19 Years of Tin Snail - Back to normality

[chaseracer]

I gave all my XM relays to Sam Skelton, should you be seeing him soon enough.

[dollywobbler]

It's ok. It's only a standard four-pin. I shall acquire another.

[beko1987]

Wait, so probably the most electrically scary citroen of the last millenium uses some of the same electrical components as probably the simplest and least scary?

[Bfg]

"Stuff that should only work with the ignition on works without, while stuff that should work without ignition won't unless the ignition is turned on." surely suggests the electrical feed to the fuses needs to be swapped over either at the ignition switch or at the fuses ?

[dollywobbler]

Yup. I thought it'd probably be that, but it wasn't making sense when I swapped the wires over. That's because I forgot that three inputs go into one side of the fusebox, and one into the same side as the other three outputs. BECAUSE FRENCH. Anyway, quickly sorted.

 

 

  On 19/12/2016 at 19:22, beko1987 said:

Wait, so probably the most electrically scary citroen of the last millenium uses some of the same electrical components as probably the simplest and least scary?

 

It didn't when it left the factory. I added relays because otherwise, all the headlamp voltage goes through the switch. As they age, the switches tolerate this less and less. 

 

With that sorted, I hoped to get the dash panel refitted, but I've now got a problem with the speedo cable. May need to replace it. Still, it looks good!

 

You might just notice that I've added a subtle 2 to the milometer. When that needs to be a 3, I'll probably be in my 50s, so I'll worry about it then.

 

Now for a couple of days off. Picking up yet more bits tomorrow, the engine on Wednesday and then hopefully getting back on it on Thursday evening (community minibus duty in the day). Still hopeful I can have it running by the end of the week, but we'll see. 

[dollywobbler]

After unexpectedly attending the Autoshite Blackburn meet last night, I collected the 2CV's engine from Morecambe today, then drove all the way home. The Qashqai is an annoyingly pleasant way to travel. 

 

Sadly, the flywheel has been removed (a lighter one was meant to get fitted as part of the aborted engine rebuild) and I need new bolts. I just managed to catch ECAS 2CV parts before they finish for the hols. Annoying as otherwise, I could have had the engine in tonight.

 

So, I'm working on the brakes instead. Refitting the bracket that holds the master cylinder is proving an absolute f*cker of a job though, and I need to rope Mrs DW into helping. It's a proper 'three hand' job, requiring me to be both sides of the bulkhead at the same time. Irritating. 

[dollywobbler]

Not a great day for tinkering progress then. Can't get the engine in yet, and turns out we can't get the brake system back in either. This bracket just will not fit. It doesn't even seem to be the same profile as the bulkhead...

 

Given up for now. Not sure how to resolve this one. It's a beefy old bracket - it doesn't seem for bending.

[richardmorris]

On the other hand the bulkhead is thin and bendy.

[dollywobbler]

  On 21/12/2016 at 18:18, richardmorris said:

On the other hand the bulkhead is thin and bendy.

 

Not any more it isn't! Holes are going to have to be 'manipulated' I feel. </Trump>

[Ghosty]

Block of aluminium?

[JohnDeere]

This is muchos excitingness. Can't wait to see it finished (ideally alongside Vulg's Renault 6).

 

Shock of the week is Dollywobbler driving a Qashqai. I hope you wore a disguise.

[dollywobbler]

Even worse, I really quite liked it...

 

Anyway, big news is that we've given up on the brake job for now. New bolts arrived, so I could bolt the flywheel back on, fit a new clutch and WHAM the engine is back in with help from Mrs DW.

 

It really didn't want to go in at first, so I had to readjust the clutch and centralise it again. The plastic tools are rubbish. It didn't seem any better in fact, until we went to fit it. Then it just slid home very nicely indeed! Hoping for a fairly full day of tinkering tomorrow, but will have to go and buy new bolts for the front engine mounts. As it was, I've already had to nick the clutch plate bolts from Elly's original engine. Quite a few bits have gone missing along the way. Ugh.

 

Still, exciting progress! Could have it running tomorrow if I'm lucky.

[twosmoke300]

Woo hoo . Well done .

 

As I side note I've fitted hundreds of clutches with a draper plastic alignment too with no issues

[dollywobbler]

  On 22/12/2016 at 19:23, twosmoke300 said:

Woo hoo . Well done .

 

As I side note I've fitted hundreds of clutches with a draper plastic alignment too with no issues

 

Problem was, there was free play in the tool, so it was very hard to tell whether it was perfectly centralised or not. It really can't have been, because the bugger wasn't going to go in before I removed the entire clutch assembly and started again (I just wanted to be absolutely sure that the clutch plate was going to go onto the gearbox splines without the engine before I had a second go). On the second time, I used a screwdriver as a feeler gauge between tool and clutch fingers, and that seems to have got it bob on. Bit annoying that we had to go out this evening, or I could have got it plumbed and wired in. Mind you, I wouldn't have been able to resist running it on open headers, so probably best that I'm waiting until tomorrow...

 

In other news, a pair of headlamp shells have generously been donated to the cause by another 2CVer. They're now in primer, hoping to get the topcoat on tomorrow. I've painted the headlamp bar itself, so that should all be good to go back on fairly soon. Still need to fit glass to the doors and rearmost side windows of the body, but that's just details right? Don't need those for an MOT.

[chaseracer]

I can no longer stand the shame and humiliation of the Dyane still being stuck in the garage 

 

Top work, DW 

[lexi]

The holiday period might inconvenience you with places closed when you need something unexpected. There is also the matter of participating in celebration when you would rather be out in garage  Top marks to mrs DW for giving you a hand!

[twosmoke300]

Was the tool you used just a mandrel or the type that works like a massive rawl plug ?

[dollywobbler]

  On 23/12/2016 at 01:02, lexi said:

The holiday period might inconvenience you with places closed when you need something unexpected. There is also the matter of participating in celebration when you would rather be out in garage Top marks to mrs DW for giving you a hand!

Mrs DW is a remarkable woman. Thankfully, we don't actually have any festive plans, so I can tinker away. I am worried about needing bits over the next few days. Especially next week.

[dollywobbler]

  On 23/12/2016 at 07:02, twosmoke300 said:

Was the tool you used just a mandrel or the type that works like a massive rawl plug ?

Er, probably the latter.

[dollywobbler]

I've done a shit job with pics today. Sorry. The instrument panel is now fully in place (with a new speedo cable fitted), the fuel tank is back where it should be, the engine is fully bolted in and is spinning over merrily. Sadly, I'm lacking a spark at the moment. I suspect I haven't got my transistorised ignition (oooh, look at me being posh) wired in correctly. Agonisingly close to having it running.

 

Mind you, still no brakes, so maybe not so bad that it isn't running! Not that today is a good day to try going for a drive - it's getting very stormy.

[dollywobbler]

She's alive!

https://twitter.com/dollywobbler/status/812360081249566720

 

I've spent nearly the whole afternoon chasing the lack of spark. I couldn't bring myself to consider that the transistorised ignition could be at fault. Sadly, I fear it is. I pulled off the points box and swapped it for another (possibly from the Dyane - that ended up with a different one on it). The second points box already had a condenser wired up to it, so it was quicker to just try that.

 

A quick spark plug-on-engine check confirmed an actual spark at long last! I'll have to reset the ignition timing properly before I can consider this full success, but that's the first time I've heard this engine since March. 

 

Now I need to get back to trying to get the brake master cylinder gubbins all fitted. Maybe I can have a drive tomorrow...

[lexi]

 A proper French engine fighting for life. Out of the exhaust comes garlic, fresh baguette, the smell of Charles De Gaulle's uniform and a dried Cigale.

 Amazing how those little engines can haul you across Continents.

[dollywobbler]

Right. A pictorial update.

 

This is the problem bracket, the problem being that it doesn't seem to be quite the same profile as the new, aftermarket bulkhead.

 

The brown wax is an indication of where it goes. Just thought I'd slap some wax down because I won't be able to once it is fitted. I've opened up the holes a bit, so hopefully I can get it fitted tomorrow.

 

Apologies for the pic quality, but it's quite dark out in the conservatory at the moment, even with lighting in there. Here's the paint assembly line. Wings have had two coats of primer, two coats of paint and a coat of sealer (whatever that is). The headlamp bowls only arrived yesterday, and so are lagging behind a bit. They've had one coat of paint so far.

 

I'm pretty impressed with the paint finish. They don't bear up to close scrutiny, as I scrimped on prep. More sanding needed for a perfect finish, but perfect was never the plan. There are still arty ambitions, so they're not really finished.

 

Back to the car. Here's the engine installed and in running form - albeit minus exhaust, cooling fan and with very vague ignition timing.

 

And this is the dead Vellerman transistorised ignition box. Bit annoying, but these things happen. I'm not sure what to do next for ignition. I dislike simple points and condenser, for the simple reason that condensers are utterly shit these days (a brand new one lasted 8 miles in the Dyane). I've also had two fully electronic units fail. Bad luck? Would it be ok a second time? They're worryingly sensitive to power spikes (ie jump leads) and voltage drops (ie a weak battery) so I don't really want to spend another £135 if I can avoid it.

 

I've started assembling the exhaust now. For those who don't know, there are five exhaust clamps in the engine bay alone, with these heat exchangers running from the header/manifold to the crossbox, which is where the output from each side comes together. That then feeds into a swan-neck, which leads to the 'torpedo' silencer, then to a tailpipe - a short, side exit one in my case. This heat exchanger is from a spare engine I have. It sat outside, wrapped in plastic for about ten years, in Wales, and these heat exchangers are still in better shape than the ones that came off my 2CV...

 

The interior is coming along, with the speedo binnacle now in place, and the column stalks. 

 

Fitting the fuel tank was the usual pain in the arse, where you lie on your back, trying to lift the tank into place while dirt and muck falls into your eyes. You'll have to make do with a shot of this filler neck though, which is far cleaner. Only loosely fitted, as it needs to come off when I refit the rear wing on this side.

 

Here's some general chaos for your amusement. Most tools are no longer in my tool bag. Oh I need a tidy up session!

 

Finally, I have glass and now just need to fit it. I've never tried fitting glass before, so this'll be fun. There are the two small side windows here, and then the same job for the rear doors. The front side windows screw into the front doors, which is much less faff and also much less good at keeping the weather out. The rear window is simply part of the hood.

[lexi]

I take it the window has a rubber seal like the old Landy deadlight.  Yeah, they can be fun. Silicone grease or maybe baby oil, ie not Fairy, which has salt in it.

   

    I ran the last Landy for four years with the Ducelier Dizzy and just the standard set up .  I had no condenser failure although there were complaints of poor quality about at the time. 

[richardmorris]

Plastic coated washing line. Put it in the rubber channel with a cross overlap, get your beautiful assistant to hold glass on outside of aperture while you get inside with ends of washing line. PULL!

[dollywobbler]

Aye. Will hopefully give it a go at some point. I watched Alan refit the windscreen and he made it look pretty easy.

[forddeliveryboy]

Electrical wire similar to the sort used in the car makes the job easier than using washing line, which makes everything a wee bit tighter, especially with smaller bits of glass like the rear quarterlights. It's also strong, so no snappage just when you're at the critical point. Keep your eye on things as you go and use a tool to pull the lip over into the inside if it's not looking like behaving.

 

Having a second pair of hands to help is invaluable if you haven't done it before.

[dollywobbler]

Thanks for the tips. That's a job for next week, as I've finally torn myself from the garage for this Christmas lark. Not before doing this though!

https://twitter.com/dollywobbler/status/812685843714424832

 

The offside rear bleed nipple has rounded (it had lost its protective cover) but the brakes seem to work, so that's nice. More work to be done there, and some people are upset that the backing plate looks quite manky. I s'pose it does look like it was parked in the sea...

 

However, that was all possible as I finally got this bracket to fit!

 

That meant I could bolt in the pedal box, get throttle and clutch connected up, bolt in a seat, get the exhaust fitted (it's blowing fairly badly as I rushed it and didn't use paste) and go for a drive! Good times. I wanted to be able to do that before stopping for festivities, and I did. Nice.

[dollywobbler]

Oh, and here are some pics after a short drive. 

 

 

Not very good photos, because I was too excited, and it also chose that moment to start raining. It's been bone dry all day...

[Eddie Honda]

  On 23/12/2016 at 21:58, dollywobbler said:

And this is the dead Vellerman transistorised ignition box. Bit annoying, but these things happen. I'm not sure what to do next for ignition. I dislike simple points and condenser, for the simple reason that condensers are utterly shit these days (a brand new one lasted 8 miles in the Dyane). I've also had two fully electronic units fail. Bad luck? Would it be ok a second time? They're worryingly sensitive to power spikes (ie jump leads) and voltage drops (ie a weak battery) so I don't really want to spend another £135 if I can avoid it.

Sum total of sixteen components? Just fix the bloody Velleman box!