|
|
Post by classicmfb on Jan 30, 2013 17:11:20 GMT
I'm giving serious thought to buying a 304 cabriolet and, while I'm not a stranger to classic cars, this would be my first foray into the world of '70s Peugeots. This being the case, I thought I'd better seek the advice of 'the people in the know' on what the uninitiated buyer should be looking out for.
Thanks in advance for your comments!
|
|
|
|
Post by oldpug on Jan 30, 2013 19:12:31 GMT
The big killer is rust,be prepared for a bare shell referb`..Dave45 will tell you more,he`s building one at the moment.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave45 on Jan 30, 2013 20:40:29 GMT
How's your welding and fabrication skills? If the answer is 'poor' then forget it! Bottom line is they rust everywhere but main problem places are all the floors and where they join to inner sills, front subframe outriggers, boot floor, bottoms of rear wings, rear valence, behind front subframe and front cross member.
That's my experiences with them. I've owned three 304 cabs. If you're an alright welder then they're pretty straight forward structurally. No silly things like castle rails to align like on an MGB for instance. Another issue is that panels aren't available anymore hence you need to fabricate a lot.
Mechanically, they're weird but pretty bomb proof. Weird being they have an integral gearbox like a mini, alternator belt goes through 90 degrees and wheel alignment that you adjust on the rack instead of the track rod end.
French. Very very french if you catch my drift!
Hope that helps!
|
|
|
|
Post by classicmfb on Jan 30, 2013 21:57:05 GMT
Thank you very much oldpug and Dave45. I'm no welder but I'm used to rampant rust and oddball engineering as I currently own an early Renault 4.
I plan to buy the best 304 I can possibly afford and then drown it in Waxoyl but it will of course be about 40 years old, so I wonder what I'm going to see when I poke about under any likely candidate...
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave45 on Jan 30, 2013 23:14:44 GMT
Check the floor just in front of the inner sills and the rear of the sill in the wheel arch. All mine were rotten there. In case you're interested and have the cash there is a yellow one on ebay at the mo. it was used in the recent stella artois advert on tv. 3 owners, about 35k miles on the clock and never been used in the rain apparently. It's like new and is just shy of £7k. Won't be as nice as mine though, if it ever gets finished! Haha!
Keep us posted and let us know if you need any advise or tips.
Good luck mon ami!
|
|
|
|
Post by classicmfb on Jan 31, 2013 21:59:48 GMT
Thanks Dave45, I appreciate the advice.
The yellow one does read well (as does the white '74 for sale in London, but the £9K asking price is out of my reach). Is the yellow car known in club circles?
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave45 on Jan 31, 2013 23:05:15 GMT
I would've thought so, but I'm not in any club so I'm not sure. I just own the rotten ones! Haha!
|
|
|
|
Post by miketippett on Feb 2, 2013 20:25:41 GMT
If you don't want to do a full restoration, either buy that advert one mentioned above, or buy one with a photo-documented restoration.
|
|
|
|
Post by classicmfb on Feb 5, 2013 18:07:28 GMT
Well, I took the plunge and went for the yellow '74.
There are a couple of items I know straight away I'm going to need:
The grille has received a little bit of a whack. A repair of sorts has been made using glue but an undamaged one would probably be a better bet (but I've no idea whether good grilles are rare.
As with the grille, so with the offside front indicator/sidelamp lens; it's got a crack in it - it's serviceable, but not attractive.
One of the studs onto which the hood or the cover is attached is missing, or at least the horizontal 'shield' shaped section is. Having never had a ragtop before, I don't even know the correct term for this part!
Thanks again to all those who were good enough to offer their advice. I'm looking forward to joining you in classic Peugeot ownership in a few days.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave45 on Feb 5, 2013 20:34:03 GMT
Wahey! Congratulations! Well the indicator lenses do come up on ebay time to time. Some are modern clear ones so take your pick! Also try ebay.fr (france) there are loads of bits on that aren't common this side of the channel.
The fasteners are called tenax fasteners. Rag top specialists can help you there.
As for the grill, you may struggle finding a good one. They are really flimsy and break easily when leant on.
Great history on that car! I should have been on commision!! Haha!
|
|
|
|
Post by 205GRD on Feb 6, 2013 21:35:09 GMT
Hi,
Congrats on the purchase! If you want more tips and tricks with the car please join up and our 304 registrar I'm sure will enjoy a natter and be able to help. I do recall a grille coming up at some point in the last few years, but I'm not sure on whether it was the correct pattern for a cab or not. You can contact Ian who runs our partsfinder service on parts@clubpeugeotuk.org who may be able to help, but in general for the age of car places like ebay.fr as mentioned by Dave above is a good place to keep your eye on.
Doug
|
|
|
|
Post by classicmfb on Feb 7, 2013 11:18:41 GMT
Thank you. Now I'm (just about to be) the owner of a classic Peugeot, I certainly will be joining the club.
The grille isn't really bad - I'm just being 'Mr Picky' - so I may as well have a go at making a less visible repair myself while waiting for an undamaged grille to become available.
Technical query; ordinarily I would add engine flush to the sump of a newly-acquire used car before doing my first oil and filter change, but is that safe when the gearbox is in the sump? I've a lot to learn about 304s!
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave45 on Feb 7, 2013 19:54:12 GMT
Haha! Just had that conversation with a rep from Forte. He phoned up their technical people and they said yes. That was Forte engine flush which is the best stuff on the market. He also said that their oil system protector would be fine to use with the new oil and wouldn't harm the gearbox syncro's.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave45 on Feb 7, 2013 19:58:58 GMT
One thing i did notice on the photos of your new pug. The nearside shocker top is at the wrong angle (looking from under the bonnet) It should point in the same direction as the offside. Looks like someone has taken the leg off at some point and put it on wrong. See if the garage will sort it before you pick it up.
|
|
|
|
Post by classicmfb on Feb 8, 2013 20:50:06 GMT
Thanks once again Dave45.
I was so absorbed in the search for rust, I didn't spot the difference between the n/s and o/s suspension! It's something I'll have to sort out myself as I've bought the car through - rather than from - the dealer. I shall need to equip myself with a Haynes manual or similar and get stuck in.
By the way, I haven't been able to identify the correct spark plug grade for a '74 304 - would I be correct in thinking it's the same as for an early 1.0/1.1 205?
|
|
