Another well-known valver about to bite the dust

All chat, general/off topic/banterish and questions relating to the BX16valve.
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Kitch
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Another well-known valver about to bite the dust

Post by Kitch »

So as many of you will know, I bought the grey ph2 16v (nicknamed G-SEG!) from Matt H last summer.

This one (widely known as Tim's old 16v):

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I didn't pay much as Matt had been completely upfront from the off that the car had some pretty deep issues relating to rot, and the constant loss of that funny green fluid that does the uppy-downy suspension bit. You know the stuff!

Some of the rot:

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Well, aside from tinkering with the engine trying to squeeze some more geegees from it (135bhp on the initial runs!) I haven't had much time to pull it to one side and actually get round to sorting it. The bodywork is quite tidy in most places, and the car is largely original.

Tonight, I began my mission:

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All going as expected, and looking good in the box sections:
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Having to cut out a lot of rot:
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Someone who needs more welding practice has had a crack at the subframe before:
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Decide to pull the sh*t shield off and cast an eye over the rest of it, just to see what's what. Or more a case of what's not :(

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Offside no better:
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This was filled, or glued in:
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So I looked over the rest of the car, to find:
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Couple it to the bodywork issues:
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(I know how windscreen rot ends!)

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It just seems that everywhere you look, there's corrosion:
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Some of the car on the floor:
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And this is no word of a lie, the car underneath has LESS rot that the one above:
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I had to look at this to make myself feel better when I left:

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Now all joking aside, this is a serious issue. The problems?
The car owes me an amount that I would be unlikely to be able to sell it for in one piece.
The car could be fixed, if you either have copious amounts of free time and no family, or you're a masochist. Sadly neither apply to me.
The car was never going to be a keeper for me; I've already got a 16v which is a better car, I just wanted to save this one and use it for a while.
You couldn't sell it for a price that could justify the amount of work needed.
In convincing the O/H that this was a good idea, I might have led on that I could probably sell it for £1500 when it was finished. So I need to at least recover what I've spent, and STILL keep O/H happy (I used savings from the new kitchen fund to buy it!)
I could get back financially in spares what I could sell it for as one, and keep valuable spares to help my red 16v through life. But it means breaking a BX, something I've never had to do voluntarily before (I've only finished one off that someone ripped the guts out of).

I know it's not what people will want to hear (especially Tim) but I'm sad to say I think the car has reached the end of the line. The amount of work needed to get it right outweighs the value of it. And even if I sorted the rot I've found, I'd still have all the MOT issues (including needing an ABS sensor) to sort and I'd try to sell it for big money to cover all my work, with a niggling little feeling inside that there could be even more rot underneath I haven't found.

It's sh*t, but I think we're going to lose a 16v here :(
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robin hughes
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Post by robin hughes »

:cry: such a shame and i hate to say it but if you do end up breaking the car kitch, i would be intrested in bits and pieces off it that mine needs.
The citroen bx 16 valve loves garages hates driving
1990 escort rs turbo 220 bhp
1992 bx 16 valve phase 2 red
bxmark
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Post by bxmark »

It does look bad that Kitch , it must be if even you are considering breaking it .


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Jeth
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Post by Jeth »

Damn, its even worse than the one i broke! I know the feeling when car is just is too much to start welding.

But if you're considering breaking it, it would be good for many more BX'es.

Im in need of front bumper (or atleast grill, mines missing it :( ) Rear bumper might be "good to have"
BX 16V -89 "lowrider"
Xantia HDi -99
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Timmo
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Post by Timmo »

Kitch, i feel for you fella, knowing what it takes to convince the other half for the potential projects to then have to somehow inform her it May not be as good as you hoped! Gutting,
but! There's a lot of rot laying in that car, I'd go as far as to say its beyond economical repair,
sad to see but unless you've endless hour's free, plenty of sheet steel and a bloody good welder there's pretty much only one way for it to go!

Dread to think what mines going to be like after 5 years on pops driveway close to the sea! :shock:
Timmo 8)

After all i am the Cornish one!

Its Because its French!
Bx16v club - Sharing the love for the unloved!
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Kitch
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Post by Kitch »

I will likely break it for bits. If I do I'll be hanging on to a fair few bits to stockpile for the red 16v, but there will be a fair few bits I won't keep too.

It's a shame, but I think it probably has had its day. It's just even more of a shame it's never been taken care of on the bits that matter, rather than just the bodywork. But hey ho, at least the parts will be very useful!
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Mike P
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Post by Mike P »

Pity but they can't all be saved.

When you scrap the shell, would it be possible to cut through some of the sections and see what the corrosion is like in the hidden areas, just curious to compare to the obvious visible areas.

Mike P
Founder member of the Phase 1 Appreciation Society!
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'88 'F' White Bx16v - 62k miles & as seen on TV
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Kitch
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Post by Kitch »

Yeah I was intending to make sure it's not wasted. Any sections that aren't rotten I'll un-stitch and keep for future use.
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Timmo
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Post by Timmo »

Kitch wrote:Yeah I was intending to make sure it's not wasted. Any sections that aren't rotten I'll un-stitch and keep for future use.
]
valver limo??? ;-) ;-) :-D
Timmo 8)

After all i am the Cornish one!

Its Because its French!
Bx16v club - Sharing the love for the unloved!
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Kitch
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Post by Kitch »

Yeah, for the next Bet Victor ad!
surjit25
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Post by surjit25 »

wow, they rust real bad, mine has virtually no rust, BX'es were galvanised and didnt rust like CX and GS'es... if you are scrap the car I need the ECU...
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Kitch
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Post by Kitch »

I'll probably advertise the ECU with the engine as a package along with the loom etc (although the 205 guys aren't as fussed as they once were), but if it doesn't sell I'll give you first refusal. :)
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Kitch
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Post by Kitch »

Copied from BXC:

I'm starting to put plans together on stripping the car down at the moment. I'll probably start listing items that I've decided to sell (wheels are one) in the for sale section for a while before hitting fleabay with them. If anyone needs something in particular feel free to PM me....you're not being vultures! :lol:
Just be warned I'm going to be a complete prick and keep a lot of the car for spares for myself (unless any of you are people who've helped me out in the past....you know who you are), so don't feel offended if I say I'm hanging on to something. But the fact I could retain a decent spares source for BAH was instrumental in the decision to break the car. If I didn't have BAH I might have started on a mission to re-shell or even repair this one, but as most have already pointed out it's too far gone really.
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djoptix
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Post by djoptix »

If it has a standard downpipe in good condition, yes please.

Remind me where you are Kitch? I need quite a few bits for my track car project, and it might be worth a trip if I can scrounge enough off G-SEG. I'm not above putting worn parts on it, just want it back on the road...
Red phase 1, 84k
Silver phase 1, 67k
"Man who run in front of car get tyred; man who run behind car get exhausted..."
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Kitch
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Post by Kitch »

Downpipe would be available mate, yes. I think I've got a spare one of those already somewhere already. Not sure on the quality though....it looks a bit small to me. I'll double check.

I'm in Fareham (look for the Isle of Wight on a map, the look north on the other side of the solent.....that's me :lol:
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