project Marshalls 1979 GS (and other shite) slow progress but the pipe dream continues and big clean up

[Marshall2810]

Right then, this is the ex @SmokinWaffle and @StinkwheelBX that was free in the summer but I paid £250 for last month. Im not too much of a story teller but want to show what's been done and any updates etc for those interested. I've not owned a Citroen for 15 years and that was a *normal one so jumped at the chance to save this beauty. She was rough, slammed to the ground and left everywhere covered in LHM piss. When @SmokinWaffle messaged to say he was struggling to get it off his drive I honestly thought what the f*@k have I let myself in for 😆 

@worldofceri delivered her on time and was very helpful throughout, almost like hes done it before. 

And a huge relief when it fit into the garage fine 

I'd been briefed the leaks were likely plastic return pipes which they were but also weren't. First tackled the "small octopus" which handles all the return lines and literally disintegrated on contact. 

Managed to bodge improvise a repair until a more permanent solution be found. Not pretty but it's done the job. The next leak was found to be the NSR brake pipe which was sourced for about £40 from ebay and got this fitted. Surprisingly straight forward to do! 

All fitted along with a few return pipes I thought I was home and dry, filled her with LHM and up went the front end shortly followed by the back. Brilliant until......another pipe burst. This was a long front to back line and covered a load of the cars underside aswell as the garage floor. 

Was a bit disheartened as the price of this pipe seemed to be anything from £65 up to £138 which had me questioning if it was worth doing. I managed to find a local Citroen specialist near me and asked if he could help. He made up a pipe for me while I waited with right flares and connectors for £15, absolute hero. 

I fitted it back home no problem and was certainly a lot easier than taking it off.

She's now able to rise and fall and without drenching everything in LHM....yessssss 

Next up was the nicer to do bits, x2 tyres which were included were fitted 

Door lock and card replaced easily enough and inside looking much nicer now although the ICE probably isn't up to much - a job for another day 

Did a mini service on here, probably at least 8/9 years since she's had new oil and filters so had to be done. Definately looked ready.

Sounds like she's running alright tho....

https://youtu.be/NEQMb4BUzv4?si=AGBXNIWV9FZuz6zd

Had an interesting time sorting out some bodgery in the rear light clusters mainly due to when the towbar was fitted. Dad thankfully helped fix a couple of connections I couldn't manage to trace the fault. Changed a few bulbs, cleaned up connections etc and a bulb board. Here is the donor car at the specialists (new best friend) I mentioned earlier...🤣

I was warned about a bad clutch cable/clutch but adjusted the bite point and seems to be holding up at the moment.

After sorting out a washer jet for her I booked an MOT and packed a few breakdown essentials. 

Only a short distance to the garage but noticed a blow from the exhaust unfortunately en route. We stopped for fuel and love the way she looks back out in the wild again

I've never seen the boys show so much interest in a car going for an MOT....😬

All was going well until we found a bearing/Bush loose but not the end of the world so....

After 8/9 years in a barn to only need a bush, exhaust patch and brakes adjusting I'll take it. Absolutely buzzing 🥲

Booked in with my Citroen guy on Wednesday so should have some news by end of week fingers crossed 🤞 

[Asimo]

Watching with interest.

I won’t be much help with problems, my BX experience was a new 19rd estate, on the company! £6100 it cost them.

[Tickman]

That's a decent result.

 

[vulgalour]

Nice to see you getting stuck straight in on this and putting things right.

[DSdriver]

I wonder if a microbore central-heating manifold could be adapted to replace the octopus? I did see an article somewhere about a chap who had used some other hydraulic connector unit on an XM.

[beko1987]

Nice! It looks really tidy, a damn good clean should stave off any rot that's lurking! And the underside is nicely sealed up now 🤣

[stuboy]

i did like driving these... especially the 1.9 txd

[UltraWomble]

Nice car - I owned 2 estates very very briefly. One for about 20 minutes. *(I had 4 saloons though)

NB - the estate is easy to break into without damaging the car, there is a modification to get around this.

In an emergency 4 blocks of wood 4x4 inches and a jack can be used to raise the car off the bump stops and give a reasonable ride height for moving.

[Schaefft]

Great work so far, you've definitely multiplied its value already!

[Fumbler]

AMAZEBALLZ work. Great to see another one being made roadworthy again! This isn't helping me trying not to buy another one though...

[brownnova]

This is excellent! Clearly found the right home! 

[Marshall2810]

First of all thank you to everyone who has messaged and posted their support on here it means a lot. Pretty surprised at the level of interest.

Well today was the big day the BX went to the garage and got some much needed attention. The first up was the radius arm bearing which in the words of the MOT tester "was totally f#@ked".

We got the hub off and (what was left of the) old bearing out.....

With the biggest issue of the bearing now sorted next up was the exhaust blows. The front was holed along the seam at the very top of the pipe making it impossible to weld up without detaching it. As we plan to get a new system shortly anyway it was decided to improvise a repair for the time being. Piece of metal cut to size, bit of paste and a few jubilee clips had it sorted. 

The rear silencer was bodged up in a similar fashion fixed to mot standard. We had planned to remove it, weld a patch over and have done but it wasn't playing ball and ended up making more holes. Cleaned the rear brake discs down and we called it a day having made some great progress.

We must have disturbed the support whilst trying to remove it so was a bit frustrated finding it loose when I got back. 

The day was going far too well so knew something would crop up as things tend to. I ensured the temporary repair was completed to a consistent standard and used a bungee clip to hold the back box up

Anyway after all that drama and excitement..........

Absolute scenes and relief 😍 

Now she's got her test we can keep improving and plan in a bit more work when time and money allow. 

Priority jobs for future are: 

Timing belt kit 

Rear discs and pads to freshen it up

New rear back box and support welded 

All of which will be done before she's driven any distance but for the time being L392GRX can be removed from the "At Risk" register 

To be continued.....

 

[Tickman]

Congratulations, don't think anything else is needed to be said 

[320touring]

Top work!

[brownnova]

Excellent news!!!! Well done that shiter! 

[Schaefft]

Well done. Usually cars like this don't have a happy ending, while this one still has a few things to get sorted its going in the right direction, big steps at a time!

[2flags]

Wel done! Good to see one being saved.

[rainagain]

Excellent work, well done 

[mk2_craig]

You're a hero. 

[Stinkwheel]

Absolutely spot on that man. I was fairly sure it wouldnt need too much. And you have proved me right.

I am actually stupidly sentimental to see that 'Dently' lives on

[Stinkwheel]

Be careful of that clutch cable though. Seriously, it snapped like 4 in about 3 months when it was previously last in use - I was sure it was because of an odd angle of take up due to the worn clutch, hopefully your adjustment has sorted it though

[Marshall2810]

 

On 19/10/2023 at 08:25, Stinkwheel said:

Absolutely spot on that man. I was fairly sure it wouldnt need too much. And you have proved me right.

I am actually stupidly sentimental to see that 'Dently' lives on

Thanks man, it's been a learning curve on this but been a pleasure to give it a chance to live on. The BX is such an unusual car! It's been lots of little bits and bobs but mainly time, reassembly and general recomissioning stuff you would expect a car to need after being sat. Finding a local specialist has also been invaluable.

On 19/10/2023 at 08:29, Stinkwheel said:

Be careful of that clutch cable though. Seriously, it snapped like 4 in about 3 months when it was previously last in use - I was sure it was because of an odd angle of take up due to the worn clutch, hopefully your adjustment has sorted it though

When I got it the biting point was literally on the floor mat. The citroen guy I've used advised normal clutch pedal height on BX's to be between 130-150mm and it was less than 100mm so adjusted it. There is no slippage on the clutch but he said it was possible a spring plate or something could wear resulting in extra strain on the cable. That said, there's a clutch and cable with it if it does become a problem.

Now shes MOT'd and after follow up work is complete I've had my fun so I'd like to give someone else the opportunity to build on what I've done. With @Stinkwheel's generosity in the first place and me getting a ticket shes got a great chance of survival.

[bigfella2]

It's a shame you getting rid of it already, enjoyed reading the thread.

1993 Citroen BX 1.9 TXD, FULL MOT, 175k, project, ratty,
https://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/1993-citroen-bx-19-txd-full-mot-175k-project-ratty/1467969047

Price: £ 1,500

 

[Schaefft]

Hopefully it'll find the right buyer. Don't expect it to sell quickly, now isn't the greatest time to sell a project/toy, it is however great that you managed to get it into a state a less committed person would even consider owning it in.

[High Jetter]

On 18/10/2023 at 17:54, Marshall2810 said:

First of all thank you to everyone who has messaged and posted their support on here it means a lot. Pretty surprised at the level of interest.

Well today was the big day the BX went to the garage and got some much needed attention. The first up was the radius arm bearing which in the words of the MOT tester "was totally f#@ked".

We got the hub off and (what was left of the) old bearing out.....

With the biggest issue of the bearing now sorted next up was the exhaust blows. The front was holed along the seam at the very top of the pipe making it impossible to weld up without detaching it. As we plan to get a new system shortly anyway it was decided to improvise a repair for the time being. Piece of metal cut to size, bit of paste and a few jubilee clips had it sorted. 

The rear silencer was bodged up in a similar fashion fixed to mot standard. We had planned to remove it, weld a patch over and have done but it wasn't playing ball and ended up making more holes. Cleaned the rear brake discs down and we called it a day having made some great progress.

We must have disturbed the support whilst trying to remove it so was a bit frustrated finding it loose when I got back. 

The day was going far too well so knew something would crop up as things tend to. I ensured the temporary repair was completed to a consistent standard and used a bungee clip to hold the back box up

Anyway after all that drama and excitement..........

Absolute scenes and relief 😍 

Now she's got her test we can keep improving and plan in a bit more work when time and money allow. 

Priority jobs for future are: 

Timing belt kit 

Rear discs and pads to freshen it up

New rear back box and support welded 

All of which will be done before she's driven any distance but for the time being L392GRX can be removed from the "At Risk" register 

To be continued.....

 

Top work! 54 likes, is that a record?

[loserone]

5 hours ago, Marshall2810 said:

it's on ebay currently at £53

I can't find it?

[loserone]

Mad, had to get clever with the filters 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175977881019

[rob88h]

Gah! User 5***5 keeps outbidding me! Probably for the best (for me). 

[loserone]

Bidding war with six days to go? What numpties would do that?

[Marshall2810]

On 19/10/2023 at 08:29, Stinkwheel said:

Be careful of that clutch cable though. Seriously, it snapped like 4 in about 3 months when it was previously last in use - I was sure it was because of an odd angle of take up due to the worn clutch, hopefully your adjustment has sorted it though

Had a look over the clutch cable this morning after reading a comment on the BX forum from their admin about the pivot point on the clutch level attached to the top of the gearbox. It appears this bolt could have been tightened by Hercules himself. I'm not surprised this heavily restricted movement and put additional strain on the cable previously.

As per the post I've removed the bolt, greased up everywhere including the rubber bush (which was dry as a bone), reassembled and has made for a much improved and lightened clutch pedal. Certainly something to watch out for anyone else with a BX....