DS Engine collection road trip

[DSdriver]

RGX, my DS23 efi saloon has a severe dose of bottom end rumble so when a suitable engine appeared on ebay I bunged on a bid and being the only bidder it became mine. The vendor had it standing around for about five years but decided that he needs more space for his growing collection of XMs. He bought it in Yorkshire supposedly in good condition. More about that later.

The back of the Safari was boarded out with fifteen quids worth of B&Q's finest loft flooring which gave us a good surface to screw down a suitable pallet to which we could strap the engine.

On the way we stopped for a coffee in a lay-by and I belatedly started the photographic record.

DSdriverjunior riding shot gun.

This pulled in behind us whilst we were enjoying a cuppa and the East Anglian countryside

This lay-by must be on some citroenshite ley lines because as we passed it on the way back there was an old Saxo parked up for a break.

Onward and upward along a single track lane that, judging by the amount of grass growing up the centre, had not seen a Reliant Robin in years until we were greeted with this pleasant vista

What better welcome could you hope for?

The engine was loaded into the back of the Safari with a crane and DSdriverjunior musclepower.

Everything was strapped down tight and stayed rock solid for the whole journey.

Cup of coffee and an elastoplast for my finger later, here is the vendor happy to be rid of the beast.

Leaning against his latest acquisition bought for six hundred sovs including delivery from Deutschland.

We then set off back to Kent, dropping the Safari complete with spare engine at Pallas Auto and collecting RGX superbly repaired after my summer misadventure.

The engine has now been stripped down and the integrity of the original seller is called into question as one of the main bearings was attached to the crank rather than the block. Several other horror stories as well which will also mean sourcing another head so that we can have this lump in tip top condition for a straight swap with the one in the car. There is however a lot of goodness in the engine so I am moderately happy with my purchase rather than pleasantly surprised which I would have been if it had been A1.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Seems like a nice little day out!

Is that SM abandoned or what??

[barrett]

Excellent stuff. I bet the safari swallowed the engine with no worries at all. I'm sure suspension-on-lowest-setting made a big difference too.

 

I must say I've noticed that the hardcore Citroenpervs tend to hoard multiple examples of their cars, a trait which is shared by Reliant and Skoda enthusiasts too. I'm sure each individual group feels there is an inherent quality in their chosen marque which is lacking in other cars. I have no idea what this may be, but I can see the Citroen nutters having an easier job of convincing other people of said quality than the other blokes

[DSdriver]

Seems like a nice little day out!

Is that SM abandoned or what??

No, just a typical Citroen at rest pose - the suspension is engine driven like the DS. It was parked there to make room on the drive for our fun and games. Mind you the wisdom of parking it on wet grass, even for only half an hour, could be called into question.