Removing the ENGINE from my Citroen SM - finally!

[@andyyork544]

Well done for getting this far. I recognise the feeling of joy that lasts approximately 2 nanoseconds before the feeling of being overwhelmed returns. This is like group therapy for me.

Dear Reader, Because I'm still to depressed after the 'joyeuses fêtes', I would keep like to my comment short. Also much more agreable for the reader, I think. Chapeau for the skills, perseverance and affection Mr. UPnDOWN shows in his video's for the SM. I think this project will end well. With somber greetings, Michel F. van den Brun Dutchman (yes, that's a job description)

[@HowardLeVert]

Hoping things get better for you, Michel. Not been great here either, especially today.

[@UPnDOWN]

Chin up Mr Dutchman!

[@jncg2311]

Excellent job description, I appreciate you doing that. I too am underwhelmed by the state of the world now but on the up side, in a few weeks the days will get noticeably longer and thereafter some signs of the birth of the new year will emerge around us. If you have a car (doesn't have to be an SM), or a bike or even some nice bits of wood if that's your thing, see it you can get your hands on them and have a little project on the go. I find it very valuable, and much underrated. Hoping things look up for you soon, JNCG Scotsman (not a job description for me but if we are going there, I will join you)

[@HubNut]

Suggestion. SMs are really thirsty. You own an Iveco diesel. You know what to do.

[@UPnDOWN]

So is the Iveco diesel!

[@martinenstrom8206]

@@HubNut Of course conversion to electric. That would piss off about every fan of both Maseratis and old SM:s at the same time. It would be a dream to watch every week. It would also be a tribute to the soul of the car, seriously! It’s the timeless car of the future going into the future.

[@oojimmyflip]

Sacralidge, what an awful suggestion 🙄

[@martinenstrom8206]

@@oojimmyflip Well someone is bound to do it. And cutting two cylinders from a Maserati V8 engine isn’t? This way you can still use the existing engine and gearbox in another SM…

[@Mancozeb100]

@@oojimmyflipYep, You’re right… it’d be much better with a Nissan diesel 🤭

[@Weejie2011]

As they said in ancient Rome: Maserati remotum est. Miserere nobis.

[@realnutteruk1]

That's very much a motorcycle engine design, with its camchain-in-the-middle approach, and fully enclosed crankshaft end. I'd assumed because of its 90° angle it was originally designed as a V8, but cut down to six cylinders (like the PRV V6 was), but apparently it was set at 90° so it could be built with existing Maserati machinery.

[@CitEnthusiast]

90° to make the engine shorter. Citroën already had the body designed, with the Maserati engine it would clear the hood. A 60° engine would be too tall. They did chop up a V8 to sample the package size, once that proved successful Alferi went to designing a new engine, taking a lot from his V8s. I still don't understand the chain layout decision, at first glance you think it's so the heads are interchangeable, but they are not (right side is marked A, left side B).

[@UPnDOWN]

As I understand it, the 90° is because that's what the Maserati production line was tooled to produce (other V6s from this period were also tried as 90°, such as the Buick oddfire which predated the SM engine). The prototype for the SM lump was based on a chopped down V8, but once they'd proven the concept they designed a new engine from the ground up. I didn't know the PRV was based on a V8, that's new to me!

[@jimbracken1440]

Thanks for the entertaining content!

[@UPnDOWN]

Thank you Jim, you didn't have to. I will put it in the pot.

[@arkeys74]

So it is more like a floorless flaw rather than a flawless floor at your unit I suppose? 😃 Congratulations on the engine out job and happy new year 😃🎉

[@richardhunt809]

It’s big but not very flat

[@jncg2311]

Brilliant, and you made it look easy! When faced with daunting jobs, and especially those that are made moreso by reputation I have to remember that it is after all still a car, held together with screws and bolts and nuts. Watching this makes me all the more happy about the impending inboard caliper removal and refurbishment on my Alfa Sprint.

[@mclouj]

Seems like an appropriate milestone to get the year started! Well done sir.

[@brianpateman2666]

Excellent Rich! Best thing I've seen this year. I'm looking forward to this project with eager anticipation.

[@lauraiss1027]

Amazing, I'm so excited. Wish I've found your channel year or three in future and not long time ago, to binge watch all this grind from start to finish. But then again, microdosing is a thing. If Jesus knew some sinful peasant will take SM engine out on his birthday, he'd blush and go "No, he didn't! He did what? An SM?! Oh my dad!" Thank you for sharing this!

[@UPnDOWN]

Or if you're catholic, "Oh my dad...I mean me!"

[@dungbetel]

I remember back in 1969 my mum waking us kids up at 3 in the morning to watch the Moon landing on our old black and white TV. This is in the same league. Epic!

[@UPnDOWN]

Bit of a stretch! But then I wasn't around to see those.

[@thisiszaphod]

Congrats, Kitch, Nicely done 👍

[@robinfoster7597]

Good work, keep it up. I'm glad to see the back of '24 too.

[@davidwarren1315]

Congratulations on the birth of an sm engine well done

[@geoffersk]

Top job Mr Kitch, made that look like childs play. Look forward to the next installment on Maserati diagnostics, fingers crossed for you!

[@michaelwright2986]

'Twas Christmas Eve in the workshop ... That was a splendid video. Really gripping. Full, one might even say, of suspense. Best of luck for 2025.

[@guillaumeromain6694]

Pure joy to see this video coming out! You are doing great !

[@stefantrnacek1394]

What a really great moment. It's really good to see the drive train removed.

[@lesklower7281]

Another well done there's always a first time for anything and removing the engine and transmission from your Citroen SM

[@MysteriousFigure]

a well rescued video out of the throes of technology (and hip hip hooray to DaVinci for seemingly resolving the problem) great to see the engine out of the SM, and even if some of the rust is ever more clear to see, it shows a great deal of progress in getting this car back to its former glory

[@UPnDOWN]

Yup, DaVinci to the rescue. Takes me longer to edit vids now and some of the features have gone, but overall it's been good.

[@martinenstrom8206]

Thanks, haven’t seen an SM-engine going out of the car before. 😅

[@Canalsman]

Happy New Year Kitch! That's a wonderful example of engineering, the perfect balance of the engine and drivetrain assembly. Very impressed by that, and the quality of the materials that you've removed so far. You must be cautiously optimistic about the engine... Delighted that you're making real progess.

[@UPnDOWN]

Mmmm, I'm not sure. The engine is a bit of an unknown. But fingers crossed!

[@JorgeFernandez-uc9qb]

Great Job on getting it out. It is quite interesting to look at. Here is to you for getting it out without damage. I am looking forward to seeing you working on it.

[@HowardLeVert]

A real milestone - and where did those 25 minutes go? Great stuff!!

[@2008tourer]

Good job! Happy to see the progress Also I can see the increase in the video quality, I like 60 fps format

[@jimcrichton8028]

Well at least the crank has only one end seal to worry about leaking. So glad you recovered the lost video.

[@dudeemeg]

Well done. At least you bought it with the engine in it and can take notes when pulling it out. I bought one with the engine on two wodden blocks, gearbox on the floor and all the bits for the whole front end in boxes. It's like 1:1 kit, without instructions...

[@ukzoinks]

great milestone to reach . Congratulations - no turning back.

[@holdencauldield4824]

another great video im sorry about your year I now the feeling hopefully it picks up next year. im loving you sm restoration

[@dreamofstorms]

It was a big deal and well done! And great vlog as usual!

[@davidflamee]

Best wishes, and well done reaching this milestone. Definitely not for the faint hearted.

[@lesterlesabre4326]

Congratulations on finishing 2024 with a positive development!

[@mikecleasby709]

Big lump of progress there Rich! Came out a lot easier than my teeth did earlier today! Keep chipping away at it, even the biggest of elephants can be eaten in small bites! 👍😉

[@UPnDOWN]

Oh don't, I've got toothache at the moment myself

[@adelestevens]

I've worked on a few French cars of my own. Cx citroens , v6 renault espace and other French monsters that can give you nightmares. I've worked out the secret to French vehicles.... They're actually designed quite well with maintenance and economy in mind by highly qualified technicians, then...a government official must overlook all aspects of design and "Frenchify" them by making each vehicle almost nigh on impossible to fix and to maximise the number of bloody knuckles on British garage workers!

[@UPnDOWN]

The LHD cars are definitely easier to work on. But I agree, they're usually very well thought out. It's a hot take, but to me the best automotive engineering over the last century has come from France.

[@wanderingorganist]

Really pleased you recovered the footage of your hard work (and massive step forwards). Round of applause from Sussex.

[@spokesmann]

Bloody good work, hats off to you for getting stuck into the French puzzle...

[@MrStonegrove]

I can't help commenting that you now you really have an SM, a Citroën Sans Moteur... :) Given how interesting of a car the SM is engineering-wise it's very interesting to see it on show in a way you don't normally do by it being taken apart even if it's out of neccessity. What a head scratcher for a mechanic in the US used to vehiicles in the same vein of Bel Airs an the like.

[@bondbug73]

A well deserved round of applause from West Yorkshire. That is a well balanced engine. Not everyday you see a SM engine removal video. It's a mix of nerves and excitement.

[@Sid3300]

Engine out already ay? 1 step closer to driving your SM on the road!

[@martyndyer4444]

Is it wrong for me to be so excited to see you remove the engine? I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time. Glad you managed to get the video out. Thank you.

[@lordbungle6235]

Nice One, That looks very clean at the front. No massive tin worm attacks is always good to see. Now get some cleaner and a jet wash on the engine before you pull it appart.

[@olegregersen1024]

Good progress, remember to document all the bits and bops 'living spaces'. I am so looking forward to see the engine apart. Keep up the good work.

[@MrTimcoronel]

You are a mad bastard. Happy new year.

[@stuarthannay3370]

Congratulations Sir, cracking progress. Keep on keeping on! Oh, and Happy New Year.

[@batlin]

17:10 was fully expecting a rendition of "I'm a little teapot" here

[@morkelork4730]

Congrats, that's an awesome step!! So glad it's you doing it and not me, this is terrifyingly complex😅

[@robinwells8879]

Very much looks like a racing format engine/gearbox combo, especially with the inboard discs. Looks like it would just slot in to a mid engine super car chassis with just a swap of the orientation of the differential crown wheel to reverse the wheel rotation direction.

[@jayslittleprojects1431]

woohoo it's out, great to see this progress:)

[@rimmersbryggeri]

IT had to come out not only for the rotissrie. Probably a good idea to check chain tensioners etc after all this time not being lubed.

[@UPnDOWN]

Yeah. It'll be getting new chains & tensioners. The latter have changed design a few times since this was made!

[@rimmersbryggeri]

@@UPnDOWN I suspected you were onto that. Somethink that seems to be forgotten surprisingly often though because even "people with experience" seem to think chains are forever.

[@cx.silver.bullet]

Nice 👍 regarding high pressure lines think about replacing all of them. It's a great opportunity to do it 😊

[@tridaks]

It doesn't look to bad up front; just a clean up and a some paint needed. Hopefully the rest of the shell will be straightforward panel replacement.

[@UPnDOWN]

Sadly the panels aren't really obtainable. Lots of fabrication needed.

[@tridaks]

@@UPnDOWN Do you watch Grand Thrift Auto with his Matra Rancho? How does that compare to your SM, rust wise?

[@UPnDOWN]

I haven't recently, but he does appear to be a man with skillz to pay the billz

[@GG-tu3jp]

Awesome, onwards and upwards!! Happy New Year!

[@uwekall6281]

Congratulations!

[@jamesmiller6977]

I see a world of pain ahead. Good luck with this labour of love!

[@damonrobus-clarke533]

Well, should have been from the beginning, but progress is slowly being made!

[@grayfool]

Ye can't make an omlette wivout breaking some eggs. Going backwards to go forwards is what you have to do sometimes. This is getting very interesting now. Happy New Year everyone.

[@ColinGarner-h1t]

I really do wish you luck rebuilding this car . I love the SM second only to the DS .

[@richardhunt809]

Excellent. That went very well.

[@chrisburns453]

Congratulations

[@nickhaag7803]

I may have a warped mind, or perhaps it's the influence of the Friday evening alcohol, but I am wondering what, if any, is the purpose of a bobble on a bobble hat? Who thought of it and why? That aside, great to see progress. I can see the first drive in my mind's eye!

[@grumpy2.0]

Why only 1 bobble. Not 2 or 3?

[@UPnDOWN]

It's a fair point!

[@sh4dowchas3r]

without the bobble it would merely be a beanie.

[@paulpobsanderson6219]

They raised the Costa Concordia quicker than that 😂😂, Great job though, really love this project 👌🏻

[@Luwinkle]

Yay ya got the video issues straightened out!

[@isaacplaysbass8568]

You can't put it back in if you don't take it out first. Lovin' it.

[@Madpegasusmax]

I confess that I was stressed to see that "backwards" mounted engine getting out . One good mile stone achieved :D , Cant wait to see that engine sparkling get back on is bay :D

[@colintennant9375]

Nice one Kitch! All the best for 2025.

[@shadowjkl]

Love the look of italian engines :D

[@tomwinch9107]

Wow, snap ... Your first SM engine removal is the same video as my first time watching an SM engine being removed - what are the chances? ;-)

[@jrnmller1551]

For inspiration see: Citrothello and his SM resturation!!!! (be careful it could have the opposite effect)

[@UPnDOWN]

Yes I've been watching some of those. Very nice work.

[@gaddmeister]

That was as traumatic as my daughter being born 😂😂

[@gazonatrike7005]

Would that fit in an Imp? 😅

[@UPnDOWN]

If dropped from height, probably.

[@Zadster]

Happy New Year! This is a great end to the old / start of the new year. The body/chassis looks in reassuringly good nick, and the engine simply looks genuine. The condition of the coolant and oil just makes me think it will be generally do-able. Are the oil, water pumps etc gear driven? I guess they must be, as they are hidden under those castings. One day, you will drive this around the Arc de Triomphe with the family, and all will be well with the world.

[@UPnDOWN]

There's a timing chain at the 'front' (aka the back) which drives the centre shaft. The pumps must take drive somewhere round there but until I open it up I don't fully know. There are lots of manuals I can fall back to.

[@dizzy2020]

I sincerely hope that - one day - you'll return the engine to the SM and begin the process of solving all the problems it will have AFTER you fix all the problems it's got now... Alex Roy had a mint SM - drove it to a few car shows and then said he couldn't work-out what else to do with it - and that from a man who drove a Morgan 3-wheeler as a daily!!

[@tomwinch9107]

I think Kitch has a plan - sit in the driver's seat and pull the handbrake on, then release it, then put it on, then release it ... Plus there's also moving the suspension control lever, so the car goes up, and down (boom boom) ...

[@robertmaitland09]

Well done, onwards and up and downwards as they say...

[@OneDullMan]

To commemorate this auspicious event, I believe that we, the viewing audience, should be entitled to another HubNut Happy Dance. Jiggly Jiggly 😊

[@HowardLeVert]

Notable change in picture quality, Rich - has DaVinci Resolve saved the day?

[@UPnDOWN]

It has. It's a new phone too, though it's not night & day different to the old one. The old software throttled the footage a lot.

[@HowardLeVert]

@@UPnDOWN That's great to hear, Rich - the 60p looks so much better. Have to say I felt for you at 14:17, I've been saying that a lot already and in exactly the same context.

[@grumpy2.0]

I have felt so much excitement and trepidation for a rising

[@uptnorth]

Looking forward to next week's video of it going back in 😂

[@Simonicusmaximus]

Don't think too much, do some research and just take your time 😊

[@simonprime5541]

Massive well done . Are you going full resto or somewhere in between? Happy new year to you and your family.

[@UPnDOWN]

Somewhere inbetween. I'll use it too much for it to be a resto.

[@richardbaron7106]

Not a step back, rather a step forward - after all this time, progress has def been made!

[@kevingarfoot1831]

Nice. I enjoyed that. 😊

[@Simonicusmaximus]

Nice job! How long did that take? Wonder if it would fit in a TVR lol!😅

[@UPnDOWN]

Not easily!

[@stuartmoles843]

I’m worried and I don’t even own the thing😂

[@deanstevenson6527]

Magical Upliftment of Italino- French by Upand Down Levitation. I'm so down with your quest! 🥝✔️

[@smhorse]

To misquote a phrase: "When a man is tired of SMs, he is tired of life"

[@carlreading9916]

"I've run out of things to say" - that'll be the day ;-)

[@aslandama]

No turning back now sir! Quivering lip time!

[@uwekall6281]

Concerning the broken studs: does anybody know if there are left turning drill bits anywhere to buy?

[@holdencauldield4824]

with the engine being at the back do the have the same thing as the ds where the engine rotates in the opposite direction?

[@AnyoneSeenMikeHunt]

I admire people who see life where I see a corpse.

[@proluxelectronics7419]

Autopsy the oil filter for a teaser of things to come..

[@UPnDOWN]

It's on the list.

[@mojosabien]

Question…. I find myself considering a mk2 C5. What is your opinion of these cars, you know, being an expert in Citroëns?

[@Ricketik65]

Yes!

[@iangrice329]

Looks a lot more complicated than the 903cc Fiat Panda engine I removed.

[@iamthenotbenamed365]

so Brother, you is in-to SM ...

[@goranrumenius9962]

Whats the engine serial no?

[@oojimmyflip]

Oooo the body will be on a rosta-spit soon have you contacted the Citroen car club I believe one or two people have the rosta-spit frames, you might be able to borrow one.

[@UPnDOWN]

I'll just make one, the SM community is hit 'n miss! That said I don't think there are many actually in the CCC. Or if there are, they stay quiet!

[@paulluce2557]

Are you planning on trying to rebuild that engine?

[@user-dp4sr8xu1m]

I see a steam cleaner in your future 🙂

[@UPnDOWN]

I've got one, but it's shite sadly.

[@user-dp4sr8xu1m]

@@UPnDOWN Pity - I had access to one that ran on diesel and used it to clean a couple of pre-war engine blocks - pretty astounding how clean they came out. You'd need to be a bit more careful with a built-up engine but it would be worth hiring one because the mess in cleaning up that lump by hand is going to be awful - I've done a couple and.... yuck!

[@davefrench3608]

Yeah! It’s out!