71 Rover 3500 (P6B) Now with added Jag XJ6!

[Low Horatio gearbox]

Hello and welcome to my first proper thread here.

 

Purchased in August 2019  my lovely Rover 3500. 

 

I'd gone to look at it and made the brilliant mistake of taking my 8 year old son with me and while I had my doubts when the (pre warmed!) V8 coughed into life and we trundled it  round the  industrial estate the seller was based on my son was smitten and let's be honest my arm didn't need that much twisting.  (I ignored the well patina interior and musty small ) A bit of a poke and and inspection (possibly a little less through than  it should have been - it did have an MOT after all) and it was ours and delivery arranged  - out of laziness and the fact I did t wan tto do an 80 mile return trip in an unknownor arrange lifts and logistics.

 

 

Anyway in all its glory, random tyres and mismatched mirrors. 

 

 

Fetching no?

 

The following Sunday morning  arrived and so did the Rover and without the pre warmed engine it was a bit more interesting  to shuffle it off the train,er and mou t the dropped kerb into my cul desac TADTS. Tho with swearing  and  a fair amount of choke it was managed and with her V5 it was taxed and ready for a quick spin.

When warmed up it would move reasonably well and bar some hansel and gretel style oil trail behind it and a crumbly water pump was pretty pleased.

 

A list of things needed doing.

A good service and oil change.

New non leaking non grumbling water pump.

Some new tyres and the 3 different brands across the 4 on the road were pretty past it.

clean the interior and find some new doorcards as well they were a bit warped and past it.

Just a bit.

 

 

No problem. Oil change and service first.. well th oil was nasty, I ended up flushing it with cheap oil and a new filter twice as I couldn't find oil with ZDDP ina bricks and mortar shop. However in the end it was   no longer coming out after 50 miles black and opaque. 

 

New door cards were ordered  in non matching black but tbh I was just glad to loose the  completely knackered sandalwood ones. My choice was  made food when I managed to snag a set of black leather front and rear seats for 30 quid on gumtree  2 weeks later.

Driving was still a bit of a mixed bag even after new tyres, oil, filters and new waterpump as it didn't want to change down the 3 speed box.

Ah.. that will be the broken kickdown cable then.

 

No problem  what was a bit of a pisser was poking round and finding  less than stellar repair in the passenger footwell

 

 

My own fault for mot poking deeper  when I checked it out, I knew it had been plated and repaired but as my son would be sitting there I felt it needed  fixing. And tbh he loves it and   weighed up selling it and getting another,  fixing it myself (🤣😂) or getting it done professionally and went for the latter. I can weld but only just and this was a bigger job than I was comfortable with by some massive margin - that and I wanted to drive it not have it in bits in the garage for 9 months!

 

 

So it went away for a few weeks, rot was cut out

and 

One side at a time tidied 

 

And new metal  put in

 

A few rattle cans and  structurally made sound again.

 

 

 

 

 

Since then it has been 3 thousand miles of pretty hassle free motoring.

 

I managed to buy a donor car and steal the rest of the black interior out of it and some sundym tinted glass too as well as a few other odd and sods - including g a working clock  But it was all delayed due to the wonderful year that is 2020.

The plans for the future as soon as I've sorted a house (and garage!) are to finish replacing the std door glass with sundym, fit a new steering wheel new  to me anyway perspex P4 sun visors and get the speedo calibrated and enjoy it as is.

There are a few rust bubbles and scabby patches  in the paint which has a mass of microblisters in it too but I quite like the look and patina on it as is for now, it's a decent 10- 15 foot paint job. I know the structure is solid and safe and the   oil leaks have been cured after a damn good servicing and cleaning out the  rocker cover breather tubes  and fire traps.

[Tickman]

That looks lovely

[Macscrooge]

Beautiful. Always liked the P6. 

[Lankytim]

Beautiful! I scrapped one of these not long ago, it was in a shipping container in a storage area and was blocked in with loads of other containers. The only way to extricate it was to chop it to pieces!

[KitKat]

Nice work!! That sill repair looks very well carried out, good to see you got it repaired properly. These P6s have aged well, they look better now than they ever did before.

By the way, that kickdown cable needs to be connected for those Borg Warner boxes to work properly. It’s not just for kickdown operation, it regulates the line pressure in all operating conditions, so driving with it disconnected will slip the bands and clutches and quickly cook the gearbox.

[dollywobbler]

Gorgeous. Lovely number plates. I had a Series 1 V8 on a J with similar beautiful plates.

[Jikovron]

I mildly covet one of these, I've toyed with the idea of getting a base unit to get busy welding up but never seen anything of the correct roughness to price ratio.

[Low Horatio gearbox]

Ta for the kind words...... brings a tear to my eyes, oh no what that could bee th cost of the welding 😖😭😂🤣

30 minutes ago, sickboy said:

Nice work!! That sill repair looks very well carried out, good to see you got it repaired properly. These P6s have aged well, they look better now than they ever did before.

By the way, that kickdown cable needs to be connected for those Borg Warner boxes to work properly. It’s not just for kickdown operation, it regulates the line pressure in all operating conditions, so driving with it disconnected will slip the bands and clutches and quickly cook the gearbox.

I can weld, just not this much and not particularly pretty, given it's me and the boy j  the car I'd not want to scrimp on the safety front.

I aim to have a go at bettering g my welding next year  🤞 crossed.

The kickdown ties in with the throttle  linkage too, I had it done when it was being welded up as it goes in from below two birds one stone and all that, and it saved me taxing my  medium ish skill level and lack of lift - didn't fancy struggling with it on axle stands.

30 minutes ago, dollywobbler said:

Gorgeous. Lovely number plates. I had a Series 1 V8 on a J with similar beautiful plates.

Your numper plate perversion is noted  and well known 😂

5 minutes ago, Jikovron said:

I mildly covet one of these, I've toyed with the idea of getting a base unit to get busy welding up but never seen anything of the correct roughness to price ratio.

They are relatively cheap,  but it's either a good one for 4/5k and up that are pretty sound mostly or rotters that are close to going over the bridge for anywhere between 500 quid and 2 grand.  I still want an estate and an S (yeah yeah , must get a house and a garage first !)

Belive me my donor  car was shocking  and pretty much felt apart on a mates driveway and I had an "s" waiting to be started project wise that was pretty far gone (I didn't fancy  transporting  it to Wales  from  Lhaandhaaan  as a non runner so let it go to an enthusiast* who then doubled his money  punting it on  and didn't go into condition  details so much)

 

 

[Amishtat]

Lovely, and the same colour as my old 3500S. Only problem is that when a manual V8 is the first P6 I'd tried, the fours just don't do it for me. What's it like under the rear seat? 

[bezzabsa]

Enjoy the 3.5 woofle.... loved it in my RR Classics 

[Out Run]

Welcome back Sheldon m8

[Low Horatio gearbox]

29 minutes ago, Amishtat said:

Lovely, and the same colour as my old 3500S. Only problem is that when a manual V8 is the first P6 I'd tried, the fours just don't do it for me. What's it like under the rear seat? 

Cameron green.  Under the rear is pretty good. A patch either side where it was a bit frilly by the d post but all solid now. Indeed the 4s are nice but the 8s spoil you

14 minutes ago, bezzabsa said:

Enjoy the 3.5 woofle.... loved it in my RR Classics 

Definitely,  nothing like burbling to the shops for some milk.   😁  Ahh a  a classic Rangie is on my list... I just need to save up.

[Joey spud]

That is one tasty motor vehicle.

 

[antony denman]

its a corker nowt better  sound off a v8

[colino]

Cameron Green just like my last one, but if its frilly like that, how is it above the suspension at the back/boot floor?   Then you notice the door glass rubbers (replacements are like service items) have made the door bottoms a bit flappy.  Great, useable cars though. 

[bezzabsa]

2 hours ago, Low Horatio gearbox said:

Cameron green.  Under the rear is pretty good. A patch either side where it was a bit frilly by the d post but all solid now. Indeed the 4s are nice but the 8s spoil you

Definitely,  nothing like burbling to the shops for some milk.   😁  Ahh a  a classic Rangie is on my list... I just need to save up.

I have owned 3....2 1970's   J & P reg 2 doors, and a M plate Softdash Vogue SE 300Tdi..bloody gorgeous motors, been priced out of the market now tho..V8 disco's aint too bad..had a G reg V8 on carbs, that somehow managed 18Mpg round town, where the RR's struggled to get 8!!! 

[Low Horatio gearbox]

Very nice bezzabsa. It's an itch I'd like to scratch  just for a year  or so but as you say entry now is almost astronomical  in the 25 -150k range !😩 I've seen few sub 10k  running project ones but didn't have the cash at the time, currently  I dont have the (any!) space. I'd like an early one but it will probably be a later 80s just to get one for a reasonable price.

1 hour ago, colino said:

Cameron Green just like my last one, but if its frilly like that, how is it above the suspension at the back/boot floor?   Then you notice the door glass rubbers (replacements are like service items) have made the door bottoms a bit flappy.  Great, useable cars though. 

The boot is ok a patch by the nearside light cluster on the floor panel but otherwise decent and solid. The sills had just been patched gradually over the years and it looked messy but was mostly solid.   Indeed, they are most usable and comfortable,e to drive and as ever it has the best soundtrack built in.

[Amishtat]

2 hours ago, bezzabsa said:

I have owned 3....2 1970's   J & P reg 2 doors, and a M plate Softdash Vogue SE 300Tdi..bloody gorgeous motors, been priced out of the market now tho..V8 disco's aint too bad..had a G reg V8 on carbs, that somehow managed 18Mpg round town, where the RR's struggled to get 8!!! 

The prices of those are just ridiculous now.. My mate had an Mot'd E reg Vogue out of the Coventry Evening Telegraph for £275 in 2004 just for its engine and let me have a spin while he smoked it around using up the ticket. Bloody lovely old thing, he liked it enough to get through at least two more tests before I lost contact with him. 

[Bren]

Valvoline do a good oil with zinc for the valvetrain. However it is not cheap.

Your's looks a nice example. Better to get it solid first then worry about the cosmetics later- which you have done.

I would like one of these but in north american spec.

[Ghosty]

How are the rear brakes? 😅

[Soundwave]

What a fantastic car!

[2flags]

Had a couple of these over the years, both the 3500 and the 3500s. Great cars. My 3500 is the one car I regret selling.

[Low Horatio gearbox]

5 hours ago, Ghosty said:

How are the rear brakes? 😅

Excellent ! Mainly as new ones had been fitted for it to pass* its mot/for its sale.  In board and a bit of a pig to get at and you need a specialist tool to back them off..crappy access... need 3 hands etc. I hope (intend) to have a lift in my next garage which will make the in board brakes on this and the XJ  more manageable,  plus whatever other excellent* cars I aim to get.

[Low Horatio gearbox]

6 hours ago, Bren said:

Valvoline do a good oil with zinc for the valvetrain. However it is not cheap.

Your's looks a nice example. Better to get it solid first then worry about the cosmetics later- which you have done.

I would like one of these but in north american spec.

Vr1 yep what I use - good oil and tyres are where I wont scrimp.  It's nice, but dont get too close!   The cosmetics  can wait another 18 months 2 years , I wanted it solid which it is now. I could have gotten a more cared for solid example  and saved a chunk of money but where is the fun in that! 

What I've learned and remebered/re learned in the last 18 months was worth it  - plus telling my son the car he chose was being chopped in for a big loss to buy an near identical one with less character* didn't appeal.. big softie.  Another is on the cards an "S" for sure and maybe an Estourer  and I'd like a 4 pot TC to try - not all at the same time tho! and I'd buy the best I could rather than money put like this but I'm unlikely to sell this one.

 

I even saved the shagged out front seats and made my son an office chair with one 

(This isn't my son obvs...)

 

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

On 30/12/2020 at 17:14, Low Horatio gearbox said:

Rover 3500

 

On 30/12/2020 at 17:14, Low Horatio gearbox said:

pretty hassle free motoring.

[lisbon_road]

Very impressed, a fine car.  Please keep us informed of what you do.  Thanks.

[Low Horatio gearbox]

^hehe. Conrad D Conelrad. It's only FTP properly once due to the reserve valve vibrating half open and the ( relocated to under the boot) fuel pump basically circulating the fuel back to the fuel tank constantly. The coil slowly died but never stranded  me..more than a few minutes 😁😂🤣 

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

7 minutes ago, Low Horatio gearbox said:

^hehe. Conrad D Conelrad. It's only FTP properly once due to the reserve valve vibrating half open and the ( relocated to under the boot) fuel pump basically circulating the fuel back to the fuel tank constantly. The coil slowly died but never stranded  me..more than a few minutes 😁😂🤣 

Ah, electric fuel pump. So the most egregious fault has been addressed already. An engine bay mounted Huco pump improved my P6 massively. Freshly rebuilt rear calipers is great, it means you won't have any trouble with the brakes for weeks. Just check your brake fluid level every few minutes and you'll be fine. When it starts disappearing, at least you know it's probably the servo and not the rear calipers, although in my case it was one and then the other. 

If we're doing cats on P6 seats, here's my contribution:

[Three Speed]

Nice car!

I have fond memories of my mustard-yellow 3500S which I enjoyed for 6 months in 1984. I enjoyed the credit card bills for the petrol for the next 6 months. It was a replacement for my Spitfire - I wanted something a bit more robust around me. The idea was that I'd be able to afford to run it as I wouldn't drive it that much. But I just loved driving it so much I always took the long way round. So smooth and V8-burbly. I looked at several rust buckets before I found a solid one which had a solid shell. The wings had all been replaced -  just 12 years old.

The manual gearbox was horridly notchy but who needs to change gear with a torquey V8? Lots of other great features - the knobs operating the quarter lights, the steering wheel, the dash at night - just lovely. 

It wasn't without it's own personality foibles though. The blown rear oil seal would drip oil straight onto the exhaust Y-piece causing much smokiness - inside and out. This was apparently caused by a stuck pressure relief valve hence high oil pressure - common problem back then I was told and it also causes the tappets to wear out. And then there was the time the diff fell out - not completely but the cross-piece that attached it to the body fractured at one end leaving it hanging by a single bolt. I don't know if that's common but the local BL dealer had one in stock for some reason. I had a slow drive home hoping the other end didn't snap - I don't imagine the brake pipes would have supported it for long. I'd love another one, but I'd have an automatic, like yours. If we had room. But I'm told we don't.

Good luck!

 

[Royale80]

I had a multi coloured 3500S years ago. Went like stink. Rear brakes were easy to do-I used to disconnect the driveshaft to the inboard disc. Plenty of access then.