R4 from Poland

[chudson]

Hello everyone

I have been working on my R4 for two years now and it's time to show it to you all.
I bought the car about 7 years ago ( unexpected finding while looking for a modern car for daily use ) it cost me 250 euro and I got second R4 for spares.
Since I was working on another project at that time ( Ford Escort mk2 ) Renault had to wait in garage for several years before I finally started the restoration.

Papers say it's 1964 model but Not much apart from the documents fit the year.

When I bought it i noticed that the chassis had been repaired and rear axel mountings are in perfect condition. However front and floor was quite bad. Although it looked as if someone had restored it a few years earlier
It had a lot of younger model parts and the body was from a newer model too but since I've got the papers , a few boxes of parts given by the owner and another car for spares I decided to make it look more like an early model.

The pictures are from the day I bought it. The yellow one is withouth papers and I use it for spare parts because it's chassis was beyond repair.

 

[chudson]

When I put it into pieces two years ago and started watching other R4 on the internet I noticed even more parts that don't fit the early model.

The dashboard was the newest type but I have two dashboards from the 70's model and half of the parts needet for 1964 model.
The gearbox is a 4 speed newer type ( got 2 of them ) and there is no possibility to start the motor with a lever although the crossmember had the hole to do so.
Front brakes were swaped to discs and handbrake was moved to the rear.
The radiator was newer type too.
Doors have hidden hinges,
I've got two engines . The red one had 1100 working well and the yellow probably 850cc ( unknown condition ) When I finish the body I will decide which one to use.


The chassis is ready now , I try to keep the costs low so I didn't buy expensive panels and welded everything by myself using 0,8mm 1,0mm and 1,2mm metal sheets.

I painted the whole chassis with old style LEAD paint which gives excelent corrosion protection, sealed the welding spots with a special compound and put antigravel on the whole.

 

[chudson]

The whole braking was renewed. New cylinders, new cooper pipes and rubber hoses , New brake pads. I fitted drum brakes at front and made handbrake operate front again. Shock absorbers are new too. Every bush in front suspension is new and balljoints too.
New cooper fuel pipe was mounted
Bearings in al 4 wheels were replaced.
I needed to replace the crossmember too.

 

[JASPER94]

Looking good , looks like its all going well

 

[chudson]

It looks better every day. I got brake limiting valve for the early model (without connection to swingarm ) and I'm using a beadroller to make elements of the bulkhead panels.
I've also ordered the old type radiator so most of the "expensive" stuff is behind me. Now I just need to put it together.

Now the part where I need your help starts I am looking for some pictures and information about details like:

How should chrome headlight frames be mounted ? Did the early models have special lamp sockets for it or what ? I can fabricate some thing that fits but would appreciate pictures showing how it looks like in the original.
I've got only newer bonnet and will weld it to look like the old one. Should be challenging

The same thing with air inlet metal plate ( under windscreen ) I have it but need to figure out the way of installing it on a car which had plastic one. The lever to operate it is in the place but I don't see how the plate was mounted.

 

[angel]

That's a lot of work-congratulations on this!

First generation bonnets were completely different from later ones, not only on the grille area, but also around this (pressed contour had different shape). Headlamp holding buckets were different,too, and these need to be fitted otherwise you will not be able to fit the aluminum rims.
I think doing all these modifications on the late bonnet would be an awful lot of work, and it will still not look like the original. Better shut closed the rectangular indicator apertures, then re-drill them to accept the early round indicators, and find a second generation aluminum grille, it will look more professional.

The sheet metal ventilation flap hinges along its complete top length on a "?" shaped sheet metal profile. Even if you can have it made it would be hard to weld it without having it lose its shape. Better, though not easy, is to find an early donor car and cut the whole flap section (it is actually part of the roof pressing) and weld it to your body.

 

[chudson]

If finding the later aluminium grill was so easy

I have some experience in fabricating things. My ford escort had front doors corrosion reaching half the door and the bottom part didn't exist and i managed to fix that. Putty can hide almost everything- just need to weld it properly first .

If anybody has some pictures or can take pictures of the elements I am pretty sure I can make the changes I need.

I looked through pictures of hoods and apart from the grille hole 'which can be welded easily, and indicator holes ,which also can be easily welded, I see only one bending difference in it. I pointed it on the picture. Do i have it right? Green is the old one , red is the younger type?


Finding donor in Poland is almost impossible. For last few years I've seen only one early model for sale as a whole for 2000 euro ( in bad condition ) used parts are very rare. Only two younger models for sale on the internet at the moment. The market is very small.

If anybody has the bigger aluminium grille in a reasonable price it would save me some time fabricating the hoodthough.

 

[chudson]

Two years have passed and I am close to finish my car. I only need to mount proper early bumpers, some crome details and adjust front left suspension tension.
The papers say the car is 1964 but previous owner repaired it with tons of later parts. I had lots of difficulties finding the right parts that is why I left the later type door ( hiden hinges ) , dashboard from the 70's ,model, I also left the 1,1L engie but managed to keep the old type radiator, glass expansion tank and brake fluid tank, front drum brakes with handbrake.
I also have the earliest type grill and extra bonnet( late type - will need welding to adjust it ) I am going to put together in the future.
The color is not original. Its VAG LL5D Aral blue . Paintwork isn;t the best because I done it by myself in the backyard to cut the expenses ( 25 euro for a litre of base paint and 20 euro for 1L of clear coat )

Old type rims are waiting for sandblasting ( I don't know what color should they be - beige ? )

Rear side windows are going to be replaced with opening versions but I am leaving opening windows in rear doors too. There will be crome trims around the car ( i wanted to mount universal with duct tape but I managed to buy a complete set of original yesterday for 25 euro ) crome inserts for windscreens are also waiting to be mounted. Right mirror is also in the trunk
I wish I had a front bench seat

 

[Azazello]

It is really a big patchwork but looks good!

 

[chudson]

I had very limited budget and tried to do as much as possible. I already spent on the car over 2500 euro and that's my 9 month salary.

 

[mojobaby]

congratulations! That is a lot of work. It must be very rewarding for you to see the car finished, Your paint job is great, but beige rims are too dull for the blue. White or silver!!

 

[Azazello]

Which kind of wheels are you planning to use? Do they match with front disks?

 

[chudson]

I have front drum brakes , Previous owner had disk brakes at the front and mounted big front drums to the back but I got it back the way it should be. So old type rims should fit well.

 

[chudson]

FInally today an expert came to take pictures and write special opinion needed for historic car registration here in Poland giving me special protection if dammaged, no more every year mot examination ,much cheaper insurance and special historic number plates In two-three weeks I will finnish the paper work and be able to drive the car for the first time

 

[chudson]

Some minor work still needs to be done like sandblasting and painting original rims with metal covers.