New Maestro baderbox shite.

[Lankytim]

Tim, I've got a set of genuine AR trims on my Maestro that came off my dad's old F reg Montego 1.6 L. I won't need them once I've reinstated the original base-spec centre caps, you'll be welcome to them for the cost of postage!

 

Lord Sterling, that Rover is I can't remember the last time I saw one on the road!

 

Sounds good, If It helps I can dig out a half decent set of base model centre caps and post them to you.

 

I've "booked" a 3 hour slot with the wife to get the head swap finished on Monday afternoon. Hope its not frigging raining!

[KruJoe]

Your also welcome to the set of 13'' trims I have!

As seen on this:

 

 

They are an off-cream colour, with curbing scuffs on two or three of them. (So they'll match the 'traditional' wheel arches!)

Mine was a white 1.3 on a 'J' with steel bumpers and RUST, and utterly un-burstable.

 

 

It might be interesting to see what it looks like with these centre caps on the black wheels:

 

 

That would be well 'ard.

 

I'm sure you already know that the van wheels (similar design) have a bigger pcd so won't fit...

[Angrydicky]

It might be interesting to see what it looks like with these centre caps on the black wheels:

 

 

There's someone on Retro Rides with a Metro with that combo, and I think it looks utterly naff. My Maestro looks just like the beige one in the picture above, it had those centre caps when I got it but I put them in the boot and fitted the trimz because the wheels were rusty and I couldn't be bothered to rub them down and spray them.

 

Tim, I've already got a decent set of centre caps but thanks for the offer! White trimz on this white Maestro sounds ace

[ProgRocker]

It might be interesting to see what it looks like with these centre caps on the black wheels:

 

In the early 1990s an old school friend's parents had a B reg biege Maestro (HL spec I think) that had the silver steel wheels. IIRC, they had the 3-hole ones I think arranged into a square formation fitted to poverty spec Montego 1.3 & 1.6. However, on this maestro they had black centre caps. I thought that it looked better than the boring silver caps on silver steelies. Silver caps on black steelies would look pretty good.

[Lankytim]

I agree, a set of white ones would look class! If anyone has any spare hubcaps of the correct style going spare i'm interested. Ill paint em up and assemble a full set from the best ones.

 

Ill put a centrecap on and take a pic for anyone who wants to see what it looks like. I think it will look crap, personally.

[Lankytim]

I spent a couple of hours working on this babe magnet today. Apart from a couple of optional extras like the air filter its completely finished! Initially it wouldn't start, then I realised I'd got the firing order completely wrong, the numbers on the dizzy cap refer which plug the lead goes to, rather than the firing order, doh! After this she fired up first time and settled down to a lovely smooth idle. No leaks, no smoke, nothing, yay! Took it for a spin up and down the drive and the gearbox works fine, bit of a clunk from the steering though, may be a ball joint or something. Unfortunately while the Maestro had been running around with its knackered head the bouncing engine had caused a bad blow on the exhaust, at the bottom of the downpipe. Ill try to fix this soon as is practical.

 

The new head isnt as quiet as i'd hoped. The noise isnt at all that bad but while the Audi has pretty much zero noticeable valve noise theres definately a chatter from the Maestro. Not a worn out cam chatter though, or a borked tappit noise- its nothing to worry about at all really. Maybe its just down to it being a "solid" head rather than a type with hydraulic tappits. Perhaps a recon head needs time to "run in"?

[meggersdog]

The clunk from the steering will be the nylon bush at the bottom of the column.Rimmers stock them and they are about a fiver.Mine did this when I first got it,I asked at the main dealers and they told me to try Rimmers.

[Lankytim]

Finally re-assembled everything and fitted a brand new downpipe to replace the original which was rusty and cracked thanks to the bouncing engine after the car had been driven for a while on 3 cylinders.

 

All was going pretty well, the front anti-roll-bar needed to be unbolted to get access for the downpipe swap but the first inch of the middle section of exhaust needed to be cut thanks to the end being splayed out with a metal carrot at some point in an effort to get it to fix the bodged downpipe, its all fitted lovely and gastight now, although sometimes it does sound a little loud. I can't find a leak anywhere though- I've done the hand over tailpipe test and everything. New exhausts to tend to sound a bit tinny before they get covered in a few miles worth of internal carbon though (I think!)

 

The air filter and inlet bits have all been added- the job is so complete i've actually bolted the battery terminals down properly and bolted the battery in securely. I don't plan to do any more spannering under the bonnet for a while!

 

BUT....

 

I left the engine running for about 20 minutes to warm up properly so I could check properly for leaks and any funny noises, all was fine but I noticed a small pool of liquid appearing under the O/S front. Leaking hose or possibly water pump I thought.. no big deal.. I had a closer look and it appears the front crank seal is borked! I't doesn't leak when the engine is cold, but when it gets hot it really pisses out. Bugger! Why do old motors have a habit of kicking you in the balls when you do something nice for them like saving them from the crusher??

 

The front crank seal shouldn't be too difficult I think but ill read the manual and check, I just hope I don't need a puller or any special tools, I was going to do the cambelt anyway so i'll do that at the same time. There's an outside chance its the sump gasket so I may just do that too, there's no oil over the cambelt like i'd expect there to be if the crank seal had failed so who knows . I was hoping to press this shitter into service but its a driveway ornament again. Very disappointing.

 

On the up side the whole of the underside is rust free as far back as the back of the sills atleast, then its just a rusty filler pocket, one crusty arch and a couple of small holes in the boot. Not too bad really!

[dollywobbler]

That's bloody irritating Tim after all that. You and Bollox could start a museum for ungrateful Rovers!

 

A good way of tracing an exhaust leak is to get a bit of windscreen washer pipe. Shove one end in your ear and run the over end over any suspicious clamps. If you hear a chuff, chuff, you've got a leak. I've found that even a large diameter pipe (ie one from a footpump) works well enough - though that doesn't fit in my ear...

[Minimad5]

Keep up the good work Tim !

Be great to see this at the next AS meet

[Lankytim]

Front crank seals appear to be NLA!!!!!!!!111!

[Angrydicky]

Have you tried Rimmer Bros, and the Owners club?

[Minimad5]

If you get super stuck Tim, then i will ask the local motorfactors (I'm sure in his age-old stash he will have something)

Might not see him for a wee while though' - But the offer is there shall you need it

[warren t claim]

Lob some stop leak in.

 

The front crank seal isn't a wanky rope type is it?

[Richard]

Front crank seals appear to be NLA!!!!!!!!111!

 

Shurely they would be a standard part available from any bearing supplier?

[Lankytim]

I've tried the owners club and drawn a blank, Rimmer bros list a maestro boot seal as their only maestro item, i'm not convinced i'm searching the site correctly though.

 

Just found this on ebay though..... I've messaged the seller to see if this kit includes a front crank seal and await a reply but can you lot see anything in the pack? I can see the rear crank seal- I flipping hope I don't end up needing that! What's a conversion set anyway?

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... _799wt_907

[Lankytim]

If you get super stuck Tim, then i will ask the local motorfactors (I'm sure in his age-old stash he will have something)

Might not see him for a wee while though' - But the offer is there shall you need it

 

Ta for that!

 

Lob some stop leak in.

 

The front crank seal isn't a wanky rope type is it?

 

No its a rubber thing with a metal spring whatsit inside. I may try stopleak, but I don't fancy bodging it!

 

 

Shurely they would be a standard part available from any bearing supplier?

 

Err... Dunno! Possibly. Good idea for me to check though I suppose.

[dollywobbler]

Front crank seals appear to be NLA!!!!!!!!111!

 

I'd phone Rimmers. Their website is a bit like a labyrinth - everything's there, but you may get lost trying to find it. Websites are good, but bloke's minds are often more comprehensive!

[Minimad5]

If it is generic Lip Seal . . . (You mentioned a spring inside ... so i gather you mean a Lip Seal ?) ... anyway if it is a pretty standard seal, SKF or a similar company may be able to help you.

[Lankytim]

Just a bit of a quick update,

 

I finally managed to get a crank seal from Rimmers, I think it was their last one however. Everything else was NLA, sump seal, NLA, cam belt, NLA, tensioner, NLA. I bought the conversion kit off a fella on ebay that included a sump seal and also had a cam belt off him too. Paid for them on Wednesday via PayPal and have heard nothing from the seller since.....

 

I haven't had chance to stick the crank seal on yet, ill wait until the cambelt turns up atleast, i'd also like to wait for some better weather before I start clambering around the engine too!

 

I've managed to upload some pics of the head swap too if anyones interested, if not tough coz here they are...

 

 

 

 

Camera batteries went flat after that but you get the idea!

 

A chap on the Maestro forum advertised that he was breaking a Maestro of the same spec as this one, a 40k from new H reg example. Yesterday, in a rare flash of genius I drove down to Worcester to check out the Maestro being broken, dropping the wife off at the Merry Hill shopping centre on the way down. Wife gets to shop, I get to spanner. Everyones a winnAr!

 

Don't you just hate it when you strip parts from a car that is in much better shape than your own? I have done this loads of times and this was another example. The Maestro being broken looked great, mint interior and lovely shiny paintwork, it had that great "new" smell inside- it had really been looked after in the past. I just did not understand why it was being scrapped, however on closer inspection the bottom of the doors and all 4 arches were cleverly sculpted from fibreglass!

 

I liberated the full set of seats to replace mine which were filthy dirty, smelly and sun damaged, the immaculate boot carpet, parcel shelf, hubcaps and steering column cowling were also pilfered.

 

Today I got chance to fit everything, while the seats were out I took time to hoover and scrub the carpets and plastics normally hidden by the seats, like the seats that were being replaced they really were dirty! I think the Maestro had spent some time as a van as there was "builders" debris everywhere, self tapping wood screws, bits of plaster, splinters of wood, e.t.c. With the new parts fitted and a thorough clean the interior is no longer the dirty smelly hole it once was, its actually very pleasant- i'm very pleased indeed!

 

Interior shots are always hard to pull off so you'l have to manage with these...

 

 

 

New hubcaps, yay!!

 

 

I'm glad to say that after more than a week standing dormant she fired up first turn of the key, unfortunately while doing the interior change I left the interior light on and the battery went flat, meaning it wouldn't start. Doh! I reckon the battery is a bit duff anyway so i'll stick on a good spare I have lying about when I get the chance.

 

In the meantime its been pushed up the corner of the drive to await the next instalment of Maestro shaped antics!

[dollywobbler]

That's looking great already. That two-tone paint scheme was a master-stroke by whoever came up with it!

[Minimad5]

Looking good, nice to see an update

 

Hope you use it for the next meet

[Vinylseats]

Nice interior.

[autohausdolby]

Looks good!

[Lankytim]

Ok folks a little bit of an update. I spent a few hours on Saturday working on the old badermobile, the crank front seal was replaced along with the cambelt, this job went much more easily that I expected, again nothing was seized up and with the engine bay side panels removed access was a doddle. The crank seal from Rimmers just did not want to go in, no matter how carefully I waggled it about, in the end I distorted it to the extent that it was pretty much ruined , the freezing weather may or may not have been a contributory factor here. Fortunately the sump gasket had arrived by then and that contained a spare crank seal. After sticking it in some hot water and lubing it up it slipped in easily. There's definitely a knack to fitting lip seals!

 

Today I took the opportunity to pay the oxidised paintwork some attention. Mr Bollox has lent me his polishing mop and this made short work of all the skanky bits of paint. In no time at all the body was fully cut back and ready for some wax. The normal Simoniz stuff I use provided a pleasing gleam but I think it will need going over a few times to get the full gloss finish I was aiming at- I can't throw a tack cloth along the bonnet and watch it glide effortlessly off the other side yet. Its still lovely and shiny though and all of the marks, stains, oxidisation and scrapes of other peoples paint have been rectified. I'm pretty chuffed!

 

In other news, I have made a half-arsed attempt of selling the thing! Someone on the Maestro forum was after an Auto Maestro and seeing as they are very thin on the ground I offered it to him, although he now has other commitments and no longer wants one. It's still kinda up for sale as I have suddenly realised i'm pretty over committed shite-wise but id be happy for it to stay here for the time being.

[254575]

 

In other news, I have made a half-arsed attempt of selling the thing! Someone on the Maestro forum was after an Auto Maestro and seeing as they are very thin on the ground I offered it to him, although he now has other commitments and no longer wants one. It's still kinda up for sale as I have suddenly realised i'm pretty over committed shite-wise but id be happy for it to stay here for the time being.

 

Yeah. That was me. Sorry for messing you about a bit. It was a choice between saving an early maestro van from the scrap man or buying your auto. I wish I could have done both. But I knew yours was already in good hands

 

I still want an auto maestro in the near future so I may give you another nudge soon.

 

Here is a pic of said van

 

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/4231/photo2ej.jpg

[Lankytim]

No worries, i'm not mad keen on selling it just yet anyway! That van is class, is much work needed on it?

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Theres a lad in the next workshope to mine has a 1300 pez maestro van, he's put some MGF rims on it, an MG Maestro front bumper, a massive noisy back box and a roof spoiler. It looks totally shit, but I dont take the piss out of him because he reminds me of me 18 years ago pissing about trying to stick inappropriate accessories on my daily Ital van.

[Father Ted]

Oh How I wish that was a 2.0 dizzler.

[Lord Sterling]

Maestros looking good there Tim. The paintwork on my Sterling was pretty oxidised when I got, it was like a blackboard. Got it cut'n'polished one summer at a mates house, once done it looked amazing, cloth duly glided over 'new' paintwork.