True, but while you've got the heads off to do the rings you might as well decoke the heads, lap the valves and fit new valve stem seals ...

Cheers for the advice everyone. While checking the oil again yesterday I noticed a fair build up of white and tan mayonnaise on the underside of the oil filler cap. Its looking more like piston rings. I'm presuming they can be done in situ?

I'm thinking new valve seals, guides and piston rings etc, please tell me, considering I've got no experience with this engine, whether its wise to do so! If anyone has got a link to pictures/list of tools to acquire then that would be great.

Still no reg documents Sorted out with DVLA though, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, for a while...

How come he didn't give you the V5C when you bought it?

I got the V5C/2, the new keeper's details tear off, and have sent it off with the application for the new reg form. I'm still waiting on the copies that he is meant to be sending me.

Because it's the seller's responsibility to send it off. Has been for years.

I know. i meant the new keepers supplement.

If you do decide to take the heads off, be careful when putting them back on that you locate the pushrod tubes in the holes in the block when getting the heads on. They are quite easy to mislocate and such soft and thin Alu that its quite easy to scrunch them against the block when doing up the heads if they're not located correctly the first time you do this. (I'll let you guess how I learned this lesson years and years ago )

Thanks Xmas (love your 2CV by the way, the stance is fantastic)

I am a bit worried about the softness of the alu, just need to take my time and stop when I get stressed out.

I've found some great threads on here regarding tools and procedures, especially Spanners's guide to removing the wings and front panel in one. After studying the Haynes manual last night I think I'm going to start getting the parts together and reserving a weekend for it. I'll try and take photos and do a novice's guide/attempt at in car engine work.

Can I ask about valve compressors - I've read that a motorcycle one works best, am I to be looking at something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Valve-Spring-Comp ... 415321bbf7

Its the one thing I can't find a pic of on the forum.

that should do the trick
its worth putting a tubular drift on the top of the spring cup and giving it a sharp tap with the hammer as the cup can stick to the collets

one of the over centre ones work faster

youll also neeed a deep 12mm socket and a torque wrench

Sean

I'm a bit perplexed now with the Acadiane...

I changed the oil, filled it with some cheap 15/40 and flushed it out after 15 minutes, then filled with Millers 20/50. I changed the spark plugs, the old ones showing no signs of oiling up or covered in black soot, which I thought they might be.

It seems to burn oil very erratically, took it on a 500 mile round trip on the motorways at the weekend and its barely used anything, it was fine - yet the rear wheel is sooted up like mad, indicating it might be indeed running rich and the soot is unburnt petrol and not oil. After an email chat with Ken he seems to think that it may have the wrong jets installed, I just need to check the carb number (keep forgetting). It averaged 38ish mpg on the motorways, with load, doing around 60-65mph...this seems to be ok though, I was expecting a tad more however.

Checking ECAS they list a number of different jet sizes, what are the larger ones for exactly?