Y10 FIRE LX

[frankxhv773t]

The place where the bottom corners of the radiator grille clip onto the brackets on the inner edge of the headlights are a perennial issue. I suspect if you have a front end nudge just above the front bumper the grille snaps the brackets off the headlights. Headlights that haven't lost their grille mounting brackets are one of the top things on my list to save from any Y10 being broken for spares.

[tzf60]

Kevin,
Your plastic welding is every bit as good as your metal welding.
The Y10 looks marvellous - tell me you haven't put it in the 'bold corner' of your garage 

[Kevinlincs]

I will have a go at making a bracket for the headlight soon, I've started on another little job... Y10 looking on...
Really pleased with the plastic welding, much easier than metal welding!

[Kevinlincs]

Spoke too soon about the effectiveness of the plastic welding repairs to the broken grille bracket. As carefully as I could be the broken section detached itself on trying to remove the grille to do the headlight repairs.
I'll have a look at it to see if I can make a better repair using metal, even if I use superglue or resin it still won't inspire confidence.

Still, I did get to make a bracket for the drivers side headlight so once the other side is repaired it should be firm again!
Some 2mm aluminium sheet should be a better repair as it's strong and won't rust. Screwed and glued with 2pack epoxy resin so when that's dried it'll be a strong fixing.

[frankxhv773t]

Living without the bracket on the headlight isn't a disaster. I have often been in that situation. I probably have some spare's with the bracket on.

With your attempts to replicate the bracket I have a couple of ideas. One would be to drill a couple of holes into the headlamp body so you can insert steel pins to support the upper and lower arms of the plastic bracket.

If making a bracket of metal it probably needs more support from behind so I'd try extending the folded back flange at the top and bottom so it is far deeper at the headlamp end and can be screwed or bonded to the body there.

The principle is that if you try to replicate the bracket and stick it on it won't be as strong as the original, which wasn't strong enough in the first place. If you make the bracket out of a different material you aren't constrained to the original design other than having the hole in the right place.

[frankxhv773t]

I forgot to mention that your underside picture shows the exhaust rubber stretched to the side. It should not be strained like that and I'd be worried it might cause an early failure.

[Kevinlincs]

I guess a brace taken from the outer extremeties of the bracket back to the headlamp to triangulate things would offer additional support. It'd be simple enough to make, may well do that next time I get chance.
The exhaust rubber is an old one that had been previously used and grown shaped that way, the exhaust is fitted without any stress so is OK for now, I'll have a look at work to see if I've any new ones. Exhausts do indeed need to be fitted in a manner that they are merely supported by the rubber brackets rather than have any brackets trying to manipulate their positioning.

Had a look at the grille this afternoon. The plastic welding failure may not be as I'd thought, seems I'd missed the split totally on the inner side. So it had only been attached on one side of the split so that made it very weak, I neglected to bring the soldering iron home so that again will have to wait. Determined to see if it will work with the split welded on both sides.

[frankxhv773t]

Another thought on your metal headlamp bracket repair is that the sharp internal edge might make the leg from the radiator grille difficult to unhook if you need to remove it. Even with everything as original it is a challenge to unhook the bottom of the radiator grille without straining and breaking things. If instead of cutting all the metal out of the hole you folded a flap back on the side the leg from the grille hooks over it could provide a bit of a ramp to assist future detachment.

[Kevinlincs]

Yep, another good idea Frank, a rolled edge would make it less likely to snag on removal.

[Kevinlincs]

Car now all ready for the mot on Wednesday, the first one since the rebuild.
Now I've got the new number plates on it is watertight enough for a wash, much needed to remove all the dust!
Happy to report no leaks from windows or doors.

[Kevinlincs]

Must say that I really do like the colour combination, the hatch being done in a metallic lacquered black rather than the satin looks better in my eyes even if not correct, but a nod towards originality.
Fingers crossed for the test..

[fay66]

Must say that I really do like the colour combination, the hatch being done in a metallic lacquered black rather than the satin looks better in my eyes even if not correct, but a nod towards originality.
Fingers crossed for the test..

Looking great Kevin.
Must admit I was pleased I had my Gtie new old stock tailgate done the same a number of years ago, I was always gettting polish over the edges of the previous matt black tailgate!
Brian
8227

[Kevinlincs]

Very happy to report that the Y10 has passed its first MoT in 10 years!
Did itself proud, emissions spot on, even the dreaded rear brakes worked well, glad I did all that work replacing stuff and setting the load compensator up as per factory spec. Certainly paid off on that front.

Now what to do with it?
On driving it I do like it very much, with the new shocks and suspension bushes and new brakes it drives very nicely indeed. Back exhaust box is a bit too raspy for my liking so may change that.

Issue I now have is owning two Y10's so common sense says one ought to find a new home.
Just have to decide if it's this one or the GTie.

[nyssa7]

Congratulations Kevin on a job well done. Great to see so much cate being put into any car where making money out of it is plainly not the cause

[frankxhv773t]

After the amount of work you've put into this one I'd say it's a keeper. After all, it's not as if you need a GTie to get your motoring thrills. Brian swears by the Fire being the way a Y10 should be.