Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs

[Huskyxantia]

Chips or no chips ?

[MattBLancs]

Chips or no chips ?

At Morecambe? Sadly no chips there, I did put in a case for something nice to eat whilst we were out and about, but was decided to come home again instead. (And nice Chorizo and tomato pasta was knocked up at home instead)

[Huskyxantia]

Sounds nice and healty .

[MattBLancs]

Finally some Coupe welding progress!

Rear arch panel cut from my piece of "Zintec" and tweaked to fit.

New piece

Small holes to weld through, aka a plug weld (substitute for a spot weld)
Bigger holes (12mm) for a squirt of waxoil or similar into the cavity behind once completed. To be sealed by a blind grommet to then keep the weather out.

Into position

Then liberally welded!

Not very neat, will "lanish" it back with angle grinder flap disk shortly, then quick paint.

Discovered my cheap flimsy welder trolley didn't like "off-road action" (took it out garage side door and across the wet grass) lifting by it's handle bent the top shelf on which the welder sits!

Two pieces of 25mm box section (ex table leg offcuts) now welded to the trolley frame. Handle to be relocated to mount to the box section shortly.
Rivet nuts (or more welding - thought it still being removable worthwhile)

Then noticed back corner under the heavy bottle are coming apart, so made two L shaped reinforcements from another bit of box.

Then a blob of weld to improve function of welding clamps.

Then bit of weld to re secure the F cramp.

Then remembered the loose bits on the clothes airer - so welded that too

(Yes they're cheap enough not to bother doing this, but will let it carry on a bit longer)


Is it any wonder why these jobs take me so long!

[Huskyxantia]

Nothing wrong with a bit of side tinkering matt, always good to do several thjngs at the same sort of time , busy minds need the input, nice bit of sheet metal work there too , once all flatten are you zinc coating or just black stuff ?

[Huskyxantia]

Nice earth point there too ! Very inventive im impressed

[mickthemaverick]

You clearly suffer from a variation on the old navy rule: If it moves, salute it, if it doesn't paint it!! I'll let you work out the various possible connotations but I'd go for If it works, leave it, if it doesn't, weld it!!

[MattBLancs]

Think with me there's probably a line about "if it squeaks, grease it" !

Welds tickled with the flap disk and yucky pink quick spray job to keep the rust off (and a good squirt in each of my new Waxoil holes too)

End result (for now)

Sadly loosing the light so need to off-road the welder again and pack up.

[MattBLancs]

Nice earth point there too ! Very inventive im impressed

This one:

Earth clamp

Came with the welder, works well (lead quite short though to be honest)

[Huskyxantia]

Think with me there's probably a line about "if it squeaks, grease it" !

Welds tickled with the flap disk and yucky pink quick spray job to keep the rust off (and a good squirt in each of my new Waxoil holes too)


Sadly loosing the light so need to off-road the welder again and pack up.

Barbie woz ere ! Long as it keeps the rust off it all that matters

[MattBLancs]

Little bits of progress:

308:
Front, rear and left hand boot light bulbs swapped for LED replacements. Instigator was realised that the boot light lens wasn't staying in place as it was completely knackered! Thought a deep scratch on the lens was actually completely cracked in two!

Fortunately I have one "in stock" that's been kicking around my garage for a decade or two!

Boot sill trim piece - stainless steel - the raggedy piece of protective blue film it came with new peeled off. Considering this is supposed to be removed when new, I think the blue stuff hasn't done badly since 2011!!

Trim

Trim

The right hand tie down point was wobbly, but straight forward fix = tighten the Torx head mounting bolt (under the stainless trim)

Next the grim volume knob was pulled off and cleaned up:

Knob

Knob

[MattBLancs]

C5:

Definitely loosing coolant, topped up again, more than half a litre needed. 5l bottle in the boot coming with me till I've fixed it.

[Huskyxantia]

Nice trim panel there matt , coolant loss , is it the head ?

[MattBLancs]

Nice trim panel there matt , coolant loss , is it the head ?

I'm hoping not!

A nice weeping hose would be ideal, radiator also not too bad to change.

Will need to have a good dig see if I can find the leak.

308 trim: yes it's pretty smart. The car is in posh "Allure" spec so a few niceties like this. Poverty radio option - think there's a posh sat nav version that it didn't come with, Garmin stuck on the screen does the job when needed though

[Huskyxantia]

Fingers cross you get the easy option regarding the coolant loss, so many places where it can leak though