Adrian - I said BODYWORK jobs, not just door jobs. Anyway, in the year 21** when the amount of surviving 2CV's are into single figures all the doors have been used up and you're going to have to reskin the ones you've got......

Assuming a cure has been found to halt the aging process or Cryogenics is in full swing of course

Odd. I thought you'd been fannying about with Belinda's doors...? <grin>



You haven't seen my lockups, have you?



Just ask yourself how medical samples are preserved? They're stored immersed in alcohol. Simples.

I'm on early shift this week and finished at 2 this afternoon, so I decided that as I had the rest of the afternoon and evening on my hands, I'd have a go at checking the ignition timing, something I'd wanted to do for a while now.

Uncle Ken had tried to sort it for me at last year's National meeting but as I'd gone off with the keys and he'd had to hot wire the car, he admitted that it could do with another look although the difference it did make from the original performance was marked.

Again, with consultation with Uncle Ken's helpline (0898 602602, calls charged at whatever beer I take to my next meeting) I checked the points gap and proceeded to check the timing. Whilst the timing was ok at tickover, the flywheel marks only advanced to about the 5th tooth along at the required revs (I'd staggered the marks on every tooth from 1-7 in order to see them all) so a bit of adjustment of the points box clockwise was made.

The biggest faff was getting the Bedouin's grills off but after that, everything was surprisingly straightforward (never having done it before).

I had a test drive and I reckon the car is a bit perkier, although it missed occasionally when driven hard. I'm kicking myself now because I should have remembered and changed them first but I have a new set of plugs to fit that came with a service pack I ordered a while ago so that may make a difference.

After that I started to look at an annoying exhaust leak around the heat exchanger area and noticed that one of the crossbox brackets has broken. I took the crossbox off to take a closer look and there's evidence of it blowing so I've got one on order from Uncle Roy.

As I am honest as the day is long, I like to share my gaffs with you all so here is a cautionary tale/top tip.

Just supposing you decide to remove the fuel pump in order to make replacing a section of fuel pipe easier, make sure that when you refit it, the spacer hasn't fallen off the bottom.

I didn't, which is why I now need to steal a pump from Mark Dunmore

Right then - following on from this, although I was kindly given another fuel pump, the cam pin is bent and cannot be extracted from the block so in order to get the car back on the road as quickly as possible I'm trying another engine. It's a relatively unknown quantity but if it runs ok, it'll mean I can still make upcoming meetings and then look at my engine at leisure.

At present, both engines are currently on the workbench having a staring competition.

I wonder if the new motor will go a bit faster, I seem to recall your old one was struggling to hit 65 plus wasn't it? Then again it could just be the vehicles aerodynamics working against it.

Yeh, I was just starting to tinker - adjusting the ignition timing, checking for exhaust leaks etc but maybe the old adage "if it isn't broke, don't mess with it" is appropriate in this case?

The replacement is from a Dyane so I might well find out that if it does turn out to be a good runner, it's better than the original. Unfortunately as you say, I am up against the aerodynamics of a brick but I have had nearly 70 out of the Bedouin so I know it's capable.

It's all a learning curve....

I'm happy to announce that Belinda is now running again

First of all Mark Dunmore very kindly lent me a Dyane engine to try but unfortunately it seems to have locked up (maybe due to coke buildup in one of the cylinders) so he went one further and lent another engine to try.

It was fired up on Sunday night and yesterday I finished fitting the ancillaries together with the new crossbox that I was going to fit to the old engine. I took Belinda out for a short test drive last night but I'll need to to take her for another couple of local runs & I'll look at the timing & tappets this week.

I'll be stripping my engine down in time & also having a look at Mark's other engine to check for coke buildup but at least for now it looks like we'll be at Castle Howard this weekend. Remember everyone who is going - Please, please, please convince Mrs. Bertie that Belinda was a project worth taking on

Well, you've got two potentially broken engines - but in different areas. The crank of your original would go nicely in the case of this one, if the worst fears are true.



A big ask, mate, a big ask...

When I say "locked up" it does turn almost one revolution but stops at the same point either way, almost at the point where the timing marks are (made with the 6mm drill through hole method)


I will have beer & wine