Death at the testers.

[Pete-M]

Well folks, it looks like my SD1s time on earth is coming to an end. Somehow, in three months sitting stationary on the path, the sills have developed serious tin worm. I'm more than a bit gutted about this as I thought it needed a couple of tiny plates - that was all that was apparent three months ago.

 

I just don't have the inclination to weld it up. The bits are available from Rimmers for sensible money, but I'm no welder and it would only be the beginning of a long and tedious restoration which I'm in no mood to contemplate right now. It's cold out there, and wet, and dark most of the time.

 

Now, I could break the car and get pretty decent money for the bits. 5 good alloys with good tyres, SD1 four pot calipers, newish shocks, the tan leather interior, the Rimmer Bros stainless exhaust, the new radiator, the good bumpers, the EFi auto rear axle (mega-long ratio). The shell will weigh in pretty well.

 

I could also keep the engine, box and associated bits and bobs to fit the running gear to something else. Easy to do with a donor car.

 

Question is, what to fit it all to? Needs to be RWD, preferably estate and lighter than an SD1. Oh, and cheap to buy a solid example.

 

It's listed on ebay at the moment, but as there haven't been any bids I don't see a problem pulling it. If a bid rolls in I'll have to leave it on there until the end and forget about doing a transplant for a while. If it sells, then it wasn't meant to be.

 

Nowt wrong with me doing this is from what I can see. It would be a shame to break it, but it could also be the beginning of something seriously fun.

[trigger]

To be honest I'm quite glad i didn't buy it now!

 

What about a Ford Sierra Estate? Would the V8 bolt in easy enough?.

[Pete-M]

To be honest I'm quite glad i didn't buy it now!

 

I'm amazed at how quickly it's rotted. We're talking Renault 30 speed rust here. It seemed very solid when I offered it to you. I'm losing money on this one even at way over the starting price.

 

What about a Ford Sierra Estate? Would the V8 bolt in easy enough?.

 

Sierras are pretty easy to V8. It's a tempting thought, but they're getting pretty rare now in decent enough condition.

[warren t claim]

Buy a straight but shite 2000/2300/2600 SD1 and transplant the good stuff.

 

Extra shite points if you get an early 2300 sporting the tiny instrument pod without a rev counter.

[autofive]

bugger

 

i know how you feel, im at the same stage with a v6 mk5 cortina, it needs a full inner and outer rear wheel arch just 3 years after scary fitted inner and outer sills for me

 

i have a 2 litre cortina i could swap all the v6 bits over but i really cant be arsed to swap bits or do the wheel arch and i dont want to break it

 

catch 22

[eddyramrod]

Volvo estates are plentiful and cheap... I know where you might still be able to find a white 740, not too far away either (Southport). That's if my mate hasn't flung it yet, I understand he has a replacement on the way. RWD, takes a V6 so the 8 shouldn't be that hard, strong enough to take the power. Finding a smaller RWD estate will be hard as they're all old enough now to be classics, except the Sierra and you've already spotted the problem with that. BMW 3-series, perhaps? Some of those are 20 years old now. Or go really mad with a Suzuki Grand Vitara? That could be exciting!

[Cavcraft]

Would Mark (Minimad) not weld it for you Pete? He seems class at that sort of thing, plus he's local.

[Formula Autos]

Some small RWD estates for your delectation Pete.

 

All of which would be suitably mental with a Rover V8 under the bonnet:

 

Or, as an even scarier prospect (given the front suspension and associated handling foibles) you may also consider the Marina.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are three big problems as far as I can see though.

 

Firstly, finding the donor car. Autoshite spec estates are a little thin on the ground.

 

Secondly, getting the V8 to fit. Some of the engine bays may not have enough room.

 

Thirdly, actually going through with it. I know I wouldn't have the nerve to stick a V8 in a Pony estate. It would just seem wrong somehow to mess with such automotive excellence.

[pogweasel]

Last one on that list not RWD not GR8 4 DRFTN.

[trigger]

Ital Estate V8 FTW!

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Morris-Ital-/3704 ... 56403d64c8

 

Bit overpriced though sadly.

[Pete-M]

Would Mark (Minimad) not weld it for you Pete? He seems class at that sort of thing, plus he's local.

 

It's more a case of me not wanting to spend loads of time or money welding it up. It could be welded up, the bits are available from Rimmers and they're not that expensive. But it really needs someone who wants to restore it. That someone isn't me. I'd have done it if it was only cosmetics and a few small plates but a big job has broken out and I'm not interested. I'd rather rip it to bits, sell the trim and the rare bits, and use the mechanical stuff for something else.

 

For me, it's easier to transplant the running gear than to weld the shell. I'm good at transplants, but shit at welding.

[Formula Autos]

Last one on that list not RWD not GR8 4 DRFTN.

 

Should've been a Sunny. Got me Datsuns mixed up there.

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

Ital Estate V8 FTW!

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Morris-Ital-/3704 ... 56403d64c8

 

Bit overpriced though sadly.

 

What it wants is an XUD or Perkins Prima, I know that's what Pete M would like.

[Guest]

Just get someone else to do it, shouldn't cost a fortune to have a pair of sills welded on.

[Pete-M]

It would end up being a full resto, and I don't want two of those on the go. It really has rotted very quickly indeed.

 

I'm gonna give it a while on ebay but I can't see it making it through the week on there. I think I'll be stripping it.

 

Problem is, it's not worth a huge amount of money, but there are a fair few bits on it that are sought after. The Vitesse engine is worth a few hundred quid, the box is spot on, the axle is £150ish with being the EFi auto one (rare), four pot brakes, 5x good alloys with good tyres, and I've got a load of old SD1 bits in the garage that I could flog too. The interior would fetch a couple of hundred quid. The remains of the shell would weigh in for £100 or so.

 

Basically, I could take the engine, box and associated bits out and sell the rest for close to the £500 starting price.

[Des]

My vote for best and most deserving recipient for a V8 drivetrain would be an SD1. I had a similar problem a few years ago with a Vanden Plas, covered huge miles in it, didn't keep on top of the welding, left it standing and in no time both sills and a good amount of floorpan dropped out of it. I realised I wouldn't get around to it anytime soon and had a bit of a chore to move it on without it ending up getting bangered.

Can you put it away for a while, see how much you miss it, put some money aside to get it sorted out in the spring, ideally leave it with someone as a low priority repair so you can forget about it and rediscover it later. I've seen the ebay listing and that does looks a very nice car. Of all the usual things that need putting right on Rovers of that age, the welding side is probably about the cheapest. Getting paintwork to that standard will cost thousands, a mechanical once over = a similar amount. Get it welded up man, and a good wax treatment, it could be the last car you need to buy.

[Espacetic]

Such a gorgeous looking car, be a shame to see it stripped.

[Pete-M]

Problem is, Des. I've already got one long term project with the Escort. I really don't want two.

 

I could park it for for a while, but it'll be in the same place it has been for the last three months and that is where it has developed its rust habit. It has rotted pretty significantly around the sills and I'd want to do it properly.

 

Doing it properly would turn into a full resto. Looking at least £350 to get it solid (cutting out the rot and replacing with new panels), then £1200-1500 to get the bodywork spot on. Then there are things like redoing the headlining etc. It all adds up and much as I love SD1s I don't want one enough to spend that kind of money. If I had time to do the work myself it wouldn't be an expensive job to do, but I don't have the time.

 

I'm still planning on leaving the UK in a few months, so a long term resto isn't an option. The Escort already has that bit of the budget sewn up.

[stoterstangen90]

Ital Estate V8 FTW!

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Morris-Ital-/3704 ... 56403d64c8

 

Bit overpriced though sadly.

 

What it wants is an XUD or Perkins Prima, I know that's what Pete M would like.

Me to. I have already dismantled a FSO Prima for it.

[Pete-M]

Well, it's got a bid, so I'm not taking it apart.

 

The first bid is from a well known SD1 breaker, so that's that. Same bloke who bought my crashed Vitesse, as it happens.

[Station]

I'd personally weld it up and reMOT it, I'd volunteer with the rest of the chaps to help out if you need it. DO it do it do it do it!

[Pete-M]

Thanks for the offer, Dave. However, it's got a bid now and it's gonna go. I don't cancel ebay auctions with bids.

[Rusty Pelican]

Thanks for the offer, Dave. However, it's got a bid now and it's gonna go. I don't cancel ebay auctions with bids.

If only all ebayers were the same , Shame its got to go , fully understand though , tis getting cold / wet / winter ,Even if you left it and did it next summer there would be even more grot to contend with ,

RIP

[Torsten2001]

Is the MOT up? Has it any tax on it?

[Pete-M]

MOT was up in September. I wasn't worried about it because I knew it needed a little plate the size of a 50p on one drop-sill and a plate on the boot floor where the exhaust hanger has ripped through.

 

It is taxed until the end of January. I was planning on cashing this in, but for a 'shiter I'll leave it on.

 

It does need a fair old bit of welding around the sill areas. Wouldn't recommend driving it anywhere, but it does drive really well.