Pretty Blue-bird - Dollywobbler's latest wheels

[dollywobbler]

It is, but I'm wary of quality with these. A mate with a BX had a cheap drop link fail last weekend. Apparently it's very scary when that happens! There are companies selling them for as little as £1 on Ebay. I dread to think what the quality is like! I'd prefer to get OE if I can.

[blackbird]

Nice purchase

Loving the T12 and T72 Bluebirds

[garethj]

For the overrun and emissions, VW did something similar on Beetles for the US market before they got fuel injection. It was a little damper fitted to the throttle linkage on the carb, and easy to take off. I think the reason was when you change gear and lift off the throttle, it raised the emissions level so this damper fixed it.

 

If the Bluebird has something similar, maybe you can just remove it.

 

Top purchasing btw, I recognise something of my own car buying there. A car you own does something a bit badly so you change it for something that does that tiny thing brilliantly, at the expense of other things which used to be important.

 

My example was that I had to drive my 1964 Renault 8 about 400 miles in a weekend. Even though this was once in a blue moon the twat part of my brain kicked in and insisted I bought something which would do this bit well. So I got a V12 XJ-S

 

You've got rid of the BX which had a trifling issue; it doesn't really go as often as you'd like. You now have a car which will do that brilliantly, however all the BX features you've taken for granted are now gone.

 

See you on ebay in a couple of months

[dollywobbler]

To be fair, the BX had MANY problems. Water leaked into it as if the body wasn't there, the engine was poorly, the front suspension was poorly, the wiring was iffy, it smelt like a damp dog, the gearbox was iffy etc...

 

The only problem on the Bluebird is the sheer boredom and the knocking drop links. I'm wondering about fitting one of those steering wheel rim cover things, because it feels really horrible and skinny. I reckon a cover would look the part and might make the steering feel nicer. The BX Mk2 has a really chunky steering wheel rim and I like that.

[messerschmitt owner]

To be fair, the BX had MANY problems. Water leaked into it as if the body wasn't there, the engine was poorly, the front suspension was poorly, the wiring was iffy, it smelt like a damp dog, the gearbox was iffy etc...

Just as well Mike knows he bought a dog, eh!

 

You need an XM in your life!

[PhilA]

For the overrun and emissions, VW did something similar on Beetles for the US market before they got fuel injection. It was a little damper fitted to the throttle linkage on the carb, and easy to take off. I think the reason was when you change gear and lift off the throttle, it raised the emissions level so this damper fixed it.

 

If the Bluebird has something similar, maybe you can just remove it.

 

Top purchasing btw, I recognise something of my own car buying there. A car you own does something a bit badly so you change it for something that does that tiny thing brilliantly, at the expense of other things which used to be important.

 

My example was that I had to drive my 1964 Renault 8 about 400 miles in a weekend. Even though this was once in a blue moon the twat part of my brain kicked in and insisted I bought something which would do this bit well. So I got a V12 XJ-S

 

You've got rid of the BX which had a trifling issue; it doesn't really go as often as you'd like. You now have a car which will do that brilliantly, however all the BX features you've taken for granted are now gone.

 

See you on ebay in a couple of months

 

I'm trying to remember on mine what I did. I think you have to put ignition power to the solenoid- if you disconnect it then it goes into the high idle over-run mode by default.

 

My memory is rusty.But that's what it should be if it has a Nikki carb.

[dollywobbler]

Maybe I'll just live with it.

 

Anyway, took some fresh pictures after a serious wash session. It doesn't look any different really.

 

The engine bay does though!

 

Not sure what all the black gunk was, but it really didn't want to come off. Quite a bit of it is still there, but it's nice to have clean strut tops at least.

 

This is readable now!

[Negative Creep]

Mine has the solenoid on the airbox but doesn't do the overrun, in fact that's the first i've heard of it.

 

 

Anyway, someone please buy mine, as now you can look like Dollywobbler

[dollywobbler]

I've ordered some paint so I can touch up the nasty bits. Anyone got any suggestions for dealing with the wheelarches? Guess they're going to need a smear of filler to get them smooth again. A reminder of the issue.

 

Also managed to order some drop links. They're probably FUBARd. NC - did you change yours in the end?

[dollywobbler]

By the way, thanks to Trigger for putting this test up on Flickr some time ago.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/triggersca ... 161056738/

 

I've driven a BX GT this year, and now own a Bluebird SLX. Generally, this test seems spot on, though I don't understand why the Bluebird is regarded as 'too' Japanese. What's wrong with a country having its own flavour?!

 

I now need to drive a Mk2 Cav GLi and a Beemer E30 318 to complete the comparisons.

[trigger]

I've been reading this with interest, I do like these Bluebirds, As a child the taxi driver who took me to my speech therapy lessons drove a black Bluebird and i still remember sitting in it, it was one of the first brand new cars I'd ever been in, and it had electric windows, it was very flash.

 

That wheel arch looks a easy fix to me, If you was more local I'd offer to fix it for you, It needs sanding down, a skim of filler, etch primer, grey primer, flat down, key the bodywork up with a grey scotchy pad, then paint up to the swage line, easy peasy.

 

I downloaded the ADL Blue print catalogue as well yesterday to help find this ARB link part number for you but they don't list it, typically, they list everything else apart from that.

[M'coli]

I now need to drive a Mk2 Cav GLi...

...I hope you manage to achieve that as I believe the brown GLi that I scrapped in 2008 was the last remaining mid-production one known to the club, and it was in no state to go back onto the road without a new bodyshell. The later GLi engines were very different in the way they delivered their power, and the earlier one's power delivery was much more interesting - their description of the handling was spot-on, though!

[dollywobbler]

Thanks for the tips Trig. About time I had a proper go at bodywork. I know a good bodyshop if I balls it up.

 

M'Coli - I do worry about 1980s classics. There just isn't the following for them and as product ranges got more complex, there's a far larger opportunity for extinction than there was. A far cry from when it was just your basic model and perhaps a Deluxe! Instead, with the Cavalier as an example, you've got base, L, GL, GLS, SRi, CD and then different engine options amongst them. I bet there can't be many 1.6D Cavs about now.

[trigger]

Probably doesn't help at all but this is how i prepped my old Escort, just roll the tape of the swage line to avoid a sharp edge.

 

1988 Ford Escort Mk IV wheel arch repairs by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

Then just roll the tape off the swage line of the door, like I've done here on my Mondeo I'm doing a quick repair on the moment, avoid going up to the tape though with the paint if you can.

 

[AnthonyG]

Trigger's Body Repair & Co!

 

Nice car Ian, I'm sure you'll get used to the advantages of a car that starts first time every time in a Welsh autumn/winter, even if it's not that interesting to drive.

 

BTW, thanks for holding onto 'that hat' for me!

[dollywobbler]

No worries about the hat. Just hope it doesn't smell of damp BX...

 

Not sure about the starting thing. Both BXs were a bit spluttery but both they and the 2CV would start readily enough. S'pose I did have to resort to handle-starting the 2CV in January...

[dollywobbler]

Just changed the drop links. What a piss-easy job! Nuts looked rusty but came straight off. Quality. Will be out on a test drive shortly but given the dreadful state of the links, and the knocking when I pulled on the old ones, I'm pretty sure they were the issue (MOT man wasn't keen on them at last MOT either).

[dollywobbler]

This is a car transformed, all thanks to a pair of £20 anti-roll bar drop links. Changing them was simple. This is the first 25+ year old car I've ever owned where rusty-looking, exposed-to-the-elements nuts just came undone with no bother at all. By all accounts to do the same job on a BX usually involves an angle grinder!

 

Drives beautifully now, and seems happy to plod along all day in fifth gear. It pulls from about 35mph in top with no problem at all, despite the gearing being quite tall (2500rpm at 60mph). Lovely.

 

However, there is a problem. The interior light and the door-mounted kerb illumination isn't working. All the bulbs were missing from the door lights so that was easily solved (well, apart from the fact that I've only got one capless 3v bulb!). However I think there must be a fault in the wiring loom as I can't get the driver's door to operate the lights at all. I've swapped the switch for one of the rears, but that just proved that the switch was fine. So, I've got a marker lamp in the right-rear door and I shall continue to puzzle over what's gone wrong with the driver's door.

 

Another fault is that the PAS reservoir has been over-filled, so it still forces a bit of fluid out. Might have to find some way of getting the level down as this is getting messy. There is a slight noise like a worn PAS pump which is causing a bit of concern, but I guess that's easily swapped if needs be. It's already had a rebuilt rack - I'm guessing such low mileage isn't always good as it was apparently peeing fluid out while the previous owner had it. Actually, previous owner reckons the PAS rack AND pump have been replaced. Hmmm.

 

It's a bit tappy too, but then the oil is horrifically dirty. A service is on the cards.

[Rocket88]

Ref power steering fluid, draw a bit off with a syringe [or clean sponge]?

[Largactil]

Buy a bulb baster - I got one for a couple of quid from Morrisons supermarket...

 

[Steve79]

Hi Ian, glad to see you got the bluebird back from Bristol OK. The neighbours are happy to have another parking space on the street (until I fill it with something Alfa V6 shaped that is )

 

The interior light should just turn on and off by pushing the clear plastic bulb holder lens, as the roof mounted light unit is switched. There is also a 5 second delay on the interior light when closing the drivers door and locking it.

 

The steering rack was obviously reconditioned, but the pump was replaced with one from a 1990 1.8 gs that was about to be Banger raced. So might not be as quiet as a new one, but infinitely better than the original whose bearings howled like a banshee.

 

My bad on the overzealous topping up of the power steering fluid as well, got abit carried away.

 

I'll dig out the receipt for battery this weekend and will forward asap.

 

Cheers

Steve

[dollywobbler]

Ah, thanks Steve. Certainly got no complaints for the price. I've slapped some touch-up paint over the arches for now, which looks dreadful close up. Will hopefully keep the rot at bay until I can properly sort it out.

[retrogeezer]

The spec is a bit odd. Lovely plush seats, PAS and electric mirrors, but manual windows, no sunroof and no central locking.

 

Very odd spec these Blueys, you would think an SLX must be near the top of the range whereas my 88 E plate LS is the bottom end of the range but has electric windows and sunroof and central locking but no PAS!!

 

Re: the droplinks, I ordered a set for £10 or so a while back fro mine but when I went to fit them the shaft that goes through the bottom arm was 12mm and the hole (and old ones) were 10mm. I got a refund and then used the new bushes on the old link....sorted. A link to the ones you bought might be useful for the future though.

 

Mine has been a great car, totally reliable and is now coming up to 101,000 on a 1.6 engine.

[dollywobbler]

Funnily enough, the nuts were entirely different sizes on the old/new droplinks, but the shaft was the same size and they fitted, so I thought 'that'll do.' They were Delphi items but I bought the only pair they had.

 

I must concede, though I'm no fan of electrickery really, I'm really missing central locking. And electric windows, as the car's too wide for me to reach across and open the passenger window when driving.

 

I've still not found out what's up with the interior light. Bulb looks good but I don't have a replacement that's the right size. Driver's door still won't operate the switch either. This is something I'll utterly forget to fix until I find myself in the dark wishing I'd fixed this weeks ago.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

I haven't anything to add, but I think this car's lovely

[dollywobbler]

I've put this in the 'grin' thread, but it seems appropriate to include it here too.

 

[rml2345]

That makes me grin too Dolly...

One of the best wiper mechanisms EVAR.

[dollywobbler]

Finally got rid of the horrid Sony X-plop head unit today. Replaced it with this.

 

It's a Philips 660 as used in Montegos of this era amongst other vehicles. It looks alright but the wiring is entirely different and it doesn't really fit. No wiring came with it and I'm not sure what to do next. It looks a bit iffy and doesn't work, so not really that successful.

[Volksy]

That rear wiper is full on WIN!

 

Only on here would someone replace a working stereo, with on older radio cassette, which doesn't work.

[dollywobbler]

I decided the Philips unit didn't look good enough to justify no sounds, so I've replaced it with a newer JVC unit. Not too blingy, but definitely too modern.

 

1980s wiring seems very varied! I'd still like to get a proper cassette unit in there but I'm going to need some clever wiring solutions. I have to say though, it felt marvellously wrong sitting in the Bluebird listening to Guns N' Roses' Appetite for Destruction quite loud! The music and the car did not entirely match.