1985 Rover 3500 Vitesse
Discussion
SamR380 said:
That car is lucky to have you. My SD1 has rust holes covered by aluminum tape and black paint.
I do think I've done it justice. That' scary, I was presently surprised at the condition of this one, nothing really major.Is yours a series 1 or 2? I know the series ones suffered a little worse to say the least.
With the summer continuing on I really wanted to get the car at least running. I had a soft deadline of the second week in August, but that was not going to happen.
Fresh NGK plugs for the new motor of course.
Next was the flushed radiator and aircon assembly.
Fresh SS fixings replace cable ties in holding the aircon assembly in (I'm sadly not joking)
and with the aircon shroud on, and the radiator shroud, again now with all correct fixings.
It looks like it should run now....
It did briefly! but not before the ignition amplifier died, and it just didn't sound right.. there was a metallic noise, and chugging from the exhaust.
The amplifier I had a hunch about and I'd previously changed the distributor, but the replacement doesn't fit with the vitesse aircon set up.
Amplifier changed it fired back into life.
The chug and click remained.
Initially I just assumed the exhaust system wasn't quite tight enough, but after a good check I couldn't see anything a miss.
Then I saw it, soot on my nice clean manifolds....
I couldn't actually believe it, but the upgraded manifold gaskets that I used where slightly larger to accommodate tubular manifolds, and it would also seem uncovers a redundant dowel hole on standard cast manifolds. So on that exhaust port it's now been returned back to standard gaskets! No leaks now.
The metallic noise was even easier, I'd located the TDC pointer too close to the crank pulley!
Now was the difficult part, with less than 10 seconds on the engine it was time to breaking in the new cam.
It went well, and burped the coolant system at the same time. varying the rpm between 1.5-2.5k. luckily the EFI system has quite a fast idle cold so I'm happy with how it all went.
It sounds bloody brilliant, I can't wait to get it out on the road!
Next step is to get it out and run the bugger in.
Well done! that's excellent progress and a beautiful car. It's amazing to see one so clean and fresh.
I know how you felt when you were starting the car up and then breaking the cam in - I've had the heads off mine a couple of times and the start up after re-assembly is always a heart in mouth moment as I panic that I've forgotten something critical or put something in backwards or not noticed that I'd dropped a washer down an inlet port or something! Fortunately it's always gone very smoothly and my Vitesse runs like a dream. Just got back last night from a round trip from Liverpool to London fully laden (and I mean up to the roof including the back seat) to take my daughter down to her student digs.
I've really enjoyed this thread - thanks for taking all the trouble to post all these wonderful pictures.
I know how you felt when you were starting the car up and then breaking the cam in - I've had the heads off mine a couple of times and the start up after re-assembly is always a heart in mouth moment as I panic that I've forgotten something critical or put something in backwards or not noticed that I'd dropped a washer down an inlet port or something! Fortunately it's always gone very smoothly and my Vitesse runs like a dream. Just got back last night from a round trip from Liverpool to London fully laden (and I mean up to the roof including the back seat) to take my daughter down to her student digs.
I've really enjoyed this thread - thanks for taking all the trouble to post all these wonderful pictures.
Jaffers said:
Well done! that's excellent progress and a beautiful car. It's amazing to see one so clean and fresh.
I know how you felt when you were starting the car up and then breaking the cam in - I've had the heads off mine a couple of times and the start up after re-assembly is always a heart in mouth moment as I panic that I've forgotten something critical or put something in backwards or not noticed that I'd dropped a washer down an inlet port or something! Fortunately it's always gone very smoothly and my Vitesse runs like a dream. Just got back last night from a round trip from Liverpool to London fully laden (and I mean up to the roof including the back seat) to take my daughter down to her student digs.
I've really enjoyed this thread - thanks for taking all the trouble to post all these wonderful pictures.
It really was a nerve wracking moment, especially with the metallic noise the TDC indicator was giving! I know how you felt when you were starting the car up and then breaking the cam in - I've had the heads off mine a couple of times and the start up after re-assembly is always a heart in mouth moment as I panic that I've forgotten something critical or put something in backwards or not noticed that I'd dropped a washer down an inlet port or something! Fortunately it's always gone very smoothly and my Vitesse runs like a dream. Just got back last night from a round trip from Liverpool to London fully laden (and I mean up to the roof including the back seat) to take my daughter down to her student digs.
I've really enjoyed this thread - thanks for taking all the trouble to post all these wonderful pictures.
Brilliant to hear you're using yours properly, put some pictures up I always love to see another Vitesse!
Yogioes said:
Just adding my thanks for your thread.
It's a great encouragement to keep going.
Thankyou It's a great encouragement to keep going.
glad you've enjoyed my ramblings! In the interest of doing things properly it was really bugging me that I still hadn't replaced the radio after I killed the last one. I removed it to see if I could get it reconditoned and it's been radio-less ever since!
I'd missed out on an original radio, but I eventually got lucky on an OEM looking Philips unit, it even still had the original rists connectors on it so i definitely was of Rover origin.
As my Dad had spent so long restoring the original wiring it was plug and play. But as with all old ebay purchases it did not work very well. It turned on, but the speaker output was pretty poor. I tried it with some radio speakers to rule out the car, but the results were the same. I then tried with the speaker wires and it came through crystal clear.
The original wiring had some continuity problems, so I remade the loom with new speaker connectors. the spare rist connectors and crimper definitely comes in useful!
It is a little sad but the devil is in the detail.
Just looks right
The car does look good back outside, but very odd without a bumper...
For this the car was moved to it's new home, where I'd also been storing the bumper.
Much better, the bonnet also went on at this point, but I didn't take many pictures as it's definitely a 2 people 4 hand job!
With the car finally complete I had missed the MOT expiry so to get out and run the engine in I needed a fresh ticket!
So I began to do my usual checks. After the bulkhead work it already had fresh brake and clutch fluid so just a over-check of the bleeding. I also took the opportunity to drain and refill the cooling system to ensure the flushing had got everything. I also adjusted the handbrake as I know this is an SD1 weak point so it had a nice bite at 3 clicks.
The MOT raised another problem, I was happy that the car broke in ok, and sounded lovely, I'd checked the fuelling and timing was set as per JE's instructions, oil pressure is beautifully strong, but I needed to trust whoever was going to test it to not rev it or abuse it on such a fresh engine.
My preferred mechanic had left my local garage early last year, and I didn't have a positive experience with my Mini at the same garage after...
Which left me in a difficult position to pick a new Tester for my varied collection of cars.
Luck would have it I met a guy at a local car show late last year, the day I'd MOT'd my 1275GT, and while chatting (moaning about the MOT experience) he mentioned that he ran Lutterworth MOT centre, and was very familiar with classic cars and would love to replace my current garage.
So an MOT was booked for Friday the 6th (Yes that's yesterday)
So after a very distracted morning of work on Friday I headed back, retrieved the car and headed off. The distance also gave me a brilliant opportunity to do some running in.
Pulling into the industrial estate I thought I heard a micro-lite flying overhead, it turns out the aux air-con fans had cut in, I had been sitting in traffic for a little while, so was very happy/surprised to hear them cutting in on a thermo switch. They where catching a little so sounded a bit terrible, but I can fix that.
Unfortunately it did piss it down on the way to the test, but at least I got to prove the wipers worked!
After my apprehension, it was definitely not needed, I could tell straight away I'd come to the right place, with a Sunbeam Alpine parked outside.
They where more than happy to let me follow them as they tested the car, I think I spent as much time under it as they did! I was really happy with the whole experience. Lambda was spot on at 1, particulates were low at only 150ppm, CO was a little low at 1%, so they put it on live read after the test and I adjusted it to 1.75% slightly richer than standard of 1.5%. We had a good talk about the car, and really didn't find anything, I think one bolt was a little marginal on the nyloc nut it was secured too that he advised me to change, and of course I will do that ASAP. Exactly the kind of insight I was after from a garage.
Result was a pass with no advisories. Second MOT in my ownership and not a single advisory yet!
I will definitely be back, and will bring the rest of my rubbish when I need an MOT too!
One very good day, car ran perfectly and I couldn't resist taking it out again and getting some evening pictures.
I've been out most of today as well.
So that brings us bang up to date. The new motor was definitely worth it, it sounds epic, I'll sort some videos very soon.
Joe
1275 GT said:
While it was nice and accessable I did pack the oil pump as per the work shop manual.
No lack of oil pressure for me!
Years ago when I was about 20, I bought a 3500 P6 which the owner had rebuilt the engine on but couldn't get any oil pressure. One Haynes manual and a pot of petroleum jelly later and I had a nice car with a good engine!
No lack of oil pressure for me!
Dinoboy said:
Looks great, and congratulations on the MOT.
Thankyou, I'm very happy to have it back together again. V1nce Fox said:
my dad loved these. thanks for sharing it
I got my love from my Dad too, it just sticks with you. CAPP0 said:
Years ago when I was about 20, I bought a 3500 P6 which the owner had rebuilt the engine on but couldn't get any oil pressure. One Haynes manual and a pot of petroleum jelly later and I had a nice car with a good engine!
I couldn't believe that the pump isn't self priming when I first rebuilt the old engine, I now have the priming tool and use vasoline, I couldn't believe it when i read it in the factory manual! yonex said:
The car is a credit to you, brilliant work, well done.
Thankyou very much tvrfan007 said:
Congrats. I'll keep an eye out for you as I'm in Rugby so you can't be far away. Thread has made for an epic read.
No not far away at all, I'm just up the M1 a little way. I actually dropped into Rugby to meet up with a friend also with a red Vitesse after the MOT, he wanted to see how the engine work had gone. So I was probably quite close to you! I still haven't worked out how to embed videos properly, but a little taster of the new engine, that's half throttle and 3k RPM.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdPW1gKlVZQ&fe...
Joe
1275 GT said:
Jaffers said:
Well done! that's excellent progress and a beautiful car. It's amazing to see one so clean and fresh.
I know how you felt when you were starting the car up and then breaking the cam in - I've had the heads off mine a couple of times and the start up after re-assembly is always a heart in mouth moment as I panic that I've forgotten something critical or put something in backwards or not noticed that I'd dropped a washer down an inlet port or something! Fortunately it's always gone very smoothly and my Vitesse runs like a dream. Just got back last night from a round trip from Liverpool to London fully laden (and I mean up to the roof including the back seat) to take my daughter down to her student digs.
I've really enjoyed this thread - thanks for taking all the trouble to post all these wonderful pictures.
It really was a nerve wracking moment, especially with the metallic noise the TDC indicator was giving! I know how you felt when you were starting the car up and then breaking the cam in - I've had the heads off mine a couple of times and the start up after re-assembly is always a heart in mouth moment as I panic that I've forgotten something critical or put something in backwards or not noticed that I'd dropped a washer down an inlet port or something! Fortunately it's always gone very smoothly and my Vitesse runs like a dream. Just got back last night from a round trip from Liverpool to London fully laden (and I mean up to the roof including the back seat) to take my daughter down to her student digs.
I've really enjoyed this thread - thanks for taking all the trouble to post all these wonderful pictures.
Brilliant to hear you're using yours properly, put some pictures up I always love to see another Vitesse!
https://www.pistonheads.com/regulars/ph-spottedyky...
SlimJim16v said:
That does sound nice. I bet you can't wait to hear it on full throttle.
I've been putting some miles on it just for that reason. It's now been back to JE Development and given a clean bill of health...The video will be at the end of this post
Eyersey1234 said:
I haven't read the whole thread but that looks a lovely car, well done OP.
Thanks, it seems to get attention wherever I take it. wormus said:
What a fantastic looking thing. Simply love this car.
Thankyou as always quote=Bobberoo99]You sir are awesome!!!! Been following this thread from the start, she's an absolute credit to your perseverance, abilities and dedication, she sounds bloody lovely too!!!!
Jaffers said:
You've probably seen photos already as mine was the one featured here on PH "Spotted" a few weeks ago. And it's still for sale... :-)
https://www.pistonheads.com/regulars/ph-spottedyky...
I have seen your advert, car looks amazing and is a credit to you, good luck with the sale, worth every penny. https://www.pistonheads.com/regulars/ph-spottedyky...
Well you've all been waiting long enough, and you're going to want good speakers for this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybFOnwn48UI&fe...
Joe
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