You shift at 3,000 rpm. The engine feels strained beyond 4,200 rpm. The pushrods make a gentle sewing-machine clatter. Hill climbs require a downshift to third gear (or second if you are loaded). Top speed? In an Estafette, roughly 95 km/h (59 mph) with a tailwind.
If you are restoring an Estafette, a Goélette, or a vintage pump, treat the DF455 with respect. Source the correct pushrods. Set the valve lash to 0.20mm cold. Do not rev it past 4,500 rpm. And accept that you will smell like unburnt fuel and hot iron after a long drive.
The Renault DF455 actually traces its roots back to the , the successor to the legendary "Billancourt" engine. However, it sits in a transitional period where Renault moved from side-valve (flathead) technology to overhead valves (OHV) and finally to overhead cams. The "D" Family Code In Renault's internal nomenclature of the 1960s and 1970s, the letter "D" typically denoted an industrial or heavy-duty variant of a standard passenger car engine. The "F" indicated the specific block casting series. The numbers "455" refer to the cubic capacity in centiliters (not cubic centimeters). renault df455
That is the price of admission to the club of the DF455. It is a club worth joining. Q: Is the DF455 the same as the Renault 1.4 "Cleon" engine? A: No. The Cleon (C1C) is an overhead cam (OHC) engine. The DF455 is pushrod OHV. They share no parts.
A: Most likely the radiator is original (50 years old) and clogged. Do not blame the engine. Recore the radiator. Do you have a Renault DF455 story or restoration question? Leave a comment below or contact a vintage Renault specialist. Keep the pushrods turning. You shift at 3,000 rpm
A: Yes. 123ignition makes a programmable distributor for the DF455 (part #123-RV-4). Highly recommended.
That’s right: The displaces 1,455 cc (approximately 1.5 liters). It is a naturally aspirated, four-cylinder, water-cooled petrol engine. Hill climbs require a downshift to third gear
When discussing legendary French automotive engineering, most conversations gravitate towards the iconic Citroën DS, the Peugeot 205 GTI, or the Renault 4. Yet, lurking in the shadows of history—often hidden under the dusty bonnets of delivery vans, ambulances, and industrial pumps—lies a true mechanical marvel: the Renault DF455 .