2CV Engine Overhaul: Part One - oil and fail

Elly the 2CV gets an engine overhaul! I was just looking to cure an oil leak, but then somehow talked myself into a Burton 652cc upgrade. New pistons and barrels as well then! After that, things go wrong...

This video was entirely inspired by Mustie1. It's just like him, but with added incompetence and the wrong hammers.

[ClotEastwood]

"This will require Violence" ha ha ha ha . . . another gem

[KennethITGuru]

Either the 2CV is an incredibly easy car to work on or Hubnut is a superior Citroen mechanic. Either way an awesome tutorial to repair ole Elly. I really love when Ian pushed Elly outside half-naked to view the passing steam train. What a thumbnail! Will be keeping my eye on the Hubnut store. Can't wait for the new t-shirt designs. Smiles.

[Nigey.T]

Don't anything ever get you angry when tinkering ...your calmness is inspirational sir !

[derrickfelix]

Oh! Love the workshop! Mrs HubNut is amazing, allowing the pit to exist. You lucky feller. Cheers

[steve]

I admire your patience as I have none - in my chequered car maintenance I have: snapped a brand new glow plug in half when "nipping it up" after installing it (Pug 205), punctured an oil filter when "nipping it up " (Fiat Uno on my parents newly laid herring bone drive after doing an oil change, and yes....all the newly poured in oil came pouring so, shall I come round to give you a

[piperdoug]

Love that "attitude adjuster" it looks like much iron has bowed before it.

[julianparker]

Oh dear. It appears that Elly has decided she wants your undivided attention. I've lost count how many times a straightforward job on a car has ended up as a "spannering marathon" with part replacement free fall. At least Citroën designed the 2CV for good engine access.

[recommendedforyou]

My father worked in heavy clayware manufacturing for 40 years, installing and commissioning a very expensive German-designed machine imported at great cost from the designers Spengler Macshinebau GmBH. I visited him at his work many times over the years, and was particularly impressed when he showed me the tools he had proudly developed over the years to keep this now-aged machine working at peak efficiency, having nursed it since its birth. One was a spanner, with jaws wide enough you can sit in them, the other was a mighty Thor-like hammer, which was widely known in the works as 'The Persuader'.
Happy times.

[johnnorth]

Mustie1? No harm in measuring and achieving with the best :-) . Taking your time and giving due thought and consideration is an essential part of (enjoying ?) an engine rebuild.

[SteveB]

I think your right about that oil leak coming from that pipe union, certainly looks like it may well have been fractured before you started to play with it. Normally when the union is frozen onto the pipe like that the pipe will start to twist whilst you try to turn it, yes, they will eventually tear off like that, but normally there is a lot of twisting before it does. And the fact you had oil leaking before you started, pretty much confirms it was already fractured. Bloody cars, always something unexpected to spend a bit more money on. But on the plus side, i wish my old Mondeo was so easy to work on like Elly!

[MC-ftzv]

Love the way you simply attack this job in your garage at home, learning as you go, with a spanner on the oil cooler union that isn't exactly the best fit..great "can do" attitude, and great entertainment for us! Looking forward to Elly purring along again, and enjoying the simplicity of this wee car. Excellent video, really enjoy these ones!

[ginggur]

Amazing how important a set of circlip pliers can be. Been there and sworn before lol.

[CortinasAndClassics]

I do enjoy your channel Ian. One moment we are with you barreling down the road in a low slung sports car or a classic bimble then into an engine stripdown. This channel has everything. And George the cat :)

[colintotalfishing]

Sad to see Elly off the road but if work has to be done its your pride and joy it's a bugger lol but keep up the good work that you do hope she is back on the road soon Colin from wolverhampton

[dodgydruid]

There is a positive in that the oil cooler feed you had happen in the garage and not miles from anywhere needing a massive teardown to try and bodge it fixed. I am putting off my own engine rebuild till next year as the ol' Reliant is sounding a bit tappy and I want to change out the old sump, oil pump and timing chain/sprockets and fit a new tensioner for peace of mind and keeping me eye open for one of the rare Burton Power Reliant camshafts they made for the racing engines being more aggressive timings and will work out with my Weber 34ICH conversion kit for nice torquey goodness. You could for your Fox try and find one of the fairly unheard of Reliant 950cc engines with a bit of a bore comes in close to the 1000cc mark and are very pokey little engines if you can find one as Reliant never made that many but they are out there :) A shame the 2CV is a FWD as it looks like that lickle engine would fit in your Fox a treat.

[kimkiriniki]

Hat's off to you Mr HubNut for tackling this work amidst such workshop detritus...with engines cleanliness is paramount..just sayin'
Circlip pliers, I also bought one of those multi fit things..lasted all of few minutes.

[ArmandoLoni]

Also.... The crankshaft oil seal at the front can be removed in situ by screwing in two thin self-tapping screws into the seal at opposite ends and pulling on each screw.... Careful not to screw in too deep or you'll damage the block.... The rear seal can't be done without removing the engine....

[tauncfester]

It probably doesn't help now as you're probably committed to go in town for a C- clip spanner.. But, if you have a old pair of needle-nose pliers that you don't care much about, and a bench grinder you can grind the tips down to pegs, works great. I've also used cheap scissors in a pinch, ( don't use the spouse's..) Enjoying repairing a 2CV vicariously through the internet, thanks Ian, another 'want car'.

[Steven-i]

What a great video, the overhaul of a 2cv, seems a lot easier to do than today modern cars, i like things how it all goes together in detail.

[dlittlester]

You are a man of much patience, my friend.