By chance, out of the blue , I was offered a 404 resto project.
Having just lost a 505 to an engine fire I decided I'd consider it.
It was duly delivered and I have since been tinkering and exploring the project and gradually forming a plan of attack and a list of requirements.
The body is essentially straight with rust issues. Both bumpers are a bit bent, not very badly but probably enough for replacement.
The seats need redoing and the carpet is gone. It's quite wet inside due to being out in the weather for a year or so with leaking back and front windscreens.
Clutch and brake pedals went to the floor and initially when a battery was connected there was no sign of life except for one dash light which then went out.
But there was paperwork to indicate that the engine was fully rebuilt in 1995 and then only used for about 2 years after that. The oil is clean, it has good compression, plugs were in too tight without antiseize but luckily nothing stripped and that situation is now rectified. But they showed that it was running well before it was parked.
Fuel was not getting from the tank and I suspected the pump but it turned out to be both the pump and a blocked pipe inside the tank from the pickup.
I managed to clear that by pushing a heavy gauge guitar string through which allowed fuel to be drawn with a known good pump.
I fitted a battery and used a remote connection to activate the starter. That turns the engine over nicely so I have proven a few things there, but still not investigated ignition until the tank is cleaned.
Then I managed to get the clutch going by removing and cleaning the clutch master and then bleeding it.
Meanwhile the brake pedal has come up after a bit of pumping and I plan to bleed new fluid through it before a thorough check .
I removed the fuel tank while sorting it out and am about to mount it on a cement mixer with chains or bolts or gravel inside, to actively clean the inside as it is terribly dirty.
So I've gone around the car and taken photos so you can see some of the work that will need to be done before we get to paint.
I want to get it running first so I can evaluate whether it's going to be worth doing. I'm happy to fix everything I've seen given that it runs and has a functioning drive train. If not this thread will be shortlived and I will part the car out or sell it to someone with more enthusiasm than me.
I'm pretty optimistic and excited though , as I loved the 404's I have owned and regretted getting rid of the last one which was a very similar model to this one. It's late 1969 with disc brakes and is Maroon. Same model.
Rust will be ground out and a choice of bogging, brazing or welding will be taken depending on severity, position and structural integrity.
Both screens will have to come out and it may be necessary to remove the hood lining though that is acceptable if not perfect.
Having just lost a 505 to an engine fire I decided I'd consider it.
It was duly delivered and I have since been tinkering and exploring the project and gradually forming a plan of attack and a list of requirements.
The body is essentially straight with rust issues. Both bumpers are a bit bent, not very badly but probably enough for replacement.
The seats need redoing and the carpet is gone. It's quite wet inside due to being out in the weather for a year or so with leaking back and front windscreens.
Clutch and brake pedals went to the floor and initially when a battery was connected there was no sign of life except for one dash light which then went out.
But there was paperwork to indicate that the engine was fully rebuilt in 1995 and then only used for about 2 years after that. The oil is clean, it has good compression, plugs were in too tight without antiseize but luckily nothing stripped and that situation is now rectified. But they showed that it was running well before it was parked.
Fuel was not getting from the tank and I suspected the pump but it turned out to be both the pump and a blocked pipe inside the tank from the pickup.
I managed to clear that by pushing a heavy gauge guitar string through which allowed fuel to be drawn with a known good pump.
I fitted a battery and used a remote connection to activate the starter. That turns the engine over nicely so I have proven a few things there, but still not investigated ignition until the tank is cleaned.
Then I managed to get the clutch going by removing and cleaning the clutch master and then bleeding it.
Meanwhile the brake pedal has come up after a bit of pumping and I plan to bleed new fluid through it before a thorough check .
I removed the fuel tank while sorting it out and am about to mount it on a cement mixer with chains or bolts or gravel inside, to actively clean the inside as it is terribly dirty.
So I've gone around the car and taken photos so you can see some of the work that will need to be done before we get to paint.
I want to get it running first so I can evaluate whether it's going to be worth doing. I'm happy to fix everything I've seen given that it runs and has a functioning drive train. If not this thread will be shortlived and I will part the car out or sell it to someone with more enthusiasm than me.
I'm pretty optimistic and excited though , as I loved the 404's I have owned and regretted getting rid of the last one which was a very similar model to this one. It's late 1969 with disc brakes and is Maroon. Same model.
Rust will be ground out and a choice of bogging, brazing or welding will be taken depending on severity, position and structural integrity.
Both screens will have to come out and it may be necessary to remove the hood lining though that is acceptable if not perfect.
I received that exact comment recently from a friend who saw my XM through a window ! 
