Hope you're all okay.
So work continues on the restoration of the DS, will it ever stop? Some classic car owners say that restoration never stops because there is always something to do due mainly because of the manufacturing techniques and materials used in classics, I don't think they were really expected to last more than 10 years let alone 40, 50 or more. Or maybe they are perfectionists trying to make every detail correct. It's for this reason I decided to insure the DS and make everything road legal and use it as a rolling restoration, work from now will be to achieve this condition and I will worry about the correct details later.
DVLA registration class has now been changed to classic and no MOT is required but must be in a legal and roadworthy condition. Classic car insurance now allows me 3000 miles fully comprehensive with breakdown recovery for less than my 'laid-up' policy, so this should be quite achievable.
The exhaust has been progressively becoming noisier and noisier and now fumes are also becoming apparent. So before I pass out in the drivers seat I thought that now was a good time to replace the offending downpipe. This section of exhaust looks to be the original part but has been badly welded before in various places and looked like 'The Eagle has landed' (Any welder will tell you what this means!)
This is not a job for the feint-hearted especially on a RHD vehicle where the steering column is in the way, a vehicle ramp or pit would make the job a lot easier and I don't have either so it's out with the trolley jack and axle stands. Removal of a lot of bits and pieces is necessary and some special tools are required.
Here we can see the offending exhaust down pipe with a visible hole in the thin metal at the rear and where the Eagle has landed at the front.
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| New old stock downpipe |
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| Close-up showing original part number |
My last purchase was a new old stock downpipe with the original (DX 182-44) part number still visible. Apparently remanufactured exhausts don't sound quite as good as the original, but I'm not too sure. The black paint was only ever to serve as a crude rust preventer while stored in a parts department.
All the black paint was removed and bare metal treated and coated with black VHT paint, hopefully this will make it last another 40 years.
I will continue with the removal on my next post.
