Jump to content

19 Years of Tin Snail - Back to normality


dollywobbler

Recommended Posts

I'm in love with these cars they seem to have a personality.

I've watched your videos and the noise the car makes. Well I could listen to that all day long

They do have a joie de Vivre. It's hard to explain, but they are fun to drive in a way that probably takes getting used to for someone used to modern ( post war!) cars. I took mine up to laithwaites in Virginia water this morning for an emergency restocking. Parked right outside next to a new Bentley continental GT. It was the little 2cv getting the attention though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Had a thoroughly fantastic drive to Hereford this morning, albeit a mucky one. At Sparrow Automotive, I took the rear brakes apart, replaced a wheel cylinder and then ended up replacing all of the shoes too (I had some with me). The pivots were a right state. I'm amazed they worked at all! They certainly work a lot better now. One adjuster had to be cut off (pictured) but it otherwise went fairly well. 

16174653_10154950471858200_7317398892842

 

That's the first time I've actually dismantled the rear brakes on a 2CV. You need over 250lb/ft of torque to undo the rear hub nut, with a 44mm socket, which is why I've never done the job at home. Air tools FTW!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ha! She might get better than that. There's a Belgian tuning firm doing upgrades for 2CV engines. Pete had a 720cc engine that's just been dyno'd at over 50bhp. Now that sounds like fun! Rather easier than the Beemer conversion too.

 

Downside to today was sheer filth. Herefordshire roads are disgusting. Elly was immaculate when I left the house this morning.

C3CQGDMWIAMhPcG.jpg

 

The day started like this.

C3AKtnYW8AEQo4W.jpg

 

Then it got colder as I entered England. And foggy. Roof back on!

C3AStkeW8AAjLCc.jpg

 

Headlamp performance may have suffered.

C3AgPHBWIAET8v8.jpg

 

My pal Joey cuts off a seized adjuster. I wussed out and let a girl do it.

C3BMNNhWQAAUaqx.jpg

 

Almost home.

C3CLcmbWgAAg4-J.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Had a thoroughly fantastic drive to Hereford this morning, albeit a mucky one. At Sparrow Automotive, I took the rear brakes apart, replaced a wheel cylinder and then ended up replacing all of the shoes too (I had some with me). The pivots were a right state. I'm amazed they worked at all! They certainly work a lot better now. One adjuster had to be cut off (pictured) but it otherwise went fairly well. 

16174653_10154950471858200_7317398892842

 

That's the first time I've actually dismantled the rear brakes on a 2CV. You need over 250lb/ft of torque to undo the rear hub nut, with a 44mm socket, which is why I've never done the job at home. Air tools FTW!

 

Hope you wore a mask!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What do you get to the gallon on those country road runs Hubnut?  2CV have taken some price hike since I was looking for one  a few years back. The daft question is............how much is a 2CV? It seems that you get a rusty pile of bits needing a total rebuild and 2yrs of your life for a couple of grand. Then 2grand of your savings will go on the bits to get it good. Am I about right?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Very occasionally, a decent one crops up for under three grand, but mine is insured for six. It isn't anywhere near original or I'd insure it for more.

 

Haven't done an MPG calculation for a while, but 45mpg tended to be where it averaged out in the past, with 54 possible if I drive gently. Which I don't.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's so good to see someone enjoying a 2cv without spending megamoney on it. 

 

Don't anyone be put off by not having airtools who wants to work on them - a rear hub nut just needs a long bar, for example. And heat works for 99% of brake adjusters, perhaps oxyacetylene is more expensive now than a grinder and MiG?

 

The one and only place compressed air is a godsend on a 2cv is for knocking kingpins out the way they were put in - many long-serving Citroen dealerships used air hammers to change a kingpin without breaking a sweat.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

I've been invited to take part in a 2CV run up to Lapland in February 2018, so it's going to be cold. And snowy. Started looking into the costs. It'll be around 4700 miles from here, to Helsinki, then to the Arctic Circle and then back home. The run itself is a week, and given its 1800 miles to Helsinki, it'd be nice to have three weeks to play with. Not sure I will to be honest, but I'll worry about that nearer the time.

 

I was concerned that it was going to be hellishly expensive, but fuel costs seem pretty consistent across Europe (at the moment), and I reckon the total fuel cost for the trip will be around £600 (based on 40mpg, not sure what she'd actually do in heavy snow). Naturally, there will be other costs - accommodation, winter tyre hire and food, not to mention the need for a fair dose of greasing and servicing given that mileage! Still, it sounds achievable. I guess I may need to invest in warmer clothes too. Minus 40 is a distinct possibility, but warm clothes tend to be a good investment.

 

If I'm going to do it, I really need to rein in the shite expenditure though. Maybe I don't really need four cars...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 months later...

Did I pass Elly  heading West along the A44 near New Radnor on Sunday afternoon about 4pm; she looked in fine fettle in the gloom. We were returning from a day out in Aberystwyth, but I'm sure that you wouldn't have noticed a silver Mazda 6 with three letter three figure registration. It was good to see quite a few cars on the road returning from the Kington Vintage Show, you were not far behind two 1930s Austins, 7 and 16. Were you there or just co-incidence?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Did I pass Elly  heading West along the A44 near New Radnor on Sunday afternoon about 4pm; she looked in fine fettle in the gloom. We were returning from a day out in Aberystwyth, but I'm sure that you wouldn't have noticed a silver Mazda 6 with three letter three figure registration. It was good to see quite a few cars on the road returning from the Kington Vintage Show, you were not far behind two 1930s Austins, 7 and 16. Wree you there or just co-incidence?

 

Twas I, heading home from Shelsley Walsh.

DH3N8HfXkAAkz1z.jpg

 

I had a Mini Cooper Monte replica behind me at one point and saw loads of classics from that show. In fact, I had to overtake several tractors!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Got the 2CV out for a thrash into town.

DIUN82IXYAAFXi0.jpg

 

It broke, just as I was hassling a Porsche Boxster.

DIUjiahW0AAbNz4.jpg

 

That's Mrs DW trying to create a loop on the throttle cable, so I could hook it around the pedal. That plan gave me about quarter throttle, so we didn't get very far.

 

So, I had a root around in the boot, cursing the fact I knew my spare throttle cable was in the garage, when I found a small ratchet strap. Sorted!

DIUrY57W4AUcf7y.jpg

 

Then had to drive home with a hand throttle, which was an interesting experience. Not quite as interesting as trying to reverse it up the slope into my garage! Most strange.

 

So, a bit annoying that technically we had an FTP, but very glad this didn't happen as we were trying to get to a ferry port, or on the hill in front of a huge crowd at Shelsley Walsh last weekend!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...