Simon's new Xantia V6 and Leaf blog

[daviemck2006]

If you want a run in a c5 Richard that could be arranged the next time I am down to Carluke at my sisters. I could even be persuaded to sell if enough £20 notes were thrown in my direction. It would have to be a lot though. I've taken a hankering for a c4 again.

[CitroJim]

That's where I found my centre section had gone Simon... I'd not bother to try welding with the cost of the ones available from Poland it's just not worth it. I'm delighted with how my Polish exhaust performs... Very quiet and no performance issues so far as I can tell.

Maybe if you asked the vendor he's just supply a centre section for you?

Has the Cat tail double-skinned section disintegrated then?

This is common but definitely amenable to welding a new sleeve and roll section as you suggest Richard. There's no danger of the centre section falling off and for now it can be bodged with a few Jubilee clips. I did just that on one of mine and it lasted a couple of years...

Pleased you've located the rattle

What I should have said of course is that Simon's new V6 is very tidy indeed

Told you! Yes indeed it is

[Mandrake]

That's where I found my centre section had gone Simon... I'd not bother to try welding with the cost of the ones available from Poland it's just not worth it. I'm delighted with how my Polish exhaust performs... Very quiet and no performance issues so far as I can tell.

So you've fitted the one that was waiting at your Dad's already ?

Maybe if you asked the vendor he's just supply a centre section for you?

I think you're right - I'll see whether the same supplier that I got the muffler from can supply me a matching centre section on it's own. I wish I'd got the whole thing the first time as the job would have been done now...

Richard - can you remember when we were testing those two clamps on the new muffler flange whether we decided that the small one or the big one was a better fit ? I can't remember. If it's the big one I'll need to order another one as one will be used up replacing the one at the cat tail when changing the centre section...

Has the Cat tail double-skinned section disintegrated then?

No it hasn't disintegrated and burnt a hole through like the one on the Silver V6 had - the tail sleeve itself looks sound to me, however the weld itself is crumbling and starting to come away from both halves. It looks like if the weld was ground back and re-welded it would be fine. However to do that easily would involve removing the cat from the car to get at the top side of the weld and that's a job I wouldn't be looking forward to!

This is common but definitely amenable to welding a new sleeve and roll section as you suggest Richard. There's no danger of the centre section falling off and for now it can be bodged with a few Jubilee clips. I did just that on one of mine and it lasted a couple of years...

Even though I don't think it's in imminent risk of breaking I've put a u-bolt clamp over top of the weld so that half of the clamp is gripping on each side of the weld - hopefully that will give it a bit more strength and prevent it breaking in the mean time...

Pleased you've located the rattle

Well, we think we've narrowed it down - but as is always the case with knocking suspension joints, the proof of the pudding only comes with the success of the repair! That job can definitely wait for a garage to work in though, as it's only a minor annoyance that upsets my perfectionist sensibilities...

[Mandrake]

Had a thought about the cat tail....ideally it wants sleeving, but that would entail taking it off. We (OK, I ) could probably weld a patch on either side of the pipe covering the join with the pipe on the car, which would then give it a much longer life - even if the joint breaks / leaks the pipe will not fall off .

When you get a garage I'll lend you my MIG and you can learn to weld, and do your own dirty work

Quite happy to learn how to weld, I just need to get the garage sorted first, again...

[CitroJim]

I already had a full Polish system in stock here Simon and that is the one fitted to my V6 now.

I bought the back box(muffler) to replenish my stock as I have a NOS OE centre section here so now I have a complete system back in stock.

I understand fully about the cat now and good idea to pop a U-clamp around it to be sure. I used Jubilee clips to achieve much the same goal.

Enjoy learning to weld Simon. It's one of those things I just cannot do I've tried and tried and now abandoned any hope. I will never get the hang of it.

It may just be MIG I can't get on with. Heavy arc (1/4 plate and above!) and gas I can do fine but not MIG. I wonder how I'd do with TIG and would love to try..

I'm a black belt at soldering and brazing but MIG is just not me.

It may be my general incompetence with any sort of glue. I'm rubbish. Give me a tube of super glue, araldite or any sealant and I guarantee a disaster.

Luckily we do have one member of Team WFA who shows a flair for it so we're OK

[lexi]

2 moderators approving a car? The value has jumped up £50

Talking about welding. I have had to wear my auto helmet while reading the forum. I have already had 2 flashes from the green RichardW logos

[CitroJim]

Ohh Lexi, you do make me laugh

[Mandrake]

2 moderators approving a car? The value has jumped up £50

Thought I'd share this pic of the car as I haven't really taken any pictures of it since I've had it... taken from across the street with my phone:



Perhaps that will raise the value another £50 ?

[CitroJim]

Looking good Simon

You can clearly see the deep shine in the paintwork....

There, that's added yet another £50

[Mandrake]

You can clearly see the deep shine in the paintwork....

Yes, it's a shame that there is some fine abrasion in the clear coat in places though, particularly on the front wings which look like the wings have brushed lightly past bush branches many times... they're fine enough marks that they could probably be hidden by a good polish/wax, but I haven't tried yet...

[Hell Razor5543]

That is a lovely looking machine, Simon.

[bxzx16v]

Looking good Simon, as I've told Jim too, if you were closer I'd get the polisher on it for you.

Mark

[Mandrake]

I'm really going to have to learn the correct techniques to clean and polish/wax a car properly...

I'm afraid that all I've ever done on cars in the past is wash them with a car brush and a hose/bucket of soapy warm water, or put it through the car wash...

[CitroJim]

I'm really going to have to learn the correct techniques to clean and polish/wax a car properly...

Another skill I neither have nor seem to be able to acquire

[daviemck2006]

I worked as a car valeter for a while preparing new and used cars for retail sale. That's how I can when the mood takes me make the car look like new. However with the c5 for some reason, although it's a great car, I don't seem to have the inclination to clean it properly.