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strangeangel

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  1. Like
    strangeangel got a reaction from rob88h in The Old Beige BX Progress Thread: 17th Feb 2021 - FIN.   
    And off it goes...
     

     
  2. Like
    strangeangel got a reaction from rob88h in The Old Beige BX Progress Thread: 17th Feb 2021 - FIN.   
    Great news... the car's future is assured. It's off to Chez @Zelandeth on Wednesday. There's still a few quid in the pot from last time, as @KruJoe very kindly moved the car for fish and chips last time, but it's going a good bit further on this latest excursion.
     
    I'm still holding about £40, and I will add a few quid to that... any donations will be gratefully received - drop me a PM for details. Thank you!
     

     
  3. Like
    strangeangel got a reaction from rob88h in The Old Beige BX Progress Thread: 17th Feb 2021 - FIN.   
    So finally the car got re-united with its freshly rebuilt carburettor. It rewarded us for this kindness by refusing to run at all. We suspected lack of fuel, chucked some in and tried again... nothing. Then I noticed that the fuel filter had a crack in it. One trip to the motor factors in @djimbob's trusty Lexus scored us a couple of new ones. It fired up and settled to a slightly lumpy tickover, and - after a while on the choke - revved cleanly! Had we fixed it?
     
    No. After being left running for a little while longer, the misfire came back with a vengeance. Bollocks.
     
    We then wondered if the coil was breaking down under use? This seemed a reasonable theory given that the Ducellier coil was one of the few things not replaced in the ignition system. Out came the meter and the HBOL; resistance was supposed to be 0.8 Ohms on the primary wiring and 6K Ohms on the secondary. Secondary was bang on, but primary was way outside the 5% +/- tolerance at 2.3 Ohms. The tutorials I read said that the coil is toast if even a little out of tolerance on either measurement, so shopping time it is. Couldn't find anything with the Ducellier part number. but got a match on the Bosch coil also fitted to these cars - ordered.
     
    Obviously fitting that is the next job, but then the ideas cupboard is bare again... my next thought is to check out the timing? Any other suggestions (aside from JUST FUCKIN SCRAP IT M8, obviously) will be gratefully received.
     
    Accounts time:
    - carried forward = £29.71
    - 10l fuel = £10.60
    - 2 x fuel filters = £5
    - coil = £14.69
    - balance = 0.58p in the red.
     
  4. Like
    strangeangel got a reaction from rob88h in The Old Beige BX Progress Thread: 17th Feb 2021 - FIN.   
    Obviously there's nothing happening with our little beige friend because lockdown, but @richykitchy has been able to tell from this:
     

     
    that our 14RE is the fourth oldest known surviving BX in the UK, and when it achieves an MOT (see what I did there?) it'll be the third oldest roadworthy one. Not bad.
     
    Can't wait to see if the newly-rebuilt carb solves the misfire!
     
  5. Like
    strangeangel got a reaction from rob88h in The Old Beige BX Progress Thread: 17th Feb 2021 - FIN.   
    It'll be a while before I get to fit it to the car, but I have time on my hands so the carb got rebuilt today
     

     

     
    This little diaphagm thing was the worst bit I found, see the daylight through it?
     

     
    This was also shot, but there was no replacement in the kit:
     

     
    I improvised with three little O-rings crushed together. Not perfect, but better than what we had.
     

     

     
    All done!
     

     
    Let's hope it does the job!
     
  6. Like
    strangeangel got a reaction from rob88h in The Old Beige BX Progress Thread: 17th Feb 2021 - FIN.   
    So, today @djimbob and I did have at it again.
     
    First off, new spark plugs. What are the gaps? Fuck knows, and the interweb reveals nothing remotely useful, so we text the ever-obliging @Cleon-Fonte (who is busy elsewhere with his own problems). Much later, we discover the not one, but two HBOLs in the boot, along with the jack and about 11 hubcaps...
     
    We have great difficulty getting the plugs out of the head, because our plug spanners are either too short to reach the hex bit of the plug, or are the length of the Iraqi Supergun and thus impossible to deploy thanks to the orientation of the suitcase engine. After some thought, Jim goes to the garage, and returns with a big fuck off reciprocating saw...
     

     
    With great precision*, he lobs one of the plug spanners in half, beats one end flat with his best hammer and proceeds to drill a hole through the flat end. Sorted! We remove the plugs, and replace them with the new ones, after gapping them and attaching the big extension things that allow them to sit so low in the head. The old ones, while very sooty, don't look that bad. On to the HT leads. The set of leads - so carefully identified by number as being the the correct set - bear no resemblance to the ones on the car. Outstanding. The rubber boot things on the dizzy cap ends are completely different, and we have to swap these over to make the new ones fit. The coil lead supplied was about 3" long, with the wrong plug on both ends, so we'll have to buy another one to replace that with.
     
    All this done - and a ropey looking low tension connector to the coil replaced - we fired her up. It started quickly, and idled quite well, if a bit fast. Once warmed up, we tried revving it and, to our dismay, the misfiring is still present. Mucho coughing and farting. Bastard.
     
    Much as I enjoy the man's programmes, I didn't feel like rebuilding the carb Keith Floyd-style on a trestle table in Jim's yard (although by this time, a large glass of red might well have been welcomed). So, off it came and into the boot of the BX it went. It's on the bench in my garage at the moment, with all the screw heads soaking in penetrating fluid in anticipation of my attacking it, hopefully next week.
     
    I really hope rebuilding the old Solex cures the problem, because we're all out of ideas if it doesn't.
     
     
     
  7. Like
    strangeangel got a reaction from rob88h in The Old Beige BX Progress Thread: 17th Feb 2021 - FIN.   
    So... last week djimbob and I finally found time and braved the cold to cast an eye over the old beige. I've had a dizzy cap in the garage for months to replace the knackered one on the car. Our mission was to fit that, measure up for a new set of HT leads and find the model number on the carb so that I could order a repair kit.
     
    The bad news is that the car doesn't like being kept outside - the door seals are as bad as the ones on my car and consequently we found it full of water and smelling pretty rank. djimbob did sterling work cleaning the mould off everything and baling out the footwells... we'll be keeping a tarp over it after this.
     

     
    The better news was that it started - and idled! - with the new dizzy cap on. If you cast your mind back to the earlier pages of this thread idling was never its strong suit. Well, now it does... a bit rough, but idling nevertheless. More bad news followed, though, by dent of the fact that the misfire is still there higher up the rev range. No matter... onwards and upwards. I measured the leads and scored a NOS set of BOSCH ones off eBay. The old ones are very hard and cracked, and are possibly original. The little metal tag on the carb betrayed the model:
     

     
    and from that it was easy to order up a repair kit from Germany. I'm pretty sure we talked about replacing the plugs (@KruJoe?) but never did, so I ordered a set of those too.
     
    Full disclosure: when Dan StillOrange bestowed keeperhood of the car upon me, he also bunged me the remaining £80 in the car's kitty for buying precious things. The gallon of fuel was on me, but I have spent:
    - £25.22 on a carb repair kit
    - £12.00 on the new HT leads
    - £4 on a set of new spark plugs
    which leaves £38.78 in the pot. Just so you know.
     
    EDIT: £4 for bogus plugs refunded  I bought another set from GSF - £13.07
    So now there's £29.71 left.
     
    Everything but the plugs have arrived, and it is hoped that these will turn up in time for us to fit all of the above on one of my days off next week. In an ideal world this would result in bye bye misfire, and if we're that lucky, then we'll take it to djimbob's tame MOT tester and see how it goes.
     
  8. Like
    strangeangel got a reaction from rob88h in The Old Beige BX Progress Thread: 17th Feb 2021 - FIN.   
    The Precious Things have started arriving...
     

     
    I can just hear that recalcitrant 4th cylinder bursting into life when we fit this!
     
  9. Like
    strangeangel got a reaction from rob88h in The Old Beige BX Progress Thread: 17th Feb 2021 - FIN.   
    Well, we've let this drag on, haven't we? My fault entirely, so apologies for that.
     
    I will be heading up to Joe's place on Sunday May 26th, when we will attempt to get the car ready to face the man from the Ministry.
     
    If you are a shareholder or just a fan of the beige please feel free to join us - the more the merrier.
  10. Like
    strangeangel got a reaction from rob88h in The Old Beige BX Progress Thread: 17th Feb 2021 - FIN.   
    Right then, I've been chatting to Joe and we have plans for a working party at Castle_Cleland in late April. We're thinking it'll be on a Sunday, but haven't got a definite date in mind yet.
     
    Anyone interested in joining us - jump in! If you can give us an idea of your availability that'll help us set a date that will (hopefully) suit most - if not all - of those who fancy helping get this monumentally ace car fit for its MOT.
     

  11. Like
    strangeangel got a reaction from rob88h in The Old Beige BX Progress Thread: 17th Feb 2021 - FIN.   
    BUMP 4 A GR8 CAR
     
    Just emptying my memory card, and found a couple of out-takes from the first CASTLE_CLELAND working party...
     

     

  12. Like
    strangeangel got a reaction from rob88h in The Old Beige BX Progress Thread: 17th Feb 2021 - FIN.   
    Carb cleaning (slight return)... some jets and a formerly crusty fitting, this evening:
     

     
    Float bowl, sans shit:
     

     
    All the orifices of the carb body got blown out with compressed air and then reassembly was the reverse process of dismantling. No picture of the finished article, cos it doesn't look much different; it's functionally clean & I ain't polishing it up to a mirror finish
     
    All ready to be re-united with the car at the next working party!
     
  13. Like
    strangeangel got a reaction from rob88h in The Old Beige BX Progress Thread: 17th Feb 2021 - FIN.   
    Carb cleaning has commenced... first I scraped as much of the limescale/corrosion out of the waterway as I could:
     

     
    Then it was removed and given repeated cycles in the ultrasonic cleaner:
     

     
    Then off came the top, the crusty float bowl filled with carb cleaner for a good soak, and the jets removed for a ride in the ultrasonic cleaner:
     

     
    More soon...
  14. Like
    strangeangel got a reaction from rob88h in The Old Beige BX Progress Thread: 17th Feb 2021 - FIN.   
    Today's update, then... the sphere tool was deployed early doors; we were expecting to have to use unreasonable force to get them off, but they were little more than hand tight! To our delight, a quick test ride revealed that the bigger, 2nd hand spheres found in the boot have restored the BX's magic carpet ride
     

     
    In removing the airbox to make room, we found that the plastic inlet had been damaged due to the attached hose being horribly over-tightened, allowing the car to suck in unfiltered air...
     

     
    That got re-shaped by warming it up with a hair-dryer and strengthened by the insertion of part of a Volvo washer bottle filler neck! The filter itself was shagged; the foam crumbled and it didn't bounce back if you poked a finger at it:
     

     
    While the car runs it's never idled brilliantly, so we decided to take the carburettor off, and I've brought it home to clean. It's certainly filthy, and the waterway through the bottom of it is blocked solid with alloy corrosion, which has made us wonder about the state of the water pump.
     
    Another thing of note is that the rad has been bodged with some sort of black gunge, and leaks when the car is up on ramps. Replacements can be had for £60 or so, so not the end of the world.
     
    FInally, big thanks to MRS_CLELAND, who spoilt us rotten with a delicious lunch of Thai noodles, and home-made cake! What more could a 'shiters work party ask for?
     

     
    More soon, hopefully!
     

     
     
     
  15. Like
    strangeangel got a reaction from rob88h in The Old Beige BX Progress Thread: 17th Feb 2021 - FIN.   
    Most likely Dan, I just meant it was headed there immediately after the fest...
     
    EDIT: we think the filter had a pinhole in and was causing loss of the pump's hard-earned suction. As soon as the new one was fitted, it started drawing fuel through like a good 'un.
  16. Like
    strangeangel got a reaction from rob88h in The Old Beige BX Progress Thread: 17th Feb 2021 - FIN.   
    It seems like it's time to have a new thread dedicated to the on-going progress (or otherwise) of the Beige BX, without people having to trawl through pages of stuff about the original purchase. All that malarkey can be found here. The new thread will make it easier to change the title as required, too.
     
    For works completed to date in the old thread go here.
     
    Today's progress at SF17 was MEGA. Much work was carried out on the fuel system by Joe and many of the assembled Shiters; the fuelling problem finally being cracked when Joe fitted one of the Pleasure Wagon's clear fuel filters!
     

     

     
    There was a stuttering journey down the ramp...
     

     
    Fuel was added... and it ran!
     

     
    A quick ride round the campsite revealed that the spheres are completely shagged, as the suspension was entirely bereft of travel. On the plus side, there are two new spheres in the boot. Dead chuffed to see it run, and have a go at piloting it across the field, though
     
    It's headed back to Castle_Cleland after SF, after which we need to have a think about the best way to go from here.
  17. Like
    strangeangel got a reaction from rob88h in Beige BX - Autoshite joint purchase ACHIEVED - funders/fixers/sarcastic commenters SOUGHT   
    The day started off well enough - by the time I arrived stillOrange had found and removed the leaking fuel pipe. So off we went to the motor factors, in his rather splendid Volvo, to purchase a replacement.
     

     
    We fitted this, and the car started and ran, but only for a long as the fuel already in the carb and filter lasted. No fuel was getting through. On inspection, the fuel pump's little filter was found to be full of clag, which won't have helped but wasn't enough on its own to stop it running. More fuel was added to the tank, just in case the gauge was lying, but to no avail.
     
    The only other thing we could think of was to blow air through the fuel line back from the pump, using a 12V tyre inflater, as we wondered if something had been pulled up from the bottom of the tank and blocked the line. No dice. We checked the HBOL, but there was no mention of priming the pump (we tried anyway!).
     
    As might be expected, the battery is toast, which made this calendar pic possible when we wanted to try starting The Beigeness:
     

     
    There's still some money in the kitty, but if anyone has a viable 063 battery they wouldn't mind donating to the project it would be much appreciated!
     
    On the plus side, seeing the car in the tin for the first time today, I can confirm that it's a truly fantastic thing. Even the rank, smelly upholstery (and the relentless, pissing rain) couldn't put me off!
     

     
    If any of the resident BXperts have any thoughts at this point, all help will be gratefully received!
  18. Haha
    strangeangel got a reaction from Dick Longbridge in Dick's cars: Photo dump of visit to Riviera Mini run   
    Nice one. Good job it wasn't facing the other way or you'd have been gassed M8.
     

  19. Like
    strangeangel got a reaction from Dick Longbridge in Family snaps with your old cars in the background.   
    My Uncle George's Cooper S from when he was living in Canada:
     

     
     
  20. Like
    strangeangel got a reaction from Dick Longbridge in Family snaps with your old cars in the background.   
    Dad's Cresta in Cannes!
     

     
  21. Like
    strangeangel got a reaction from Dick Longbridge in Family snaps with your old cars in the background.   
    Another shot of Mum's Victor, repeated here for those of you who (like me) enjoy the sight of an old caravan or three
     

     
  22. Like
    strangeangel got a reaction from Dick Longbridge in Family snaps with your old cars in the background.   
    @djimbob's Dad's legendary Ford Thames. Built from two examples of the marque by our respective fathas - a fooked minibus with a three-speed gearbox, and a rotten fish van with a more powerful motor and a 4-speed box - our collected families - ten in all - holidayed in Spain aboard this old warrior:
     

     
  23. Like
    strangeangel got a reaction from Dick Longbridge in Family snaps with your old cars in the background.   
    Vespas. My Grandad's '62 Sportique on the left, and on the right the 1959 152L2 owned by my old feller, Uncle George and now me!
     

     
    Here's mine (the one on the right) now:
     

     
  24. Like
    strangeangel got a reaction from Dick Longbridge in Family snaps with your old cars in the background.   
    This is a rare Work In Progress shot. On the right is Mum's Renault 10, weeks away from being scrapped due to terminal rot, and its replacement - the 1301 estate - is getting a good wobbing up prior to Dad re-spraying it.
     

     
  25. Like
    strangeangel got a reaction from Rightnider in Family snaps with your old cars in the background.   
    This is a rare Work In Progress shot. On the right is Mum's Renault 10, weeks away from being scrapped due to terminal rot, and its replacement - the 1301 estate - is getting a good wobbing up prior to Dad re-spraying it.
     

     
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