Discussion
you know you want to...don't fight it.
Buy the best you can afford, focus on bodywork and interior condition. They rust on the sills, D post, rear wings at the top, front wings in various places, windscreen scuttle, boot floor, door bottoms, rear spring hangers can go as well...scared yet? :-) but get a sound one and you will be fine.
Mechanically, the power steering pumps leaks, always. The steering is insanely light but this is standard, the Rover V8 is bombproof IF its had regular oil changes, the BW35 auto is at the limit and can be a bit thumpy. Thats about it really.
I have one and do around 6000 miles a year, like any car the more you use them the happier they are.
Ian
Buy the best you can afford, focus on bodywork and interior condition. They rust on the sills, D post, rear wings at the top, front wings in various places, windscreen scuttle, boot floor, door bottoms, rear spring hangers can go as well...scared yet? :-) but get a sound one and you will be fine.
Mechanically, the power steering pumps leaks, always. The steering is insanely light but this is standard, the Rover V8 is bombproof IF its had regular oil changes, the BW35 auto is at the limit and can be a bit thumpy. Thats about it really.
I have one and do around 6000 miles a year, like any car the more you use them the happier they are.
Ian
Merc fan said:
I wish you'd all stop telling me how good they are and posting such super pictures. You're not making this easy. I was hoping you'd all tell me they are rubbish and that would have been so much easier. Bugger.
Once bitten by the bug, most people keep them for a loooong time.Like I said, try one - just to see for yourself obviously. No commitment.
The hook's in and now all we need to do is reel him in
Merc fan said:
YOURS HAS A 3.9 CHIMAERA ENGINE IN IT?!?!?!?!?
Not as mad as you might think as they are basically the same engine in a different state of tune. V8 Developments kindly built me a replacement reconditioned engine (as they wouldn't guarantee that my car's 40 year old block would not be porous) that was taken out of a Chim albeit with a milder cam and different pistons reducing the displacement from 4.0 litres down to 3.9.
It has a little more welly than a bog standard 3.5 lump but delivers it more smoothly than the Chim.
Edited by Tyre_Tread on Tuesday 21st April 00:05
3.9!
Girl ;-)
Mine has a 4.6, which is mated to a ZF 4 speed auto so the old girl is doing around 1900 rpm at 70mph.
Obviously the bigger engine is purely for economy reasons. :-)
Actually they respond very well to larger engines, they will never be quick cars, but the extra torque of a larger engine is always welcome.
Ian
Girl ;-)
Mine has a 4.6, which is mated to a ZF 4 speed auto so the old girl is doing around 1900 rpm at 70mph.
Obviously the bigger engine is purely for economy reasons. :-)
Actually they respond very well to larger engines, they will never be quick cars, but the extra torque of a larger engine is always welcome.
Ian
Edited by 59fan on Tuesday 21st April 09:04
Edited by 59fan on Tuesday 21st April 09:04
Merc fan said:
This is becoming intolerable now. It hadn't even occurred to me how workable the Rover 3.5 is. An RPI exchange or J E Engineering. Hmmmm.
Got.....to....resist......got.....to.......resist.
RPI may not be the best bet. Got.....to....resist......got.....to.......resist.
You could always put a gas kit on if you're planning big mileage.
Tyre_Tread said:
Merc fan said:
This is becoming intolerable now. It hadn't even occurred to me how workable the Rover 3.5 is. An RPI exchange or J E Engineering. Hmmmm.
Got.....to....resist......got.....to.......resist.
RPI may not be the best bet. Got.....to....resist......got.....to.......resist.
You could always put a gas kit on if you're planning big mileage.
Hi. My name is Damian.
I have had a couple of Rovers. The P5 3l saloon and I recently sold my P5b. I did everything in it and it was a great daily driver. Once I finish a boat tail special I am building I want to build a Group N regs historic race car for our Historic Saloon racing series over here. I am in no rush though.
I have had a couple of Rovers. The P5 3l saloon and I recently sold my P5b. I did everything in it and it was a great daily driver. Once I finish a boat tail special I am building I want to build a Group N regs historic race car for our Historic Saloon racing series over here. I am in no rush though.
t. I'm watching it. Looks rather nice.Hi i had a c reg 3ltr in 1978 the brakes kept jamming on, so a friend of a friend sold it to me for £50.00. thats all i had at the time, every time you put the breaks on , they would not come off, until you switched it off. after two weeks i took the break vacume tank off and found a 4p washer was missing, hey presto breaks i could use. 007mph 0n m4 to 7 bridge 4.5 hours from slamanon, scotland,to bristol, had it for 3 years, best car i ever had. if you want one, get it now, you aint comming back for a second life.
john
john
The P5B was oftern referred to as the "Ministerial Barge" from memory
I bought one in a fit of enthusiasm some years ago, drove it into the garage with promises to rejuvenate and then two years later sold it as it was and had only driven it once.
Got all of my money back though so not all bad.
Probably a contentious statement and by no means any offence meant but as a Jaguar man through and through, I should not have bought a Rover - very different and not my thing it transpired.
The RV8 however is delightful in any form of tune or displacement.
Regards all.
I bought one in a fit of enthusiasm some years ago, drove it into the garage with promises to rejuvenate and then two years later sold it as it was and had only driven it once.
Got all of my money back though so not all bad.
Probably a contentious statement and by no means any offence meant but as a Jaguar man through and through, I should not have bought a Rover - very different and not my thing it transpired.
The RV8 however is delightful in any form of tune or displacement.
Regards all.
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