My 5th Sd1 - have I got a disease?
Discussion
So after a couple of nights away and a dry day got the rear all finished, bumper back on and all the carpet and trim refitted.
Finally traced the auto box leak to the kickdown cable. What a right pain of a job to do with limited room as I didn't want to disturb the recently fitted exhaust. Fortunately I had a tray of rubber O rings and found a good fit. Hopefully that's another leak finally sorted.
Really have to get the extension housing off the back axle as there's a drip there at the join. Maybe tomorrow if the weather holds.
Finally traced the auto box leak to the kickdown cable. What a right pain of a job to do with limited room as I didn't want to disturb the recently fitted exhaust. Fortunately I had a tray of rubber O rings and found a good fit. Hopefully that's another leak finally sorted.
Really have to get the extension housing off the back axle as there's a drip there at the join. Maybe tomorrow if the weather holds.
So lots more progress with better weather. Took the extension housing off to sort the leak where it joins the diff. There is a large rubber O ring but at some point silicon sealant has been used on it. Silicon and rubber dont go well together in my experience. So removed the O ring and discarded it. Used some decent sealant on its own - Granville High temp - and all refitted.
Gave her a wash and cleaned the oily finger marked windows after fitting new seals along the door tops. Rover originals are always half a mile too short so water cascades into the door and then we wonder why they rot.
New door switches fitted to the glove boxes so now the lights work when they are opened.
Today was a milestone. MOT time and my first drive for almost 6 months. Bit apprehensive as I had done all the front suspension but the tracking seems pretty good (for now). An uneventful drive except for several pedestrians smiling and waving at me with even a thumbs up. Amazing!
MOT passed no problem and I was curious to know how the emissions would fare. CO was 2.9% (limit is 4.5%) and hydrocarbons (HC) were 101 (limit 1,200 ppm) so a good result all round.
Need to give the Chimaera a clean and tidy up as its Sports Cars in the Park this Sunday at Newby Hall, North Yorkshire organised by Chris Crossley of Pistonheads.
Gave her a wash and cleaned the oily finger marked windows after fitting new seals along the door tops. Rover originals are always half a mile too short so water cascades into the door and then we wonder why they rot.
New door switches fitted to the glove boxes so now the lights work when they are opened.
Today was a milestone. MOT time and my first drive for almost 6 months. Bit apprehensive as I had done all the front suspension but the tracking seems pretty good (for now). An uneventful drive except for several pedestrians smiling and waving at me with even a thumbs up. Amazing!
MOT passed no problem and I was curious to know how the emissions would fare. CO was 2.9% (limit is 4.5%) and hydrocarbons (HC) were 101 (limit 1,200 ppm) so a good result all round.
Need to give the Chimaera a clean and tidy up as its Sports Cars in the Park this Sunday at Newby Hall, North Yorkshire organised by Chris Crossley of Pistonheads.
Haven't been on here for a while as mechanically the car has been running well so been driving it including a near 1,000 mile trip to the Lakes and Loch Lomond for a few days. Never missed a beat but also never missed a petrol station. Averaged 21.5 mpg.
Spoke too soon of course. Last week in the outside lane of the M1 noticed the rev counter momentarily drop and back again. Then again with a slight miss. Got across to the first lane and slowed down a bit. Car behaved all the way home.
Inspection showed 2 cracks in the ignition coil at the terminals (cheap Intermotor thing), a corroded terminal for number one plug lead and the wiring to the remote ignition amplifier was badly cracked.
Replaced dizzy cap, rotor arm, coil (all Lucas) plus new amplifier and wiring lead. Found the lead connector to the dizzy wiring was all corroded and so bad some strands of wire were touching. How it ran, I don't know.
Spoke too soon of course. Last week in the outside lane of the M1 noticed the rev counter momentarily drop and back again. Then again with a slight miss. Got across to the first lane and slowed down a bit. Car behaved all the way home.
Inspection showed 2 cracks in the ignition coil at the terminals (cheap Intermotor thing), a corroded terminal for number one plug lead and the wiring to the remote ignition amplifier was badly cracked.
Replaced dizzy cap, rotor arm, coil (all Lucas) plus new amplifier and wiring lead. Found the lead connector to the dizzy wiring was all corroded and so bad some strands of wire were touching. How it ran, I don't know.
Not much happening this time of year so thought I'd catch up with some photos of the old girl. Been running great and getting a lot of waves, thumbs up and smiles wherever we go. Not many pics but after all my waffle you can at least see the thing. These were taken after I'd done - the pre-bling ones are near the start of this thread.
Edited by N7GTX on Sunday 23 December 19:11
Really enjoyed reading your thread. Your SD1 looks great in black, and the engine bay looks a treat. Thanks for taking the time to write up your experience.
Any Rover guys have insight into this Vitesse for auction by CCA on August 3rd?
I have no experience of them, but very interested in buying a good example.
https://www.classiccarauctions.co.uk/rover-sd1-vit...
Any Rover guys have insight into this Vitesse for auction by CCA on August 3rd?
I have no experience of them, but very interested in buying a good example.
https://www.classiccarauctions.co.uk/rover-sd1-vit...
End of another era for me. After fettling the old girl and nothing left to do mechanically I saw an advert for a swap. The chap was looking to move his car on and wanted an SD1, preferably a Vitesse.
So I've now got a DB7. I had one before where I was in the right place at the right time and kept it a couple of years. Always regretted selling it so now I've got a second chance. Lots of work to do to keep me busy.
So I've now got a DB7. I had one before where I was in the right place at the right time and kept it a couple of years. Always regretted selling it so now I've got a second chance. Lots of work to do to keep me busy.
I’m the new owner of this corking 3.9. Living the dream, been after one for 30 years. Oh and it’s my 8th one, first was a V8 auto in 1986, followed by mk1 Manual, mk2 auto, Vitesse Manual, mk2 manual, VP EFi and a manual spares car. Always had V8s you see..
mulling over a manual conversion on this one, lovely as it is, but the GM180 is stifling the glorious engine.....
mulling over a manual conversion on this one, lovely as it is, but the GM180 is stifling the glorious engine.....
Highspeed125 said:
I’m the new owner of this corking 3.9. Living the dream, been after one for 30 years. Oh and it’s my 8th one, first was a V8 auto in 1986, followed by mk1 Manual, mk2 auto, Vitesse Manual, mk2 manual, VP EFi and a manual spares car. Always had V8s you see..
mulling over a manual conversion on this one, lovely as it is, but the GM180 is stifling the glorious engine.....
Lol, I hope you are still enjoying the old girl. I've only just noticed your post. Have to agree it needs to be a manual to unleash the engine. That would have been my next move. Oh well.... With all the work recorded on here you will have some history to keep with it. mulling over a manual conversion on this one, lovely as it is, but the GM180 is stifling the glorious engine.....
Hoping to MOT the DB7 this month. Wheels, brakes and suspension all done and want to get it resprayed asap. Still haven't driven it yet other than the test drive
Edited by N7GTX on Thursday 2nd January 18:07
grumpy52 said:
The one that I posted earlier now in its present state .
It's a VDP EFI with a big bore stainless exhaust and sounds absolutely glorious.
One of only 1500 produced .
The current owner might be persuaded to part with it for offers over £9k .
N7GTX said:
Not much happening this time of year so thought I'd catch up with some photos of the old girl. Been running great and getting a lot of waves, thumbs up and smiles wherever we go. Not many pics but after all my waffle you can at least see the thing. These were taken after I'd done - the pre-bling ones are near the start of this thread.
Came across the auction sales last night and found my old car had been sold. In Feb 2020 by the looks of the bidding table.Edited by N7GTX on Sunday 23 December 19:11
https://themarket.co.uk/en/listings/rover-sd1/vite...
It seems that I'm a 'serial tinkerer' !!!
Solitude said:
looking for an SD1 'flapper' tune specialist (perefably SE but willing to travel)........any suggestions ???
Mark Adams had 'tuned' my car before I bought it.https://www.tornadosystems.com/about-us/
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