Mat's BX Blog

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 12:38 pm

Look what arrived in the post yesterday! Thanks to Matt H...

Nice easy job to put them on

And then on to the next task for the evening!

Earlier this week I discovered a soaking wet dashboard, and a soggy headlining. Ah well, I suppose if it doesn't leak then it's not a proper Land Rover! Living in Wales where it does rain once or twice a year, I had to fix it. Last night I managed to get the headlining out, not as tricky a job as I'd been expecting actually.

All I've managed to find out though, is that it's not leaking though the usual place of the sunroof drain tube stubs, although it is absolutely pouring in

There is a reinforcing channel running across the roof between the top of the windscreen and the front sunroof, and water was coming through the holes in it in a steady stream but I can't actually see where it's getting in the channel! Next time I'll get to see it in daylight will be the weekend, so maybe I'll have more joy then...

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 12:58 pm

Had to visit a supplier in Norwich yesterday (600 mile round trip) and on the way back I decided to take it easy for a bit and stick to 55mph. After I had very nearly died of boredom I got to a petrol station and filled up. Managed to average 61mpg over 160 miles. Not bad! In fact the best economy I've ever recorded from any car or bike.

Post by **Defender110** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 1:22 pm

mat_fenwick wrote: on the way back I decided to take it easy for a bit and stick to 55mph.

It'll be pipe and slippers under the Christmas Tree next!

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Fri Dec 09, 2011 4:47 pm

Mat giving the underside a wash...

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Fri Dec 09, 2011 4:59 pm

'What could possibly go wrong?'

Great pic. I haven't seen Mat's TZD before. Looks good. If a bit damp.

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Sat Dec 10, 2011 8:35 pm

Great picture that, perhaps we should stick that on the front page of the website.

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 10:08 am

It is indeed a great photo. And a lot of fun in the making! I don't know what it is about water that attracts me, but if there's a road where a new bridge has been built alongside a ford, I'll go through the ford every time.

On the subject of water, this is some I didn't fancy driving through last night!

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:50 pm

Are you on a beach

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 1:15 pm

Yep.

You can drive onto it during the off season, and is an excellent spot for walking the dog, or camping in the van.

Or drive your car into the sea, if you're so inclined.

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 12:47 pm

Went walking in the woods late yesterday afternoon and was exploring where no human had been for years (had to break branches off to move through) when I found a strange clearing.
The trees looked like they had been blown down, but all in different directions spreading out from the centre! It's a poor photo, but will go back with a better torch this week and investigate further...

Very eerie feeling, but that could have been the light fading. Didn't see any signs of alien landing craft!

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 12:15 am

Tried to find the mysterious clearing again, in the dark. But failed. I can see how people can get lost in woodland like this though - it was only the slight gradient that enabled me to retrace my steps back downhill!

BX news now, for a change. I came back home to find this the other day:

It wasn't entirely unexpected, as I'd asked them to remove the screen for me as I needed a new, less scratched/chipped one and also to tidy up a bit of surface rust that was creeping around the glass - presumably scratched during a previous windscreen fitment.

Surface rust I thought, until I prodded at this spot:

Time to get the welder out over Christmas (which incidentally I managed to repair with a £2.41 relay!)

toddao · Post by **toddao** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 8:01 am

That picture in the woods needs only a shadowy image of 'bigfoot' to finish it off. Be careful out there Mat, if you don't post for a while then we know you've been Uploaded/abducted by aliens!

I've got to get a new screen as well. You're lucky that you can have it removed, work on the rust then get the new one fitted. As I don't have a second car it would have to be an in and out job.

Post by **Defender110** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 4:40 pm

mat_fenwick wrote:Time to get the welder out over Christmas (which incidentally I managed to repair with a £2.41 relay!)

That's a bit of good news at least

.........I'll send the new one back I bought you for Christmas.

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 9:07 pm

Oh dear. looking a bit crispy. The good news is that you can now sort all the rust out before it gets worse

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 1:04 pm

Yeah, it was a little bit of a surprise to be able to poke a hole with my screwdriver! Fortunately the other areas stood up to the prod test without a problem. It's going to be a little tricky welding in a new patch neatly, I'll have to butt weld it as I can't get access to the rear and part of it will be visible with the seal in place.

Kev wrote:I'll send the new one back I bought you for Christmas.

Awww, you shouldn't have.....

(I wanted a plasma cutter!)