VX Coupe resto

[lancialulu]

Hi all

You may have seen a flurry of wanted items appearing.

That's because I have finally got ex Peter Watcham's VX Coupe back from tinwork and paint..... In the scheme of things it wasn't that long at the restorers - but long enough!

I am very happy with their work and the paint finish Alumino Metalisze is just how I wanted it - the fleck is almost indiscernible.

So all I have managed to do since the car was returned was fit the rear bumper....

Now I have to sort through the many boxes to refurb, rebuild, and replace.

[Ferrit]

I love silver cars.  I will never have a black car again, and would rather not red (as all my Beta's have been red) so when looking for Beta Coupe's one I almost bought was black and one i actually bought was red :-/

So whats the next job?

[lancialulu]

I had to give the car back to the paint shop for a couple of minor bits they missed so will crack on in the New Year.

Headlights are causing a bit of head scratching  - what do folk use for late series  (not LED....)?? I bought some flat face hella units but they seem to protrude too much...

[peteracs]

I had to give the car back to the paint shop for a couple of minor bits they missed so will crack on in the New Year.

Headlights are causing a bit of head scratching  - what do folk use for late series  (not LED....)?? I bought some flat face hella units but they seem to protrude too much...

Hi Tim

If you mean the ones used on the Capri and early 3 Series BMW, then I used them on the Spider and had to modify the rear metal cups where the wires come in to allow the plastic cups to fit. If you want to go that router send me a PM. Apart form that I do like them as that rear cup provides a nice seal for the wires.

Peter

[lancialulu]

Long time no post!

18 months after it last turned over, I was ready after 6 months mechanical rebuilding and refitting the body shell to fire up the VX and drove out of my workshop for a well deserved wash down.

Lots mor to do but I feel a major milestone has been achieved. Coundn't have got here without the great support of this forum!

[WestonE]

A great car looking fantastic. Well done.

[Ferrit]

Dam that a mighty fine looking car.  Love it

[Nigel]

I concur with the others. That's looking brilliant.

I hope to see it soon!

N.

[Clifford]

Looking brilliant!
Excellent job.
C

[lancialulu]

Thank you all for your compliments. This car belonged to a very dear friend of mine from new. Sadly he passed away a few years ago and the family asked me to try to sell it - no takers.

For some unknown reason I made them an offer (too high in hindsight). Maybe it was a completely unmolested car (apart from an ignition switch burn out - now sorted), or maybe it is the coupe of choice and I like coupes...

I won't tell you how much the metal/paint cost but that's water under the bridge so to speak.

As I am the 2nd owner and have a full history file this car is a keeper!

[Ferrit]

Do you have a previous thread of all the work before it came back?  I realise now that a nirvana is a one owner unmolested car.  Next one for sure

[lancialulu]

Do you have a previous thread of all the work before it came back?  I realise now that a nirvana is a one owner unmolested car.  Next one for sure

Sorry it was too embarrassing - thinking it was essentially rust free was a bit naïve. But at least now I know I have a rust free car....

[JASPER_40]

Hi, I presume you re-painted the window trims and was wondering what you used ? Mine have faded from black and the stainless steel is showing through in places.

I could strip all the trims back to the brightwork but I think the black window trim is very "period" correct and would prefer to keep it

Cheers,

Steve

[Nigel]

I used a satin black, a can I now keep dedicated to that purpose
as tint variations exist between manufacturers.
'Quick Colour' is the brand I've got. As long as you use the same can
it won't matter much which one you choose.

Nigel

[lancialulu]

Hi, I presume you re-painted the window trims and was wondering what you used ? Mine have faded from black and the stainless steel is showing through in places.

I could strip all the trims back to the brightwork but I think the black window trim is very "period" correct and would prefer to keep it

Cheers,

Steve

My paint shop made up semigloss (half way between satin and gloss) 2 pack to replicate the black anodised look - I think they got it right!

[JASPER_40]

Thanks guys....

how do you prep the metalwork so that the paint adheres....do you use and etch primer ?

The PO for my car simplay sprayed in places on top of the stainless steel substrate so the paint was easily chipped.......

Cheers,

Steve

[lancialulu]

A few bits and pieces going on in slow time, but I thought I would bite the bullet and rebuild the rather rare Weber 36 DCA 5/250. Well I ended up rebuilding my spare is the one on the car (which ran) was in a worse condition than I had anticipated. So after fitting the spare refurbed carb the car fired up straight away and apart from a few tweaks ran sweetly.

As the car was up to temperature I thought I would steel my self and do a hot compression test:

Cyl 1 160, Cyl2 165, Cyl 3 110, Cyl4 170.

All plugs looked the same nice tan electrodes and slightly sooty around the edge (not surprising having just run on choke to start...).

I shot some oil into Cyl3 and didn't get a better reading (well 120). So think one of the valves isn't sealing well. Bear in mind this is a Volumex (CR 7:1) I am not too worried at the mo.

[Ferrit]

My brain has just caught up and realised you had more than one Beta, I now get the selling of the HPE

Mark

[WestonE]

Depressing on the Compression test. At least you know. Get or borrow a leak down tester to prove where the leak is and check for tight tappets on that cylinder. It will not run beautifully until you fix it which will be a head off re-build if it is not the tappets which suggest valve recession anyway. NB if you rebuild fit NEW exhaust valves. The VX sodium filled valves suffer from the heads breaking off from old age which gets very messy.

[lancialulu]

Checking the valve clearance is a good call. At the moment it runs without any indication of anything wrong.... (maybe famous last words!)