Dean's Activa/XM/V6 and now Talbot blog

Dommo · Unread post by **Dommo** » 24 Dec 2010, 00:05

It's the same story with a lot of Xantia struts, I recall seeing Peugeot branding on my VSX and the VSX I nicked a strut top off in a local scrappers. It'll just be the strut outer I'd imagine?

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 27 Dec 2010, 13:34

I think Pug will have all the buying power and more than likely are holding the purse strings so all parts are made, commissioned by them? i dont know but it is odd.
This morning work has finaly restarted on the Activa after recieving the matrix for christmas (who would of know i would grow up to be this sad) and the heater box and blower assembly is no longer in the living room, its bolted into the car and the coolant has been flushed and refilled, just cut the old sealant off of the windscreen and after that tedious job have come in for a cupa, i am hoping to have the dash and interior back in by tonight but im sorting out lots of solder/heater flap problems along the way like the LED dash bulbs that dont work because of bad solder joints etc but ive got tomorrow as well so there is no rush, its nice to have a couple of full days spannering, i couldnt of eaten any more cold meat or seen any more films it drives me mad.

I hope you all had a good christmas anyway.

D

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 27 Dec 2010, 14:33

Excellent stuff Dean

It's good to feel the weather is warming up a tad now. It seems a long time this cold snap has been hanging around now.

I'm just off to do some spannering myself. I have Old V6 to check over and then an MA gearbox to continue building...

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 27 Dec 2010, 17:57

good stuff Jim.
Im all done now, managed to get the dash in, the drivers and rear carpet along with the rear bench seat, scuttle glued and pinned in place overnight ready to fit the wipers tomorrow.
Most of the dash isnt fitted either as i could not find the little soldering iron to sort out the masses of twisted together wires for the stereo and boost guage but i did get the heater flaps working correctly by lubing and straightening all the cables, almost like new now.
There was one little worry when i took the old drivers carpet out and that was this

CIMG3172 by Deanxm, on Flickr
i couldnt see any leaks from the brake valve though and after a quick check through the cars history i saw a bill for supply and fitting of a new brake valve in 2007

Also my new carpet isnt the same as the rest, the quality is rather poor and is nowhere near as dense as the rest of the carpet, seems the Activa got top line carpet and the bogo spec estate i robbed the carpet from got boggo spec carpet to match, it will do for now though

CIMG3171 by Deanxm, on Flickr
And for no real reason a shot of the nicely greased wiper mechanism prior to installation, should run as smooth as silk now

CIMG3173 by Deanxm, on Flickr

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 27 Dec 2010, 19:16

That's interesting on the carpets Dean. Never really appreciated that but now you say, yes, the VSX and Exclusives did have a better cut of carpet

You escaped lightly with the leaky dosuer valve. My original Activa had an old leak and like yours, long since resolved but the mess under the driver's carpet had to be seen to be believed. It had almost totally turned the bitumen sound deadening panel to mush. Yours still looks pretty good.

Excellent stuff... She'll be on the road before 2011 at this rate!

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 27 Dec 2010, 21:24

Still plenty i have to do yet Jim, will be changing the strut and tops next weekend i think and then do the cambelt and waterpump.

D

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 27 Dec 2010, 21:25

I remember the green carpet in my old one, even after loads of wet vac extraction it wouldnt come out 100% clean, it also added a distinct odour to the interior.

Talking of carpets, the Activa did have a nice type compared to lower specs, although my LX was ok, not that really thin pile like in a Vectra/Astra which needs a wire brush to get clean!

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 28 Dec 2010, 00:08

Yeah thats it Gareth, its not that really nastey nylon stuff that holds onto grass that somehow gets matted into it but its not that nice soft stuff that makes you want to drive barefoot either, worst of all it doesnt match but there will be plenty of time to sort that out next winter.
just got in and had to check the floor under the blower motor for water as we have had a major rainstorm and all is well with the new scuttle

D

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 30 Dec 2010, 16:54

Its getting close now, i may have found a replacement rear droplink too and if it goes to plan it will be £8 not £80

CIMG3175 by Deanxm, on Flickr

Ive shortend the gear lever by a couple of inches and fitted a lower smaller knob and colour coded the top with the dash, also removed some of the silver bits, should have moved the boost guage into eye line a bit more but guage pods are silly money and its ok where it is really.

CIMG3174 by Deanxm, on Flickr

D

robert_e_smart · Unread post by **robert_e_smart** » 30 Dec 2010, 20:19

Good progress Dean,

I have some "wood" trim if you want to de-barry the Activa

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 30 Dec 2010, 22:47

Thanks for the offer Robert but im not a wood lover, it looks nice in a Jag with cream leather but thats about it im afraid, Its citrplastic all the way for me.
Im using your stereo surround though to break it up a bit in there, i did go all black but it was very.................black

didnt look right with grey carpet somehow.

D

robert_e_smart · Unread post by **robert_e_smart** » 30 Dec 2010, 23:07

The woods plastic, so no worries there.

I think you could get away with having the band with the switches in silver, its a bit more modern and pre-empting the series 2 darker grey.

I'd prefer to have the keypad surround black also, or even better the nice cubby box if the keypad could be removed (I tried removing it in mine, but the car just cut out

)

I think your cars previous owner was taken on by the Xantia 4x4 Buffalo concept car.

http://www.kolumbus.fi/perhe_pitkanen/xw/styling.htm

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 30 Dec 2010, 23:13

ooooh i like the red sued? gearstick gaitor

very concept car-ish.

D

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 30 Dec 2010, 23:18