(Another) barge with a mission - Rover P6 3500 V8
Discussion
rallycross said:
Excellent blog and love the photo of the Rover in the film sets!
Thanks! Now I'm awake, here's a few more:
So far, the main breakdowns have all been caused by the same issue - the engine bay has been getting so hot that the fuel seems to be vapourising before it reaches the carbs, meaning the engine cuts out. On one occasion, the heat also appears to have boiled the brake fluid too, resulting in a temporary loss of stopping power. On a steep mountain road. Which wasn't much fun.
We've stripped off all the trim on the front of the car to try to cool the engine bay, and since the last breakdown, we've modified the screenwash system to spray cooling water directly onto the carbs. Fingers crossed the system will keep them cool (ish) when we test it in the mountains today...
Sounds like a good idea? Maybe plumb an electric fan in on a switch next time you do this, lol.
- edit* COMPLETELY ignore that. Was thinking of the engine over heating... Lol.
Hi there,
Yeah, an electric fan pumping cooler air through the bonnet would certainly have helped a bit - more to prevent the brake fluid getting too hot than the carbs - but still, it could have made all the difference. Fortunately, in the end redirecting the screenwash system to pump water on the carbs worked well enough to get us back over the Atlas mountains; a five-second squirt every minute or so while going uphill just about keeping them cool enough to keep working. It's probably not a long term solution to running a P6 in 40+ degree heat however!
The Rover completed its Moroccan bimble in the early hours of Monday morning, making it home after 14 days and 2,900 miles - and approximately the same number of tanks of unleaded. It broke down three times; all due to the underbonnet temperatures overheating the carburetors, and the brake fluid boiled on two occasions for the same reason, leaving us having to pump the brakes frantically to stop. All in all though, given our complete absence of preparation (which extended about as far as removing one of the silencers and strapping a tent to the roof), it did much better than any of us expected, and proved to be a comfortable and characterful way to travel, which could easily keep pace with the frantic Moroccan traffic. While I was skeptical before, I can now see why people often say that the P6 can still compete with more modern alternatives as a Daily driver.
So what's next for the old Rover? That's still being debated; until a decision is made, here's a few pics from its little trip to Africa:
Yeah, an electric fan pumping cooler air through the bonnet would certainly have helped a bit - more to prevent the brake fluid getting too hot than the carbs - but still, it could have made all the difference. Fortunately, in the end redirecting the screenwash system to pump water on the carbs worked well enough to get us back over the Atlas mountains; a five-second squirt every minute or so while going uphill just about keeping them cool enough to keep working. It's probably not a long term solution to running a P6 in 40+ degree heat however!
The Rover completed its Moroccan bimble in the early hours of Monday morning, making it home after 14 days and 2,900 miles - and approximately the same number of tanks of unleaded. It broke down three times; all due to the underbonnet temperatures overheating the carburetors, and the brake fluid boiled on two occasions for the same reason, leaving us having to pump the brakes frantically to stop. All in all though, given our complete absence of preparation (which extended about as far as removing one of the silencers and strapping a tent to the roof), it did much better than any of us expected, and proved to be a comfortable and characterful way to travel, which could easily keep pace with the frantic Moroccan traffic. While I was skeptical before, I can now see why people often say that the P6 can still compete with more modern alternatives as a Daily driver.
So what's next for the old Rover? That's still being debated; until a decision is made, here's a few pics from its little trip to Africa:
A bit of a thread resurrection, I know - but I've finally finished the trip report for the old Rover's Moroccan adventure. If anyone is still interested, it's all here
As for the old Rover, it's still chugging around happily, seemingly none the worse for its trip to Africa; however despite the 2,900 mile burble we haven't really got attached to it as we'd imagined we would, hence it will soon be getting replaced with whatever vehicle the next adventure demands...
As for the old Rover, it's still chugging around happily, seemingly none the worse for its trip to Africa; however despite the 2,900 mile burble we haven't really got attached to it as we'd imagined we would, hence it will soon be getting replaced with whatever vehicle the next adventure demands...
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