leech »

I thoughth discoveries were made out of that bermabrite aluminium stuff? or is that just the other panels?

ta!
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mat_fenwick
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Post by mat_fenwick »

All the outer panels are aluminium (apart from the roof), but the structure underneath is still steel. Which can rust badly whilst hidden...

Just had the insurance renewal through for the BX - it's gone up from £230 to £380!!! Bearing in mind this is with the same company, I have an extra year's NCB and no other circumstances have changed I'm rather surprised. :evil:
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1993 1.9 TZD Turbo Estate
1996 3.9 V8 Discovery
1993 VW LT35 campervan
1985 Hyundai Stellar V8
2016 Hyundai iLoad
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Philip Chidlow
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Post by Philip Chidlow »

Same happened to me and the BX insurance. Shopped around and Bradford & Bingley came in at the same as last year. Sure enough; all sorted.
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mat_fenwick
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Post by mat_fenwick »

Seems to be a common theme, I've done some shopping around and so far the best alternative I've had is £521. I'm going to check whether reducing the cover to third party only knocks it down a bit - in the past that's been more expensive, presumably as less companies offered it. Got to be worth a try though...
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1993 1.9 TZD Turbo Estate
1996 3.9 V8 Discovery
1993 VW LT35 campervan
1985 Hyundai Stellar V8
2016 Hyundai iLoad
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Way2go
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Post by Way2go »

Try Swinton Matt. They're offering cashback deals that when taken into account mean the premium drops substancially! 8) Mine rose this year for no reason but that scheme brought it back even better. :D
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mat_fenwick
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Post by mat_fenwick »

Will do - I wonder if they do modified cars though? When I put in the 1.9 engine Adrian Flux asked me the difference in bhp - as it was only an extra 2 bhp it made little difference to the price, but now it seems to be restricting my choice drastically. It also rules out most of the price comparison sites, and means I have to spend time on the phone.

On another subject, a few weeks back I spotted a few flash cars on my way back from work. Turns out they were for a magazine!

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1993 1.9 TZD Turbo Estate
1996 3.9 V8 Discovery
1993 VW LT35 campervan
1985 Hyundai Stellar V8
2016 Hyundai iLoad
Defender110
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Post by Defender110 »

mat_fenwick wrote: Just had the insurance renewal through for the BX - it's gone up from £230 to £380!!! Bearing in mind this is with the same company, I have an extra year's NCB and no other circumstances have changed I'm rather surprised. :evil:
Yes this is common theme this year, apparently a contributory factor was aired by Jack Straw to the media yesterday and is the fact the insurance companies are now selling our personal information to Ambulance chasing compensation companies which is increasing the number of personal injury claims after accidents...an top insurance insider described it to Jack Straw as the insurance industries ''Dirty secret''. Barmy!
My insurance on my dive bus doubled with the same company from £380 to £720, when I rang for an explanation stating I was the same person they had insured last year with 1 years less no claims then they were not interested. They actually did me a favour as I rang another company for a quote and when they asked if the vehicle had been modified I told them I had removed all the rear seats and converted it into a camper / dive bus. They then explained I needed specialist camper van / leisure conversion insurance which they would be happy to quote for; I gripped my teeth for a minute waiting for the shock only to be very pleasantly suprised when she came back with £180 for the year including cover for £1000 worth of camping extras..Happy Days :lol:
Kevan
1997 Mercedes C230 W202
2003 Land Rover Discovery Series 2 Facelift TD5 - Daily driver / hobby days and camping.
1993 Land Rover Discovery 200tdi Series 1 3 door - in need of TLC
2020 Fiat Panda 4x4 Cross Twin Air.
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