Family motoring: PUG 504 Bodywork begins

[dieselnutjob]

I put a 5 speed in my 504 diesel saloon years ago.  It was a good upgrade but I had to modify the gear lever (lengthened the bit underneath) as the 4 speed gear lever didn't have enough throw to get it into reverse.

[lisbon_road]

Looks really good.  Is it worth a trip abroad for a rust free tailgate and as much else as possible?

 

It does bring back a forgotten era.  Funny how over here that was a really middle class car in its time.  Bet it gets lots of attention now.

 

Thanks for sharing your story.

[HMC]

Looks really good.  Is it worth a trip abroad for a rust free tailgate and as much else as possible?

 

It does bring back a forgotten era.  Funny how over here that was a really middle class car in its time.  Bet it gets lots of attention now.

 

Thanks for sharing your story.

 

Not a bad idea. The tailgate would probably cost megabucks to repair properly as its been bodged so extensively, getting hold of one from a kinder climate is a good idea. Combine with a sort of holiday and I see a Plymouth- Santander ferry crossing, mainland spain and a ferry over to Morocco! Actually quite a few 504 bits on e bay are often listed there.

 

The plan was always to attend Shitefest in this, but having recently got a Citroen BX I was starting to change my mind. The Bx flies along, and as its not been removed to dry out the interior a la 504, it has actual soundproofing and has a nice long striding top gear, both of which simply arnt there in the 504. Im finishing work at 4pm on the friday and jumping into the BX would also give me a fighting chance of making the pub quiz. In the end I decided my meagre contribution to the pub quiz is outweighed by having the 504 there, particularly as I think an earlier more interesting BX will be there anyway, Besides which, mat-the-cat was going to buy me a beer if I came in the 504, which i recon I will definitely need at the end of the journey!

 

Broke out the gaffa tape to repair a bit of the rain guttering on the 504 in preparation for Shitefest. Most car 'shows' involve intensive 'detailing' to sharpen up the entry etc. I decided against even Lobbing a bucket over the 504 as its growing a fine bit of moss/lichen on the rear bumper which is sure to gain favour.

[twosmoke300]

Can't wait to see it .

[dollywobbler]

Good stuff! This car stands a good chance of being of the Legends of Shitefest. Much as I like that BX, it is far less legendary.

[HMC]

It was inevitable. Sooner or later I had to face up to the fact that there was increasingly less metal in the body than it left the sochaux plant with. Where to start? In the end I decided to start at the front and work back, so letting new steel

Into the disintegrating front panel is the first port of call with the 504's disintegrating body...

[Talbotman]

I might be wrong but aren't pattern upper front panels still available for these Nos?.......

[Noel Tidybeard]

wob and potato sack would be more of a period style repair

[320touring]

I think you may need a lancia welding specialist on this...

 

Good luck the car is worth the hassle

[HMC]

Thanks for all the positive comments!

 

I might be wrong but aren't pattern upper front panels still available for these Nos?.......

 

Yes, they are. After having a go at making repair sections and letting in new steel (the remains of a triumph spitfire bonnet in BL 'topaz')......

 

 

I decided though this went reasonably well, the tricky curves of that panel and compromised first attempts at welding meant a NOS replacement which simply bolts on made better sense.

 

Ive picked off some of the smaller and more accessible holes in the bulkead just to get more practice at fabricating and letting in repairs (yet again more topaz spitfire)....

 

 

The other bulkhead repairs will take rather more skill and time.......

 

 

Thats going to need the dash out and the pedal box and brake master removing and all of a sudden an immobile rusty heap on the drive.

 

The plan is to sorn it and start disassembly when I get time. Hoping to finish the bulkhead this summer as the 504 lives outside. Im aiming to have at least some of the roof gutter work tackled and the car taxed and in use by shitefest 2015.

 

The plan is to arrive with it's sunbeached and unrusty 205 younger brother literally in tow!