UAL***X BACK ON THE ROAD

I bought her 2 and half years ago (900 mile round trip to collect and trailer back) as a rolling shell and gave myself 4 months to get back on the road. I've no idea how many years she was off the road.

Well my timing might have been off but thats another x19 returned to the road. She passed the MOT last week. I'd like to say thats the work finished but I only concentrated on the doing the mechanical side of things in my cramped garage at the side of the house, installing engine, gearbox, numerous other mechanicals, interior and electrical fixes and parts and got her road worthy. Now for the bodywork, replace doors next on list.

I must admit it seems to be good fun on the road and I can see now the attraction. Its a pity I'm the passenger as at around 6'4" I can only just mange to drive it, but only for a couple of minutes with roof off. That all the aching legs can take. My wife and daughters enjoy a "cruise" in it.

Many thanks to a number of members for their advice on the forum and particularly CharlieMk1 for his advice and last week getting her through the MOT. PS no break downs yet!!!!

Fading away

Well done on the rebuild Pete. It would be an easier life if they came into my hands as well sorted as yours, keep up the good work.

She behaved impeccably whilst in the company of the east coast renegades :lol:

Drop the floor!

It works and makes a massive difference to the driving position. Swifty tried my exxy at the weekend and was impressed that he could see all of the instruments!

www.x1-9ownersclub.org.uk/member ... php?t=3592

Droppoing the floor might do the trick and Ill consider it. I'll pick up on that in your thread on it. Thanks

Adjusting/raising the steering was mentioned by rachael. Any articles on that. I had a look at couldn't see an obvious way to do it.

So far all running a fine with a few minor tweaks.

I raised the steering wheel on my road going exxy. Was easy to do. Remove the plastic shroud that fits around the steering column. There are four bolts that secure the steering column to the crossmember. Slacken the top two by about 5 to 10mm. Remove the bottom two and you will immediately see you can move the steering wheel up by tipping the wheel up.

Now u need to pack large washers, they call them repair washers as the hole size where the bolt goes through is standard size but the outside diameter of the washer is a lot bigger. Now pack between where the bottom bolts go in between the column and the mounting bracket. There is a limit on how many u can fit. I think it's three. If u over pack the universal joint near the floor on the column will start to clonk and jam so be careful.

Raised the steering by about 1 inch if not more in my case. Just experiment and see how u get on. But like I said be careful about over packing and make sure u tighten up all the bolts again.

Thanks for the info, I'll give that a go this week, its really the clearance between the steering wheel and legs thats my main issue. I have to be careful as i don't want to ruin it for the "ladies" of the house to drive, they are a lot smaller than me.

Hi chap

I have just fitted a cheap aftermarket steering wheel and this has helped and not made the steering to heavy,I am 6.2

Happy days

Michael

Cheers Michael,

Do you have details of the steering wheel and did it cause any issues re self cancelling of indicators. I am going to try adjusting the steering today to start with if I get a chnace.

I'm 6'1 and a friend to food, so fitting in my car is not the best, I always move the seat back about 6 to 8cm it makes a massive difference.
You have to move the seat belt holder but there is room to move it to just above your shoulder.
Newer cars with bolt down runners are the easier to move, just unbolt frame and re drill, you need to pack the back bolt up by about 1 cm to help the base of the seat clear the floor i also tend to weld a support plate under the bolt on both sides of the car body for safety but it makes a massive difference to your driving experience and comfort, ive done 300 mile days touring in Europe without any issues.
Now getting in and out that's another issue and not pretty...lol

Mark

Thanks for advice. The steering wheel adjustment definately helped and its now driveable for me but have to admit still fairly cramped.

Not sure about moving runners back for me as I think that would have effect of giving me more leg room but forcing me to sit up more and with raising runner slighly, I don't think I have headroom for.

Think, if I have guts for it later and can work out for the ladies in the house it will be the drop floor method but definately for the future. Time to start on replacing doors during its autumn/winter hibernation.

drop the floor... made a big difference on my resto car....

The other alternative is to strip the seat down and take one inch out of the foam on the middle part of the bottom seat squab. I did mine on the road going X1/9 using and electric carving knife then refitted the middle section of the foam (or you could buy some one inch high density foam and keep the middle bit just in case you want to refit it.

It turns the seat into a bucket style, didn't cause any issues with the comfort of the seat and gave me an extra inch of headroom.

Also for me I move the bottom seat squab forward and then recline the back of the seat. The angle helps to give some extra head room too.