My Latest Heap, a 406 1.9 TD

[evilally]

I used to hang around here a lot with my wreck of a 405. I thought it was time to upgrade to a slightly newer wreck, say hello to my latest Jalopy, a '97 406 purchased with only 160,000 on the clock for £265:


At least one dent and scratch on every panel:


Dog chewed interior as standard:


Timing belt was 30k overdue, and looked it! Full timing belt kit, water pump, aux belt and tensioners to the rescue:


Every suspension bush and joint front to back has been replaced, handles a lot less like a block of cheese now:





New arms, trackrods, drop links and brakes, why not:


4 wheel alignment after suspension overhaul. Oh yes, 4 new Dunlops to go with that:


Then it was time to tackle the rust, didn't look so bad when I bought it



Rust cut out:


Nearly there:


That looks more road worthy!



What I don't have pictures of!
*Replacement low milage gearbox and new linkages.
*Genuine OE clutch kit
*New radiator, fan relays, temperature sensors, coolant
*New springs all round, strut bearings
*Interior stripped out, vaxed and thouroughly de-dogged!
*Loads of other stuff!


Thanks for reading, I hope it entertained.

[Northern_Mike]

I'd like to commend you on your efforts on keeping a rusty old nail out of the scrapyard Nice work, looks good for another 260k now, probably more!

[Fake Concern]

This is SO much more environmentally friendly than getting a new supposedly lower emitting car. In my opinion the "scrappage" scheme was terrible for the environment despite what the government would have us believe.
Alos I love seeing pictures of interesting older cars!
More please!

[Northern_Mike]

If you like "interesting" pictures of old cars, there is the http://www.autosh*te.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; forums and group on Facebook, which you may or may not already be aware of... I know Luke's on there quite a lot..

[Fake Concern]

If you like "interesting" pictures of old cars, there is the http://www.autosh*te.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; forums and group on Facebook, which you may or may not already be aware of... I know Luke's on there quite a lot..

I was not, but I am now. Thanks!

[Peter.N.]

I think the 406 is a brilliant car, having run Citroen hydropnumatics for the last 25 years I didn't think I would like it, the ride is hard compared with the Citroen but the handling is much sharper and the 2.0. Hdi will do 60 + mpg.

I paid £950 for mine just over two years ago with 188k on it, done 211k now and never missed a beat.

I still have an XM though, and a C5

Peter

[evilally]

This is SO much more environmentally friendly than getting a new supposedly lower emitting car. In my opinion the "scrappage" scheme was terrible for the environment despite what the government would have us believe.
Alos I love seeing pictures of interesting older cars!
More please!

You got that right. 50% of the pollution a car creates is in its manufacture and disposal. MPG etc usually has little to do with it. I've also be running this car on a 75% WVO and 25% misfuel blend, and so far it has saved me £2,200 in diesel. Although to be fair I've re-invested half of that back into the car, but I'm still a few quid up.....and sooner or later I'll run out of bits to replace!

[evilally]

I think the 406 is a brilliant car, having run Citroen hydropnumatics for the last 25 years I didn't think I would like it, the ride is hard compared with the Citroen but the handling is much sharper and the 2.0. Hdi will do 60 + mpg.

I paid £950 for mine just over two years ago with 188k on it, done 211k now and never missed a beat.

I still have an XM though, and a C5

Peter

This is true, I've always thought the 406 handles very well indeed. With all new suspension, 4 wheel alignment and 4 premium tyres, the old crate has a very good grip of the road indeed. Easily better than a lot of modern stuff I've driven. It's also got a custom ground LDA pin and runs 20psi boost, all accomplished with the aid of a screw driver and torx bit. No requirement for a £400 remap here. It shuffles along at a decent pace now, even on homemade fuel at 8 pence a litre! I've kept a log of all the fuel I've used last year, and over 17,000 miles she's averaged 43mpg!

[evilally]

More pictures I found on my phone!

Old gearbox out:


Genuine OE clutch kit going on:


Old 170k gearbox with crunchy 3rd, replacement 70k gearbox with new clutch fork bearings and clutch cable:


While the box is out, genuine OE CV boots all round:


....and I forgot to mention, new genuine OE engine mounts lower, left and right:

[spider]

Progress looks good. The rusty sill is disturbing though I find even now.