Le bus oignon - Xantia of many Autoshiters - GYPSY CURSE

[twosmoke300]

Hey rg . What's with the adjustables ? Been doing some plumbing ? 😃

 

What my old foreman used to say if I ever tried to use them.

[ruffgeezer]

The old ball joint put up a struggle so I jacked the arm up and got the nut off one flat at a time, finally ending up with an allen socket jammed in it and around 20 mins of working an oily nut up and down a rusty shaft.

 

The adjustable wasn't ideal but it is a decent quality one, so did the job.

[hairnet]

 

20 mins of working an oily nut up and down a rusty shaft.

 

 

[vulgalour]

I started the afternoon by giving the car its weekly wash, much deserved after the trouble-free trek to Maidstone and back.  Happily, it now takes much less time to clean because it's shiny so the dirt isn't so inclined to stick.  Biggest job still to finish is cutting back the roof to get rid of the muck and oxidisation, I've nearly done this now.  Once that's done I need to remove the black gutter rails to tidy and repaint those and eliminate some spiders that are appearing under the paint.  Nothing serious, but if I do it now it'll stay not serious.

 

Next, the tailgate.  I don't really like the factory badges on the Xantia so I've took them off.  It made cleaning the tailgate that bit easier too, just got the bit under the lights to do now.

 

Then, it was going to be straight onto doing the arch but my brother pointed out that the slightly damaged cluster is now very damaged, along with some fresh scuffs on the plastics, thanks to someone reversing into me while I was at the supermarket.  Not thrilled about this, I'm trying to look after this old bus.  It's not massively evident when comparing photographs, but you can see in person that the black plastics are freshly scuffed and the lens has been pushed in as though the corner of a 4x4 bumper has pressed against it.

 

So that arch then.  When I got the car there were some scratches to the lower bumper exposing the black plastic and some deep gouges in the arch.  I'd already treated the metal to Kurust just in case.  Colour match isn't too bad but I'm going to need to do a little bit of filling to make it perfect.  

 

I've determined that the wheels are going to be changed.  I think I'd rather have steels and wheel trims with a fairly smooth, minimalist design to them than the current wheels.  If anyone has a set of steels with decent used tyres and trims I could be convinced to straight swap.

 

Other alterations I'm considering are a full size Rover 75 style rear number plate (I'll decide once I've mocked this up) and a black zebra/tiger stripe panel on the roof in homage to Stripey BX.  Bugger, I think I've gone and got attached to this car.

[vulgalour]

In fact, I want a set of these wheel trims as found on the Synergie.  They're perfect.

 

[hairnet]

got a pair of 14 fiesta steels with tyres if youve any 15 4x100 id swap

[vulgalour]

wrong size, wrong pcd so I'm oot.

 

I need 15" 4x108

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Eye of the beholder and all that,but I think those wheels really make your Xantia.

They're not to chavvy and from the right manufacturer but still manage to be distinctive, you could badge it as a VTS Sportswagontourer or some such.

[The Moog]

I have got a set of steels and hubcaps if you want to swap??

 

Brand new tyres on them, Michelin Energy (got them off a guy who swapped to alloys) hubcaps are un branded. Could give you the parcel shelf at same time

[ruffgeezer]

I have a full set of wheels and might even have a set of trims too, I'll see what I can do rubber wise, unless you want to keep your own?

[vulgalour]

Pictures of trims in question?  Some trims I like some I hate, I rarely know which until I see them.

 

Moog's offer is pretty good atm, but I know Ruff had dibs on the alloys if I wanted to part with them... I seem to recall there was a queue.

[ruffgeezer]

Mine were original mk1 Xantia trims, I might also be able to lay my hands on some mk1 Xantia alloys...

[vulgalour]

This type?

 

 

If so I could be interested.

[ruffgeezer]

Aye, I think the rubber on them is borked though, so I'll have to see what size they wear.

[robinmasters]

You've just missed these on eBay:

 

 

£105. 15" ZX 16v alloys. 

[The Moog]

These are the trims i have.

[vulgalour]

hmm... I prefer the alloys to the trims, but I need the tyres.  Not sure what the best course is here.

[The Moog]

Go for the alloys and find tyres. Easier that than the other way round

[vulgalour]

I'm not in a rush for this, it's a want rather than a need.  I do like the Xsara alloys on the Xantia so it's no hardship keeping things as they are, but for the right wheels and/or trims I'm up for a swap.

 

I still really fancy some three spokes, I've never had a car with three spoke alloys before and have always wanted to.  Trouble is finding a design that would work at least as well as the current alloys is proving difficult.

[320touring]

I still really fancy some three spokes, I've never had a car with three spoke alloys before and have always wanted to. Trouble is finding a design that would work at least as well as the current alloys is proving difficult.

The only car ever to look good on 3 spokes was the saab 900;)

 

I'd be more inclined to put part worns on existing wheels and use the money you would have spent on 3 spokes for a new clutch. .

 

In my mind, cosmetics (beyond cleaning!) Come behind mechanical fixery.

 

You like the car, so make sure it doesn't land you with a bill for mechanicals after you've put all the work and time into the aesthetics..

 

This is just an observation your car,do as you wish:)

 

P's- I like the current alloys

[500tops]

The alloys make the car.

[Lacquer Peel]

SAAB 9000 alloys are the same PCD, I like these deep dish 3 spokes.

 

[ruffgeezer]

Well I can secure those wheels Vulgs, you could keep hold of your tyres as they are too big for my car.

[vulgalour]

I'd be more inclined to put part worns on existing wheels and use the money you would have spent on 3 spokes for a new clutch. .

 

In my mind, cosmetics (beyond cleaning!) Come behind mechanical fixery.

Agreed, there's no money to spend on replacement tyres or wheels, hence the want to swap, and cosmetics are very much behind mechanical stuff.  Cosmetic work undertaken thus far is to save me money in the future by eliminating areas that want to rust and have cost next to nothing to achieve.  The clutch has become a cheaper job still as Mikeknight and I will be tackling it when I've moved to the new house as we'll have access to a full garage of tools and extra pairs of hands, not to mention a trade account.

 

In the meantime, I'll keep on just making the car clean and presentable and sorting out every niggle as it comes along.  Lower arm bushes, clutch, coolant flush, LHM flush, brake overhaul and anti-sink sphere/nose height adjustment should see all mechanical maladies resolved.

 

Very quickly mocked up some SAAB three-spokes and I quite like this.  In fact, I probably like it more than the other wheels considered or currently attached.

[Lord Sterling]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say I don't think the current wheels it wears suits it. I say be different and stick steel wheels/trim combo or those Saab alloys.

[320touring]

Agreed, there's no money to spend on replacement tyres or wheels, hence the want to swap, and cosmetics are very much behind mechanical stuff. Cosmetic work undertaken thus far is to save me money in the future by eliminating areas that want to rust and have cost next to nothing to achieve. The clutch has become a cheaper job still as Mikeknight and I will be tackling it when I've moved to the new house as we'll have access to a full garage of tools and extra pairs of hands, not to mention a trade account.

 

In the meantime, I'll keep on just making the car clean and presentable and sorting out every niggle as it comes along. Lower arm bushes, clutch, coolant flush, LHM flush, brake overhaul and anti-sink sphere/nose height adjustment should see all mechanical maladies resolved.

 

Very quickly mocked up some SAAB three-spokes and I quite like this. In fact, I probably like it more than the other wheels considered or currently attached.

DSC06394.jpg

Glad you took my post in the manner intended:) sounds like you have plenty work cut out..

 

Re the 3 spokes not a fan..far too 1997 Barry boy for my liking.

 

Mind you, I've seen worse:)

[nacho man]

Three spokes were max power material circa 1994 but there is a yoof round my end who has s13 200sx with some 3 spokes on the back and some other crazzzy wheels on the front and he is officially cool in my eyes and his missus is HOT!

 

 

So get some three spokes.

[Noel Tidybeard]

the 3 spokes look wank

 

xsara wheel suit the auld bus very nicely

[Bouvier]

Surely the 2 Satellite dishes in the picture will look better than the Saab 3 spokes, I'm sure you can find 2 more dishes locally - hint don't use squarials though they're shite 

[ruffgeezer]

If you put three spokes, I'm going to eat mouldly happymeals and vomit into your heater vents.