Hello Chaps....new owner

[Stickfinger]

Ohh yes, I needed a VERY strong pair of hands from a friend to do the stud side one on my V6 Activa.

I will have to heat this one today to get the ball joint uncrewed......I tried yesterday and it was very stuck. I have soaked it overnight with penetrating fluid, a wet rag wrapped around the socket joint, a pair of big mole grips and a gas torch with added hope, fingers crossed.

[Stickfinger]

Nice new boot fitted....a bit of a faff getting it over the rack end (very tight) but with a bit of experienced fingering and prodding it slipped on OK.


On the plus side, it is nice to work in a clean area/on a clean car, less worry about dirt and grime going inside the boot.

[Stickfinger]

Fitted the new shorter belt today, it has cured the excessive belt slap I had......result !

I have also fitted the new engine bay stickers, what fabulous quality they are.

[Stickfinger]

Dressing the front bumper....primer on


Colour on....

[Stickfinger]

As soon as it came out of the garage it started raining heavily.....anyway, it is all road legal now with taxes and insurance.



It has now officially gone from a "broken car" to one that just needs constantly fixing = saved XM.

I am a happy bunny today.

[Dieselman]

As soon as it came out of the garage it started raining heavily.....anyway, it is all road legal now with taxes and insurance.



It has now officially gone from a "broken car" to one that just needs constantly fixing = saved XM.

I am a happy bunny today.

You've done a great job saving that one.
It is in remarkably good, rust-free condition, so well worth the effort.

Many Xm have been scrapped needlessly.

Drive it, enjoy it, fix it...

[White Exec]

It has now officially gone from a "broken car" to one that just needs constantly fixing = saved XM.
I am a happy bunny today.

And so you should be - A tremendous job, Alasdair.
She looks lovely, emerging from the jungle!

Just love that line above

[Stickfinger]

Thanks chaps.....I would not be at this stage without all your help....100% !


Golden Brown

Been working on the last bit today, rust proofing the rear wheel arches with Bilt & Hamber S50

[Stickfinger]

I have some Spare Love to give.
I have stripped off the rusty & rotten sheet metal, wire brushed and painted with "rust eater"....I will paint it with whatever I have on the shelf .....maybe Pink radiator paint which I have left over from a job



I will weld the cross support back on and will try and use a spare Xantia rear wheel arch liner to protect the wheel from direct hits from road dirt and debris.

[Dieselman]

I would be wary of using a plastic arch liner as the carrier shield, as it will be right next to the exhaust silencer.

Admittedly, the exhaust won't be as hot as a petrol one, but there is no heat shield, which there is on petrol engined cars.

The wheel isn't going to get very dirty anyway, as it is in the centre of the car.