Okay, so today I’m gonna ramble about this Peugeot 404 project I tackled. Buckle up, it’s a ride.
It all started when I stumbled upon this beat-up 404 sitting in a barn. Thing was covered in dust, tires were flat, but something about it just screamed potential. I had to have it.
First things first, getting it out of the barn. That was a whole adventure in itself. Tires were shot, so we had to drag it onto a trailer using a winch. Picture me, sweating like crazy, covered in dust and hay. Good times.
Got it back to my garage and the real work began. Started with a thorough cleaning – power washer, degreaser, the whole shebang. Years of grime just melted away. Underneath, the body wasn’t as bad as I thought, surprisingly. Some rust, sure, but nothing catastrophic.
Next, the engine. Figured it wouldn’t start after sitting for so long. Pulled the plugs, cleaned ’em up. Checked the fluids – nasty! Replaced the oil, filter, fuel filter. Tried to crank it… nothing. Turns out the starter was seized. Pulled that out, cleaned it, lubed it, and finally, it spun!
Still no start. Fuel pump was dead. Replaced that. Then, after some fiddling with the carburetor (which was a nightmare, let me tell you), it sputtered to life! Sounded rough, but it was alive! I was stoked!
Interior was trashed. Seats were ripped, carpet was moldy, the dashboard was cracked. Basically, everything needed replacing. Found some reproduction seat covers online, installed those. New carpet. The dashboard? I ended up finding a used one in decent condition at a swap meet. Score!
- Bodywork: Sanded down the rust, patched up a few holes, and gave it a fresh coat of paint. Went with the original blue color. Looked sharp!
- Brakes: Completely rebuilt the brake system. New master cylinder, brake lines, shoes, everything. Safety first, you know?
- Electrical: Rewired a good chunk of it. Headlights, taillights, blinkers… Made sure everything worked.
It took months, maybe even a year, working on it in my spare time. Lots of late nights, lots of swearing, but eventually, it was done. The Peugeot 404, back from the dead!
The Result
Took it for a spin, and it was amazing. Not the fastest car, but it had character. The way it handled, the way it sounded… It was a blast from the past.
This project taught me a lot about patience, persistence, and the satisfaction of bringing something old back to life. Would I do it again? Probably. Am I glad it’s over? Definitely!