Story of my shite: Ax 5dr Menpiss - FOR SALE!

[ruffgeezer]

I wanted you all to know a bit more about the chod I'm currently running on a day to day basis, so I'll copy in my build thread for the Ax first;
 

Well if you've read my threads before you'll know that last year, I finished the build of my shitbox Ax VTR, and drove around in it for a bit, and for a while it was fun, but even though it all worked nicely, the underlying problem was that the shell was terrible, so all bets were off as to the car's future.

Last thursday, I snagged a lift down south to have a look at a potential replacement, the story goes as follows:

At around 5.50am, Thursday morning, my dad and his colleague arrive outside my place to head to the office in Saffron Walden, leg 1 of the journey...

Watching the sunrise on the outskirts of peterboghorror:


At the end of leg 1, I collect my ticket and await the (late) train from Audley End into London Liverpool Street:


Its not hard to see why people don't take the train, grim innit?


At the end of leg 2, just off of the train into the station concourse:


Now after this, I got on the tube where you aren't allowed to take pictures, so I didn't... and I didn't get any that show just how truely crappy Picadilly Station is either, but it is. In any case, I arrived in Reading to collect this:



Unfortunately, the ebay turned out to be a lying fat bastard, the car had a busted bootlid (annoying but not really an issue) and when I went to drive it the next day, the battery was dead.

I will be taking a dump on his ebay feedback.


After a fairly epic journey, arriving home at around 3.30pm, I parked the new ride up next to it's older brother...


This might give the game away as to my plans:

This thing was pretty crap to begin with, but I'm not fussed as I'm a good shitest at the best of times!
 

Yeah its going to be a saxo vts mill under the bonnet, with a lot of the running gear from my previous effort...

This is what I got up to this weekend:

The best thing about the new shell, is that inspite of several cosmetic problems, its base is fairly solid, and it all comes apart nicely:


I must remember to swap the plates back around, but I'm going again for the look of the mk1 ax, I haven't decided whether to get an older plate for the car, I'll see how it comes out I guess!


Front end converted to mk1, save for the badge being in the wrong place, I feel kinda bad for the smurf, but I know I'm doing the right thing long term.

Will drop another instalment in as and when I get 5 mins.

 

[ruffgeezer]

Not a lot of replies compared to views? Does modded chod not get a lot of interest on here then?

 

 

I got the badges around 5 years ago from a chap on bx16v, I just never got round to finishing anything to fit them.

 

That has changed now though, because last Friday after I finished work near Lincoln, I dragged the silver ax kicking and screaming across the country to Warrington, where the frankly crappy 1.1 was liberated.

 

As soon as I arrived, the car was backed in on the lift and we started preparing the engine for removal, I think we spent about 1.5 hours on this and by the time we left that night, both the ax's engine and that of the doner car were ready to be lifted out the next day.

 

Saturday was one of those days where nothing seemed to go to plan, even the little jobs were taking forever! We battled on with the conversion for 12 hours solid, so sadly there wasn't a lot of time for pictures, but here is what I got anyhow:

 

Early saturday, the 1.1 engine is removed:

 

View from the 3rd floor: The ax sits behind it's previous engine, and nearer the door, it's next engine.

 

Obligatory artsy fartsy shot through the crane's jib:

 

Later that evening, its seriously cold but we've replaced the new engine's cam covers, headgasket, water pump and timing belt, and it's ready to be hoisted into the ax

 

Finally, a warning to all on retrorides, doing 12hours solid is not big and it's not clever, and it could lead to you looking like us:

 

Myself:

The ever-so-helpful RyanMT:

 

I've still a lot of work to do before it's properly finished, needless to say, it is curse word your pants quick, which I like a whole lot!

[Minimad5]

Jeese, how big is your unit / garage ?

 

Keep the updates coming

[ashmicro]

That train is fuckin LUXURY, lad. Until lately, the train I took to Belfast had hard blow-moulded plastic seats that didn't reach your shoulderblades, and to get out you had to slide down the window in the door and reach out for the handle.

 

Good work with the Ax-es. Should be a right hoot with VTS powerrrrr.

[Father Ted]

Mk 1 AX with Mi6 16v donkey......

 

I look forward to the first high speed bend story with interest

[Negative Creep]

That train is fuckin LUXURY, lad. Until lately, the train I took to Belfast had hard blow-moulded plastic seats that didn't reach your shoulderblades, and to get out you had to slide down the window in the door and reach out for the handle.

 

Good work with the Ax-es. Should be a right hoot with VTS powerrrrr.

 

 

My VTR powered one was a cracker. They are great little cars in general, and I never had any real reliability issues

[RoadworkUK]

Great thread, sir. Looking forward to seeing how this turns out.

 

Also; trains can try and be as swish as they like but they're still purgatory when you're sitting next to a sweaty fat bastard with an egg and cress sandwich.

[ruffgeezer]

Also; trains can try and be as swish as they like but they're still purgatory when you're sitting next to a sweaty fat bastard with an egg and cress sandwich.

 

It was cheese and onion actually and it was very hot in that carriage

 

The unit was Ryan's dad's garage in the old cable works in central warrington, and it's a monster!

 

On we go:

Well the build on the ax continues, sadly as it's been a bit of a whirlwind build, there aren't as many progress pictures as I'd like, but most of the ground covered is that similar to the smurf build last year, I didn't think it was worth boring you all with second time around!

 

As time goes along, the uprated parts from the Smurf are slowly migrating to the silver car:

 

 

I actually prefer the smurf with silver bumpers, its a different look, which I hope it's new owner will like.

 

I acquired a new exhaust this time round, this time a powerflow system so I could lop the tailpipes off and stick something a little less max power on.

 

unfortunately, the exhaust was just too loud, as I've already problems with my hearing, it had to go, I was lucky as I still had the old system from poor smurfy, so that came across too:

 

As you can see, the grey mk1 bumpers make an appearance on this car now too, I just prefer the shapes of a mk1, but being as they are relatively rare now, I couldn't bring myself to go butchering one for the hell of it, anyway, the Ax's cosy up to each other of a night, it won't be long before I get the smurf roadworthy again ready for it's new owner.

 

 

Today I had a bit of a ride out in the silver car, it's now got 4 stud all round and I've replaced a wheel bearing that died during lay-up, nothing too major but there is still some vibes through the running gear at speed, I might have to replace the drive shafts at some point.

 

Anyway the ride out consisted of an 180 mile round trip, primarily to collect a pas pump for my 106, but secondly, to grab this bootlid, its not in mint condition but it is the right colour, it just needs a bloody good clean!

 

 

Every little helps, I'm still trying to decide what to do with the interior!

[Shep Shepherd]

That quite an agreeable little car

[ruffgeezer]

Moving on with the story:

 

Well on the way to work this morning a suicidal pheasant wandered out in front of me, it was either hit it, or swerve into a skip lorry, so someone is having game pie tonight...

 

Sadly the ax looks a little worse for wear, most annoying is that it's claimed the light up RAC badge from the front bumper. curse word.

 

 

Out with these:

 

And after a heavy session with the upholstery spray and steam cleaner:

 

 

Gt500 half leathers!

 

Well I haven't done very much to this of late, I have lost my mojo completely with cars and have even considered selling this one, time will tell...

 

Anyhow, I thought I'd better bring this up to date now I have a bit of time;

 

After this year's FCS, I noticed that the pheasant strike had caused a slow leak from the radiator, so that in mind, along with some fresh brakes and a bit of welding to attend to, I took the car to work, where my tame(ish) welder, John got the deal done for me:

 

I had to remount the rad fan as the through the fins clips were broken, luckily I joggled the mounts around a bit and mounted it to the slam panel, all I had to do was nibble a couple of slots into the grille which aren't visible with the bonnet shut:

 

What was the can in the last update for then? Oh yes, about bloody time!

 

Rubrubrubrubrub:

 

A bit of the local rag and some tape:

 

PSsssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssst!

 

Oh yeah, on the way home from moving my brother from his flat in central London to south Birmingham (Interestingly the Delica got 30mpg on the way down, because the middle seats that I took out weigh 36kgs EACH!) We got all of his stuff in and chucked him on the train, after unloading him in Birmingham, I stopped in on karlos5 to collect these:

 

They were filthy but seem to have cleaned up alright with upholstery shampoo and a blast with the steam cleaner.

 

They are in now, but I need to work out a door card strategy.

 

I'd post results, but I haven't taken any pictures of it since!

 

I have acquired a set of these though:

 

And some shorter rubber.... results to come!

[Mr Lobster]

Liking that. I had an AX Memphis back in 1996 1.5D and did about 50mpg. Wish I'd kept it really but it eventually ended its days with Sista_Lobsta being battered to death in London.

[Guest]

SCTSH_ANDY bought his AX off your mate. I knew the bloody unit looked familiar - there can't be that many places with a Prelude 2 stories up on a big stack.

[Negative Creep]

GT500 seats - very nice

[ruffgeezer]

SCTSH_ANDY bought his AX off your mate. I knew the bloody unit looked familiar - there can't be that many places with a Prelude 2 stories up on a big stack.

 

Forgive me, does SCTSH_ANDY actually exist or are you having some sort of fight club/donnie darko episode?

You mentioned him before in another post of mine about the Preludes, but a search brings up nothing other than you posting about him, which ax did he buy from Ryan?

[stuboy]

good work fella

[ruffgeezer]

Here is the latest update; I've been using the vts daily for a while now, but I'm thinking of some fresh suspension if the opportunity presents itself...

 

I've also to find a high trim level instrument cluster for the temp gauge, and I've a plan for a rev counter.

 

Whilst the slots do work, the don't fit, there isn't enough backspace for the front calipers by some considerable margin...

 

They did look cool though:

 

I tried a different set of trims on whilst I was messing about:

 

These are the current ones, but I'm just not feeling them anymore:

 

In other news, I finally got around to fitting the chrome grille I acquired last year:

 

 

 

The current plans are to paint up a mk1 bonnet, get some new wheels and hopefully an "older" number plate if the opportunity presents itself, although I have considered flogging it too, but I doubt it'd see the £1500 I'd want for it.

[ruffgeezer]

Here is the latest update; I've been using the vts daily for a while now, but I'm thinking of some fresh suspension if the opportunity presents itself...

 

I've also to find a high trim level instrument cluster for the temp gauge, and I've a plan for a rev counter.

 

Whilst the slots do work, the don't fit, there isn't enough backspace for the front calipers by some considerable margin...

 

They did look cool though:

 

I tried a different set of trims on whilst I was messing about:

 

These are the current ones, but I'm just not feeling them anymore:

 

In other news, I finally got around to fitting the chrome grille I acquired last year:

 

 

 

The current plans are to paint up a mk1 bonnet, get some new wheels and hopefully an "older" number plate if the opportunity presents itself, although I have considered flogging it too, but I doubt it'd see the £1500 I'd want for it.

[ruffgeezer]

New rims again? Ok then!

 

Trial on front

 

 

Old rubber vs new:

 

And on the back?

[RoadworkUK]

They look ace! The CX trims would look oresome on the Xantia...

[Ross_K]

What about ZX 4-spokes?

[Guest]

SCTSH_ANDY bought his AX off your mate. I knew the bloody unit looked familiar - there can't be that many places with a Prelude 2 stories up on a big stack.

 

Forgive me, does SCTSH_ANDY actually exist or are you having some sort of fight club/donnie darko episode?

You mentioned him before in another post of mine about the Preludes, but a search brings up nothing other than you posting about him, which ax did he buy from Ryan?

 

 

He bought a black AX 3 door GTI with a Saxo VTS engine in it. I hope he does exist, I've just been round to his house to give him some rent.

Pete-M's met SCTSH_ANDY, so nerrr.

[ruffgeezer]

What about ZX 4-spokes?

 

I did have a set of them once, and I liked them, but I didn't think they suited the Ax as well as they do the ZX:

 

 

Watanabe:

Ahhh that one, nice looking motor that.

[scooters]

the solid stainless CX wheel trims are awesum on a hydraulic citroen - if you eva want to sell em let me know!

 

I had them on my last CX

 

Citroen until about 1991 made some of the most unique hubcaps/wheel rims IMHO

[ruffgeezer]

Here is a little something I used to fill in a lunchtime, you will have seen earlier in the build I had fitted several different exhausts:

 

Original:

This was too restrictive for the vts lump, like having the shits with an arsehole the size of a MaccyD's straw...

 

Awful sounding, but well made poowerflow:

 

More subtle 3" scorpion:

 

Now I was going to chop the scorpion box about, but instead this powerflow was landed for £35.

 

Start with a chav-spec Rear silencer:

 

Apply lashings of hacksaw:

 

Note that it looks more tasteful already? I ground down the seams here as it meant the new pipe wouldn't fit, I will have to weld over them later on:

 

If it looks a tight fit here that is because it is! I had to slot the tailpipe and warm it with the acetylene plant to get it on!

 

After lots of warming and persuasion with a wooden mallet, I got the tail piece on, now I haven't managed any decent welding before, so this is make or break time really!

 

Bzzzzzzzt! Bzzzzzzzt! All glued on!

 

I just hope it doesn't poke out too far when I get it fitted!

[ruffgeezer]

This is now up for sale, it is still taxed & mot'd (I will have to check just how much of each it has)

 

Looking for somewhere around £750 or a swap for something not french?