Always nice to hear that my memory isn't as f*cked as i sometimes think

This thread is alot about differences between A-models, so here's more I have discovered
I'm sure it is obvious for many. As it often are, with things that are known. But for some reason, it had avoided my knowledge of A-models. I'm talking about the difference in length on the small and big diameter spring pots. It's not written "anywhere", and I just assumed the length was the same. That's why I thought rebuilding the floors for the big pots would be less work that it turned out to be. I thought it was just a matter of cutting out a section of the flat floor over the spring pot, and weld in a curved one. Not so! The rear "floor support cross member" had to be moved backwards, because of the bigger length between the spring pot mounts on the chassis... How I can not have seen this earlier I don't know.
Anyway, the AMI6 floors was rotten all the way at the parts against the doors, and front/rear. But the middle part was not rusty, included the rear "floor support cross memeber", so that part got cut out as one part and transplanted in to the floor of the 2CV-body. It was more welding than I had foreseen, and the 2CV-floor was not as rust free as I thought, but it's there now. Looking ok. I just hope it fits to the chassis
If there ever is a next time, I know that AZAM floors will be in the shopping cart. It's much easier to rebuild the seat mountings on new floors, than combining two old, different floors to one. The floors I now have never existed from factory. (2CV floors with big spring pots and sliding seats)

I had a look at the usual part suppliers, looking for new chassis for an AMI. What?! Really, I cant find anything but 2CV-chassis?? There must be at least three different chassis types from what I have learnt now, as a chassis for small spring pots cant be used for one with big ones.

The normal 2CV chassis (Used for new/old type 2CV, Dyane and modified to Mehari(shorter at the rear))
AMI 6/8 chassis
AK/Acadiane chassis (Can modified aks400 be used for a AK250(shorter at the rear)?)

Is this correct? And where do owners of AMI/AK's find these chassis..es?

Acadiane chassis is different to any other, because the wheelbase is longer. The difference is between rear spring pot carrier and rear axle mounting. I measured those a long time ago, difference between axles is 22cm, and bigger spring pots are 8cm longer...

There is also Ami Super chassis, where is even more differencies. Big spring pots, total different front end because of gearbox and engine mountings, thicker side plates on chassis, fuel tank mountings are also different (but same as Ami8) etc...

I hope I remember those measurements correct, measured them over 15 years ago. I can make new measuring when I get to garage, there is all versions of chassis but not Acadiane. AZU, 2cv4/6, early Dyane, Ami 8 and Super...

acadyane has a 10cm longer wheelbase...




No problem over here to trace..

aca http://www.burton2cvparts.com/chassis-acadiane-kataforese-p-4056.html

aks400/ami 6 http://www.burton2cvparts.com/chassis-ak400-kataforese-p-4058.html

mehari 4x4 http://www.mehariclub.com/plateforme-mehari-4x4-galvanisee--a--1007109.html

aks400 again http://www.mehariclub.com/plateforme-adaptable-ak-400-noir-sans-traitement-anti-corrosion--a--1007103.html

aca again http://www.autexautoteile.de/AK-AZU/Fahrwerk-c-1999/548890/


aca again http://www.autexautoteile.de/Acadiane/Fahrwerk-c-1996/548898/

another Aca http://www.2cv-shop.nl/chassis-acadiane-kataforese-kwaliteit-rdw-toegelaten.html


Took me about 5 minits for this list.... I think this will do for a start

Hmm.



From those photos, 135mm difference. But, also there is different height settings, what alters also at the wheelbase...

When I measured them, I made it from axle mountings, and there was that 22cm difference. But I haven't Aca chassis anymore to measure...

I've used an Acadyane chassis on my 2CV a long time ago, after moving the axle. From memory the difference in length was more like 135mm than 220mm.
On the Acadyane chassis the axle is mounted on the diagonal part of the chassis, just after the horizontal part where the axle is mounted for a 2CV.

Ok, so there's more chassis types to be bought. But you list AMI with the aks400, which, if what I understand form Ken's writings, is not similar.

The AMI has the spring pots mounted in the same height front and back, while the van has not. Therefore, you can not use a chassis for a van, on an AMI. Or have I misunderstood what Ken wrote earlier in this thread?

None of those chassis in those links look like an AMI chassis either, in the details.

So I still don't understand what chassis can be bought today, for, let's say, an AZAM or an AMI 6 Break?

Years ago when my Acadiane chassis started to bend, I just happened to have an Ami Super rolling chassis with engine & gbox, so I used that. I hadn't realised the difference in the wheelbase until everything was apart. However, it was quite simple to transfer (drill out spotwelds) the reinforcing parts for mounting the rear axle from the Acadiane chassis to the Super chassis and also the extensions on the ends of the rear chassis arms and the van floor supports on the top of them. I couldn't use the Ami (break) rear axle and arms (with anti-roll bar), because the arms hit the van floor-support cross-member, so I used the Acadiane rear axle assembly. I also used the Acad front axle (due to the pinion angle) but used the larger diameter Ami Super steering rods.
I didn't notice a difference in the height of the mounting position of the spring tubes and, whatever the difference is, it didn't cause any problems.
It's weird, that 1015cc Acad-Ami would do just over 100mph (160kph) but my other car (Ami Super break with 1299cc GSA engine and G Special gearbox) couldn't get over 97mph (155kph).

Geo,
I reckon Burton need to check the image which they've used for an AKS400 chassis.
Looks more like an oldtimer 2CV type to me...

Also, apart from the drum/disc business with AKS400 and AK350, they are not interchangeable with an Ami chassis.
The rear suspension canister carriers on van chassis sit about 10mm lower than those on an Ami. (see pic. below)
There are, of course, other detail differences but this is the most important structural difference, since there's a risk of the suspension tie rods fouling the tubes...

One of the suppliers of Acadiane chassis has fittings for drum brakes on their chassis; that could be quite interesting if they want to keep the rear brake pressure limiter functional.
I guess you drill your own holes for mounting the droop stops and the battery tripod as well.
Gawd only knows what to make of mountings for bump stops at the rear axle and that rear crossmember with holes for engine mounting bolts?

Anyhow, 'wheelbase' is not relevant when talking about chassis, it's the 'axle spacing' which is important and the wheelbase changes with variations in ride height, as Jasu's already pointed out.
Acadiane axles are 1769mm from centreline to centreline, on all other original chassis it's 1607mm (plus 2mm, minus 0mm), so 160mm more 'axle spacing' for an Acadiane.


AK350 & AKS400 chassis, suspension canister. by slcchassis, on Flickr

When canister sits 10mm lower at an ak chassis them what is exactly the problem using it in an Ami.. You have even more space in an Ami... Or does it foul when wheels are completely down. I can't imagine that...