cazalea
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Restoring a Very Old Citroen 2CV, Part 3
Thanks for following this rushed restoration - where 6 odd ducks try to get a Duckling ready for a car show in one week. Part 1 is the overview and Part 2 covers the body work. Here we dive into the mechanical bits.
The 2CV is undergirded by a platform frame to which are attached the engine, gearbox and brakes in Front, suspensions F & R plus springs in the middle. Here's the bare chassis minus the drivetrain. Brakes are mounted inboard on the transaxle.
C has one of the largest stores of old parts I've ever seen, and used many of the oldest bits to restore this car.
Naturally there are few New Old Stock parts so we had to make them look NOS with cleaning and painting.
Here you can see the suspension tubes that cross the chassis. The springs are horizontal and linked to both front and back suspension arms. All arms pivot on ball bearings. Here's a diagram to help you visualize what we are restoring.
Now both tubes are in place but the suspension arms are still off. The bearings are greased waiting for their arms. The spring canisters are sitting loosely on their mountings.
Here you can see the suspension tubes that cross the chassis. The springs are horizontal and linked to both front and back suspension arms. All arms pivot on ball bearings. Here's a diagram to help you visualize what we are restoring.
You can see the bare chassis clearly here. It's clean, painted, and the rear suspension tube is bolted in place across the frame.
Now both tubes are in place but the suspension arms are still off. The bearings are greased waiting for their arms. The spring canisters are sitting loosely on their mountings.
The arm on the right side as we view the chassis has been reconditioned; the left one is waiting to be refitted. The spring canisters are back in their proper places. The donor car was asked to donate a few mechanical parts too! C & B are taking off what they need.
The vertical tube you see near the wheel hub is a damper - it's filled with a very viscous fluid and a weight. This absorbs small vibrations that might upset the ride.
The front suspension cross tube has to be put in place because it has the back engine/transaxle mounting point.
Now the front arms are in place and we have mounted the transmission, differential and brake assembly, including the drive shafts. The master cylinder is in place - yes we have hydraulic things to fit as well. And wiring!
Here comes the engine, fitted into place by C and B. It had been rebuilt recently so we didn't have to mess with that part. Notice the driveshafts have fallen apart under P's watchful eye.
Here comes the engine, fitted into place by C and B. It had been rebuilt recently so we didn't have to mess with that part. Notice the driveshafts have fallen apart under P's watchful eye.
The chassis is looking good here, and almost ready for the body which we had to get back to work on! We have put the fuel tank on and run the fuel line to the front. It looks like the brake lines are in too.
I think that's enough for part 3. Please come back for the conclusion of this restoration recap.
Thanks for reading.
Cazalea
Restoring a Very Old Citroen 2CV, Part 1
Thanks everyone for your supportive comments regarding my Lotus restoration, As requested by a few PuristS, I am offering this next series of posts on restoring a 1949 Citroen 2CV. OVERVIEW This project dates back to the early 1990's when I was visiting F...
Restoring a Very Old Citroen 2CV, Part 2
Thanks for reading and/of commenting on part 1 of this Restoration report. Our goal was to coordinate the efforts of 6 workers from 3 countries to restore a 40+ year old car in one week - in order to present it at an important auto show in Paris. Let's pr...
Restoring a Very Old Citroen 2CV, Part 3
Thanks for following this rushed restoration - where 6 odd ducks try to get a Duckling ready for a car show in one week. Part 1 is the overview and Part 2 covers the body work. Here we dive into the mechanical bits. The 2CV is undergirded by a platform fr...
Hi Bill, no I never owned it. My friend C had it for many years
I don't know if he still does. Maybe I will send him this link and find out. Here's a picture of the car (under the covers) behind the Corvette I bought and shipped to France for him. That's another story ... as you know Corvettes aren't common in Paris! ...
Restoring a Very Old Citroen 2CV, Part 4
This is the final episode of my Citroen restoration story. Perhaps you are expecting a Pebble Beach restoration with medals and trophy - alas this was not that sort of soirée. And in fact, as we got to the end of our week, frantically chiding the women as...
Thank you for sharing this with us!
I throughly enjoyed your write up 😃 Here’s hoping that you’ll find photos of the finished car and update us.
Lovely report Mike 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Narrated in such a good humor, and full with memories and friendship. To be treasured! Any next series coming? Thanks for sharing your passion. René
Great series and resto log, Mike - thanks for posting!
Brings back 30+ yr old memories of a 2CV van driven from Maroc & across the Western Sahara & Mauritania - I had a pop-up tent on the roof to keep away from the scorpions. My pal slept in the back of the van on top of petrol & water containers, his 2 parag...
I can help renew those memories ... from the desert to the mountains to the sea
With the 1964 Belgian-origin Citroen Van (Citroën Belgium launched what was technically known as the 3CV AZAM6 which featured 602 cc Ami6 engine and the Ami's improved chassis). Hence the number plate 3CV VAN. Camping inside or in cabin Panamint Range nea...
Thanks Mike!! Great roadtrip there :-)
Ours was a 435cc from the mid 70's I recall - it had the luxury of an ash tray!
We will feature the van in another installment
I'm talking to the last owner (as I type) and he's sending me lots of pics. He says "Love at first sight" Factory where it was built ...
Whoop! Whoop!
I adore this series of posts! Will try to print it for my wife, who is still a big 2CV fan and still regrets selling hers some 25 years ago. Marcus
