Rover SD1 Vitesse TP
Discussion
After posting some info about my newly acquired Chimaera (http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=47&t=792855&mid=188186&nmt=1996 TVR Chimaera) I thought I'd start a thread about my other little project - my SD1 
I bought the car just over a year ago with no tax or MOT, needing a bit of TLC. Unfortunately the 'To Do' list became rather long and I still haven't got it roadworthy. That's partly because it's stored 30 miles away at my Dads workshop so I only get the chance to work on it a few hours a week, but also because this year has just been a bit crazy.
So this is when the car arrived at the workshop:
Unfortunately I've come across quite a few bodge jobs that I've had to repair and things have gone wrong whilst it's just been sitting around. A quick summary of the jobs I've done are as follows:
- Overhaul EFi system including replacement ECU, AFM, fuel pump, temp sensor, repairing loom, coil, cap, leads, plugs etc etc. This also invloved swapping to a single plenum manifold as the twin plenum manifold requires some new parts that are NLA and I therefore need to get made up.
- Replace front struts and inserts with complete adjustable Leda struts previously used on a replica Group A touring car.
- Replace sagging rear Nivomats with standard springs and Gaz adjustable dampers.
- Replace virtually all suspension bushes with poly ones
- Replace gearbox remote bushes and gearbox buffer bush with poly ones
- Overhaul brakes with new pads, pipes, shoes and wheel cylinders
- Strip out car, clean up rust and send to a brave welder
Plus there's been loads of little sundry jobs I've done in between. Doesn't look like a lot TBH but took me ages to iron out all the little niggles in the EFi system (last thing to due is to fit an adjustable fuel pressure regulator which I'm hoping will be the last piece of the puzzle), plus there's been a bit of tarting up along the way which has taken time.
So here's some more pics I've taken along the way:
Engine bay bodged together with the replacement single plenum system. It now has all the proper induction pipes so is much tidier!
The size difference between the single plenum trumpet base (left) and twin plenum trumpet base (right). In time I will switch back to the TP version - clearly the potential is there for better breathing.
Replacement struts (will be sent to Leda for a proper refurbs eventually) and the new brakes (also have a set of Goodridge braided hoses to fit at some point).
The new rear end.
Pimping 80s accessory, not sure whether to fit it properly yet.
And of course, some of the rust I'm up against. The pictures were mostly taken after spending A LOT of time scraping all the sound deadening off the floorpan - what a nasty job!!
A few more photos can be found here http://www.flickr.com/photos/23178174@N06/sets/721...
So the car is currently at a welders having most of the rust issues sorted. originally he was only going to replace the o/s sill as we weren't confident in doing that ourselves, but he offered to do all the work for a very good price so I took him up on it. He's had the car well over a month now as he's just fitting it in when he has time, but since I'm in no rush it's a good result for me!
Once it's back I just need to replace the windscreen, treat some rust on the a pillar and scuttle panel, fit the new fuel pressure reg and I'm hoping it'll be near enough ready for an MOT. Then I can tax it, drive it home and finish all the minor jobs here.
It's been a slow process, but rewarding to know I almost certainly saved it from being scrapped through donating it's engine to some kit car, and at the end of it I'll have a well running (albeit slightly tatty) Vitesse Twin Plenum.
Hope you approve, but happy to take criticism too
Cheers
Carl
I bought the car just over a year ago with no tax or MOT, needing a bit of TLC. Unfortunately the 'To Do' list became rather long and I still haven't got it roadworthy. That's partly because it's stored 30 miles away at my Dads workshop so I only get the chance to work on it a few hours a week, but also because this year has just been a bit crazy.
So this is when the car arrived at the workshop:
Unfortunately I've come across quite a few bodge jobs that I've had to repair and things have gone wrong whilst it's just been sitting around. A quick summary of the jobs I've done are as follows:
- Overhaul EFi system including replacement ECU, AFM, fuel pump, temp sensor, repairing loom, coil, cap, leads, plugs etc etc. This also invloved swapping to a single plenum manifold as the twin plenum manifold requires some new parts that are NLA and I therefore need to get made up.
- Replace front struts and inserts with complete adjustable Leda struts previously used on a replica Group A touring car.
- Replace sagging rear Nivomats with standard springs and Gaz adjustable dampers.
- Replace virtually all suspension bushes with poly ones
- Replace gearbox remote bushes and gearbox buffer bush with poly ones
- Overhaul brakes with new pads, pipes, shoes and wheel cylinders
- Strip out car, clean up rust and send to a brave welder
Plus there's been loads of little sundry jobs I've done in between. Doesn't look like a lot TBH but took me ages to iron out all the little niggles in the EFi system (last thing to due is to fit an adjustable fuel pressure regulator which I'm hoping will be the last piece of the puzzle), plus there's been a bit of tarting up along the way which has taken time.
So here's some more pics I've taken along the way:
Engine bay bodged together with the replacement single plenum system. It now has all the proper induction pipes so is much tidier!
The size difference between the single plenum trumpet base (left) and twin plenum trumpet base (right). In time I will switch back to the TP version - clearly the potential is there for better breathing.
Replacement struts (will be sent to Leda for a proper refurbs eventually) and the new brakes (also have a set of Goodridge braided hoses to fit at some point).
The new rear end.
Pimping 80s accessory, not sure whether to fit it properly yet.
And of course, some of the rust I'm up against. The pictures were mostly taken after spending A LOT of time scraping all the sound deadening off the floorpan - what a nasty job!!
A few more photos can be found here http://www.flickr.com/photos/23178174@N06/sets/721...
So the car is currently at a welders having most of the rust issues sorted. originally he was only going to replace the o/s sill as we weren't confident in doing that ourselves, but he offered to do all the work for a very good price so I took him up on it. He's had the car well over a month now as he's just fitting it in when he has time, but since I'm in no rush it's a good result for me!
Once it's back I just need to replace the windscreen, treat some rust on the a pillar and scuttle panel, fit the new fuel pressure reg and I'm hoping it'll be near enough ready for an MOT. Then I can tax it, drive it home and finish all the minor jobs here.
It's been a slow process, but rewarding to know I almost certainly saved it from being scrapped through donating it's engine to some kit car, and at the end of it I'll have a well running (albeit slightly tatty) Vitesse Twin Plenum.
Hope you approve, but happy to take criticism too
Cheers
Carl
A mate of my Grandad had two of these in his family when I was a kid - one was an auto and I seem to recall his daughter got to drive it soon after passing her test! The second sadly lived under a plastic sheet, and from was I recall was allowed to rot and be used as a spares car. As said above the look pretty special viewed side on and the interior is certainly 'different'. Good effort - they are certainly set as a future classic.
Hi Carlos, nice work there.
A couple of links you might be interested in..
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
A couple of links you might be interested in..
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
pacman1 said:
Hi Carlos, nice work there.
A couple of links you might be interested in..
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Had a good read through Duke Thrust's thread the other day - very very impressive.A couple of links you might be interested in..
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
My TP manifold is actually sat in my garage doing nothing, and I have seen them converted to a hotwire system before but it's probably a hell a lot of work for minimal gain. Plus the throttle mechanism is not particularly reliable as they have a habit of snapping throttle shafts (like mine) so you'd probably also want to look at making it a centre pull throttle = more work and more money.
If I had a bit more money in my back pocket the TP manifold would be converted to centre pull, rebuilt with all new parts and put back on the SD1 to keep it original(ish). And then instead of messing about with small gains the Chim would just get a Supercharger
Bit of an update... the welder has done a great job in sorting out all the rust. Should now be structurally sound in order to get through an MOT. Just needs some final tidying before the interior goes in, which I started last weekend. So the boot now looks like this:
Lots of fresh metal, waxoil and hammerite! Next time the main floorpan will be cleaned up and hammerited and then the interior can start going back in, which is going to be a big milestone! Also finally got my final little fix fitted to the EFi system:
A FSE power boost thingy to replace the old, broken fuel pressure regulator. I'm hoping this will solve the overfuelling at idle and the unwillingness to rev past 4krpm. I just hope the engine has surived all these problems!
The TVR is due some TLC this weekend, but after that I'll be back concentrating on getting the SD1 finished.
Lots of fresh metal, waxoil and hammerite! Next time the main floorpan will be cleaned up and hammerited and then the interior can start going back in, which is going to be a big milestone! Also finally got my final little fix fitted to the EFi system:
A FSE power boost thingy to replace the old, broken fuel pressure regulator. I'm hoping this will solve the overfuelling at idle and the unwillingness to rev past 4krpm. I just hope the engine has surived all these problems!
The TVR is due some TLC this weekend, but after that I'll be back concentrating on getting the SD1 finished.
Looking good. I am also pleased to see you are keeping it silver.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff