BXProject

[Way2go]

Was just about to take the car for it's MOT this morning and did a quick check and found that the bloody rear exhaust hook had come adrift. It actually was not easy to spot because the exhaust was well suspended on the other mountings burt as we know that would still cause a fail.

I have some galvanised plate which I will cut a strip off to make a "P" bracket that will go around the broken hook end and then bolt the bracket through the boot side as I don't have access to a welder.

The car has been sound underneath so far but I blame the pounding all these speed cushions and bumps give round here for encouraging such stuff to part company. I suppose I am fortunate that this is the first detachment whereas most BXers will have had to have tackled this issue before now.

[Vanny]

why would it fail an MOT? Have taken a few cars to MOT without the bracket on, and never had a problem. MOT man reckons it was perfectly secure as it was. I actually stick a roofing bolt through the out rigger (when they are still intact), bolt it down and bend the end around. Jobbed. Its pretty difficult to weld them as typically there is nothing left to weld too!

[docchevron132]

The one on the valver was nothing but zip clips until last year!
Never had a problem at MoT time..

So I probably shouldn't mention that Phoenix pissed straight through the MoT this very day then??

[Way2go]

I've bent the bracket to take the broken hook and got a nyloc bolt about 5/16 to squeeze the folded bracket against the boot side. This should work OK, shouldn't it?

Good news on Phoenix! What prep was done beforehand then or was the legacy work of the rebuild sufficient?

[docchevron132]

If it holds it on mate, it'll be fine.

No prep, just drove car out of garage where it lives, took to MoT station.
Fucked off down 2cv's and had some coffee and a laugh, collected car and tucked it back up in the garage.
The discs need doing really, due to recent lack of use they've gone a bit pitted, and I need to do some welding on the O/S inner arch, but none of that interfered with the ticket, it's just me being picky really.

[mickey taker]

great news about phoenix Doc.

[Way2go]

The one on the valver was nothing but zip clips until last year!
Never had a problem at MoT time..

It seems that down here that each time it goes for an MOT they pick on something. The first CV boot I did was one of those sticky ones and it passed, then next year they failed it on that same boot again (and t'other one) and it was still intact! Used stretchies from Unipart that next time.

[docchevron132]

Mu MoT was rather like that, he'd always find something, every year, without fail, he'd, er, fail it on something. Usually trivial.
Last year he failed Phoenix on a split N/S steering rack boot.
Now, since I had the car on the ramp minutes before the MoT, and it is only 400 yards from the garage to the testers, I know for a fact that the boot was ok 10 mins beforehand.
I'm sure he put a screwdriver through it just becasue he couldn't find anyting else..
Cant prove it though.
He's since given up now I think, I usually turn and say "I've just had this on the ramp and been right through it, there is nothing wrong with it", and he quit digging.
I actually expected Phoenix to fail this year, since it's been laid up for a fair while now, and I aint looked under it for months, but it pissed through, so I'm happy, and dad seemed keen to go use it again, so now the summers on the way hopefully he'll use it more and enjoy it.
Fuck knows I did!
It's sooo much nicer to drive than my TD.
I hadn't really noticed until I drove Phoenix how bloody awful my TD now is. It's fucking shagged out.

[Fish_Botherer]

Phoenix - the BX you rebuilt for your dad?

[docchevron132]

Aye mate, he's still got the old girl, dont think he'd ever sell that, except to me.

[Philhod]

Yeah, right. I can just see him taking money off you for it

[docchevron132]

Well, no, but yeah, but no, but yeah but...

Er, no money would change hands, and frankly I hope he keeps it for a very very long time yet, since that would put me in a quondry.
I couldn't sell the Phoenix, it has sentimental value to both dad and myself, so somehting else would have to go, but I wouldn't get rid of Richie either (the TD) and the valver may have gone by then, so that would leave a Riv..

Arrrrrgghh.

[Philhod]

can't be done !!!!

[Chilip Phidlow]

Your dad deserves a good BX. Excellent chap. You, Doc on the other hand seem to relish a challenge. Get yer TD up to Phoenix standards - or do that 4x4 Activa 16v BX jobbie you mooted a while back Now, nothing could match that could it? All the bests to your old man BTW

[docchevron132]

Aye, dads a gent fo shizzle.

I'll get around to restoring the red BX oneday, after the bus is done probably.
The plan is still alive and well for the 4x4 Activa mate, I just dont know what engine to go for yet.
I'm tempted to try and get a T16 TBH.