RE: You Know You Want To... Citroen SM
Discussion
SManiac said:
Happy to oblige, I just wish I could get the image to show instead of the link.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_C3E5iSvewpA/TbO...
Here is our SM in front of our home in Port Townsend, WA. I have had it for 20 years and it has been a wonderful car. Of course it has also had it's moments but with 230,000 miles, it gets used!
Lovely https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_C3E5iSvewpA/TbO...
Here is our SM in front of our home in Port Townsend, WA. I have had it for 20 years and it has been a wonderful car. Of course it has also had it's moments but with 230,000 miles, it gets used!
What's been done on it to keep it that way ?
vixen1700 said:
Here's a picture of me around 1974
with an SM, which interestingly was RHD. I've done a check on the registration, but sadly not around anymore. I think there were a couple of RHD SMs converted at Slough, and this was one of them.Don't know what's worse, my '70s appearence at the age of 8 or those wing mirrors.
From this 'ere thread in Classic cars and Yesterday's Heros
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
vixen1700 said:
Along with the other poster, I hate you too. 
I hate him with knobs on! Soo tempted to get one trouble is I know ot would come with a divroce as SWMBO just won't "get it"I can hear her know, "there is no way you are having an ancient FRENCH car with the steering whell on the wrong side, only too doors, and did I mention its French and bound to be crap"
My opinion is that an SM is probably the single coolest car I can think of.
blueg33 said:
"there is no way you are having an ancient FRENCH car with the steering whell on the wrong side, only too doors, and did I mention its French and bound to be crap"
We need to name this phenomenon. Everyone knows someone like this, and it does my head in every time I hear it!cccscotland said:
PascalBuyens said:
JoeFrost said:
Right, so how does one modulate a brake 'button' then??
Owners?
By gently rubbing it with your toes? Owners?
james_tigerwoods said:
Lovely
What's been done on it to keep it that way ?
Twenty years can include a lot but here are the highlights. What's been done on it to keep it that way ?
top-end engine rebuild
re-built 5-speed clutch
brake pads and wheel bearings
four Weber carbs re-built
new exhaust with straight pipes back to resonators
several sets of tires (Michelin Pilot current set, very good)
re-charged spheres several times
minor rust work and a re-paint
It receives an annual change of fluids, overall check-up and timing chain re-tensioning if needed. I guess I've averaged about $500 a year on upkeep.
It is a Euro-spec car as it was originally imported to Canada and came to the US about 30 years ago.
I've switched from my iPad to my MAC laptop and now I can load images!
blueg33 said:
I hate him with knobs on! Soo tempted to get one trouble is I know ot would come with a divroce as SWMBO just won't "get it"
I can hear her know, "there is no way you are having an ancient FRENCH car with the steering whell on the wrong side, only too doors, and did I mention its French and bound to be crap"
My opinion is that an SM is probably the single coolest car I can think of.
Just tell her that every woman seen in an SM looks 10 years younger, much thinner and is often mistaken for an international model. At least that's what I tell all of my female passangers.I can hear her know, "there is no way you are having an ancient FRENCH car with the steering whell on the wrong side, only too doors, and did I mention its French and bound to be crap"
My opinion is that an SM is probably the single coolest car I can think of.
SManiac said:
Twenty years can include a lot but here are the highlights.
top-end engine rebuild
re-built 5-speed clutch
brake pads and wheel bearings
four Weber carbs re-built
new exhaust with straight pipes back to resonators
several sets of tires (Michelin Pilot current set, very good)
re-charged spheres several times
minor rust work and a re-paint
It receives an annual change of fluids, overall check-up and timing chain re-tensioning if needed. I guess I've averaged about $500 a year on upkeep.
It is a Euro-spec car as it was originally imported to Canada and came to the US about 30 years ago.
I've switched from my iPad to my MAC laptop and now I can load images!
Sounds like nothing major then - I bet you get more looks in that than any other car top-end engine rebuild
re-built 5-speed clutch
brake pads and wheel bearings
four Weber carbs re-built
new exhaust with straight pipes back to resonators
several sets of tires (Michelin Pilot current set, very good)
re-charged spheres several times
minor rust work and a re-paint
It receives an annual change of fluids, overall check-up and timing chain re-tensioning if needed. I guess I've averaged about $500 a year on upkeep.
It is a Euro-spec car as it was originally imported to Canada and came to the US about 30 years ago.
I've switched from my iPad to my MAC laptop and now I can load images!
LuS1fer said:
varsas said:
Oh right, yeah. You are right about engine capacity - tax issue. The DS never really had the engine it deserved. IIRC it was supposed to have a more advanced mill but ended up with the traction avent (predecessor to the DS) engine which never really did it justice (or so I have heard). I think later ones had a 2.1 litre fuel injected engine but even so...
They got a 2.3 as well hence DS21, DS23. Still not a great engine though. Even the CX only got a 2.4 Turbo when sporty saloons started to become the in thing.The top-end CX's were planned with a triple-rotor wankel rotary engine, but when the GS Birotor failed (spectacularly - Citroen bought most of the 800 odd sold back to scrap them, as it was cheaper than the warranty repairs!) the rotary engine idea was shelved. Problem is there wasn't the room to fit the PRV6 or similar under the bonnet due to it's low shutline, so the idea was taken to turbocharge one of the smaller exsiting units and make do with the 2.4 & 2.5 petrol engines. Anyone who's driven a CX GTi Turbo knows they didn't need more grunt!
I'll 'fess up to having an SM. It has virtually every modification available and that does make it a viable daily driver!
Fuel injected, but with a modern ECU it is clean, economical and quick. The stainless exhaust really accentuates the V6's rasp as the revs build. Most of the parts are now available if needed, but you do need to understand how it works and have either the ability or a good specialist on hand for the more complex tasks.
To follow on the comments regarding Citroen and engines. Firstly the French had a punitive taxation regime, which kicked in a 2.7 litres. Hence the PRV engine at 2.7 and the original SM at 2.7. Citroen were to be frank not good with engines! Initially the DS was supposed to have an air cooled flat 6 - but it keep failing during development and eventually the old traction engine had to be pressed into service. That continued into the early 70's, eventually being increased to 2.3 litres and fuel injected. But it was never a 'nice' engine - long stroked and even in its last manifestation not that happy at high revs.
So buying Maserati was one of those great ideas..... which eventually killed the company! The original SM engine was designed in less than 2 months, rushed into production and the launch customers became what we would came beta testers today. To be fair Citroen did honour a lot of the warranty claims. But there were hundreds! The primary timing chain had no tensioner and the secondary chains were prone to wear. The water pump (squashed next to the bulkhead) tended to leak and that is an engine out job. Even the oil pump drive shaft has been known to shear. The valves only became an issue as the remaining cars aged. Oh, if the a/c compressor had a problem it could cause the timing chains to go, and it is an interference engine!
Interestingly there is a Dutch specialist (Renard) who is fitting A Citroen C6 engine into an SM - but it does need a lot of engineering!
Fuel injected, but with a modern ECU it is clean, economical and quick. The stainless exhaust really accentuates the V6's rasp as the revs build. Most of the parts are now available if needed, but you do need to understand how it works and have either the ability or a good specialist on hand for the more complex tasks.
To follow on the comments regarding Citroen and engines. Firstly the French had a punitive taxation regime, which kicked in a 2.7 litres. Hence the PRV engine at 2.7 and the original SM at 2.7. Citroen were to be frank not good with engines! Initially the DS was supposed to have an air cooled flat 6 - but it keep failing during development and eventually the old traction engine had to be pressed into service. That continued into the early 70's, eventually being increased to 2.3 litres and fuel injected. But it was never a 'nice' engine - long stroked and even in its last manifestation not that happy at high revs.
So buying Maserati was one of those great ideas..... which eventually killed the company! The original SM engine was designed in less than 2 months, rushed into production and the launch customers became what we would came beta testers today. To be fair Citroen did honour a lot of the warranty claims. But there were hundreds! The primary timing chain had no tensioner and the secondary chains were prone to wear. The water pump (squashed next to the bulkhead) tended to leak and that is an engine out job. Even the oil pump drive shaft has been known to shear. The valves only became an issue as the remaining cars aged. Oh, if the a/c compressor had a problem it could cause the timing chains to go, and it is an interference engine!
Interestingly there is a Dutch specialist (Renard) who is fitting A Citroen C6 engine into an SM - but it does need a lot of engineering!
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