Mo rides again

[Motown]

It's taken five months of frustrating work fixing various electrical gremlins and leaks and it failed to even reach the garage on two previous occasions when i booked it in for MOT. I fought through a nasty infection to overhaul the engine gearbox and carbs when i should have been in bed then the seat then collapsed when i fitted the new interior. 

I found this car sitting in a garage in Nottingham where its been since 2015 upon initial inspection the car seemed good i couldn't have been more wrong. Ive been lucky enough in all the years ive owned and restored old Rovers not to have a LEMON but this was easily the most frustrating car ive had to deal with. As with my previous projects i restored it from my drive braving the weather and sometimes working into the night. Time after time i would fix all the faults and get everything as it should be but as soon as the car saw the MOT bay something broke or refused to work. I was at breaking point around November and had promised the kids a bonfire and put serious thought into torching it.

Looking back i am glad i didn't because today the car finally passed MOT it's first since 2014 the horn failed on the way home so clearly i have some minor bits to do but i am so glad its got a fresh cert. This will be the third SD1 ive rescued and restored i dont think il be doing anymore as working on Rover for years has rendered me an invalid 🤣 

Long live Rovers and all who sail in them! 

 

 

 

 

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Are you @beko1987? 😅

[Spiny Norman]

Lovely, always fancied an SD1. If ever a car benefited from an upgraded steering wheel, this is it, what an improvement over the not-quite-round original.

[500tops]

11 minutes ago, Motown said:

dont think il be doing anymore as working on Rover for years has rendered me an invalid 🤣 

 

 

 

 

Have you considered one of these?

[Motown]

7 minutes ago, Dick Longbridge said:

Are you @beko1987? 😅

Er no? Whos @beko1987 i am sorry if its a reference and i have disappointed you 🤣

The wife says i am a disappointment however my mistress says she just not open minded enough so its swings and roundabouts really 

[Motown]

11 minutes ago, Spiny Norman said:

Lovely, always fancied an SD1. If ever a car benefited from an upgraded steering wheel, this is it, what an improvement over the not-quite-round original.

I am by no means a purist but i like to keep things original that steering wheel was in the car when i bought it (i think its from Rimmers). I actually like the look of original steering wheel and had thought about refitting it. Although i hate the way it blocks the view of the speedo between 50-70 and catches my knees when turning which is why i haven't switched it back 🤣

[Motown]

11 minutes ago, 500tops said:

Have you considered one of these?

No i haven't and i would be worried if i did 🤣

[I_am_Diesel]

1 hour ago, Motown said:

No i haven't and i would be worried if i did 🤣

So would a lot of people.

[Motown]

Just now, I_am_Diesel said:

So would a lot of people.

It could be serviced in the kitchen or front room though which is always a plus

[Dick Cheeseburger]

1 hour ago, Motown said:

Er no? Whos @beko1987 i am sorry if its a reference and i have disappointed you 🤣

The wife says i am a disappointment however my mistress says she just not open minded enough so its swings and roundabouts really 

He's a chap on here who looks like @Motown. 

[Motown]

6 minutes ago, Dick Longbridge said:

He's a chap on here who looks like @Motown. 

I am a double for Paul Calf apparently 🤣

[Noel Tidybeard]

oooh cashmere gold

[NorfolkNWeigh]

2 hours ago, Motown said:

I am by no means a purist but i like to keep things original that steering wheel was in the car when i bought it (i think its from Rimmers). I actually like the look of original steering wheel and had thought about refitting it. Although i hate the way it blocks the view of the speedo between 50-70 and catches my knees when turning which is why i haven't switched it back 🤣

I think that steering wheel could be the same as the ones fitted to Met Police 2600 Area Cars, along with the Minilites and 4 pot front brakes .

[Motown]

34 minutes ago, NorfolkNWeigh said:

I think that steering wheel could be the same as the ones fitted to Met Police 2600 Area Cars, along with the Minilites and 4 pot front brakes .

Really? I thought it was aftermarket Moto Lita from Rimmers

https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-RO1043

[NorfolkNWeigh]

The Police ones were aftermarket too, presumably Mota-Lita.  I remember lots of Rovers having Police Minilites and 3 spoke round steering wheels in the 80’s/90’s, although I never owned an example amongst my 8 SD1’s, even my ex-Police one was a former Derbyshire 3500 with a square wheel and steels and stainless trims.

[Motown]

29 minutes ago, NorfolkNWeigh said:

The Police ones were aftermarket too, presumably Mota-Lita.  I remember lots of Rovers having Police Minilites and 3 spoke round steering wheels in the 80’s/90’s, although I never owned an example amongst my 8 SD1’s, even my ex-Police one was a former Derbyshire 3500 with a square wheel and steels and stainless trims.

Ah  i never knew that thanks for the education what happened to the Derbyshire force one then? All the ex police SD1s ive seen had the standard wheel and were usually base spec or close to it although i appreciate they did have better specced cars for other duties like escorting Prince Andrew and his mistress.

One of the negatives about this car for me was that it didn't have much paperwork and what it did have was damp and rotten on the back seat. Always fun trying to piece together an old V5 while its drying on the radiator 🤣 

My 2600 for example has pretty much the full history right down to the purchase receipt from Lavender Hill Garage in 1986. Granted its abit weird reading it all and getting excited when i discovered where the first owner purchased his tyres from or how many times it went to the dealership under warranty due to cruise control issues but i just find it all interesting.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

My S reg , ex-Police 3500 was a bag of shit , the rustiest and cheapest SD1 anyone had ever seen at that point (1983) there were big scabs  all over it , holes in the scuttle and rear panel meant gallons of water in gloveboxes and under the boot floor. A vinyl roof was all that was covering the holes in the roof , so passengers would poke their finger through and leave little lumps in the vinyl.

When I got it, I removed the loose paint and rust and brushed red oxide on all of the paintwork, it stayed like that for a year or so in my ownership.

The good points were the engine and manual box, which could be a little obstructive when cold, but as long as it was in a gear it would go. It had no PAS, which was not a problem then, but I’d probably whine about it now.

It went like a bastard, sounded awesome as the exhaust was full of holes, as I was fucking idiot I remember one night on the Kilwendig 12 car night rally , spectating and hacking between vantage points with mates, we left a tiny coastal village called Cwmtudu,  which had a narrow, short version of the Stelvio Pass to leave, the Escorts, Avengers and Chevettes were pretty impressive , but I decided to be more dramatic. With no LSD and dodgy tyres I did a good impression of a chip pan fire in a council flat, but just managed to keep it on the tarmac, although there was a lot of bracken in the back bumper and towbar. My mate Huw following in his Sunbeam Ti said a group of spectators fell off a wall backwards, presumably in admiration.

That engine went in a never finished V8 Escort project then years later ended up in a Capri that a mate crashe d into a bridge  support.

The Met only seemed to modify the S1 2600 autos  not the V8 traffic cars, mostly used as Area response cars, although some dark blue and green ones got Minilites- I got my first endorsements( speeding and due consideration,) from two traffic coppers in a green 2600 with Minilites, on the A406 in 1981 when riding my Honda RS250. I can still remember that feeling in the pit of my stomach when I moved out of the Rover’s way at 90 and the passenger held up a POLICE sign on a clipboard.

My office overlooked Bow Street nick and there would often be prisoner escorts leaving the Court gates . They must have  been the same cars ( possibly V8’s but with Minilites) used for Royal duties because they had the lettering on the tyres picked out in Gold, same as the bikes, there was often a Range Rover with one-piece tailgate open and two armed Coppers sitting in the back facing out.

 

 

 

[sierraman]

That was when ex police was cheap enough to take a risk on, they’re just not worth it now. 

[Motown]

10 hours ago, NorfolkNWeigh said:

My S reg , ex-Police 3500 was a bag of shit , the rustiest and cheapest SD1 anyone had ever seen at that point (1983) there were big scabs  all over it , holes in the scuttle and rear panel meant gallons of water in gloveboxes and under the boot floor. A vinyl roof was all that was covering the holes in the roof , so passengers would poke their finger through and leave little lumps in the vinyl.

When I got it, I removed the loose paint and rust and brushed red oxide on all of the paintwork, it stayed like that for a year or so in my ownership.

The good points were the engine and manual box, which could be a little obstructive when cold, but as long as it was in a gear it would go. It had no PAS, which was not a problem then, but I’d probably whine about it now.

It went like a bastard, sounded awesome as the exhaust was full of holes, as I was fucking idiot I remember one night on the Kilwendig 12 car night rally , spectating and hacking between vantage points with mates, we left a tiny coastal village called Cwmtudu,  which had a narrow, short version of the Stelvio Pass to leave, the Escorts, Avengers and Chevettes were pretty impressive , but I decided to be more dramatic. With no LSD and dodgy tyres I did a good impression of a chip pan fire in a council flat, but just managed to keep it on the tarmac, although there was a lot of bracken in the back bumper and towbar. My mate Huw following in his Sunbeam Ti said a group of spectators fell off a wall backwards, presumably in admiration.

That engine went in a never finished V8 Escort project then years later ended up in a Capri that a mate crashe d into a bridge  support.

The Met only seemed to modify the S1 2600 autos  not the V8 traffic cars, mostly used as Area response cars, although some dark blue and green ones got Minilites- I got my first endorsements( speeding and due consideration,) from two traffic coppers in a green 2600 with Minilites, on the A406 in 1981 when riding my Honda RS250. I can still remember that feeling in the pit of my stomach when I moved out of the Rover’s way at 90 and the passenger held up a POLICE sign on a clipboard.

My office overlooked Bow Street nick and there would often be prisoner escorts leaving the Court gates . They must have  been the same cars ( possibly V8’s but with Minilites) used for Royal duties because they had the lettering on the tyres picked out in Gold, same as the bikes, there was often a Range Rover with one-piece tailgate open and two armed Coppers sitting in the back facing out.

 

 

 

Thanks for sharing your memories i love little stories like that gotta say the world was a much simpler and happier place back then in my view. Ive been lucky enough that all the SD1s ive owned have been solid or at the very worse needed some light welding. I do remember the days when you could buy one for next to nowt though and it was a miracle half of them were still running but they still sounded better than all the other shit knocking about at that time.

I knew a chap who had a 2400 Turbo Diesel the engine would rattle violently under load on hills or slight inclines and there was a hole in the drivers footwell big enough that you could see the road from the front passenger seat. He would often fill and seal the hole using old paint tin lids but every time he hit a bump in the road they would fall out. The paintwork was crusty and bubbling  all over the place so he sanded it back and painted it with pale green caravan paint. He had it for a few years and to this day i dont know how he got it through MOT every year.. These days he drives a Nissan Duke supports Chelsea and owns an Adele CD he has literally given up on life 🤣

[Ian_Fearn]

Ever head of a guy who removed a 6 cylinder and fitted a Perkins Prima? I can’t remember if it was the turbo version. I wonder if it’s still about. He used to attend quite a few of the BL events back in 2005/6 ish.

 

[Motown]

40 minutes ago, Ian_Fearn said:

Ever head of a guy who removed a 6 cylinder and fitted a Perkins Prima? I can’t remember if it was the turbo version. I wonder if it’s still about. He used to attend quite a few of the BL events back in 2005/6 ish.

 

Yeah i think it was a chap in the owners club i dont know if the car is still about but as a member i will ask gotta say though i cant understand why you would want to do that?

I mean the guy deserves a beer and a firm hand shake for his achievements but isn't the Perkins Prima based on the O series which was fitted to the SD1 anyway? I am pretty sure the block is even the same?  From memory it was fitted to the SD1 Montego and early 820s

[Ian_Fearn]

I’m pretty sure I talked to him once and that he’d had multiple head gasket failures on the 6 cylinder.

I did a 6 cylinder head gasket change once for a friend and it went again shortly after. Were they susceptible to it?

[Bren]

1 hour ago, Ian_Fearn said:

I’m pretty sure I talked to him once and that he’d had multiple head gasket failures on the 6 cylinder.

I did a 6 cylinder head gasket change once for a friend and it went again shortly after. Were they susceptible to it?

The head must have been warped.

They did suffer from HGF but camshaft seizure was a bigger issue.

My dad's 2300 started running on five cylinders - one plug would constantly oil up. This, and holes in the body meant it was punted on.

At seven years old.

I have been a fan since a school friend's dad gave me a lift home in a brand new series 1 2300S. Despite its relatively povo spec it was world's away from the cortinas my dad had.

My dad bought a series 1 2300 in 1985. X plate with 57k on the clock. Little was spent on maintenance and it would frequently run out of petrol. Rust and a knackered engine saw it p/xed in 1988 for a montego estate.

I bought my first in 1990. A 2000 - it went much better than expected but the driveline was very harsh. Extremely tatty with a crumpled front wing and door. The door was replaced and the wing filled. It was fairly basic save for a five speed box and glass sunroof. Sold to a neighbour who had it for another few years before being scrapped.

I waited until 1997 for my next - a vitesse. For £795 it was as you would expect, dreadful. Rusty, scaffold pole for a tailpipe and the 9.75:1 lump had been swapped for a low compression 3.9. Despite having ££££ thrown at it including paint and panels from Rimmers I sold it to a friend who used to break them - we had bought a house so it had to go.

At the same time I purchased a B reg 2300. The engine was snagged ( no surprise) but the body was good. I had a couple of local cowboys put a V8 in it but it smoked more than the 2300 - pulling the heads showed a badly scored bore. Stripped the good running gear and sold the shell to make way for my current VDP EFi.

The current one? C reg. Black with caramel leather. First owner was Debenhams of London. Still has the original radio and lambswool rugs. I have done both sills front wings and various other repairs. Engine has a steel timing gear and I have overhauled the fuel injectors. It needs paint and tyres. I really need to get it finished as my asthma is getting worse and I can see the day where working on cars is a thing of the past.

Compared to a modern they are dreadful- thirsty, slow, poor brakes- I could go on. But as things get worse they take me back to much better times.

[sierraman]

I’ve never driven one but you could forgive it anything when it looks as fantastic as they do. 

[Bren]

2 minutes ago, sierraman said:

I’ve never driven one but you could forgive it anything when it looks as fantastic as they do. 

The six pots are smooth but not much grunt. The V8's have a bit more character. But thirsty.

[2flags]

The SD1 is the one Rover I have never owned. They were great when they came out but did seem to rust well. 

[NorfolkNWeigh]

9 minutes ago, Bren said:

The head must have been warped.

They did suffer from HGF but camshaft seizure was a bigger issue.

My dad's 2300 started running on five cylinders - one plug would constantly oil up. This, and holes in the body meant it was punted on.

At seven years old.

I have been a fan since a school friend's dad gave me a lift home in a brand new series 1 2300S. Despite its relatively povo spec it was world's away from the cortinas my dad had.

My dad bought a series 1 2300 in 1985. X plate with 57k on the clock. Little was spent on maintenance and it would frequently run out of petrol. Rust and a knackered engine saw it p/xed in 1988 for a montego estate.

I bought my first in 1990. A 2000 - it went much better than expected but the driveline was very harsh. Extremely tatty with a crumpled front wing and door. The door was replaced and the wing filled. It was fairly basic save for a five speed box and glass sunroof. Sold to a neighbour who had it for another few years before being scrapped.

I waited until 1997 for my next - a vitesse. For £795 it was as you would expect, dreadful. Rusty, scaffold pole for a tailpipe and the 9.75:1 lump had been swapped for a low compression 3.9. Despite having ££££ thrown at it including paint and panels from Rimmers I sold it to a friend who used to break them - we had bought a house so it had to go.

At the same time I purchased a B reg 2300. The engine was snagged ( no surprise) but the body was good. I had a couple of local cowboys put a V8 in it but it smoked more than the 2300 - pulling the heads showed a badly scored bore. Stripped the good running gear and sold the shell to make way for my current VDP EFi.

The current one? C reg. Black with caramel leather. First owner was Debenhams of London. Still has the original radio and lambswool rugs. I have done both sills front wings and various other repairs. Engine has a steel timing gear and I have overhauled the fuel injectors. It needs paint and tyres. I really need to get it finished as my asthma is getting worse and I can see the day where working on cars is a thing of the past.

Compared to a modern they are dreadful- thirsty, slow, poor brakes- I could go on. But as things get worse they take me back to much better times.

I am so jealous of your Efi  VdP, without doubt the best SD1 of all, I used one regularly when my work XJ40 was off the road , Marshall’s of Kempston had one as a courtesy car in 1987 and it was a flying machine.

Years later I bought a black D reg Twin Plenum Vitesse manual from the MD of Wipac in Buckingham, it was about 7 years old at the time and he loved it so much he’d bought it from his previous company ,Unipart, when he left . It was a major disappointment , quite quick but not what I was expecting , didn’t keep it long as values were on the up and I sold it for a Grand more than I’d paid for it. I used half of that to buy a 3.5 carb VdP on a C plate( grey cloth with one rear headrest missing) My Mrs drove it for a year  or more.  Never did own an Efi. That was my last SD1.

[Motown]

4 hours ago, Ian_Fearn said:

I’m pretty sure I talked to him once and that he’d had multiple head gasket failures on the 6 cylinder.

I did a 6 cylinder head gasket change once for a friend and it went again shortly after. Were they susceptible to it?

Ive never had half the issues they are/were tarred with and i find the 2600 to be an incredibly smooth and reliable daily. The 2600s did suffer camshaft issues but with regular oil services and general maintenance there isn't much to worry about.

The brakes could be better ALOT better on the SD1 as a whole i dont know if its down to poor design or a sign of the times but my entire brake system has been overhauled and is practically brand new but i could still stop the car quicker if i put my foot out the door.

 

[Motown]

2 hours ago, Bren said:

The head must have been warped.

They did suffer from HGF but camshaft seizure was a bigger issue.

My dad's 2300 started running on five cylinders - one plug would constantly oil up. This, and holes in the body meant it was punted on.

At seven years old.

I have been a fan since a school friend's dad gave me a lift home in a brand new series 1 2300S. Despite its relatively povo spec it was world's away from the cortinas my dad had.

My dad bought a series 1 2300 in 1985. X plate with 57k on the clock. Little was spent on maintenance and it would frequently run out of petrol. Rust and a knackered engine saw it p/xed in 1988 for a montego estate.

I bought my first in 1990. A 2000 - it went much better than expected but the driveline was very harsh. Extremely tatty with a crumpled front wing and door. The door was replaced and the wing filled. It was fairly basic save for a five speed box and glass sunroof. Sold to a neighbour who had it for another few years before being scrapped.

I waited until 1997 for my next - a vitesse. For £795 it was as you would expect, dreadful. Rusty, scaffold pole for a tailpipe and the 9.75:1 lump had been swapped for a low compression 3.9. Despite having ££££ thrown at it including paint and panels from Rimmers I sold it to a friend who used to break them - we had bought a house so it had to go.

At the same time I purchased a B reg 2300. The engine was snagged ( no surprise) but the body was good. I had a couple of local cowboys put a V8 in it but it smoked more than the 2300 - pulling the heads showed a badly scored bore. Stripped the good running gear and sold the shell to make way for my current VDP EFi.

The current one? C reg. Black with caramel leather. First owner was Debenhams of London. Still has the original radio and lambswool rugs. I have done both sills front wings and various other repairs. Engine has a steel timing gear and I have overhauled the fuel injectors. It needs paint and tyres. I really need to get it finished as my asthma is getting worse and I can see the day where working on cars is a thing of the past.

Compared to a modern they are dreadful- thirsty, slow, poor brakes- I could go on. But as things get worse they take me back to much better times.

 

Thanks for sharing @Bren the car is an absolute beauty too i hope you manage to finish her and at the very least get to appreciate a few drives out in it.

As you know ive got a 3.9 and 2.6 after my own experiences with SD1s i totally agree with everything you've said especially the damn brakes. They really are a joy to drive and own though providing you keep up with the maintenance which i just about manage at the moment.

I drive the 2600 daily and find it to be far smoother and more economical than the V8 i am all for the V8 dont get me wrong but i wish the 2600 got the credit it deserves. To many people seem to be ripping out the PE166 in favour for the V8 these days

[horriblemercedes]

2 hours ago, Bren said:

The head must have been warped.

They did suffer from HGF but camshaft seizure was a bigger issue.

My dad's 2300 started running on five cylinders - one plug would constantly oil up. This, and holes in the body meant it was punted on.

At seven years old.

I have been a fan since a school friend's dad gave me a lift home in a brand new series 1 2300S. Despite its relatively povo spec it was world's away from the cortinas my dad had.

My dad bought a series 1 2300 in 1985. X plate with 57k on the clock. Little was spent on maintenance and it would frequently run out of petrol. Rust and a knackered engine saw it p/xed in 1988 for a montego estate.

I bought my first in 1990. A 2000 - it went much better than expected but the driveline was very harsh. Extremely tatty with a crumpled front wing and door. The door was replaced and the wing filled. It was fairly basic save for a five speed box and glass sunroof. Sold to a neighbour who had it for another few years before being scrapped.

I waited until 1997 for my next - a vitesse. For £795 it was as you would expect, dreadful. Rusty, scaffold pole for a tailpipe and the 9.75:1 lump had been swapped for a low compression 3.9. Despite having ££££ thrown at it including paint and panels from Rimmers I sold it to a friend who used to break them - we had bought a house so it had to go.

At the same time I purchased a B reg 2300. The engine was snagged ( no surprise) but the body was good. I had a couple of local cowboys put a V8 in it but it smoked more than the 2300 - pulling the heads showed a badly scored bore. Stripped the good running gear and sold the shell to make way for my current VDP EFi.

The current one? C reg. Black with caramel leather. First owner was Debenhams of London. Still has the original radio and lambswool rugs. I have done both sills front wings and various other repairs. Engine has a steel timing gear and I have overhauled the fuel injectors. It needs paint and tyres. I really need to get it finished as my asthma is getting worse and I can see the day where working on cars is a thing of the past.

Compared to a modern they are dreadful- thirsty, slow, poor brakes- I could go on. But as things get worse they take me back to much better times.

That'll be lovely when it's done. I love V8 SD1s