Newbie in England - got my X

[manalishi]

Just a quick note, having only posted once a couple of weeks ago...

My X arrived. It's D515RPU, and was previously owned by Pete (the chap who's just bought the supercharged X in green - other thread). He's done a lot of things to improve it, and I hope to keep up the good work.

I had an X back in '87 which was the worst car I've ever had, and yet I remember the good times better than the bad. Will run this car for Summer and then take stock when our annual roadworthiness check (MOT) is done.

Assuming it's sound enough to merit the investment, I'll do a Lido replica first. And maybe after a year, an engine update (maybe tweaking of the 1500 SOHC a la Guy Croft, or maybe a B16/B18 DOHC VTEC - or possibly H22?). I have an Accord with VTEC, and I love the change of tone and character at VTEC changeover.

 

[Eastep]

great! again, welcome to the site and congrats

 

[bbrown]

Welcome!

Now get out there and take us some photos! :thumbsup: (please)

 

[manalishi]

Now get out there and take us some photos! :thumbsup: (please)

Do the ones that I posted in my message above not show? (Maybe I can't link them from the MB forum?)

Let me know and I can upload them elsewhere.

 

[budgetzagato]

No pics...

The link come from a site that requires login. Try another source?

And welcome to our crazy little corner of the web.

 

[Rupunzell]

Hello,

Welcome to the Italian X family...

Curious, what made your 87' the worst car ever owned?


Bernice

J

I had an X back in '87 which was the worst car I've ever had, and yet I remember the good times better than the bad. Will run this car for Summer and then take stock when our annual roadworthiness check (MOT) is done.

 

[manalishi]

Curious, what made your 87' the worst car ever owned?

Well, it was a '79 that (I now realise) suffered from just about every X1/9 problem: front brake lock ups, bad warm starting, contacts points failing, poor idling, frequent stalling, bad rust (just 8 years!) It was sold to me by a supposed specialist, and I should have been suspicious when it had 4 gears and a new paint job in that '80s ultra-bright British Leyland green. I was naive (it was my second ever car and I didn't have a clue).

Fast forward 20+ years to this one:

 

[Rupunzell]

Sounds like that dealer took you for a ride.. It is possible that your first X was a Radborne conversion (mid-to later 70's 4 speed cars, some had 1300cc or 1500cc), not an official Bertone car as the X1/9 was not initially available made for the UK market. These were un-official conversions that were sold in the UK market. What actually went into them.. could have been more than questionable.

After that negative experience, I'm surprised that you got another. It does look like a good one.. What are the details?

The X has a lot of potential as showcased by your friends Volumex x1/9..

Bernice

Well, it was a '79 that (I now realise) suffered from just about every X1/9 problem: front brake lock ups, bad warm starting, contacts points failing, poor idling, frequent stalling, bad rust (just 8 years!) It was sold to me by a supposed specialist, and I should have been suspicious when it had 4 gears and a new paint job in that '80s ultra-bright British Leyland green. I was naive (it was my second ever car and I didn't have a clue).

Fast forward 20+ years to this one:

 

[roadbox]

Well, it was a '79 that (I now realise) suffered from just about every X1/9 problem... Fast forward 20+ years to this one...

This sounds like the 78 I had. Every problem imaginable. When I went to look at the '85 X I bought in 1990, I swore if it screwed me too soon with unreliability issues, I'd never buy another Fiat again. That '85 was the best car I've ever owned. Period. Nearly Honda reliable and I drove it 208K miles.

Looks like you have a winner!!! In my opinion, black is the best color for a late X, but I might be biased.

Welcome to the group!!!!

John O.

 

[9151]

Couldn't have been a Radbourne ...

Radbourne only produced their rhd conversions from '75 to '77 as Fiat introduced their rhd 1300cc model in '78. '79 cars were the crossover cars with some at 1300 and some with 1500. Any '79s that remain are likely to have had earthing problems, rust and factory botched wiring.

Steve Cropley, editor of Autocar, drove the Radbourne and later models and has commented that, in his view, there was little difference in spec or feel.

I knew Geoff Amsted quite well before his death a few years back and his engineering excellence was renowned.

Welcome fellow Brit. Take your place at the table and help yourself to the goodies on offer.

 

[manalishi]

Thanks for the warm welcome

Details about this new (to me) black X:
* Lumenition electronic ignition
* rejetted carb
* CSC sports exhaust
* K&N air filter
* recored radiator
* different switch for fan (lower temp?)
* Jamex lowering springs
* 185/65 on not-quite-sure-what wheels
* debumpered (holes are plugged temporarily)
* some engine detailing (stainless hoses, red paint, etc)
* newer doors, boots, engine over
* 52,000m

Pete did almost all of the above, and a lot more. And the history file shows quite a bit of rust removal/repair by a previous owner. A bit of rust bubbling through now (on top of rear wings either side of engine cover) - that's the biggest issue.

My previous X1/9 was - I'm convinced - a lash-up made of bitsa-this-and-that with a paid-for MOT certificate. (He was an X1/9 specialist, for what it's worth). No point crying about it now - one of life's lessons. As bad as it was, it left me with an itch for another one

 

[roadbox]

...with a paid-for MOT certificate.

Well now, that's hardly something I can hold against anyone. Time was when it was very common for me to take my cars for state inspection to a mechanic I knew who trusted that I wasn't going to sneak anything unsafe by him. An exchange of cash and paperwork and I was on my way and he didn't have to waste time hunting down inspection specs for an oddball car he didn't have any great desire to work on (as in, inventing repairs to perform to make a couple extra bucks where none are needed). I know MOT is a bit different than what we have to stomach in the US, but most inspections IMO are quite scammy to begin with. When I lived in North Carolina, I could be guaranteed that my "headlights needed aiming" which is code for "this is how were going to get an extra 50 dollars out of you." You'd pay and be done with it.


John O.

 

[thorpeyx1/9]

hi barry glad the x1/9 got to you in one piece after all the fun simon had getting to me in his transporter (puncture/gearbox leak) the fan switch is uprated to cut in *87c instead of 92c and cut out *81c instead of 87c,also the doors came from a 1989 x1/9 and the wheels are made by an english company called k+n wheels,yes black is a lovely colour and i was thinking how pretty it looked when simon went off with it,i did all the mods/improvements because i was going to keep it forever but of course my new abarth 2 litre twin cam supercharged x1/9 was one i never thought would be available but after first trying to buy it off shikan in 1998 and hounding him ever since it is now mine which to me is my perfect x1/9,hope you enjoy the car and the looks everyone gives it,as i use to call it 'black beauty' and thats what it is cheers pete

 

[Black-Tooth]

Welcome Barry, I see you got the PROPER COLOR...

... this time!

Black X's are usually not called "shes" and NEVER have any of the problems like you had with your first car...

I also have some great beach-front property for sale in Arizona if you're interested.

Welcome again to the "madness"... you'll never be the same again and also never regret it!

 

[manalishi]

I know MOT is a bit different than what we have to stomach in the US, but most inspections IMO are quite scammy to begin with. When I lived in North Carolina, I could be guaranteed that my "headlights needed aiming" which is code for "this is how were going to get an extra 50 dollars out of you."

I hear what you're saying, and I'm sure that goes on with MOTs, too. In this case, I think the seller used the same sort of 'arrangement' to pass a car that should have failed on the front chassis problems. I think it was rotten (after 8 years) and he took the mechanical bits off (for other customers' cars, perhaps), fitted some older bits and then filled/repainted to sell it.

Pete - thanks Looking forward to pootling around East Anglia this Summer. Oakleys on and a sunburnt pate By the way, there was an old cassette tape on the floor and about 74p of small change in the glove box!

Black Tooth - thanks. It did feel like 'home' again. It even smells the same. I think modern cars must have the smell engineered out of them.