Rover 414SLi - General update 04/06.

[Rover414]

A small update here, I visited the Rover today as I wanted to put together a list of things I needed body wise so I could start the search for them.

 

I've thrown some photos up below so I had some reference to show KruJoe a basic idea of what I might need and for myself for future reference. I would ideally like to get two wings with minimal rot on them to replace the wings currently on the car, the passengers side one needs repainting in any case and has a few issues, as does the drives side one, savable but looking for a solution. The front bumper needs repainting, I have a spare in green but that also needs some touching up, it has a better grille than this one too but not sure what will happen there until I can drag it home. The weather strip needs shaping properly and some clips need to be found that haven't snapped, this seems like a hard task! The photos below show some of this and some of the paint issues, that is for another day however.

 

[KruJoe]

I've just noticed yours has a giffertastic pinstripe down its flanks. Winner!

 

I reckon you could carefully straighten out those weather strips with your hands (if you dare risk the clips by removing them). Talking of which, someone posted a link somewhere (SQA thread?) for a company specialising in weird trim clips etc. That may be of interest, anyone remember it?

 

I'd also be interested if anyone has any ideas for restoring the chrome bumper strips. In fact, I think they are aluminium, encased in clear PVC hose or something. They go dull in patches where water has got in:

 

[Rover414]

The clips are broke on that weather strip too! This was off the donor car as well, I think it could be bent into place too but I just need to find a way to secure it down. I think Rimmer Bros actually sell the clips new.

[Angrydicky]

I know Sam (Captain Slow) has replaced the chrome inserts in the bumpers on his Montego with success. Not sure exactly how he did it though!

[KruJoe]

Job's a good un then, if you can get the clips!

I must say, If it were me, I'd be tempted to use the remains of the clips to locate it properly, and hold it down with a few blobs from my hot glue gun. Nobody would ever know.

 

 

That's interesting Dicky, I'll ask him sometime. I don't know if they're the same on the Monty though...

[Rover414]

I would be interested to know that about the chrome inserts too, the rear one needs removing and repositioning too but that might be a bumper off job to do that.

 

I was tempted to do the glue thing too, the door card is already partly off too giving access here so might be worth a go next time I am down there. I have the old strip in the boot too complete with broken clips so could make something from that. Then I have to figure how to get the door card back in position and all screwed in again!

[Rover414]

It's been a while since I updated this thread, last time I posted it was stuck in another driveway for various reasons but it has been back home for 2 months or so now and work was due to start on removing the engine. That was until I decided to reassemble the stuff removed from the engine and check to see if it would turn over as after the incident where it flat out wouldn't start back in 2008 it did have some work carried out afterwards but was never used again as it was replaced by another car. 

 

Anyway, I managed to secure a battery, get it charged and give it a go over last week, it certainly sounds like it wants to start fully but is currently devoid of any petrol, so that's the next step. So all in all, the engine could well be ok, I should have more on this soon as going to throw some fuel in it over the weekend. In the meantime, here is a couple of photos in its lit up glory, the first time for some years.