1985 Rover 3500 Vitesse
Discussion
miniman said:
Could you make it if there was a space?
I actually don't have anything planned that day so I could! Spinakerr said:
I was just getting used to the blue wheel.
But seriously, great job getting that done - hope to see it in the metal/cowhide soon. Good stuff.
I wasn't, urked me everytime I saw it in that light. Although I will say it was still better than the Jaguar Biscuit it started out as. But seriously, great job getting that done - hope to see it in the metal/cowhide soon. Good stuff.
Definitely, are we doing another walk around at the April Sunday Scramble?
Joe
Our spotted thread here in S wales , brought this up today
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
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https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Scroll down
Strangely Brown said:
Purely personal taste but its original wheel really does look better. It suits the car far more and completes the interior. The replacement looks, well, like a replacement. But that's just my taste.
Great job and all credit to you for saving a gentleman's dragster.
Cheers Great job and all credit to you for saving a gentleman's dragster.
I can completely understand, and from an aesthetic point of view I agree it suits the interior perfectly. But it really detracts from the driving experience, it's so bloody massive that anything other than cruising it feels so wrong, it really makes the handing feel bus like! Whereas the Momo I think suits the interior style, and feels beautiful in comparison. But that's the joy of bolt on mods!
21st Century Man said:
I'll be at Rustival in something suitably rusty and s
te and derided (the Century will be staying home for a change), I'm even holding off putting yet another coat of Hammerite onto the arches to hide the rust bleed stains. Perhaps I'll see some of you folks there?
I should probably bring my green 1275GT in it's rusty glory! I love the dedication. te and derided (the Century will be staying home for a change), I'm even holding off putting yet another coat of Hammerite onto the arches to hide the rust bleed stains. Perhaps I'll see some of you folks there?
eskidavies said:
Our spotted thread here in S wales , brought this up today
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
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I like that, an Oporto Red V8! looks like it's been hidden away for a few years too and only recently back on the road! I like the body coloured spoiler too, and a clean look with no overriders or rubbing strips. https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
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Joe
Sfs34 said:
Just found this, read halfway down page 1 and im hooked. Awesome car. Very excited by 36 pages to go :-)
Up to date. Inspiring levels of dedication right there. I doth my cap, wow. I felt for you with heater gate, looked painful.
I hope you enjoy my waffling! Up to date. Inspiring levels of dedication right there. I doth my cap, wow. I felt for you with heater gate, looked painful.
Yeah the heater was a bit of a slog, but such a nice part of the car now. Blows boiling hot and clears any misting so quickly now!
Rich1973 said:
Was nice to see your car in the flesh today. Didn't see you or I would have said hello but car looked fabulous. 
Cheers! Was a good event, I was probably inside looking at other old cars. I didn't get to look around the last time I was there.
So this week after quite the wait I finally got the good news I've been waiting for!
What things of beauty.
I'm a little concerned I might have gone a little short on the springs, but we'll see!
Of course I couldn't wait to unbox everything.
So what I've ended up with is custom inserts welded into the original knuckles, the original brake line brackets welded back on, and custom top spring hats.
Shocks are custom specced somewhere between original road and Group A touring car
with integral bump stops. Springs are 60mm motorsport, and I've gone for 250mm open length, 40N/mm linear rate.
Should go very nicely with my new (and painted by me) front arms.
So a few hours later I couldn't help myself...
A lot easier than my Audi! Play stopped today though as I don't have a 24mm offset spanner to tighten the top mounts on.
I'll pick up again tomorrow, otherwise I'm not going to Bicester on Sunday!
Joe
Just read through and a great job! The red paint looks brilliant,I also loved that sort of icy metallic blue they came in,think it was mentioned early in the thread as Moonraker.
Amazing how imposing these cars still look too,sort of a bit brutish but in a good way...I do remember the Touring cars when I was very young,epic things.
God knows what it must have been like in the day if you were up to a little automotive mischief,and one of these in Police trim loomed up behind you.You would have known then that the game was up.
But yeah really good work,must be great rumbling around in this and taking it to the shows.
Amazing how imposing these cars still look too,sort of a bit brutish but in a good way...I do remember the Touring cars when I was very young,epic things.
God knows what it must have been like in the day if you were up to a little automotive mischief,and one of these in Police trim loomed up behind you.You would have known then that the game was up.
But yeah really good work,must be great rumbling around in this and taking it to the shows.
21st Century Man said:
Love to see the Bicester regulars. I'll be there.
Sorry I missed you! miniman said:
I enjoy a challenge BEAMS 162 said:
Just read through and a great job! The red paint looks brilliant,I also loved that sort of icy metallic blue they came in,think it was mentioned early in the thread as Moonraker.
Amazing how imposing these cars still look too,sort of a bit brutish but in a good way...I do remember the Touring cars when I was very young,epic things.
God knows what it must have been like in the day if you were up to a little automotive mischief,and one of these in Police trim loomed up behind you.You would have known then that the game was up.
But yeah really good work,must be great rumbling around in this and taking it to the shows.
Cheers Amazing how imposing these cars still look too,sort of a bit brutish but in a good way...I do remember the Touring cars when I was very young,epic things.
God knows what it must have been like in the day if you were up to a little automotive mischief,and one of these in Police trim loomed up behind you.You would have known then that the game was up.
But yeah really good work,must be great rumbling around in this and taking it to the shows.
So the icy blue is Zircon Blue, but that was never officially offered on Vitesses just other SD1's.
The only blue offered on Vitesses was a slightly darker metallic blue which is Moonraker.
Yeah I can only imagine being chased down by one!
The touring cars for me is what makes it cooler than any other Rover, something about a racecar version of a road car that just does it for me.
I really do love rumbling around in it.
So first task I had was to just tighten the top shock nut!
I had offset spanners but not up to the 24mm I needed so I headed out and bought a 24mm spanner.
Annoyingly it's the only one they had, and it's not even close to being deep enough.
But nothing a blow torch, a vice, and an angle grinder couldn't sort.
The before wasn't bad, but certainly nothing to write home about.
The brake dust shields were actually in really good nick just in need of a good paint job.
A good job as they're the only bit of the strut assembly I planned on reusing.
Building up the new struts was lovely with everything being new.
I did pull the washer out of the original struts that sits between the top nut and the bearing as it's a nice thick one.
There's no removing those inserts!
The new front arms went in first, then the strut.
Disc shields back on.
Then hub assembly and caliper!
I'm still a bit annoyed I can't fit new discs at the same time. That's an issue I need to work out another time.
I also opted to reuse the original bearings. They were silent, unmarked, and etched made in england. So a re-pack with grease should see them going for a good while longer!
New SS hardware for the top mounts too.
The drivers side is an identical process.
New arm in...
Then just with a earth on the brake bracket, and a clip for the pad sensor wire.
I popped an original wheel on to check clearance, as they're incredibly close to the original shock body, and everything still fits.
The BBS's have plenty of room
Not a bad view at all.
I was worried I'd gone too short on the springs so I'd set it quite high to start with.
Turns out I shouldn't have been worried.
I think that's higher than stock!
I did a little road test and was pleasantly surprised.
So I came back and pulled 30mm out of it.
Definitely not front high now!
To get that height though at full droop I've got no pre-load on the springs, so I will need some helper springs.
But just in time for a run out to Bicester the next day.
Bright and early at 7am ready to leave.
Joe
My mate the classic restoration guy phoned me to offer this.
Sadly it's a manual and a 2300.
His 17 year old boy has bought it as his first car even though he hasn't passed his test yet .
He is slowly sorting all the faults. Replacement starter motor already fitted along with squealing fan belts .next is gearbox extension mounts as they have lots of movement.
Dad has a 3.5 VDP twin plenum in met green.
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