Note that I’m using polyurethane paint prepared with the color code RAL 6020. This is a code I found on various forums dedicated to the Traction, it gives good results.
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Here is the timing cover after sandblasting and painting, with a paintbrush
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Here, the crank plate (don’t know if it’s the right name but you see what I mean 😉 )
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With Claude, we start here
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After checking the crankshaft clearance, Claude decides to remove one of the adjusting washers to reduce the gap. Each washer is 0.05 mm thick I believe
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Then we put back the timing gears with the new chain. The right gear is tighten with huge force, using an impressive extension
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Then we close…
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… and we put back the crank plate with, once again, huge force applied on the dented nut
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I even installed a brand new locking plate, that’s true luxury 😉
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Before closing the bottom of the engine, we put back the oil pump grill, which required a good cleaning as it was packed on most of its surface
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We install a brand new gasket…
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… and then the oil pan is back on
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On the front side, we start by installing a new bearing for the gearbox axle
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Here is the new clutch disk. There is no need for a centering tool, we simply use the gearbox axle, thanks Mister Citroën
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Claude believes the clutch plate is good enough, so we just put it back after cleaning and lubricating
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Now that the engine is closed, I’m alone and ready for a long cleaning phase, which starts with the oil pan
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Then the rest of the engine
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A lot of very boring hours of brushing and scrapping to get to this result
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After sandblasting them, I put back some parts on the engine because they need to be painted at the same time
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I put some primer on non-aluminium parts to avoid getting rust on them before being ready to paint
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Same brushing and scrapping operations on the gearbox
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This preparation is the occasion to discover the molding markings on the engine. The “6D” at the end of this one means that the engine block has been molded during June 1954
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Also, the “6D” marking on the gearbox has the same signification. So it seems to confirm that the engine and gearbox are the original ones. Good news !
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I then do some sandblasting on the gearbox levers and here is one I took out of the sandblasting cabinet…
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… to show you how thick was the layer of paint, dirt and other unidentified products. But the good news is that all that mess did a good protection job
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Then starts a tricky task: reinstalling the lip seals on each transmission axle housings. At first, this is not too bad, with a first seal installed, using a wheel bearing as guide and using a hammer with significant force…
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… but then it goes very bad, I damage all three seals I have, like this one
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Once removed, we clearly see damages all around the seal, it’s obviously too big
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With a hydraulic press or a bench vise, it just doesn’t work, the seal is soft enough to compress itself and lose its shape, but it doesn’t go into place correctly
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So I go to a local seal specialist with the original seal (upper left), the one sold by Traction parts suppliers that doesn’t fit (upper right) and he finds in his stock the seals shown at the bottom of the picture (both sides). Awesome ! They are made from steel, so they should be easy to install, without losing their shape and bend all the time
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And as expected, after a few seconds, each seal goes into place without complaining. Here is a big problem solved, the good way I believe, using the right part at the right place
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I’m very happy with the result, and it looks the same as the original seal
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Axles then go in each housing, also with the press, and that’s easy also…
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… here are both housings ready…
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… and here is everything back onto the gearbox
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I want to paint the drivetrain with a paint gun in one piece so I prepare with a paint brush some sections that will be difficult to reach, or not reachable at all, with the gun, once the gearbox will be back onto the engine
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Same thing for the engine, I prepare some sections difficult to paint. In fact the result is that I may extend this preparation to the whole block and head, to be confirmed
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I’ve sent the radiator to a specialist for an overall check and cleaning but he’s not a paint specialist…
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… the paint is way too shinny…
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… and preparation before paint was not sufficient !
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So I ask another specialist to remove that paint and clean everything again. Then I do the paint myself…
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… this one is significantly better, even if I again think that it’s a bit too shinny…
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… I should not have switched to a different paint brand but my usual paint was not available when needed
