THE GUBBERMINT ALWAYS KNOWS BEST

[TimothyClaypole]

The coach my mum and dad were holidaying about in the other week burnt out.

 

No one was hurt just a few passengers given a whiff of oxygen after sniffing the fumes.

 

I'll post some pics for the bus people when I get them - I had to laugh as there's one of my dad's fleece all burnt and one of the driver walking away from the burning coach like it was an everyday scene.

[barefoot]

Timothy, you should be ashamed of your attitude.

Have you seen how a fleece can combust?

I have had friends burnt to within an inch of their lives.

Twats, the fucking lot of them,

& careless beyond belief.

[trigger]

Drugs don't kill people, Fleeces do.

[Cavcraft]

All being well we're going to whizz up to the garage my lad works at today and fit the newly acquired towbar to the Audi. If there's a ramp free it's got to be easier than piss-arsing around on our backs trying to drill holes etc.

One local place wanted 'about £250+VAT' to supply and fit a towbar, so we got a brand new one for about £78.00 inc. delivery from an eBay seller which came the next day.

Mind you, the way the seller of the boat we bought is shaping up I'll probably never to get to use the sodding towbar anyhow as we still haven't collected said watercraft.

 

Next thing is going to be knocking up a makeshift ramp so I can get my scooter into the Transit and drop it off at the MOT place, once I've fixed the puncture on the Vespa that is. Spent years on motorbikes and can't ever recall a single puncture, yet the Vespa must have four now in next to no time! Have an idea if could be the Cheech & Chong Hopalong Mingebaggio Supertread ditch finder tyres that are the problem.

[Father Ted]

  Cavette said:

Spent years on motorbikes and can't ever recall a single puncture, yet the Vespa must have four now in next to no time! Have an idea if could be the Cheech & Chong Hopalong Mingebaggio Supertread ditch finder tyres that are the problem.

More likely really cheap shitty inner tubes

[Cavcraft]

I did wonder that M but they're genuine MIchelin jobs.

 

Towbar now fitted and wired in thanks to my lad. The generic wiring diagram was a bit shit but having use of a ramp plus all his fancy tools was a God send!

[Shep Shepherd]

Thanks to a £16 secondhand O/S/R door latch/lock motor assembly which I found on eBay last week and fitted in 15 minutes in the car park at work this afternoon, all of TV2's doors lock/unlock with the central locking for the first time since April. Very satisfying

[dollywobbler]

Just back from a 700 mile mega-trip to Peterborough, Ely, Norfolk, Croydon, Wiltshire, Bristol and back home in four days. Took it fairly leisurely in the Saab and it managed a creditable 34mpg overall - showing 35mpg until we hit Bristol. (actually, I think too much 75mph-ish the night before on the M4 was probably to blame...). Conclusions? Saab is a MARVELLOUS for long distance stuff. So peaceful and comfortable.

 

Also bought a new wreck - a BX Mk1 ESTATE diesel. Super rare. If it wasn't super-rare, I might have walked away, as it's got some crash damage and has been off the road for three years. It is my dream BX spec though - Mk1 means wacky dashboard with satellite switchgear and drum speedo, diesel and estate obviously have practical properties. Took some pics, but it's in a garage and they're shite. Will get some more when I collect it. Hopefully soon...

[garycox]

Wow, sounds great! I don't think I've ever seen a Mk1 BX estate, I didn't know they existed!

[dollywobbler]

Nor did I (in RHD form at least) until this one came up for sale. Just hope the bodywork isn't too bad.

[Timewaster]

  dollywobbler said:

Just back from a 700 mile mega-trip to Peterborough, Ely, Norfolk, Croydon, Wiltshire, Bristol and back home in four days.

 

You could have stopped for an Autoshite cuppa from my 1983 Vauxhall Nova launch mug

[dollywobbler]

I actually had lots of offers of tea, which is very kind of folk. Sadly, we didn't have much time for lingering. The offer of tea is always appreciated though, even if it can't be taken up!

[Cavcraft]

  dollywobbler said:

Just back from a 700 mile mega-trip to Peterborough, Ely, Norfolk, Croydon, Wiltshire, Bristol and back home in four days. Took it fairly leisurely in the Saab and it managed a creditable 34mpg overall - showing 35mpg until we hit Bristol. (actually, I think too much 75mph-ish the night before on the M4 was probably to blame...). Conclusions? Saab is a MARVELLOUS for long distance stuff. So peaceful and comfortable.

 

Also bought a new wreck - a BX Mk1 ESTATE diesel. Super rare. If it wasn't super-rare, I might have walked away, as it's got some crash damage and has been off the road for three years. It is my dream BX spec though - Mk1 means wacky dashboard with satellite switchgear and drum speedo, diesel and estate obviously have practical properties. Took some pics, but it's in a garage and they're shite. Will get some more when I collect it. Hopefully soon...

 

Pictures please, sod how bad they may be this is one of those must see jobbies.

[wuvvum]

  Cavette said:

Pictures please, sod how bad they may be this is one of those must see jobbies.

+100.

[dollywobbler]

Ok. Here's another, not too bad pic, including a daft photo of the vendor's neighbour. Has been side-swiped, so the LH side is a bit mangled. Hoping it can all be straightened out as it's surprisingly solid.

[Cavcraft]

WHOOSH! Autoshite car of the week, no danger. Don't Mk2 doors fit these Ian? In fact I think only the front wings were different and I bet someone on BXC or BXP would have some.

 

OMG UR A WINER!

[wuvvum]

Do you know what, I can't remember the last time I saw a Mk1 Estate, let alone a diesel one. Looking forward to dashboard pics...

[Mr_Bo11ox]

When did the BX wagon go into production? Whats the earliest one in existence?

[Cavcraft]

1982 I think.

 

*Smart arse!

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_BX

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Wow, a Y-reg BX wagon, that would be summert else! Not to take owt away from this one as I am a long-time early BX perv, regularly downloading thousands of XXXXX-rated images of early BX's off Leboncoin.

[dollywobbler]

Think there are some subtle differences between Mk1 and 2 doors, but nowt that can't be overcome. More concerning is that the LH rear wing is fairly crumpled, and the tailgate doesn't seem to sit properly. It's jammed right in against a wall though, so couldn't give it a thorough checking, just the main corrosion spots. I'm under no illusion - it's going to be a bit of a money pit at first. The Saab AND Range Rover are probably going to have to go. I plan to do as much work as I can myself, but bodywork is not my strong point. Maybe it's time to learn...

 

Don't reckon we got BX estates in the UK much before this one - it's a 1986. I know of a few Mk1 estates, but they're all LHD. Not sure we got BXs on a Y either. Earliest I've seen is an A. Always used to take a while for sales to start over here.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I launched a bit of money at the Avenger this weekend - new (genuine QH) steering rack, new front hoses, rebuilt calipers (new seal kits) and one (!) new track rod end. Got a few new bushes to get for it from speedyspares too to get the front end up to scratch mechanically.

[Cavcraft]

I bet you'd get a wing from someone on BXC, perhaps drop Ken, Doc or Tim a pm? Also prettty certain the rear wings and rear 'estate' door are common to the Mk2. Incidentally the tailgate not shutting proeply could well be down to the latch needing re-adjusting. It'll oprobably be either the bit on the tailgate or more likely the striker plate 'thing' on the car itself, seem to recall it's a ten mil spanner/two minute job.

[dollywobbler]

  Cavette said:

I bet you'd get a wing from someone on BXC, perhaps drop Ken, Doc or Tim a pm? Also prettty certain the rear wings and rear 'estate' door are common to the Mk2. Incidentally the tailgate not shutting proeply could well be down to the latch needing re-adjusting. It'll oprobably be either the bit on the tailgate or more likely the striker plate 'thing' on the car itself, seem to recall it's a ten mil spanner/two minute job.

 

Not sure. Todd's been seeking a BX rear wing for a while I think, and my old BX could do with one. The joy of the estate being a conversion I guess.

 

I know the tailgate can be adjusted, but it's sitting proud on the LH side. I think the rear wing has been pushed out of shape. Will have to see if it can be persuaded back into shape a bit - replacement isn't really an option, initially at least. Concours this will not be!

[Vin]

Looks a nice purchase Dolly

 

In 1992 I went with Papa Vin to look at a silver C reg BX estate as a possible replacement for the Renault 20 that my Mum wrote off. I think the BX may have been a diesel too. We didn't get it. I remember it looked like it had had a hard seven years.....

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Look at this sweetie I spotted today in Crewe!

 

 

 

Its £2750 if anyone from Ipswich is interested. Seems a tad salty to me, its very nice alright but has a bit of wobbage behind the rear wheels that they could have done a better job on prior to painting (cos it seems like a pretty decent paint job), the rest of it appears very straight however.

[Negative Creep]

So you know how the Bluebird wasnt running properly? And how Id definitely got the ht leads in the right order........?

 

 

 

I'll get my coat

[Cavcraft]

Someone at work has spotted my Transit and asked me if I want to sell it. I smell money, watch this space...

[catsinthewelder]

Well at least take it out for a weekend trip to a nice market town about 75 miles south before it goes

[coalnotdole]

So the scimitar was running well... until the other day on the M25 when the throttle stuck wide open, Engine revving up to max and sounding like it was thrashing the life out of itself. I limped off the motorway by turning the ignition on and off and coasting. Free'd off the throttle at a layby and continued the 30 miles to home.

 

I Replaced the faulty throttle cable the following day but the car refused to start briefly spurting to life and then dying, Simple checks revealed the rotor arm was not turning but the starter was...! It emerged that the timing wheel had stripped its nylon teeth a notorious problem with the essex engine commonly fixed by replacing with a steel timing gear.

 

So now the scim is off the road until i can get hold of a replacement in steel then I have to hope the failure has not caused serious engine damage to valves or pistons...