Rover 800s - Fleet update

[R Lutz]

I sold Rover 800s new, something which I've wrote about on AROnline many times. I love these cars, and this thread has amused me.  Congratulations on the work done. 

[Austin-Rover]

The green saloon has received a wholly inappropriate upgrade* in the form of some vivid green rubbing strips. The chrome insert in the door rubbing strips had degraded and the clear outer plastic had started to peel, allowing water inside to trash the 'chrome' part. As it's more of a car for using, than taking to car shows I bought some heavy duty tape, took the rubbing strips off, removed the insert and stripped the plastic off as best I could before wrapping the tape around and reassembling. The chrome in the bumpers is still good, so these simply have the tape stuck over. Having finished the job, I think I can say that I don't hate it as a look. 😄

Anyway, off it went to the storage unit last weekend so that the J reg saloon can come home for an MoT and wedding car duties. It drove home fine, and went straight through the MoT without issue. The next day however, it's not running right and becoming difficult to drive. Just what you want with an important deadline approaching and an important journey to undertake for the bride! When it was last on the road the idle had started to do funny things and the throttle gained a mind of its own. The garage reset the throttle body settings and all seemed fine. The same fault it back but much worse. Hopefully the garage can fit it in and get it sorted! 😐

The new Sterling is in the garage, the interior has been stripped out today so that the carpets can have a good clean with the wet and dry vac. All the plastics and the seats will get a good scrub too before reassembly. Looking forward to it not smelling so bad and being so grubby! The mice really did make a mess and a stink! Once the interior is back together then we'll start on some mechanical work...

 

[R Lutz]

You used to be able to buy the chrome* insert by the metre at the at NEC classic car show. 

[Austin-Rover]

Update time; 

Back in September the J reg 820 was on wedding car duties, tasked with taking the bride to the church. The throttle sensor problem was still present. Of course the early T Series cars use a different throttle position sensor than the later ones, and the early one has been NLA for decades. I couldn't even source a second hand one in time for the wedding. Thankfully, the trick to reset it (ign. on, depress throttle five times, ign. off) saw us through the day without drama. 

Since then, my mechanic has found me a second hand one in his parts stash, so I might get round to fitting that this weekend as the weather is due to warm up - the car is currently encased in a block of ice!

The Sterling project progresses well. The interior is back together and smelling much more fresh. Everything is clean and pleasant to touch again. Underneath, it's had a clean up with a stiff brush and a coat of waxoyl. The brakes have been rebuilt and fresh brake fluid run through. 

Current work is preparing the engine for the belt and water pump change! 😳

The green 820 has just gone through its MoT, and continues in front line duties.