91MR2 Posted June 3 Author Report Share Posted June 3 Haven't done too deep of a dive, but all I can tell you is the car runs and drives well, and tracks straight as well. Once this cosmetic phase is complete, we will be doing a deeper dive into the mechanicals, including a timing belt, water pump, etc. You might be surprised to hear that the car is very solid underneath, just mostly surface rust in some areas, but no rot or holes anywhere. If there were, we would have addressed when we did all the trunk welding, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike T Posted June 3 Report Share Posted June 3 Once bad geometry is evident in driving behaviour, it's too late, the rear beam will have been scored and will need replacement. It's an absolute must to do this job pre-emptively. The "seals" on the inside of the trailing arm where it meets the beam do absolutely nothing to keep dirt, water and salt out of the bearings and I guarantee they will be rusting right now. Maybe not quite turning to powder. Even rusty roller bearings damages the beam. If not, one day you will be making a low speed turn and the car will suddenly oversteer at an impossibly low speed. Or if you're unlucky, on a freeway cloverleaf....eventually the trailing arms will set up a regular oscillation that shakes the car like hell. Slide hammer may not be powerful enough to dislodge the arms so be prepared to use an air chisel with sacrificial bolts threaded into the torsion bar ends, to be replaced over and over while you get the rusted splines to move one more mm. It's a hell of a job on a car that''s seen winter, but it MUST be done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goce Posted June 3 Report Share Posted June 3 I've done 5 rear beam bearings on a 405 and they are lot more work than modern cars with rubber bushings but once done right with original skf bearings and shafts with grease nipples they outlast the car, one of my old cars that got crashed ended up in a junk yard there they swaped the rear end that was bent in the accident in to a taxi. That taxi drove more than 600 000 km on it i'm not sure if he ever greased it. Every time i've seen his right wheel is crooked where i got hit and fliped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
91MR2 Posted June 3 Author Report Share Posted June 3 Ok guys, thanks for this info., going to show it to my mechanic and we will have a look at all this. That's what I love about this forum... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
91MR2 Posted June 8 Author Report Share Posted June 8 All tail lights on now, as well as bumper cover and trim. Have to fit the center panel yet, but that's easy. Also got the trunk liners back in. Starting to take shape. Soon... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
91MR2 Posted June 8 Author Report Share Posted June 8 Had to get it outside for a few shots, it is starting to look like a real car again... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayden M Posted June 8 Report Share Posted June 8 Jeeeeealous Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bean Posted June 9 Report Share Posted June 9 Great job nipping the rust in the bud and getting the car in great shape - looks awesome! Hopefully the rear axle is just preventative maintenance and is easily serviced. Â Rabin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
91MR2 Posted June 10 Author Report Share Posted June 10 Thanks guys, it was a lot of effort to get it to this point, but well worth it. A friend of mine joked that it was a labor of love, and I quickly replied that he should also consider the amount of hate involved as well… Jokes aside, as you all know, bringing a car from the state it was in to where it is now can be very consuming, especially when you’re trying to do everything correctly. Now onto some of the deferred maintenance items… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bean Posted June 12 Report Share Posted June 12 The opposite of love isn’t hate, it’s indifference.  Love and hate are usually two sides of the same coin… Also stumbled across this so had to share:  https://www.thegentlemanracer.com/2013/06/why-i-miss-peugeot.html Rabin  Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
91MR2 Posted June 16 Author Report Share Posted June 16 Well guys, the red car is pretty much done. Finished most of the loose ends this week, and gave it a good shakedown run of about 50 miles, everything seems great. Still some deferred maintenance to tend to but that will get done soon. Hoping to take my daughter to this Sunday’s cars and coffee for its official re-debut to the world… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
91MR2 Posted June 19 Author Report Share Posted June 19 Yesterday was the car's reveal, on father's day at cars and coffee. Was a great feeling to finally drive this thing and feeling like it's actually done. Of course there is still some deferred maintenance to catch up on, but that's the easy part. My daughter was happy, and we can say another Peugeot has been saved from parts car status... Â Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
91MR2 Posted July 12 Author Report Share Posted July 12 Have continued driving the red car, mostly shakedown runs to be sure all is well. It's performing very well, I must say it is starting to feel like just another car in the fleet, no real issues have popped up. It will see some more regular use this summer before we tackle the timing belt in the fall. Enjoying it for now... Â Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
91MR2 Posted August 13 Author Report Share Posted August 13 Hey guys, have had a bit of a break from the Peugeots this summer, as I picked up another Lotus recently. Very nice conditioned 1994 Esprit S4, purchased from a friend. I had considered another Esprit back in the fall, but thankfully it didn't work out or else this one would have been a tough acquisition. This is also a much better car than that one was. Very pleased with it so far... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouvenirCup Posted August 14 Report Share Posted August 14 That red car is looking great, its nice to see one of these cars saved and had some love put into making it nice again. Its easy to underestimate the sheer amount of work and time it takes to fix up a car. One of these days I have to drive the 405 with all of the praise they're given. Enjoy your break from working on the Peugeots, and the new Lotus . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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