Dollywobbler's GR-8 Rover - getting better all the time

[Sigmund Fraud]

You need SWMBO pressing the footbrake and the world's longest breaker bar for the crank pulley, but I own both, so that's ok.

 

EFA

[dollywobbler]

It's much more fun to use a scaffold bar and then get someone to start the engine. Much more terrifying too (applied this technique on a BX). WCPGW?

[Junkman]

Having an O2 sensor, an ECU, a cambelt, and being a reliable motor, is mutually exclusive on a general principle, though.

[Sigmund Fraud]

It's much more fun to use a scaffold bar and then get someone to start the engine. Much more terrifying too (applied this technique on a BX). WCPGW?

 

The effectiveness of this technique seems to depend on how powerful the starter motor is. In my experience, it works with Volvos but not with MX5s.

[Heidel_Kakao]

Having an O2 sensor, an ECU, a cambelt, and being a reliable motor, is mutually exclusive on a general principle, though.

A Volvo 940 has all of those things & is pretty damm reliable, mine has a non interference engine though so cam belt roulette does not really apply which is why I have not bothered to change it yet.

[cort16]

I think any working car for £300 is amazing. You can't buy a half decent 2nd hand push bike or ipad for that money.

I find with cars of this price anything more than "it's better than I expected" and you're quids in.

[Lacquer Peel]

Buy a new Citroen on tick.

[KruJoe]

I gave £50 and a rusty old BX14 for my 216 about 18 months ago and it has been pretty damn good to me. One fail to proceed was the afore-mentioned ignition module inside the dizzy (best to carry a spare with a 12mm spanner and a pozidrive), the only other upset was when all the torques sheared a driveshaft clean in half.

 

 

... random hot start issues ...dry solders in the fuel relay can cause it too.

 

Why did I not know this Rob?

I have learnt to avoid hot-start situations, but it's a pain when Mrs_KJ stalls it in town or summert.

 

I re-soldered mine and it's been fine since.  It's behind the radio so just involves dropping the centre console to gain access.

Is it the fuel pump relay?

I could probably find it from that, but is there any more info available, or linky link please?

[dollywobbler]

It's been a tough couple of days. I can conclude that for really nasty sticker residue, Turtle Wax Tar and Bug Remover and a credit card are what you need. 

 

The end result.

 

Bonnet paintwork is utterly tragic. Polished with nails?

 

Stickers now also removed from flanks and bootlid.

 

I can't decide whether I like the Hamster Racing stickers or not. I like the fact that people may think that I race hamsters, but ultimately I guess they're a bit naff. I've left the blocky graphics on the front doors too, purely because I like them. 

[hairnet]

hamsters ftw

 

peterboro haters h8

[twosmoke300]

If it's the Honda donk the bottom pulley can be fucking tight. It's a normal thread and not lh or Owt. Sometimes a trip to a commercial garage with a 3/4 impact gun is reqd. Then nip it up with your gun and drive home. Another thing is to tip ex the timing pulleys before you take the belt off cos Honda use the same cam pulley for a few models and the marks are a bit confusing. And the engine runs anti clockwise but I'm guessing you knew that

[dollywobbler]

The one concern I have is doing the pulley bolt back up to a sufficent tightness! Would a blast with my rattle gun be sufficient? I've only got a 3/8" torque wrench and it doesn't go up very high. It's something ridiculous like 119lb/ft. 

[mrbenn]

If anyone wants a spare ignition module for a 216/416 I'm sure I have a spare somewhere, gratis.

[dollywobbler]

Well, it'd be foolish not to take up such a kind offer. If you find it, let me know and I'll bung my address over to you. Ta muchly.

[twosmoke300]

A half inch proper rattle gun will be fine. They self tighten anyway

[mrbenn]

No worries, will look it out tonight when I get back,

[Sigmund Fraud]

The one concern I have is doing the pulley bolt back up to a sufficent tightness! Would a blast with my rattle gun be sufficient? I've only got a 3/8" torque wrench and it doesn't go up very high. It's something ridiculous like 119lb/ft. 

 

You can pick up a 1/2", beam-type wrench for £15. I wouldn't use it to torque down a Lamborghini Urraco head, but it should be accurate enough for a pulley bolt.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

hamsters ftw

 

peterboro haters h8

 

h8rs gonna h8

 

R8rs gonna R8

[chaseracer]

I'm not sure where the 'lame dog' comes from...

 

Old Rover...?

 

[Noel Tidybeard]

keep the hamster stickerage and tell people you are richard hammonds back up crew

 

my bro-in-law took on a 216 that had been taxi'd with a bosted belt- chucked a new on on and hey presto no bent vavles!

[catsinthewelder]

It's much more fun to use a scaffold bar and then get someone to start the engine. Much more terrifying too (applied this technique on a BX). WCPGW?

 

This worked on your last BX too but didn't somebody say that these Honda engines rotate the other way round?  Unless it's a L/H thread then that's what could go wrong.

[twosmoke300]

Very true . Could end in tears

[Jim Bell]

I've just realised that I have never owned a Rover.

How can this be?

That looks pretty good now dude.

 

I would like to clamber onto a soap box to orate thusly: I buy shit cars for low amounts of money that end up costing more money than a car that cost more money than but was also better than the other car in the first place too.

 

You are not alone DW.

 

Think I might give it up though.

Take up summat cheaper. Like heroin or throwing fistfuls off balled up twenty pound notes into the sea. Or a fire. Or a pond.

[KruJoe]

... a 216  with a bosted belt- chucked a new on on and hey presto no bent valves!

 

Are they non-interference then?

[Spiny Norman]

For £300 if starts, goes & stops & doesn't smell like a tramp's died in it then I really can't see the problem tbh. It's a whole functioning car for the price of a set of tyres on a Mondeo, sounds like WIN to me.

[robinmasters]

Rovers are driven by winners. 

 

That one looks pretty good, apart from the possible Richard Gere connotations of the writing on the doors.

[Inspector Morose]

This worked on your last BX too but didn't somebody say that these Honda engines rotate the other way round?  Unless it's a L/H thread then that's what could go wrong.

Does this mean the bluey has had a cam belt?

 

Nice purchase BTW. I had a nightfire Sli for a bit but soon fell out with the switchgear (didn't have the right feel to it - a problem I have with most Japanese cars. I am weird) good tool if hopelessly undergerared. Not horrendously thirsty but not the best, other than that.....

[forddeliveryboy]

Given that "La cinq-cent dix" thread of Ratdat has fewer pages yet has been on here significantly longer should be something for you to be proud of, DW - any amateur (let alone pro  ) car journo/blogger should be pleased that a story about buying a regular Rover 216 should threaten to generate 20 pages of forum discussion.

 

The one concern I have is doing the pulley bolt back up to a sufficent tightness! Would a blast with my rattle gun be sufficient? I've only got a 3/8" torque wrench and it doesn't go up very high. It's something ridiculous like 119lb/ft. 

 

I thought you were a 2cv owner who did things to his car - have you ever hit a kpin out or removed a brake drum? I'm sure you have some feel for torque, or a torque wrench?

 

 

This worked on your last BX too but didn't somebody say that these Honda engines rotate the other way round?  Unless it's a L/H thread then that's what could go wrong.

 

I thought an Onda would go either way.

[twosmoke300]

Tis very difficult to feel for torque on a bottom pulley cos if you lock it up in gear it's springing through the clutch and driveline. Mark the postition with a white paint pen and do it up to where it was before if your worried about it.

[dollywobbler]

If the engine turns the other way, surely you just put the scaffold bar the other way? To add to the fun, the engine is the wrong way around too. Gearbox on the driver's side. 

 

To be fair to RatDat, there was less pre-amble! There was a lot of discussion here before I bought anything at all. There will be MASSIVELY less talent on display here too. 

 

FB - Bluey has had a cambelt, but not by my hands. IIRC, Rich changed it last summer. Don't forget I've owned many BXs!