The place to show off and tell us all about your XMs (or even other cars). Should it be a big project, or just some general pics, start your thread in here.
White Exec wrote:Pale blue, Russ? What they used to call a "hairdresser's car". Can I say that nowadays????
Brings back thoughts of powder-blue Triumph Heralds, ducky.
Good bit of peeling underseal there - but as for the rust, the steel is only one layer thick there....Can you poke through into the engine bay above, in front of the strut top? How does it look on the topside?
Chris 1996 XM 2.5TD Exclusive RP7165 Polar White 1992 BX19D Millesime RP5800 Sable 1989 BX19RD Delage Red Deceased; 1998 ZX 1.9D Avantage auto Triton Green Company car 1998..2001; 2001 Xantia 1.8i auto Wicked Red Company car 2001..2003
It looks fine on the topside. What's visible through the hole is the underside of the engine-bay side as far as I can work out. But yes, I started tugging on the flaky underseal to reveal this. That's the problem - if it gets breached, it then just lets moisture munch the metal sight unseen.
I've just double-checked. It's definitely double-skinned. The metal in the engine bay is entirely sound and visible through the hole in the inner wheelarch. If it wasn't double-skinned here, I have a feeling I'd already have a somewhat bent bonnet by now.
OK - looks then as if the lower skin is in poor shape. Reinforcing plate, done professionally, looks needed.
How's the LH side?
Chris 1996 XM 2.5TD Exclusive RP7165 Polar White 1992 BX19D Millesime RP5800 Sable 1989 BX19RD Delage Red Deceased; 1998 ZX 1.9D Avantage auto Triton Green Company car 1998..2001; 2001 Xantia 1.8i auto Wicked Red Company car 2001..2003
LH side seems better, though it's looking like I need to have a good go over the underside. I've been waiting a week for the weather to be dry enough for me to even think about playing with cars. I've got an offside strut mount to fit anyway, so pulling the old one off will make the welding easier I suspect.
Chris 1996 XM 2.5TD Exclusive RP7165 Polar White 1992 BX19D Millesime RP5800 Sable 1989 BX19RD Delage Red Deceased; 1998 ZX 1.9D Avantage auto Triton Green Company car 1998..2001; 2001 Xantia 1.8i auto Wicked Red Company car 2001..2003