Rover Metro, What to do?

[tommotech]

http://autoshite.com/topic/20241-two-rover-metros/

 

After seeing the above thread and thinking that a Metro would be ideal just now, the prospect of one with a spares car thrown in was too good to miss! Arrangements were made with The Old Bloke Next Door to view today. Folding stuff changed hands and the 5-door was driven away. The three door needs uplifting and a trailer is required but it sounds like that car could be destined for the bridge, sooner rather than later! It will yield some useful parts first though.

 

Obligatory pez shot;

 

MOT tomorrow or Tuesday and I will let you know the extent of the repairs required. The drive home was uneventful, I had quite forgotten how well these little 1.1 K-series Metros drive - and it didn't turn into a kettle!

 

Fingers crossed.........

[Cavcraft]

Top buying, good luck with the test.

[mercrocker]

Looking for Metro seats if you do bridge t'other one....

[tommotech]

I'll let you know mercrocker.

[HH-R]

Winner.

[HMC]

Great! An early one isn't it? Looks similar to the one CAR had in period; they got one before the official launch and racked up some big miles in it all over Europe, they took it to a random dealers for its first service about a week after the official launch and got puzzled looks when they checked the mileage.

[dollywobbler]

Good stuff. Good luck.

[fordperv]

Love the metro, that's a spit of one a mate had at college, we had many a great afternoon flying around in paddy's metro the poor thing got nicked and burnt out, we were gutted that car was brilliant

[Lord Sterling]

Well done chap! Nice Metro, I like these Mk2s a lot. Very early for a Mk2 Metro and OVP looks familar. Looking forward to the progress on this.

[Noel Tidybeard]

Well done chap! Nice Metro, I like these Mk2s a lot. Very early for a Mk2 Metro and OVP looks familar. Looking forward to the progress on this.

VP is Birminghamshire

[Ghosty]

How'd I miss that for sale thread? I'd have bought those purely to move my stuff back home from uni in Wolves... megabarg.

[tommotech]

The Old Bloke Next Door has had it in his family from new and it has been passed around to whomever needed wheels at the time. I fetched it from Pelsall near Cannock / Walsall so the OVP plate will be familiar to those in the midlands area.

It is indeed an early example, it has an SU carb with manual choke - thats got to be a win surely.

[Lord Sterling]

VP is Birminghamshire

The Old Bloke Next Door has had it in his family from new and it has been passed around to whomever needed wheels at the time. I fetched it from Pelsall near Cannock / Walsall so the OVP plate will be familiar to those in the midlands area.

It is indeed an early example, it has an SU carb with manual choke - thats got to be a win surely.

My G-reg Mk1 Sterling was also registered in Birmingham, HVP but soent most of its time down South. I was thinking that the Metro might have been a press car or at least registered on the same line as some of the press cars.

 

My Sterling:

 

[tommotech]

My G-reg Mk1 Sterling was also registered in Birmingham, HVP but soent most of its time down South. I was thinking that the Metro might have been a press car or at least registered on the same line as some of the press cars.

 

My Sterling:

 

 

They could easily have been management (MCOP) or employee scheme (ACOP) cars that Rover imparted on as a benefit. From the lads that I knew at Longbridge the ACOP and MCOP cars were a particularly good perk.

[The Old Bloke Next Door]

Met up with Tommotech as arranged, cash changed hands and OVP left my ownership. Glad you got back ok, although I would have been surprised if  it had  expired en-route. Hope it doesn't require much for the test, by the way, I have found the almost complete full service record for the blue one.

[KruJoe]

I'm so glad this is being saved. I wouldn't kick it out of bed for farting.

 

If you have space, (as I hinted in the other thread) hang on to he spares car for as long as possible. You can never second guess all the bits you might need as time goes on with the good car. It's the best feeling when you can just pop over to the breaker to find that replacement door card clip, seat belt anchor or screen washer jet.

So if you can avoid it, don't just weigh it in for the sake of it.

 

Good luck with it Tommo

[tommotech]

The Metro has been MOT'd and its not a disaster! Some welding required to rear lower valance, rear lower inner sill and the rest of the structure is solid - with a virtually new rear subframe.

Brakes need fettling, wiper blades are required and CV Boot needs re-attaching on the RH outer gaiter. Emissions were also high but that really is the extent of the task that lies ahead.

I had a quick look at the flat-spot issue today which would be the crux of the emissions fail. The vacuum connection to the distributor was split, as was the vacuum connector for the vacuum valve located in the air filter housing. Repaired connections and a twirl on the mixture screw had the 1.1 K-Series sorted - no flat spot any more, happy days.

I need to get the 3 door collected over the weekend so I can see what the extent of the body issues are on that. I'm reckoning on this being a good source of parts and a trip to the bridge rather than seeing duty again. 

[tommotech]

Brakes sorted today, just needed a clean and an adjust. 

 

Where is best for Rover parts please? Is the X-Part network any good and has anyone used Leacy Motor Group?

[D Spares & Tyres]

Brakes sorted today, just needed a clean and an adjust. 

 

Where is best for Rover parts please? Is the X-Part network any good and has anyone used Leacy Motor Group?

X Parts has great service, I`ve just put a slave on my MGF, good price and very fast delivery

[D Spares & Tyres]

The Old Bloke Next Door has had it in his family from new and it has been passed around to whomever needed wheels at the time. I fetched it from Pelsall near Cannock / Walsall so the OVP plate will be familiar to those in the midlands area.

It is indeed an early example, it has an SU carb with manual choke - thats got to be a win surely.

It wasn`t that house in Pelsall that is like an Autoshite wet dream is it? All sorts of crap outside including 2 Triumph Acclaims, 1 in matt black if I remember correctly!

[tommotech]

It wasn`t that house in Pelsall that is like an Autoshite wet dream is it? All sorts of crap outside including 2 Triumph Acclaims, 1 in matt black if I remember correctly!

If it was dodgytom it is now devoid of such adornments. The Old Bloke Next Door has had a clear out and the silver 5 dr was last to leave.

[mat_the_cat]

has anyone used Leacy Motor Group?

 

I have, no problems with the part or delivery, and had a nice email exchange with them about the Stellar - got the feeling it was a small enthusiast-run company.

[tommotech]

Second part of this sale was a 3 dr 1.1C that was collected last night and it is far from healthy. Rampant tin worm has made the prognosis terminal and the 'bridge beckons. Useful parts will be removed first so if parts are needed let me know quickly.

 

 

 

[KruJoe]

Shame it's bridge bound, but if you have time and storage, strip off and box everything you possibly can, if you're running the other one you never know what you might need.

[tommotech]

So, after taking two Metros, bridging one (after harvesting good bits) I have the 5 door 1.1 that has been hanging around like a bad smell. Although it doesn’t smell too good inside, as the windscreen seal is not living up to its description. For this reason the carpets are wet and the floor is rotten at the front corners (left side worse than right hand side). I had the back panel welded after it failed the MOT I presented it for, so that is fine, as are the sub frames.

 

In addition the sills are crusty and need attention with the sparkly stick too. The engine is sweet, as The-old-bloke-nextdoor did a head gasket on it previously and it drives really well.

 

Mechanically it needs a couple of CV boots, an exhaust leak sorting and the suspension pumping up a tad, in addition to the usual recommissioning works (brake fluid etc).

 

So, really my question is how much of a job are sills on these? If I’m going to crack on and do this as a project I’m going to do it all in - I don’t see the point trying to patch crusty bits of sills to decent metal.

 

Are parts available and who are the best suppliers please?

 

Rover lickers, I need your help (and inspiration)!

 

TIA

[Dan_ZTT]

Seeing this has brought me out in a rush of reminiscing... the first car I ever owned* was a green R-plate Metro, I passed my test in it (2004) and I loved it dearly...

*shared with my mother


Unfortunately the following summer, driving home from Reading festival, it blew a tyre at full speed in the middle lane of the M4 and departed the road somewhat dramatically. Note the windscreen separated from the car, it came out in one piece while it was upside down. Myself and two friends emerged unscathed though, so I guess it was built solid enough...



All the best with yours anyway though sir, I hope you have more luck with it than I did mine!
 

[tommotech]

^^ lucky escape there fella, glad you’re around to tell the tale.

 

Definitely keep you all updated.

[vulgalour]

Proper deathtraps, you never survive a crash in one of these.

- Every Keyboard Warrior

[Kringle]

The composition of that second shot is wonderful. Great work my friend.

[The Old Bloke Next Door]

It was the 3 door that had the head gasket replaced at about 78000 miles, proper job done with o.e. parts, I hope you kept that engine.

 

The 5 door at about 178000 is still on the original gasket which might be a world record for a K series. 

 

It came my way for free with about 5 months mot, I ran it as a spare car until the mot expired then parked it up as a spares donor car for the 3 door and the other 2 Metro's I owned at the time.

 

Around 2009 having scrapped 2 of the other  Metro's I decided to resurrect it. From memory it had both rear arch's replaced, at least one outer sill, some extensive welding to the inner sills, front floor outer corners, jacking points and a new rear sub frame.  

 

Over the course of the next few years, new clutch, front wheel bearing and full exhaust.

 

Pleased to see it still lives, can't help with repair panels though apart from eBay or posting a wanted ad on one or all four of the Metro groups on Face Book.