Mat's BX Blog

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

Post by mat_fenwick »

Hoped to do a spot of skiing today, so drove up into the hills to try and find some snow of any depth. Views not bad, although someone had parked their Disco in the way :oops:

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Not much depth to the snow, but we gave it a try anyway!

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And now for something that doesn't involve the white stuff - back to the BX. I thought while I'm dealing with the back end I'd better remove the back bumper and see if there were any rot spots that needed attending to. I've never actually taken the rear bumper off a BX, but it all came off easily enough. Even the two 10 mm headed bolts came out without rounding or shearing off!

It looks like all the years of cavity waxing the box sections and regularly rinsing salt away has paid off, as I reckon it looks pretty good for 20 years and 220k miles:

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There are a couple of tiny blisters a few mm across, but that's all. I'll tidy those up and give it all a coat of wax while it's off. Still need to fix the outer wing support bracket on the nearside on, which will be easier with the bumper off.
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1993 1.9 TZD Turbo Estate
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Vanny
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by Vanny »

I'm refusing to take my rear bumper off, i know how big the hole was last time i looked . . . god knows what its like 4 year on!
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electrokid
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by electrokid »

as I reckon it looks pretty good for 20 years and 220k miles:
Ah - that's what it's meant to look like :lol:

I does look good :D

I took the rear bumper off and had a good fettle a couple of years ago - but it needs doing again.
1992 BX19 TGD estate 228K Rusty - SORNed
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mat_fenwick
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

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Today saw me attaching the wing support bracket. I was going to Sikaflex it on, but the metal on the inner wing ad a small hole once I ground off teh remains of the old bracket, so seeing as I was welding that on I welded the bracket in place too.

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Crude but hopefully effective, and nobody will see it there. It's hot dip galvanised, so should last well!
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by Vanny »

How are you outside working in this weather? I've been in the loft today and it was stupid cold up there, wouldn't like to try and wield any tools in the garage. Its also pitch black in the garage, stupid snow has covered up the moon roof :(

Ah well
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mat_fenwick
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by mat_fenwick »

It's a bit nippy but so long as I keep moving and am concentrating on something I'm fine. Welding generates heat anyway! Had to bring any aerosols inside the house to warm up.

It helps that it's a job I don't HAVE to do right now, I'm doing it because I find it satisfying. If I needed it for work the next day the temptation would be to do a rush job, which is much less enjoyable.
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electrokid
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by electrokid »

That strut looks to be where the mudflap support rod is on mine - and your exhaust support hasn't rusted through yet - it's doing very well :D
Had to bring any aerosols inside the house to warm up.
Before use, I usually put aerosols in the kitchen sink with some hot water - even in summer !
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mat_fenwick
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by mat_fenwick »

I confess I did have to weld the exhaust mount last year - although it hadn't rusted through, the stiffening plate which is spot welded to the shell had cracked. I just seam welded all the way around it, which would have been easier if I'd taken the bumper off. I just hadn't realised what a breeze it was to remove!

All repairs now primed and sealed, and I'll be spraying the inside of the wheel arch with underbody wax tomorrow.
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1993 1.9 TZD Turbo Estate
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1993 VW LT35 campervan
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by Wooscary »

mat_fenwick wrote:Today saw me attaching the wing support bracket. I was going to Sikaflex it on, but the metal on the inner wing ad a small hole once I ground off teh remains of the old bracket, so seeing as I was welding that on I welded the bracket in place too.

Image

Crude but hopefully effective, and nobody will see it there. It's hot dip galvanised, so should last well!
Ahh so that's what's supposed to be there. I don't think mine has that on either side!
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mat_fenwick
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by mat_fenwick »

The original doesn't look anything like that though - it's a vertical thin piece of steel with the lower edge tapering upwards towards the wing. As Electrokid said, that's where the OE mudflaps fit to, but mine are just attached to the bumper. The 'shelf' behind the exhaust mount collects a massive amount of mud, so is worth blasting clean when you get chance.
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1993 1.9 TZD Turbo Estate
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1993 VW LT35 campervan
1985 Hyundai Stellar V8
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by Wooscary »

Ah, yeah, I was aware that there should be something there, and that when the nearside one fell off, because it has slightly wider tyres on (185s rather and 175s?) the arch relaxed to the point where it skimmed the tyre wall. But I'd never actually bothered before this happened to study them.

That whole area probably needs a good clean, and encouraged by your words on the ease of bumper removal, one day it might even get done.
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mat_fenwick
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by mat_fenwick »

Wheel arch now coated in underbody wax.

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Wheel is now back on, and interior trim refitted. On to the next area for attention!

I've got the day off work tomorrow, so am planning to do a bit of green laning and find an abandoned village deep in the hills. Should be fun...
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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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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by Caffiend »

Happy birthday!

Have a great day
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by Tim Leech »

Happy birthday love!
Lots of Motors, mostly semi broken....
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mat_fenwick
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Re: Mat's BX Blog

Post by mat_fenwick »

Thanks! I had a fun day out, driving an easyish green lane locally - this was the trickiest part, although looks very easy in the photo.

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One of the gateways was incredibly narrow; there was only a couple of inches on the other side. I kept the post on the driver's side nearest to minimise chances of scraping.

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Then we found the ruined village:

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That was followed by cinema, and dinner in an excellent Italian restaurant in Llandudno (Romeo's). Back to the daily grind tomorrow unfortunately, but at least I finish early on Fridays.
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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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