My Citroen SM speedo hasn't moved for 30 years!

[@dungbetel]

Chausson produced heating and cooling parts for many vehicles. They had factories in many places in the Paris region, notably Asnières and Gennevilliers, which are in the 92 département. So, I guess the 92 might indicate it was made in one of those factories.

[@HowardLeVert]

That thought crossed my mind too - the '92' referred to the département, not the date.

[@UPnDOWN]

Ahh, that's interesting! I've never seen area codes on parts before, but I have seen place names (quite a few BX parts have 'Rennes' stamped on them). You could well be right. It also means I now don't want to paint over that pipe!

[@ambrosenuk]

Me: But if it's from the 60s, surely the département numbers would've been different? Wikipedia: The (first 89) numbers have been the same since 1869.

[@niallsommerville9813]

@@UPnDOWN Clearcoat

[@wollywotsit]

You have an impressive rack

[@Bowerprods2011]

It's A SM day = Sunday Madness

[@random007nadir]

That thing has more pipes than the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

[@deviatefishy]

These videos have made me look forward to Sundays. Thank you very much.

[@adventuresinrust1644]

This brings back many nightmares of a job acquired years ago when a bloke I knew paid a garage to do the clutch in his SM. They took it apart, panicked and gave up. Foolishly I said I'd have a go at sorting it. 16 boxes of parts, a gear box on the floor and pipes chucked everywhere. 3 weeks of 18 hour days, 90% of which was trying to work out where the hell it all went.. Awesome cars, bloody pita when someone else took it to bits..

[@shadowjkl]

When I was little, learning to read english, I remember getting an english old cars magazine. Don't remember which one though. There was a pic of engine bay of XJ-S V12, with title 'Terrifying maze of pipes'. Maybe reason in part me turning into a Steampunk fan. Always like the analog nature of old cars, no electronics making things happen. Positively liking the engineering that went into the SM.

[@joopjansen9102]

Massive progress Kitch! It's unbelievable how this car is not fighting you every step of the way. In fact, it appears to cheer you on, if anything.

[@matthpotte]

I think it just wants to live and knows he is the one who will save it.

[@ClassicCarDriver]

Having been through the pain of what you are doing... few can really understand the enormity of the task you have ahead of you and the reward that awaits you. Godspeed my good man. Did I mention that I have an SM? 😉

[@gafrers]

Brown is just another shade of green. 🤣🤣 Great work. The more you disassemble to more complex it seems.

[@davidflamee]

"blacker than my soul" the things you come out with. More great progress, festooned with circumstantial banter. The closer you get to the engine, the more the tension mounts. Superb.

[@Tagora2664]

Good to see you cracking on with the SM Kitch, the more I watch the braver I think you are! This car is just so far from the norm, this is a real education. 👍

[@martinneumann7783]

OK - I’m not a car mechanic. But I’ve never seen a more complicated engine bay than this one. I hope and pray that one fine day… 😊 See you next Sunday, Kitch! Cheers »»» Martin 🚗💥🇫🇷

[@UPnDOWN]

The C6 is pretty frightening, tbf

[@bondbug73]

Can tell you're really relishing working on something that looks like a nozzle free Saturn V rocket engine Rich. 😁

[@Simonicusmaximus]

Thankyou for cleaning that windscreen, made me happy! 😊

[@HowardLeVert]

Another thoroughly enjoyable video that just flew by - and how refreshing to see proper hand tools being used rather than the inevitable noisy powered impact drivers so beloved across the water...

[@JorgeFernandez-uc9qb]

That is an amazing car. So unlike anything else, but when it worked, it was awesome. I really enjoy watching you take it apart and see how they made it. Very interesting!

[@niallsommerville9813]

Axle stand speeding ticket, brilliant.

[@Shane_Marsh]

Awesome mate, you're going to have 19k subs that know how to rebuild an SM by the end of this series. What a legend 👏🏻

[@2008tourer]

So happy to see such progress on the SM!

[@tomwinch9107]

Great to see yet more come apart with only two large unions on the oil cooler putting up a passable level of resistance Hope that 0.2 miles doesn't have much effect on the value! Hope the colour blind mechanic who thought ATF was green isn't still working on classic Citroëns! Good luck with the next 20 bolts - and avoiding PCs that eat video recordings ;-)

[@CaSuMog]

I have a bag of original hoses, I took more then a dozen SMs apart. That hose at 14:50 is not original. If you need parts, ask.

[@UPnDOWN]

Which one? They look pretty original (or at least, original fitment)

[@CaSuMog]

@ the corrugated one is not original. They are all flat.

[@UPnDOWN]

Oh I see, yes I think you might be right.

[@CaSuMog-m2y]

@@UPnDOWN well I owned 17 of these beasts, and I Drive a 73 3.0 manual Since 1999, so, yes, there‘s a bit of know how hereover :-)

[@grumpytorque8905]

Got to love some SM action

[@hpevans9041]

Lovin the SM content. Hope the strip doesn’t reveal any major headaches 🤞

[@jonnybigpotato4263]

Have you seen the Texas auto SM for sale in the US on eBay at $2800, even with shipping there might be a route to parts savings and frame/bodywork savings there for you but at a lump sum cost. Said to be very solid frame but obviously in need of complete restoration. I’m sure you need yet another spare car!

[@MrButtonpresser]

I'm in aware at the minds that created such complexity, and somewhat in empathy with you by having to fix it all. Ye Gods!

[@tichwykes]

Ah loving the series looks like a seriously complicated motor to work ok so kudos to you for taking it on.

[@anakinskywalker4113]

This is amazing progress 🤩🤩🤩 keep up the great content. I look forward to every new instalment.

[@mrc7478]

Could do with more pipes and wires in the engine bay

[@UPnDOWN]

Yeah, bit light on that front huh?

[@perakesson6022]

The red fluid is probably automatic gearbox oil. Not LHS. LHM is banned in the US and as I understand it often replaced with autogearbox oil. It will not harm the system. My expert Citroën mechanic actually recommends to put 0,5l of it in the system to clean it before an LHM change. It also can be used as an emergency fill up is there is a sudden leak. Happend to me while driving my XM. It used to be possible to find LHM at most gasstation but not anymore.

[@UPnDOWN]

I'm pretty sure it's ATF.

[@perakesson6022]

@ you most likely have a very clean hydraulic system then.

[@johnwaga3702]

A great video, I am so pleased you’re working on the SM. What a speedo!!

[@BelfastMurf]

Thanks

[@UPnDOWN]

Very kind, thanks! I'll put it towards the parts.

[@guillaumeromain6694]

Was looking forward to third video ! I know it's going to be great! Thank you and good luck

[@simonprime5541]

great vid mate . Keep them coming

[@OneDullMan]

Logoe on touque - next level of fashion. Cool.

[@romac9516]

Brilliant stuff, this is the kind of video that gives life to many. Slight exaggeration maybe but not far off.

[@davidwarren1315]

Keep up the good work

[@binarydinosaurs]

I just keep looking at that morass of pipes and wires and thinking 'how is it ever going to go back together?!' Of course, if anyone can do it you can.

[@UPnDOWN]

I've taken photos and there's always Google...

[@Invisibleman7]

More SM goodness

[@jayslittleprojects1431]

Love seeing the progress on this

[@davefrench3608]

This car’s history is a real mystery, worthy of Dame Agatha perhaps.

[@lukec5416]

Another great SM video!! Does the red colour mean someone has used earlier LHS (red) rather than LHM (green)? I recall the US regulator wouldn't allow LHM for some time after it was phased out in Europe?

[@CaSuMog]

The Sm was not affected. There never was a red- blooded SM ever. They often poured dexron atf in the system which is red….and very old LHM becomes brownish

[@MichelAngelUsubiaga]

i had a DS in the 1990s in Canada. LHM was hard to come by here but the advice at that time was to use automatic transmission fluid instead. Perhaps this U.S.A. car had a similar experience.

[@UPnDOWN]

LHM is/was hard to find in the US, so quite common to see people putting ATF in it. If it was LHS it'd be in pretty bad shape after 30-odd years.

[@AaronSmart.online]

​@@UPnDOWN I also found a few discussions about Americans and Aussies using certain aircraft-spec mineral oils, not sure what colour they are though

[@michaelwright2986]

At about 13:00 I thought "Laocoon." Perhaps the hydraulic system being full of Freedom Fluid instead of Surrender LHM (or "green fairy") is evidence of an attempt to get it going?

[@UPnDOWN]

I'd expect the system to still be full of whatever it was running on, it's very unusual to find one dry. Looks to me like they've just used an ATF of some kind, presumably in the US where LHM is harder to find. (Doesn't mean you can use ATF, though!)

[@gillespriod5509]

This Is a Crazy restoration project, very demanding for a person alone, this car Is so complex and rotten and many pieces have to be rebuilt for scratch, i Hope he can finish It and enjoy the car, i know what It means since is also my work and passion

[@mattphillips4419]

7:34 I love the fact it has the stopping distances written on the speedo! Has any other car ever had that?

[@UPnDOWN]

Citroen DS...?

[@chamaileon81]

I'm kinda shocked at the level of complexity of this car.

[@UPnDOWN]

The rumours are true!

[@uwekall6281]

So the Saga goes on, nice! But oh my! LHS?? in a LHM car is usually the death of all hydraulic sealings. That's always been a problem with mechanics who don't know about Citroëns ruining cars. Hopefully it is LHM compatible juice ...

[@UPnDOWN]

I think it's ATF, not LHS.

[@jonnybigpotato4263]

@@UPnDOWNI’ve read elsewhere that in some places where LHM is hard to get the theory is that ATF is just the same so use that. No idea how valid that is but that would explain why it’s there

[@UPnDOWN]

I'm sure people have used it as a substitute, but it's definitely not the same as LHM. Prolonged use with ATF will kill a lot of the components.

[@robinwells8879]

The speedo needle on my 1947 Austin 10 had actually welded itself to the end stop pin due to differential metal corrosion presumably. I replaced the broken cable and nothing happened until I probed about digitally 🖕😉. Now it just under reads by 5mph across its entire range….well up to forty anyway 😂

[@LordClunk]

6:53 Aren't those the same vents used in MK2 Ford Escorts?

[@UPnDOWN]

Similar looking, but these are probably 0.8g lighter and have a 3deg wider angle of flow (and cost 14x as much)

[@Madpegasusmax]

keep up the good work :D

[@lesklower7281]

The speedometer is a bit different to any other speedometer the numbers go all the way around the speedometer there is no gapm between no miles per hour and 160 mph as with speedometers on usual cars were again the Citroen SM proves again as a very unusual car like the DS but definitely the SM is proving more unusual than the DS and unusual is a good thing

[@goranrumenius9962]

Those oilcooler hoses must be replaced, but keep the original fittings since they are pretty unique.

[@Chris-mc4ld]

nice job

[@James-ld2jc]

Every time I see this engine bay I think it's an explosion in a hosepipe factory

[@bulkheadlamp600]

Slowly nibbling away and the pile is getting bigger. It's like one of the wifes drawers - you wonder how the hell did all that fit in there😱

[@robertmaitland09]

Nowt like a bit of SM on a Sunday.

[@rimmersbryggeri]

I would just fluch te oil cooler with petrol or acetone and re use it. The condition seems decent enough.

[@UPnDOWN]

I could do, will see.

[@markusjuenemann]

I remember selling Erbauer tools at Screwfix here in Germany. Until they gave up the german market because of incompetence...

[@UPnDOWN]

These ones have been shite. I prefer Hitoki/Hitachi normally.

[@markusjuenemann]

@@UPnDOWN I know exactly what you're talking about... 😜

[@paulross4834]

Does the red fluid in your SM's hydraulic systemsmell sweet? It looks to me like it is aircraft mineral hydraulic fluid known as aerosols fluid 41 or OM 15 as used in many old 50"s and 60's British jets. If so, it is compatible with LHM. .

[@v12mike30]

More likely just ATF as the closest thing available in a US parts store. Also pretty much compatible with LHM.

[@UPnDOWN]

It could be, haven't studied it closely yet, but I think it's just ATF.

[@paulross4834]

Should be 'Aeroshell fluid 14', not 'aerosols'. If ATF is mineral, then should be OK, i.e. the seals should not be degraded with mineral oil.

[@docnele]

With all that cluster of pipes, hoses and wires sticking out there it looks like purchase and repair of some biplane aircraft would have been a simpler option... and maybe cheaper at the end.

[@BelfastMurf]

She is getting on a bit. The odd unexpected leak is only to be expected….

[@gillscorner794]

Possibly someone mixed up the atf with the lhm?

[@UPnDOWN]

LHM is/was hard to find in the US, so quite common to see people putting ATF in it.

[@HowardLeVert]

So, has a past owner just filled the hydraulic system with ATF rather than LHM?

[@Ragnar8504]

It's suspicious, isn't it?

[@UPnDOWN]

Most likely.

[@martinbaz5460]

Mr kitch, Id say, just clean the oil cooler, it looks fine, 1 more original part to stay on the car and as u r doing it on a budget u are saving money for engine /gearbox parts.

[@UPnDOWN]

I may well, but they're not expensive even new. I may even have one upstairs that'd fit.

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

Red fluid, ATF? instead of LHM wont that destroy every rubber part in the system?

[@UPnDOWN]

LHM is/was hard to find in the US, so quite common to see people putting ATF in it. Certainly won't do it any good, but there's a chance it's not actually been run very long like this. So far I've not seen any evidence of damage, but it's early days.

[@robinwells8879]

Not the first Citroen system to be filled with dexron by a foolish chancer. 😢 The proper LMH stuff used to be much cheaper from Ford dealers because they used it in their version of the badge engineered VW Sharan/Seat Alhambra platform in their Galaxy. That rack was in the mid eighties Audi hundreds.

[@cx.silver.bullet]

They probably put LHS or some ATF fluid instead of LHM that's why it is red 🧐

[@UPnDOWN]

LHM is/was hard to find in the US, so quite common to see people putting ATF in it. LHS would be bad!

[@cx.silver.bullet]

@UPnDOWN imagine arriving with SM to typical Texas pickup truck mechanic. So much material for comedy (not fun for everyone however) 😁

[@GoldenCroc]

What frightful acceleration this simulates.. people that film the speedo on dyno runs can hardly get this kind of result...