Rover 827 update.... 2025 update! Inching closer to an MOT

[Marina door handles]

Well I think the Rustival deadline was too optimistic. One of the tanks split at the radiator specialists (not surprising given the condition) they are currently making a new tank for it but  that has delayed thing obviously as its a custom fabrication. Looks like I will be taking my SF Forester instead its not as exciting as Dolly Wobbler's Turbo as it is snail less but its probably more comfy! 

[St.Jude]

  On 15/09/2024 at 06:07, Marina door handles said:

Well I think the Rustival deadline was too optimistic. One of the tanks split at the radiator specialists (not surprising given the condition) they are currently making a new tank for it but  that has delayed thing obviously as its a custom fabrication. Looks like I will be taking my SF Forester instead its not as exciting as Dolly Wobbler's Turbo as it is snail less but its probably more comfy! 

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Is it just the radiator stopping it going?

Thats a real shame if that’s the case. But you never know they might surprise you and get it done ASAP!

Keep the faith sir ✊

[Marina door handles]

  On 15/09/2024 at 07:02, St.Jude said:

Is it just the radiator stopping it going?

Thats a real shame if that’s the case. But you never know they might surprise you and get it done ASAP!

Keep the faith sir ✊

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I am running a bit short of spare time at the mo. I am not 100% sure why it got a bit toasty but as a precaution I am going to do the water pump (which means doing the cambelt) and thermostat as well. The other issue is getting it MOT'ed (assuming it passes  easily and I haven't missed something else) and then Gaydon is a fair drive and I would want to be confident that its going to make it all the way! 

[St.Jude]

  On 15/09/2024 at 07:15, Marina door handles said:

I am running a bit short of spare time at the mo. I am not 100% sure why it got a bit toasty but as a precaution I am going to do the water pump (which means doing the cambelt) and thermostat as well. The other issue is getting it MOT'ed (assuming it passes  easily and I haven't missed something else) and then Gaydon is a fair drive and I would want to be confident that its going to make it all the way! 

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That’s annoying!

How long have you got with the show coming up? 

[Marina door handles]

  On 15/09/2024 at 07:18, St.Jude said:

That’s annoying!

How long have you got with the show coming up? 

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About one weekend and a few evenings, I used to do strange shifts and get 4 days off in a row but not anymore. Doing normal working weeks really gets in the way of things! 

[St.Jude]

  On 15/09/2024 at 08:44, Marina door handles said:

About one weekend and a few evenings, I used to do strange shifts and get 4 days off in a row but not anymore. Doing a normal working weeks really gets in the way of things! 

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You’re telling me. Had hopes of attempting Lada work during my evenings but there has always been something in the way.

[dollywobbler]

Ah bother. Still, at least with Rustival, all wheels are welcome!

[Marina door handles]

Radiator news......  Its back and Applied Radiators appear to have done a beautiful job! What started as a re-core has now ended up as Triggers radiator, the tanks either side are now new too but its definitely the same old rad........

Just need to sort some new oil pipes for it and refit the fans yada yada yada, just don't ask me how much this has cost! 

 

[Marina door handles]

As Rover snagging and fixing has stalled due to various minor issues, its time to prep the disreputable Forester for Rustival ! 

Dashboard has never looked this clean, I even did the air vents! 

The rest of it is getting there, but as it has been (and always will be) the car that does the messy jobs (tip runs etc etc) its never going to be spotless....

Just need to clean the outside though.......

If anyone else is going this heap will be in Mayfair parking, you can come and admire its amazing lacquer peeley tailgate if you need some pog wheezle action! 

 

[hairnet]

  On 15/09/2024 at 06:07, Marina door handles said:

 its not as exciting as Dolly Wobbler's Turbo as it is snail less but its probably more comfy! 

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FIGHT FIGHT!!!!

[St.Jude]

  On 27/09/2024 at 07:18, hairnet said:

FIGHT FIGHT!!!!

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Would that be in the WWE parking or UFC parking of Rustival?

[hairnet]

  On 27/09/2024 at 07:20, St.Jude said:

Would that be in the WWE parking or UFC parking of Rustival?

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Would they have handbags with them

[St.Jude]

  On 27/09/2024 at 07:23, hairnet said:

Would they have handbags with them

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It'd have to be handbags, I don't think I'd be trusting any of their Takata air bags!

[Marina door handles]

  On 27/09/2024 at 07:20, St.Jude said:

Would that be in the WWE parking or UFC parking of Rustival?

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Neither I would go WWF parking, I am old skool, also who wouldn't want to fight an endangered species? Come at me you stupid Panda, you're going downnnnnnnnnnn! 

[St.Jude]

  On 27/09/2024 at 09:02, Marina door handles said:

Neither I would go WWF parking, I am old skool, also who wouldn't want to fight an endangered species? Come at me you stupid Panda, you're going downnnnnnnnnnn! 

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That is specifically for Fiats!

[Marina door handles]

Cleaned and ready to go, just don't ask about the NS fog lamp........

Feel free to admire our wheely bin selection! 

 

[High Jetter]

  On 27/09/2024 at 19:56, Marina door handles said:

Cleaned and ready to go, just don't ask about the NS fog lamp........

Feel free to admire our wheely bin selection! 

 

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Did you select them, or are they taking over? 🙂

[Marina door handles]

Doesn't time fly when you too many broken cars..... Anyway its 2025, its time to get back on the Rover.

Firstly a weird issue,  a bit like a Subaru, the rear suspension has an excessively long bolt holding the trailing arm to the main bottom arm, unlike the subaru ones these dont rust to the suspension and seize in place but the hex end is pretty small (14mm) and rusts a bit and rounds off making torquing the the thing back up not really possible.....

I did look for a replacement but struggled, its an odd size and not readily available, so I decided to repair the hex end. Cleaned the excess rust off then, added a good dose of weld. Then re shaped it with the finger sander. Not at all straight forward but eventually got to the point were a socket would hold the end effectively and not just slide off under load.

Not a very good picture, you can just see the end on the left which is shiney from were I had to file it back...

I then re fitted it and torqued up.. It worked another job ticked off.

Next job, the electric window switch. I thought I would start with the spare switch, I carefully disassembled it and then realised I couldn't quite remember what issues it actually had, so I plugged it back in to  the car in its partially stripped state and checked its operation..... All windows opened and closed!  I then took it back off,  put it back together and re checked, again all windows worked, the mirror control was a bit odd but I can work around that. Being able to open the windows especially the drivers is way more important to my mind! So that's sort of fixed.....

Then back to the radiator. I re fitted the cooling fans, dusted off the visa card and bought new and slightly incorrect oil lines (for the inbuilt gearbox oil cooler), weirdly Rimmer's only sell oil lines for a none air con car, who would have spec'ed an 827 auto without aircon? I cut some oil hose to length to make up the difference and sort of bodged it, it'll be fine.....

 

The original radiator has 2 temperature/otter switches which have bayonet fittings. The radiator repair people are weary of bayonet fittings and always do screw fit holes, M22 in this case as its a common size. This left me a bit of a challenge, firstly figure out the operating temperature ranges of the original switches - then find equivalent M22 temp switches. Turns out that's not so hard thanks to google. 

Originals......

Bungs out and M22 holes exposed.....

Sorting the wiring as the original connecters wont work.....

In and wiring soldered....

Bit concerned as to how close that air con pipe is to them might have to see if I can bend it a bit out of the way (not like the AC works anyway). That's all for now, next jobs....

Check the wiring diagrams for the temp switches and make sure I have definitely got the terminals the right way around.

Bleed the coolant

Get the exhaust nice and hot, so I can weld a patch

Re bleed the brakes.

Have I forgotten anything?

Bolt and nut check, check lights then........

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maybe just maybe its MOT time after that?????????

 

[Marina door handles]

Update time and no it hasn't been for an MOT yet but I have got a couple more little jobs sorted.

Firstly there was a gaping hole in the exhaust back box, there were a couple of options new back box..... cheapest I could find was about £185! No thanks. Other option a bodgy welded repair......

The choice was an easy one.

Not pretty but that will do.

Next job, the electric windows are playing up yet again and this might sound daft but being able to open and close the drivers window is pretty essential IMO. I did a bit of experimenting

The supposedly good second hand switch pack that had started working okay had decided to play up. I stripped it apart but couldn't find anything obvious so I compared it to the other and definitely faulty original unit. Again nowt obvious (it is based on a printed circuit board so its all very small and hard to examine). I decided to try bridging some of the contacts on the original unit to see what happens and...... Great success! Well if you count making smoke and a bad smell a success? sadly the driver's window wouldn't go up.

I then had a good look at the now smoking original and found a dodgy repair in the circuit board that had now melted! Hmmm a clue perhaps? With nothing to lose I decided to solder a link wire to replace the damaged line. My word this fiddly, I am not that great at soldering and slightly hindered as I have a slight tremor in my left hand... I could never be a Sniper i would be hopeless! 

Not pretty at all, I put it back together and re fitted it to the car and..........

 

It bloody worked, couldn't believe it! Maybe I dont hate soldering after all?

So what does the car need for me to take it for an MOT now? I want to re bleed the brakes (they still feel a bit soft) and try and adjust the handbrake and that is about it i think. I don't have enough confidence in it to drive it to my work for a test (I work at a Main dealer in Stoke), I don't want a break down making me late for work! So it really needs to be done on a day off or a weekend..

anyway that's all for now!