Reply To: Is it still a project when I haven’t done anything yet

Has it been that long since I started working on this thing? Anyway, the new floor is in and a great job was done. I was driving it for a time and while on a motorway I notice the gradually falling oil pressure. It faded right down to zero. Not good. A friend had an ID-19 engine that I could have. It had been rebuilt many years ago for installation in a Traction but ended up in his basement. It wasn’t fun hand-carrying it up the stairs. Some mods had been done already like installing a longer front camshaft bearing so the Traction cam could be used. I took the engine apart and found stains on all the crank journals so the crank was polished and new standard-size bearings were installed. The ID crank and 11 flywheel and clutch were balanced as well as the pistons and rods. A Roger Williams oil pump and the engine was ready to go in or so I thought.

I tried to turn the engine over by hand. Not happening. Tried with the starter. Nope. The weather got cold as it always does in Canada and so it sat all winter. Sump off, I thought it was the end float of the crank. I tried this shim, that shim. Still the engine was stuck. I asked Dave Burnham, A professional Citroen restorer in the States about it and he said to check the centre main bearing cap as it is probably installed backwards. I did that and it was. It does pay that when you mark a part for correct reinstallation to remember what the mark is. Should have written it down.

Engine back in the car, assembled all the bits. Tried to start it but there was severe backfiring through the carburettor. I thought maybe I should check the action of the rocker arms. distributor rotor and such rather than being doused in flaming petrol. I found out that I had installed the spark plug wires in reverse. I corrected that and it fired right up! Timed it by ear and it’s running pretty good. I need to do the first head torque and adjust the valves but, finally after all this time it’s among the living.

The next step is back to the body shop (I will post pictures) to get what hasn’t already been painted redone. After that, the interior. Circumstances forced me to sell my Lincoln (sadly) and with the money the first thing I bought was the entire interior from Renelauto so all that is sitting in a great big heavy box under my model train layout. Carpet, seats, headliner, sun visors and door cards pre-made and ready to install. I can install some of it, like the carpets but the headliner and seats I will leave to a pro.  It should be a nice car when it’s done, don’t you think?