Hi Guys
Its about time I posted some updates, been a year already.
As we all know having too many projects does not help with finishing off certain things.So what I decided as I had not got to my Rover for too long. I sold 2 of my cars, the Sapphire Cosworth shell and a Sierra donor car.
Unfortunately my Red sapph Cosworth got rear ended by a 4x4's bullbar just before Chrismast, R32k damage. fortunatel insurances are sorting things. I managed to source new old stock at the FORD factory so the tail lights rear valence, bumper, trims etc are all new genuine Ford items.
Anyway back to the Rover, December I picked up my car as it was stored at my brothers house. The paintwork has been scratched badly by the cats and dogs that run around.
Well the car is now at my house and after getting rid of the other projects I got started again with the hope of being ready for the Piper Series. I joined the Historic Register, renewed my MSA license etc, but still ran out of time. So Maybe March the car will be ready.
My wheels are fitted, got them machined and drilled a few weeks ago, the car is a bit too low for everyday road use with the GAZ suspension.minor problem.Brakes, pipes, polybushes etc are all fitted.
I had another shipment of parts from the UK arrive early December and I have more items arriving early February. People say I am mad spending so much on an old "scrap' as the call it. Well so far costs on parts alone including the Rims adds up to R35k, after the roll cage and exhaust system and a few other things the car will probably add up to +-R45k excluding the R20k I paid for the car all those years ago.
I have been driving the car around and I had forgotton just how nice these cars are to drive, and boy does it handle and stop well. I have already had guy who has a Rover SD1 contact me for parts so I think things might be looking up on the importing side. We had a chat about costs etc and he agreed with me that to restore his car like mine even if it costs R50k it is worth every cent because if you do a comparison, what can you have with all the luxury, a/con, electric windows, V8 space etc for say +- R75k, a used Citi Golf maybe. no comparison. So what if it is not a musclecar or some sort of sports car, it is still awsome in my opinion.
Anyway here are some recent pics. no spoilers or front valence fitted as it is all stripped as my new parts will be here in FEB.
Managed to get a steering hub for the Rover so my Momo wheel fits, just need the centre badge
These parts arrived in December, the whole MOCAL engine oil cooler kit, full hose kit (genuine parts) rear brake parts with adjusters all the springs etc etc, was GBP,50 bor both sides backing plates,springs, adjusters, shoes etc.The whole oil cooler kit with all the fitings, pipes etc was cheaper to import than buying local. I am also fitting a power steering cooler.
I had a spare flywheel which I had professionally lightened, took off 3.5kg as per the spec allowed on a Rover V8 flywheel, it now weighs 10kg, still heavy but it certainly makes a huge difference. The flywheel has new dowel pins from the UK, cost R25 fpr the 3. the flywheel and pressure plate has been fully balanced as unit
I also brought in all the original under bonnet badges and decals for the rocker covers as well as the original metal V8 badges and a new high volume oil pump.
Well thats all for now, I am off to remove the old gearbox and fit my new flywheel, clutch and new gearbox
Cheers
Gavin
I just had a look at a previous post from Killarney racer and realised that I never put any pics of the car up...
