203 PEUGEOT
TRUCK
by Mike Aube
Ever since I've received
my 203 truck, I've had overheating problems. Considering
the age and where it came from, the south of France, not
an unusual problem. I flushed it out numerous times with
rad flush and MB citric acid to no avail, well not quite
true, there was some improvement. I could drive it for
a while but upon shutdown it would gurgle for a while
until the block cooled down. I didn't really want to pull
the head off and clean out the sediment accumulated between
the sleeves and block, for fear of disturbing the sleeve
seals and be in for a bigger job.
After repairing the brakes, installing a new steering
coupler, a new radiator and better tires, I decided that
it was do or die time. I had some errands to do north
of Montreal and took off with the 203 after adding some
M-B lemon juice to the coolant. Twenty km out I go to
turn on the wipers and mistakenly switched the engine
off (both push-pull switches and side by side), switch
the engine back on and BANG, there goes the muffler. Oh
well, anytime I buy a car, I have to replace the exhaust
system within a month of usage anyway.
Once in Pointe-Claire, just west of Montreal,
I meet my buddy Bara for coffee . He still owns his first
car, also a 1955 Peugeot 203. After telling each other a
few tall tales, we check the levels in my vehicle before
I depart. To his dismay and my relief, when we open the
rad cap, it is nothing but sludge and mud in there, the
sediments in the block had finally loosened up. I keep going
towards Blainville, once there I pick up my load and again
check the levels.
Oh! Oh! Serious oil spots underneath, phew! It's only the
oil pressure line to the head which has loosened up. Take
the 14mm wrench out and tighten it up ( mechanics always
have tools with them if you can believe that one). The sun
is out and the roads are dry, so lets try the expressway.
With the wind at my back and that big sail of a tarp, 110kph
no problem heading south, now keep in mind that this is
a 1.4 L engine, 4 speed OD transmission and 7.25 final drive
with 400 wheels (approximately 16" wheels), she is
just a roaring. Now time to go west bound into the high
winds, well, I got a few thumbs up, but most that gave me
a signal, it was that other finger that was pointing up.
To the mat, I could get 90kph downhill. As soon as I could,
I went back to the scenic route off the expressway. A hundred
km (64 miles) away from home, the generator quit. Still
got me home even though I had to use the lights for the
last 60kms.
The joys of breaking in a new old toy. Once
these glitches are straightened out, it will be time to
put it away for the winter but then, WATCH OUT NEXT SUMMER,
I'll be travelling.
©VEA
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