Citroen BX 1.9D 'The Estate' - Barn Stored to Bahn Stormer?
Discussion
So here we go folks!
Day started out early for me, as I was playing musical cars around the south coast moving cars to get other cars into garages, moving cars out of trailers, cars into trailers, cars into other garages, and finally on to The Estate!
At about 10:00am we arrived at the field. I was immediately ridiculed as a townie as I struggled to cross the boggy field leading to the barn (my feet did get wet too.....horse s
t-flavoured water....great!):
Each time we've left The Estate in this barn, we've returned to find massive shrubbery blocking our access to said barn. On the last occasion, a severed Rabbits head was found next to the car. Today, nothing quite as dramatic:
Though a horse had made its feelings clear as the stern of The Estate (what the fk does a horse know anyway? Half of them think they're cows!):
Initial thoughts over the back end of the car were favourable, but it didn't look quite as well preserved elsewhere:
Guessing that's a Fox/Badger home in that hole. Half expected to get attacked!
Hard to see the front!
The result of our efforts:
So who gets the clutch plate? Well, click here to find out!
Day started out early for me, as I was playing musical cars around the south coast moving cars to get other cars into garages, moving cars out of trailers, cars into trailers, cars into other garages, and finally on to The Estate!
At about 10:00am we arrived at the field. I was immediately ridiculed as a townie as I struggled to cross the boggy field leading to the barn (my feet did get wet too.....horse s
t-flavoured water....great!):Each time we've left The Estate in this barn, we've returned to find massive shrubbery blocking our access to said barn. On the last occasion, a severed Rabbits head was found next to the car. Today, nothing quite as dramatic:
Though a horse had made its feelings clear as the stern of The Estate (what the f
k does a horse know anyway? Half of them think they're cows!):Initial thoughts over the back end of the car were favourable, but it didn't look quite as well preserved elsewhere:
Guessing that's a Fox/Badger home in that hole. Half expected to get attacked!
Hard to see the front!
The result of our efforts:
So who gets the clutch plate? Well, click here to find out!
So, after effectively having it start first time it was reversed out of the barn and straight into the mudpit behind. Managed to dig it in pretty deep:
The Estate soldiered on and we managed to rock it up enough to gain enough traction to get it mobile again:
The worst part of the quagmire was the entrance to the field:
It drew a crowd trying to get through that, but a guy watching commented how he pretty much wouldn't have believed what he'd just seen if he hadn't seen it! You could attack the bog at something like 20mph and it would just bring it almost instantly to a holt! Plenty of rocking, bouncing and pushing by S10 saw it leave the field for the last time:
(It took the small Ivy branch with it)
Loaded up, ready for the journey to salvation:
Back at base, the 'issues' were assessed more closely:
What I thought briefly to be bad corrosion, turned out to be mouse st:
Still looking strong in most places:
But work needed here:
Here too, though it won't be pretty when it's finished (it'll be quick!):
New mirror needed after that big bale of hay fell onto it:
And so rather abruptly, there you have it!
Now originally I mentioned trying to get the car through an MOT in the state I find the car in. Well, without wishing to sound like a complete pansy, it's worse than I thought! I'm not sure if it would be considered a piss-take to present it like that. I've also felt a slight change of heart already on the car....the fact that it started so eagerly has only increased my affection for the car. Being that they're getting so rare, I think I might chance tactics slightly from 'totally beaten up bus that's been hit with an ugly stick' to 'slightly below average but mechanically sound bus that's been hit with an ugly stick, but with a bit of make-up on!'
I know it needs:
Good news is that it only seems to be air in the fuel (it's the only thing it really can be, apart from timing or major mechanical failure!) but bad news it that's often a bh to find!
Did some quick maths today, and if I use The Estate to replace my MG ZS 180, I'll go for 2 months on 3.5 week's worth of fuel in the MG. I'll have have a much smoother, if not slower ride
Over for now.
The Estate soldiered on and we managed to rock it up enough to gain enough traction to get it mobile again:
The worst part of the quagmire was the entrance to the field:
It drew a crowd trying to get through that, but a guy watching commented how he pretty much wouldn't have believed what he'd just seen if he hadn't seen it! You could attack the bog at something like 20mph and it would just bring it almost instantly to a holt! Plenty of rocking, bouncing and pushing by S10 saw it leave the field for the last time:
(It took the small Ivy branch with it)
Loaded up, ready for the journey to salvation:
Back at base, the 'issues' were assessed more closely:
What I thought briefly to be bad corrosion, turned out to be mouse s
t:Still looking strong in most places:
But work needed here:
Here too, though it won't be pretty when it's finished (it'll be quick!):
New mirror needed after that big bale of hay fell onto it:
And so rather abruptly, there you have it!
Now originally I mentioned trying to get the car through an MOT in the state I find the car in. Well, without wishing to sound like a complete pansy, it's worse than I thought! I'm not sure if it would be considered a piss-take to present it like that. I've also felt a slight change of heart already on the car....the fact that it started so eagerly has only increased my affection for the car. Being that they're getting so rare, I think I might chance tactics slightly from 'totally beaten up bus that's been hit with an ugly stick' to 'slightly below average but mechanically sound bus that's been hit with an ugly stick, but with a bit of make-up on!'
I know it needs:
- Handbrake cable
- Radiator (hopefully can be sealed....not cheap new!)
- Clutch (have a kit ready to fit)
- LHM suspension flush (have stacks of it....easy)
- Timing belt (imagine it's going to want changing)
- Small bit of welding for MOT (so far....all could go tits up once it's on the ramp)
Good news is that it only seems to be air in the fuel (it's the only thing it really can be, apart from timing or major mechanical failure!) but bad news it that's often a bh to find!Did some quick maths today, and if I use The Estate to replace my MG ZS 180, I'll go for 2 months on 3.5 week's worth of fuel in the MG. I'll have have a much smoother, if not slower ride
Over for now.
I am amazed! Very amazed! Not run in three years & it's out & alive after only the first attempt! Far better then i thought! Shows what a great engine the old PSA diesels of the 80's & 90's were & that you shouldn't let cars be scrapped for even the tinyest of faults.
Good luck with getting it back on the road guys! Would love to see it at a sunday service or any other event in the near future.
Good luck with getting it back on the road guys! Would love to see it at a sunday service or any other event in the near future.
threadlock said:
This car really deserves some love and kindness.
That's where I'm in a bit of a quandry. On one hand, The Estate is good at being The Estate. It's sheddy, ugly, a bit battered round the edges and simple, yet soldiers on almost relentlessly even with little or no care or attention. It's like driving round in a testiment to the marque/model while flipping the V at everyone who says it's ugly/French/crap/rubbish etc.But, kinda like you, I've also been thinking maybe it's time to tidy it up? It's 24 years old now! They're a pretty rare sight on the roads and I've always had the view that classic cars tend to be about survival of the fittest; the strongest ones are the ones that go on to be classic (or equal to classic age). So by that reckoning, The Estate should now be rewarded for its efforts.
One thing's for sure....it's the best car I've ever had! I don't think any of the cars I've owned (or any of those owned by anyone I know) could have put up with the s
t this thing has over the last few years (there's a lot I've missed out on that first post!)While it's filthy and unloved it'll always feel as though you're driving it because you have no choice. When it looks as though someone cares about it it'll feel like an interesting, quirky choice, which - if it were me - would give me greater pleasure. I hope the story has a happy ending though, whichever path it takes.
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