2cvTravel


Raid Afrique of 1973

Raid Afrique of 1973

Raid Afrique of 1973

2CV - DYANE 6 - ACADIANE - MÉHARI

Interior fittings

Additional Fuel
Depending on your itinerary, you may well have to cover a greater distance between refuelling and replenishment points than your vehicle would normally be capable of achieving. Do not forget that your fuel consumption is likely to be higher than normal, especially in sand where it could be two or three times greater, and is also as a function of temperature.
We advise you to carry a sufficient number of jerrycans which must be carefully stowed at the time of loading, not forgetting a funnel with a builtin filter. Once they have served their purpose, you can sell the cans in order to save
weight and gain space.

The rescue jerrycan
The previous advice notwithstanding, it is a good idea to prepare one jerrycan as shown on fig. 16 to serve in the event of failure of the main fuel tank.
Pierce the cap of a “US” type jerrycan and solder into place a 6 mm. (1/4 inch) tube passing from one side to the other, together with a 3 mm. venting tube. Prepare a length of petrol pipe of 6 mm. interior diameter, with a filter at one end.
In case of emergency, attach the petrol pipe to the tube B (note: when in position, the filter should be right at the bottom of the Jerrycan). Put the cap back in place and attach tube A to the fuel line between the tank and the fuel pump with a sleeve.

Auxiliary tank
There is a more sophisticated way of carrying extra fuel which avoids the need to carry heavy, clumsy jerrycans: fit an auxiliary fuel tank. Any such installation must be carried out with great care. The 2CVs which took part in the Raid Afrique were equipped with auxiliary tanks of 65 litres (14.3 gallons) capacity, taken from the Citroën DS and mounted inside the vehicle, in place of the back seat. This turned out to be an elegant and practical solution. Today, however, DS type fuel tanks are becoming harder and harder to find... Those who, nevertheless, wish to, and are able to equip their 2CVs or Dyanes in this way, can obtain detailed instructions on the necessary procedure from the Public Relations Department at Automobiles Citroën in Paris. Essentially it involves removing the back seat and its attachments, and inserting a three way tap into the fuel line, together with an electrical contents gauge. It is necessary to secure the tank as firmly as possible and to insert felt padding between the tank and the floor to avoid any risk of deterioration.

Other fittings
• Fit a powerful air horn:
This will be extremely useful, however avoid those three or four-note horns which sound like military bands or police sirens: they serve only to upset every pedestrian in the world, and every user of every road and track.
• Fit a 1 kg (2.2 lb.) fire extinguisher.
Choose a place where the extinguisher can be easily reached, on or near the floor. Strap it securely in place, in such a way that the flexing of the panel cannot work it loose.
• Fit a cigar-lighter
Equipped with an adaptor for use with an inspection lamp, a razor or a camera battery re-charger.
Preparations specific to the Méhari 4x4
The Méhari 4x4 is equipped as standard with certain features which make it particularly suitable for driving across country:
- four-wheel drive;
- low-ratio transfer box;
- rear axle differential lock;
- reinforced cross-country chassis platform;
- reinforced front suspension arms;
- protective shield under engine and gearbox;
- protective shield under the fuel tank;
- five Michelin 135-15 XM + S8 tyres.

The following modifications are drawn from operating experience, especially with the Méhari 4x4 in the 1980 Paris-Dakar Rally, when it was used by the medical teams. All ten vehicles arrived at Dakar without problems, having completed their mission.
• Weld a reinforcing plate onto the front cross member as shown (fig. 17).
• Replace the locating knife-edges of the suspension arms with distance pieces held in place by captive screws with
washers.
• The use of 145-15 XZX tyres is recommended for sandy conditions.


Figure 17