Technical Article - Cost Effective 404 Upgrades

There is a lot to be said for keeping Peugeots in original condition; but sometimes there are good reasons to depart from the straight and narrow. In the case of the 404, I see opportunities for savings in running costs and improved performance by incorporating ideas from later model Peugeots.

My favourite modifications are:

Model	Upgrade	Pluses	Minuses
404 pre 1969	Upgrade to 1969 or 1970 model brakes and gearbox.	Servo assisted disk brakes, load sensitive rear brake limiting valve, excellent gearbox. The 404 was a world beater in 1960 and it was even better towards the end of the production run.	Nil.
404	Install a 2 litre engine.	More power, potentially better economy, cheaper to purchase and repair, very easy to fit in 1969 & 1970 models.	Noisy, sedan diff ratio is too low for the engine and it is difficult to change.
404	Modify 15" rims to take cheaper tyres, eg change to 14 inch diameter 6 inch wide rims.	Cheaper tyres, better handling.	Lower gearing leading to more noise.
404 Commercials	Install a taller diff ratio (eg from a 504 wagon) together with a 2 litre engine.	Reduced noise and more comfortable cruising (overcoming the major disadvantages of fitting 2 litre engines). Very easy to fit in models from 1967.	Nil.
404 Commercials	Install 504 wagon hubs and brakes together with a 404 sedan disk brake master cylinder and brake booster.	Disk brakes, 504 wheel stud pattern which allows a wider choice of wheels and tyres. Parts are widely available and cheap.	Nil.

Index of Articles from ROAR

Most of the following articles have been reproduced from the Peugeot Association of Canberra magazine - ROAR. All copyrights to original articles herein are reserved except for other Peugeot associations and clubs who must acknowledge the source and author when reproducing them. Individual opinions expressed herein need not necessarily represent those of the PAC.

Technical Articles

General Articles

General

    Clutch Bleeding
    Gearbox Expose
    Maintaining Older Peugeots

306

Knocks and Rattles
Replacing 306 Cabriolet Hydraulic Roof Hoses

404

Upgrades

405

Heater Cores

505

    Hydraulic Clutches
    Changing Clock Bulbs (505 Series II)
    Intermittent Wipers not Working/Parking
    Alternative to Metric TRX Wheels
    Idiot's Guide to Wagon U-Joint Replacement

203 Memories
206 Sculpteur Advertisement
Redex Rerun and French Car Day 2003
Reflections on Australian 604s
Travelogue - Europe by Peugeot (almost)
The Peugeot Museum
The Peugeot Factory Tour


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