Meanwhile, in Wales

"duurtlang" (duurtlang) 03/29/2018 at 02:14 • Filed to: Oppomeet, Europpomeet, Wales

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‘My’ BX has been fixed, but more importantly the Fiat X1/9 had a bit of a crash... Hedges were involved. Many miles of great roads weren’t driven by our subgroup

I’m sure better pictures will pop up next week, this is all I’ve got on my phone.

The day started off with going to a mechanic referred to us by friendly locals. The BX was leaking about 1L of expensive LHM hydraulic fluid a day, which it wasn’t before heading for Wales. Long story short, a plastic Y connector of the LHM return line had crumpled. Simon managed to get it replaced. Problem solved. And off we went...

Then disaster struck. In a slippery downhill turn the Fiat X1/9 went straight through a hedge and onto a field. A control arm was bent and the local farm owner was angry.

That wasn’t it though. We drove a mile or so into town, where we found out it was leaking coolant. That leak was quickly fixed and we had a 5L bottle of coolant available. However, the system needed to be bled... For that the bonnet had to open, which it didn’t because the nose cone was pushed in. Also, the bleed valve was unreachable due to the pushed in nose cone. As that body part was beyond saving anyway the carnage started...

It made it to the cottage on its own power. Cooling system bled, control arm still bent. A new control arm is supposed to be delivered before 9 am this morning.

After lots of hard work and cutting the (undamaged) bonnet was finally cleared so it could be opened

Coolant leak spotted

After the crash, the car still untouched. Missing bumper and grille parts stored in the trunk

Note the thick layer of dirt in the wheel. It wasn’t like that the day before.

I’m on my phone with low battery and the charger left in the car, so excuse the chronology of the pictures.

A suggestion someone else made here that I liked (to those reading this in Wales): use tags in you post so they’re easier to find.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > duurtlang 03/29/2018 at 02:39

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It makes me wince...but this is ardderchog iawn Oppo.

duurtlang > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 03/29/2018 at 02:47

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Just imagine how it was seeing it happening. The cutting, the hammering, the prying, the bending. The paint falling to the floor. It was heartbreaking.

I’ve got some video too, but that’ll be uploaded at some later time.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > duurtlang 03/29/2018 at 02:52

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If it makes the difference between a lonely scrap yard and getting home then I’d be banging away at already scrap metal like there was no tomorrow.

facw > duurtlang 03/29/2018 at 02:59

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Noooo! Not the X1/9!

FSI > duurtlang 03/29/2018 at 03:01

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Thanks for the daily reminder that I’m a fool for not going to Wales;)

That poor X1/9 tho.

duurtlang > FSI 03/29/2018 at 03:07

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Yes

pip bip - choose Corrour > duurtlang 03/29/2018 at 03:10

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adventure and a half!

Chinny Raccoon > duurtlang 03/29/2018 at 04:02

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Luckily the parts have arrived.

Tareim - V8 powered > duurtlang 03/29/2018 at 04:31

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oh damn that’s not good

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > duurtlang 03/29/2018 at 05:01

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It’s a very sad sight, but luckily Biturbo is no stranger to metalwork, so if anybody can fix this, it’s him.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > duurtlang 03/29/2018 at 05:23

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Oh no!!! Glad you’re OK! Terrible about the FIAT though! :(

Think it’s going to really expensive to put back to its former glory?

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > facw 03/29/2018 at 06:30

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Yes but it was only face first through a hedge. It could have been a stone wall.

vondon302 > duurtlang 03/29/2018 at 06:48

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So that’s the incident.

Well at least it’s a memorable trip and no one got hurt but that poor Fiat

Nauraushaun > duurtlang 03/29/2018 at 07:02

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How did he end up in a hedge!?

Looks like good fun. Good Euro fun. The kind we don’t have in Aus. I saw an X1/9 recently though.

shop-teacher > duurtlang 03/29/2018 at 09:11

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It’s not just a meet, it’s an adventure!

Whenever I’m in the shit like this, I remember that someday it will be a great story, that I laugh my ass off while telling.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 04/03/2018 at 06:51

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Absolutely. Or either of the telegraph poles not far from the hole in the hedge I made. Or through a hedge off a precipice.

Could have been much worse...

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > facw 04/03/2018 at 06:52

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I know :(

She’ll be fixed though. Priced up panels at £150-ish. Opportunity to change over to an alloy radiator too in preparation for more power :)

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer 04/03/2018 at 07:01

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Yeah it’s absolutely gutting, but in a way it couldn’t have happened to a more suitable person. She’ll be back to her best in no time! Well, maybe with one dent still left as a battle-scar ;)

Panels aren’t even all that expensive either. £150 for all three that make up the nose cone. Two new tyres at the front where they scrubbed the tread off with the bent tie rod. Think I killed the fuel pump as well. Bit of paintless dent repair and touchup. Can’t think of anything else!

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 04/03/2018 at 07:10

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Yeah it’s gutting, but could have been much worse. Barring anything really nasty like hitting a tree or going over an edge it still wasn’t that bad. Radiator was pushed back but still holding coolant. Only really the nose cone damaged beyond repair. Dents and dings in a few other panels but hoping they can be pulled out by the paintless dent repair people.

It’s got some other bits and pieces that need sorting too. Replaced one tie rod while we were there but have the other to replace. Two new front tyres where the bent tie rod scrubbed the tread off after 50 miles. Think the fuel pump’s given up the ghost too.

All-in, about £150 for panels, £200 for tyres and fuel pump, and whatever the dent repair people come to :)

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Nauraushaun 04/03/2018 at 07:13

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Turns out, an X1/9 with an Uno Turbo engine will match a lightly modded VVC MG F point-for-point on everything except braking performance :S

Locked the fronts coming into an unexpected 90 deg corner a little too hot and just went straight. Actually went clean through the hedge and wound up in the farmer’s field behind it :S

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Tareim - V8 powered 04/03/2018 at 07:13

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Yeah not exactly ideal, but will be fixed in no time once my finances have recovered somewhat!

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > pip bip - choose Corrour 04/03/2018 at 07:14

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Tell me about it! Probably spent about as much time fixing cars as driving them!

Nauraushaun > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 04/03/2018 at 07:26

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Oh dear :( I do hope it turns out okay

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 04/03/2018 at 07:39

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This is exactly what I was expecting from you, haha

That doesn’t seem to bad cost wise, would have expected worse!

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Nauraushaun 04/03/2018 at 07:57

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Yeah it’ll be fine :) checked all of the nasty stuff to repair (chassis rails, strut tower tops, wishbone brackets etc.) and it all seemed ok.

Just a matter of finances and time :)

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer 04/03/2018 at 08:04

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Yeah the panels are surprisingly reasonable :)

Have a ride-on lawnmower and my dad’s MG F to fix to bankroll replacement parts and then I’ll get cracking :)

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 04/03/2018 at 11:13

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Not too bad then! :)

Noah - Now with more boost. > duurtlang 04/03/2018 at 12:12

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Late to the party but holy shit man... I’m glad the Fiat and more importantly you are in good shape overall. Minus some dignity. I once spun my old 635csi on a slippery day by just touching the throttle when I should’t have. Full on idiot mode. Fortunately the snowbank was soft and nobody was coming in either direction.

duurtlang > Noah - Now with more boost. 04/03/2018 at 13:19

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I didn’t drive the Fiat though, I drove the Citroën. Simon/Biturbo(something) drove the Fiat.

I did have a little mishap with the citroen a few days later. Totally misjudged a corner, hit the curb at high speed and ruptured a tire and bent a steel wheel. Had to continue on the full size spare from the 90s...

Noah - Now with more boost. > duurtlang 04/03/2018 at 13:28

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Had to continue on the full size spare from the 90s...

sketchy!!!