A Win and Two Fails...

[TokyoP6B]

My Rover arrived at Daikoku wharf, Yokohama Port mid January, Customs clearance done, my plan was to put on some temporary plates and drive 40km home; no dice, the clutch master cylinder had failed so “Plan B” a car carrier pickup

The cars 2nd trip across the Equator; its first being as a container load of parts from UK to New Zealand where this was assembled

So... now in the carport at home, which is in Mitaka, Tokyo; think: “green leafy crime-free suburb” and you’ve got the idea

Freezing cold winter so the first thing I’ve tried, a 5 minute job before I freeze into an ice block; fit the Offenhauser rocker covers and see if these do, indeed cover the Yella Terra rocker arms... Fail, rocker covers don’t clear the SU’s... but these will work for a “later plan”

“Is this an old Rover?” a UK neighbour, Chris, who’s kids go to school up the street is walking by “My Dad had a Rover 95”

It’s already getting noticed

List of jobs; repair clutch master and slave cylinders, Rear windscreen rubber replacement, ignition switch and key, boot lid doesn’t shut, mismatched wipers, crummy bonnet badge, door window rubber scrapers replace... small stuff but the list will get longer

And, I know no-one on here will believe me But: No Rust Anywhere and no evidence it’s ever been repaired other than a repaint

Waiting for the weather to improve and waiting on EBay and UK parts orders...

Graham

 

[ghce]

Rust in an NZ P6 is a rare thing indeed! unlike those disease infested pus boxes that prevail in the UK.

You could get some special spacers made up for the rocker covers I guess provided you can find a decent aluminium fabricator, they do look quite good in the engine bay.

Would be interested to know if the roller rockers make much noticeable difference to engine performance and fuel efficiency in practice.

 

[TokyoP6B]

Rust in an NZ P6 is a rare thing indeed! unlike those disease infested pus boxes that prevail in the UK.

You could get some special spacers made up for the rocker covers I guess provided you can find a decent aluminium fabricator, they do look quite good in the engine bay.

Would be interested to know if the roller rockers make much noticeable difference to engine performance and fuel efficiency in practice.

Gidday Graeme;
the SU carbs are what stop the Offenhausers going on; the engines a 3.9 ( Discovery ) and the Rover rocker covers have a nice U-shape cutout to account for the SU bodies clearance, the Offy’s don’t, so until I sort out the downdraft throttle bodies and injection system these won’t be going on

I should mention: the Roller rockers do clear the stock Rover rocker covers and these are attached using a thick neoprene gasket

Roller rockers; the old engine was bog stock Rover 3500 Auto and the new engine is 5 liter so it will be pretty much impossible to compare mileage or horse power; when I was getting the 3.9 built I had the roller rockers added because the Achilles heel of the Rover V8 is camshaft and rocker gear wear and you can see from some of the recent postings on the forum this was probably the right decision; these added about NZ1000 to a 7000 dollar ( parts and machining ) build, I can’t justify the expense by anything other than extended engine life

Rust: a friend in Auckland’s P5B was ex-UK and he drove it through much of the 80’s but by the early 90s there was not much car left from the top of the sills down, no boot floor, the seats where almost hanging in space...

best

G

 

[ghce]

Hi Graham,
yeah the P5B thing, I was looking at buying an ex UK car a few years back that had belonged to Bishop some one or other, about the only thing that wasn't rusty was the upholstery ( after market thick piled purple satin Velour....gorgeous ).

One seventh of the rebuild cost, I would say thats well worth it.

 

[mikecoombs]

Thats the first set of Yella Terra Roller rockers I've seen on a P6 other than mine. They are pricey and that variety is NLA unless you send him the steel for the shaft. His Current setup is better as he machines the supports and fits a carrier across them so the end rockers are not overhung. No noticable change in economy but as above I also made a lot of other changes. Valve guide wear however is down to zero and they were milled back in the passages so are a good 10mm shorter.
M

 

[TokyoP6B]

Hi Graham,
yeah the P5B thing, I was looking at buying an ex UK car a few years back that had belonged to Bishop some one or other, about the only thing that wasn't rusty was the upholstery ( after market thick piled purple satin Velour....gorgeous ).

One seventh of the rebuild cost, I would say thats well worth it.

Probably the same car, Black with an LPG conversion? It was a real mess!

G

Thats the first set of Yella Terra Roller rockers I've seen on a P6 other than mine. They are pricey and that variety is NLA unless you send him the steel for the shaft. His Current setup is better as he machines the supports and fits a carrier across them so the end rockers are not overhung. No noticable change in economy but as above I also made a lot of other changes. Valve guide wear however is down to zero and they were milled back in the passages so are a good 10mm shorter.
M

Mike, ah, the guides machined back on the cylinder head on mine as well, Yella Terra have been promoting themselves in the USA and making a lot more stuff for the USA V8s, the YT-6000 roller rockers and the set with pedestals are still on Yella Terra‘s website; they’ve added TA Performance ( USA ) cylinder heads for the Rover as well

G

 

[ghce]

Probably the same car, Black with an LPG conversion? It was a real mess!

G


G

That sounds like the one! Was cheap and I was tempted till I saw it in the flesh, it gave me nightmares thinking of the inevitable rust in the cavity spaces in the front and rear gards. If it ever got rebuilt there would have been far more rebuild than original car. But Oh I was sorely tempted, that and the import history and clerical connection plus the the history that would undoubtedly become apparent as time went on would have made a car with plenty of recountable history / provenance.

Graeme