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

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.

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

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 out)....... so, shall I come round to give you a hand......

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.

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....

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

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.

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'.

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

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

I follow Mustie1 and he uses what looks like a planishng hammer.

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.

You are a man of much patience, my friend.

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

I never knew it was the fan that gives a 2CV it's distinctive sound... Every day is a school day.

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!

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.

Nice to see your whole village is kind of vintage

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!

Best solution and cheapest is take the two ends out of the engine and go to a hydraulic specialist and make up two flexi pipes and a aftermarket cooler. Saves the problem in the future. Good luck and love the videos. Cheers

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 :)

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.

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.

Hubnut... Keeping Roy in teabags for 25 years. :)

I never forget my Father asking me to push one of these out of the garage he worked at (as a mechanic) oh won't it start i said, yes, but i hate the noise they make he said! It looks a wonderfully archaic engine though, in a good way, the simplicity when you pulled a few covers off was refreshing after modern enginnes....

Quintessential UK KZfaq video! Complete with obscure french automobile and 1920's steam train!!

That is not a hammer, that is a lump of iron on the end of a stick...

Love hearing lil Ivor punch past. Especially when the driver acknowledges you. Degreaser is amazing stuff.

It is certainly of a unique construction. Looking forward to success in part two.

We need the following slogans on T-shirts. "I've got a spare back here" And "Step 1, remove wings" Having now watched lots of these videos.

Love the way you stay calm at. yet another set back (missing the rally apparent when oil cooler nacked) not everybody suited to this kind of engine rebuild task (me!) love the show!

Poor Elly and poor you. So frustrating for you but interesting for us. I've never seen a naked 2CV before 😶. Hope all got easier. Look forward to next installment 👍

Here is a handy tip for all of those who are attempting to withdraw a bolt from a deep recess, like Ian is doing at 2:05. Get a magnet (the stronger the better) and place it on the drive bar that the socket is on, you instantly have a magnetic socket and a steel bolt will stay firmly in it. Also useful for replacement procedures.

Hi Ian do not despair at the moment with the oil cooler pipes. Remove the both unions and if it is a gland seal on the pipes, face off the old pipes fettle them up push the unions over the pipe ends and fit new glands or the old ones if they are ok and refit them into the block as there should be enough leeway in those pipes to bend a little. . I am sure that this may help you until you get a new or refurbished oil cooler assembly . I wont say bodge it but you know what i mean. Good luck with Elly's transplant.

Except for splitting the engine case, I’ve replaced all the engine gaskets on the beetle. Yet, I still have a little oil leak. It’s been leaking for years. I’ve decided to wait for when I’m ready to rebuild the engine. I understand trying to find a leak. This is very interesting, I like seeing what’s under a 2CV.

Ian, you need a head mount for your GoPro!

Ooooo, naked Elly, late night videos. I suspect the blow-by visible on that piston might be part of the oil leak issue as that combustion gas will have been going straight into the crank case of the engine and pressurising the oil system...

It’s lovely to see how easy it is to work on this engine. Total contrast to the Rover I’d say.

Get jiggley with it, an untidy garage is a happy garage imo, great video again.

When I worked at French car services, we used a long bar which was a snug fit in the fan securing bolt hole/starting handle tube. Then we moved it side to side vigorously. It usually popped off pretty sharpish. You will need to control your right foot for a few miles, should have a bit more torque which should be noticeable even when running in. As you know with older vehicles things don't always go as we anticipate they will, but we soldier on. Catch you next time.

I love your videos, really entertaining and informative. I knew nothing about how engines work, this series has taught me a lot. You're so lucky to be next to the Vale of Rhiedol line

Winter is coming, time for tinkering. You really know these engine's very well I'd struggle reassembling it having the bits strewn around the shed like you have there.

Very thorough video Ian, love how easy Elly is to work on

I didn't have the confidence to work on my 2Cv back in 1997 when i bought it from 2CV city near sowerby bridge! It was a car that had so much character!

I like how pleased with yourself you are when ths5 fan bolt came off with only 2 whacks

Many thanks for producing and posting this video. I had two 2cv's in succession in the mid 80's.....I also had the Haynes Manual.....wish KZfaq and yourself had been around then....it was initially a mystery as to how the fan was removed but I did it to check the points! Looking forward to Part 2!! PS I do not know how you find enough hours in the day!!

Well my friend it seems that you could do with a couple more tools (like who doesn't need more tools). Snap ring pliers and some flare nut wrenches (metric and inch) to start with. A good 2,600psi. pressure washer and maybe a nice tidy work bench to plop the engine on to. While your at it add 2 more stalls to your garage/shop and a wood stove to keep you warm and toasty all winter long. You might also consider an intercom system so your wife can let you know when supper is ready. Just a couple of simple suggestions to ease your woes and simplify your task. Try Harbor Freight here in the U.S.A. to supply that tool addiction.

Hi - really like your video. Had a similar problem with mine. Couldn't understand where the leak was coming from. Very strange. But Peter Fosselius from Viking visited me in Sydney and fitted a new oil filler and the problem was cured - bingo. The oil filler pipe controls the pressure in the crankcase so when the rubbers get old and rigid, the pressure is not released and the only point of escape is from behind the ignition system on the mechanical seal.. See Burtons repair kit or if you can't be bothered buy a new one. Better performance, engine sounds as sweet as a nut!

wot a lovely place . Excellent video.George in Stoke 👍

I love your videos and your humor Ian. Hope You get Elly sorted soon

30 minutes of HubNut starring the lovely Elly bring on part 2

Love the simple engineering on these 2CVs. Also found a great car channel which is your bag Retro Dailys.

You need to sort your garage, how do you work like that?

Hope you get Elly sorted soon Ian.Must say,l got a nasty shock yesterday when I turned to November on my Autoshite calendar! 😂

So much access once the wings have gone, defo helps having a garage.

2:50 Oh the trusty hammer again! Love your logic, treat every problem as a nail

I used 20/50 iin my 2cv and it leaked like a sieve because there are no seals at the big end it is a tapered shaft that is fed with oil from the crankcase along a spiral shaft and it needed 15w/40 oil to lubricate the bearing efficiently. a return to 15w/40 and the leaking stopped. no ring compressor needed a flat sided baked bean can cut off the ridges with tin snips and cut a slot down the side and clamp on the rings with a large jubilee clip to bury them in the piston grooves a little oil and the piston should slide into the cylinder.

I was having a moment of de ja vu thinking you'd already done this before, but then it occurred to me that it was with the farm-fresh Camouflaged Dyane that you decapitated for cylinder & piston replacement work... :)

The best way to rebuild an engine is to think about the old saying: keep calm and carry on

Words of wisdom from a 2 cylinder John Deere mechanic 1- when in doubt use a bigger hammer, 2- if it jams force it, if it breaks it probably needed replacement anyway. And by the way a big hose clamp works well to compress piston rings, and on a engine like that a normal ring compressor doesn't work well, and yes I have rebuilt an air cooled VW engine or two, still have the mongo sized hose clamp in my tool box as well as the input shaft out of a VW transaxle and both 36 and 46 mm sockets(one of the VWs was a bus).

Well, it was MUCH better that you found the oil cooler pipe was weak in this way than finding out on the motorway. Also, if you use oven cleaner type products as an engine degreaser, as has been suggested, remember that caustic soda eats aluminium. Rinse extremely well after use. Get well soon, Elly.

Might sound bad but I'm happy that it isn't only me that has these problems. Try to get one part off and break another part. The other problem is the tool you need is in a far away place. The final problem being everything I lay down is lost forever, it has an official description " object loss phenomenon " look it up. Anyway best of luck with this project.

Can't always be unicorns and rainbows. Meeting the challenge is the reward.

I am falling in love with Elly. And just yesterday a 2cv parked up behind me and I found myself looking over it,while I loaded my boring company focus estate.

That union is a nice salt trap. The aluminium will corrode and crack. I would grease it with copperslip leaving a glob of copperslip on the outside.

Miserable day here in Tipperary... no kids...fire lighting..tea made. and up pops Hubnut😊.... day sorted...

You can always use the mole grips to squeeze the cir clip without clamping it and use a flat screwdriver to push it back into position

my engine vocabulary is growing - sorry for your disappointment with the oil cooler thingy.

Good luck with the repair and let's just hope the Sparrow is not needed. Cheers!

Dang, that locomotive is small yet mighty, towing a number of cars! Oh dear, oil pipes leaking, that's not fun. Ah yes, circlips and their pliers (where the cheap ones are junk). While it might be possible to braze or silver-solder a new pipe on to fix that cooler, it would likely cost more than a new one and success wouldn't be guaranteed. Still, some shiny new parts ought to extend Elly's life quite a bit! Though I hope your pocketbook isn't too sore after.

It might be a good idea to grind down the mushroomed faces on your hammer. A sharp chunk could break off and fly somewhere you don't want it to go -- like in your eye. I was going to mention about trying to re-flare the oil cooler line, but other commenters beat me to it! RIP old oil cooler.

That such a small, simple engine can cause so many problems. Good luck with the rest of the repairs.

The old steam locomotive train near by and the old 2CV go together.

Elly is not bad! She's just having a little trouble keeping her oil inside. Elly says that when you're as old as she is in Car-Years, you'll understand. :)

In this episode, Ian marvels at the simplicity of the 2CV design, despite the fact that it was designed and built by the French. There's still enough Frenchness to complain about, though!

The oil cooler *does* have seals. They are short rubber tubes that sit at the bottom of the threaded holes in the block and are compressed by the end of the cooler pipes as the nuts are tightened. Not mentioned in Haynes (quelle surprise) but it's diagram 4-8-2 in Porter.

Another popular word when I’m doing mechanical jobs, bugger from over here at the Wash.

complete engine rebuild plus carb matey :) and about bloody time :)

Ian.... Where each oil cooler pipe goes into the block, there is a rubber seal that sits on the mating surface.... as well as a compression olive on each pipe.....

I wish i was with you, I am a nvq 3 qualified mechanic and I have most of the tools and specialist ones too including a set of flair spanners that would help do your oil cooler tube!

Refreshing too see a mechanical vid after a long time

Surely Hubnut is not capable of either violence or being a complete pillock! I use degreaser on a hot engine followed by cool water pressure washing, air drying and spraying with wd40 (other products are available!). Very effective. So much nicer working on a clean engine. Also check if it has a negative pressure crankcase breathing system and if it is working. Many minor leaks will appear if it is blocked. Loving seeing Ellie receiving some attention too.

Ok, i love your videos and I admire your energy. That's said, I almost screamed when I saw how you hammered out the gudgeon pin, you could see how the conrod flexed! Not good for the big end bearings. Please, try to press things out instead. And please try to avoid putting parts on the floor.

Careful about how you bang out that gudgeon pin. If the force of the hammer blow is transferring through the connecting rod, it could mash up the big end bearing.

great vid again,what a mare with those pipes,,,

Bugger indeed. So often a job on an old vehicle snowballs as you encounter more and more corroded or time-expired parts, and previous bodgery. It can be depressing but keep the end-objective in mind, Ian, Elly will benefit from this comprehensive overhaul. I am excited to hear how the additional 50cc affects performance and fuel economy, should all be positive. Hasn't someone fitted a 1200cc GS flat four motor in one of these?

That hammer has been around the block a few times, has it come from a chain gang? there is something about new car parts that stirs the blood, nice to see Elly getting some engine parts and I doubt you will be staying under the prescribed revs with the new found power that those new pistons will unleash. I think I had the same circlip pliers that you bought as mine fell apart after the first job I did. Great 2CV project video to watch.

Not sure what that engine degreaser was, but a good sign it works is the oil should start to dissolve and run off with the fluid - that stuff you had was like weak dishwater :-) Maybe some proper Gunk/Jizer type stuff needed - I always degrease stuff before I work on it - usually doesn't maker much difference to dirty hands, but at least you can see what you're doing! Good luck with Elly!

you live in a beautiful place

I would just call out the RAC, get them to plug their laptop in😂

Is that man bothering you Elly!

When it's mucky like that, look for the clean bit, the oil coming out will wash away the crud showing you where the leak is. Please support the piston / barrel when knocking out gudgeon pins, not kind to the rods and bottom ends trying to do it one handed.

you will need to calibrate ECU now :)

You never have enough hours in the week when you maintain your own car do you? Just finished a 3 day job fitting tailgate wiring to my wife's BMW E61, fitting new brakes and swivels to my 90 and now I need to fit a drop arm ball joint and fix a coolant leak on the 200tdi. It never ends!

Also, your parcel is wrapped in such a way at 20.30 that it may as well now become the official HubNut national flag.

No pain = No gain 🙄🙄 But i reckon she'll run like a dream when she is finished🤞🤞 How much original engine is there left😃😃

perhaps something on the end of those oil cooler unions, either copper grease, or instead some gasket goo to help seal and stop them corroding together, lightly applied under the union to pipe before fitting

YAY! You can do it my babay! 'Vorsprung Durch Technik'

I said before wot a lovely place to live Richard uk Coventry England take care love