Hello from Sydney, Australia

SydneyRoverP6B

SydneyRoverP6B

Well-Known Member
Staff member
Hello to one and all,

My name is Ron, and I am the proud owner of a 1974 Rover 3500.

I have been driving my P6B since 1985, and as of October 2008 she has covered just on 216,500 miles (349,000km).

I have attached some photos of her, taken in October this year in the Sydney suburb where I live.
The duco is all original, save for the o/s rear guard. The black paint within the engine bay is also original, except for the paint atop the radiator and fan shroud.

Last year the original 3.5 litre V8 was removed and a new 4.6 litre Rover V8 installed. The new engine now has a little over 12,000 miles up, and wow what a sensational improvement in every respect.

My Rover is an absolute joy to drive, and I will proudly keep her forever.

I look forward to learning from fellow members, and helping others when ever I can.

Kind regards to all P6 Rover owners.

F1000022.jpg


F1000016.jpg


F1000017.jpg


F1000025.jpg
 
Hello 2Diesels,

Yes indeed, the colour is saffron. I have only ever seen two other P6Bs in saffron on Australian roads, both 1974 models.

Ron.
 
They never did that colour for the UK market shame really, I like it & actually would be tempted to paint my car if it didn't look so good in black

Colin
 
Hello Dave,

After having the 4.6 litre Rover V8 installed, the engine was set to a dull state of tune. The exhaust system at this time was of the original configuration for the P6B, fully baffled front silencer with resonator at the rear. Pipe diameter was typically 1.875". The double skinned down pipes off the manifolds had previously been replaced by single skin stainless steel, each 1.875".

This system was far too small and restrictive for the 4.6, so prior to the engine being "tuned up" at 2500 miles a new system was fitted. Pipe diameters were chosen to reflect the fact that the car is an automatic. Different diameters would have been chosen had it been a manual.

The system is now largely 2.25" pipe, 2.5" straight flow through front muffler, and in answer to your question,...the rear resonator or cannon as they now seem to be called is a full flow through 2.5" in polished stainless steel with 3" outlet.

The larger capacity of the 4.6 gives a much deeper exhaust note compared to the 3.5. It sounds very very deep and quite loud especially above say 36mph (60kph). The wonderful unmistakable music of a Rover V8 :D

Ron.
 
SydneyRoverP6B said:
This system was far too small and restrictive for the 4.6, so prior to the engine being "tuned up" at 2500 miles a new system was fitted. Pipe diameters were chosen to reflect the fact that the car is an automatic. Different diameters would have been chosen had it been a manual.

The system is now largely 2.25" pipe, 2.5" straight flow through front muffler, and in answer to your question,...the rear resonator or cannon as they now seem to be called is made by Redback,..full flow through 2.5" polished stainless steel with 3" outlet.
Click to expand...

So how do you work out the required diamteter of the pipes?
 
G'day Ron, is that a rear venitian screen I can see on your car (rover option?) or optical illusion, and the wind deflector on drivers window was that a rover option as well? a very nice car indeed.

Regards,
 
Hello quattro,

The 4.6 litre Rover V8 in standard form flows in the order of 30% more air compared to a 3.5 litre. The intake system and likewise the exhaust system must be able to meet this requirement. So I did a lot of reading and as much research as I could so as to be able to select a system (both input and output) to meet these requirements. I considered the rpm range that I would normally drive in, hence the distinction between and automatic and a manual. Muffler internal diameters are larger than standard straight pipes so as to minimise the possibility of reducing the flow rate.

I looked at the flow rate per unit area of straight pipe, calculated the engine flow rate at a nominal 80% volumetric efficiency, and considered the rpm band that I would most often stay within, so the efficiency of the system would be best within that range.

As it would turn out, I am very pleased indeed. I trialled 4 different combinations of front mufflers and resonators with my local muffler man, and picked the combination that sounded the best, while meeting the flow requirement specifications. The combination that is on the Rover is the pair that we trialled first up. Turning the ignition key, the deep thumping roar,..wow I could not stop smiling...so totally different to the way it sounded with the standard exhaust.

I have never enjoyed driving my Rover as much as I do now,...even on over run, there is a wonderful deep rolling rumble tumbling through the exhaust,,,free flowing and so unmistakably a large capacity V8.

Ron.
 
G'day Scott,

Yes indeed, that is a venitian blind in the rear window. It was not a Rover optional extra, just a generic brand that I purchased in the late 1980s. I thought that it would be perfect for keeping the hot sun from shining down onto the tops of the rear seats, keeping passengers cooler if sitting in the back, and generally making the car that little bit more distinctive. As it turned out, it worked and continues to work perfectly.

A weathershield too, not from Rover, but rather made in Australia by Trim. You don't see these anymore, certainly not on modern cars, but they work really well, keeping wind, dirt and rain from entering the driver's window which can remain open in adverse conditions.

Ron.
 
SydneyRoverP6B said:
I have never enjoyed driving my Rover as much as I do now,...even on over run, there is a wonderful deep rolling rumble tumbling through the exhaust,,,free flowing and so unmistakably a large capacity V8.

Ron.
Click to expand...

Thanks Ron

I have a 4L stage one engine with the standard 3500 exhaust - not even the larger bore 3500S exhaust, so I will be looking at that as soon as I have sorted a few other things out.

We have a company in town who will build you a custom exhaust from scratch, so I had better start saving up.
 
Hello quattro,

Is the 4.0 litre V8 in your very nice lunar grey P6B?

Custom exhaust systems can be expensive, but the outcome can be so worthwhile.

Ron.
 
Hello Dave,

I have been looking to do a "You tube" clip of my P6B, although I am not sure how I will go about it. I will have to ask a friend who has the equipment and the knowledge on how to achieve it. Not sure how long it will take.

See how we go.

Ron.
 
SydneyRoverP6B said:
Hello quattro,

Is the 4.0 litre V8 in your very nice lunar grey P6B?

Custom exhaust systems can be expensive, but the outcome can be so worthwhile.

Ron.
Click to expand...

Yes, but its going to need a bit of work before I get around to sorting the exhaust. The engine is fine, but its sitting at a slight angle which needs sorting before the exhaust, so lots of things to look forward to 8)

Richard

PS - Love the colour

viewtopic.php?f=21&t=4843&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a
 
In answer to a question by harveyp6 regarding the BW35 transmission handling the extra grunt of the 4.6.

Before I went ahead with the installation of the 4.6, I made numerous enquires with different businesses as to the suitability of using my BW35 with the 4.6.

From Torque Converter Industries to the business that services my transmission, the reply was the same. The transmission will be fine, just don't do anything silly.

So, I don't "plant the foot" from a standing start, nor do I use kickdown, which by all accounts I don't need to. (These were not recommendations, I just do them ) The 4.6 delivers so much torque that the car effectively accelerates quicker in top than the 3.5 would do in second, or possibly even first.

In fact, the transmission I feel works better, as the power delivery is so smooth and the torque available so considerable.

I am using kevlar lined bands within the transmission, ford gear sets, and heavy duty clutches. These were all fitted when the transmission had its last major overhaul in 1996.

Only days after the 4.6 was fitted, the transmission was serviced. Unfortunately, Dexron fluid was added. Within 3 days I had removed it all, adding quantities of TQF, flushing and repeating. I adjusted the downshift cable to increase line pressure to the higher side of normal, so on light throttle top is engaged at approx 26mph. A little over 12 months and 12,000 miles later coming on Monday this week saw the transmission serviced again. I wanted to be sure that all was ok, as the car spent a few hours on a dyno at the 2500 mile point being "tuned up" from the initlal dull state of tune set during the running in period.

The fluid was lovely and clean, the pan and filter spotless. I was very pleased indeed. :D I surplied the TQF of which 4 litres were added. Checking the level when warmed over 4 miles, shows it approx 3mm above the "H" mark, suggesting it has approx 100 to 125ml too much fluid. In 8 litres that equates to 1.5% maximum. I don't expect it will present a problem, although I would prefer it was right on the "H" mark.

Ron.
 
I think the key with the BW35 is as you say to try and avoid working it too hard, and really it doesn't matter about the amount of power or the engine size, if you restrain yourself.

I have heard of the mods using Ford (BW40 IIRC) which were used behind engines up to 5 litres, but only in Aus, we don't have those models with those mods in the UK.

Looks a nice car, particularly nice and shiny under the bonnet.
 
Hello harveyp6,

Yes, I do try and keep her clean. :D I very much appreciate yours along with all the nice comments from eveyone. My Rover is the only car I have ever owned, and I have no desire at all in buying a modern car.

Ron.
 
SydneyRoverP6B said:
Last year the original 3.5 litre V8 was removed and a new 4.6 litre Rover V8 installed. The new engine now has a little over 12,000 miles up, and wow what a sensational improvement in every respect.
Click to expand...

Ron, that's a beautiful car. Do you mind if i ask what SU needles you are running with the 4.6?

Aidrian
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top