my personal new project...

[Adam Birch]

As I said on P6-SI's post, when I get this car I will take some photo's and post them here.

This is NPE 123L, sold to me by Nick Dunning, as it was going to be broken for spare's otherwise (it was getting in the way and not receiving enough attention), so as my green 2000 auto was a hidden rust bucket (underseal) and needed more work than it was going to be worth (just to get it on the road), Nick told me about this car that he had had for a long time, and advised me to sell the green one. He then told me about a car he had in (JGU) which was scruffy all over, but reliable and the base unit was sound. I let that one go, then once it had sold, I saw the car and fell in love with it.

So after some more serious thinking I decided to take this car on during my spare time. It needs paint and underseal on the wings (factory primer), and a slice of work to do everywhere else - apart from welding. There are still parts with Nick that belong to the car, they will be delivered along with the return of my white 2200TC. And the paint situation, At the moment my project is to get the car on the road - as a lucky school pupil I have a limited budget, but when I have the money in a year or so I will then start to decide what colour to paint it. As Nick's project, he decided to do it Tobacco (again) and I am considering going with that too, because it's one of the less common S2 colours, and when freshly painted it apparently has greens and yellows depending on the light, which looks nice. I'm also thinking of a name to call the car - my friend suggested Michael, because of the car's numberplate NPE123L - NPE 123 reminds him of the Michael Jackson song that goes "ABC as easy as 123". I remember he called my green car David, because it was Cameron Green... He then went on to say the car was evil and he didn't like it, just like he has with my new one.

This car is absolutely loaded with new parts, it was someone's resto project 20 years ago up to a couple of years ago. Until they decided that nothing was being done to the car. The sad thing about this car is I'm pretty sure that it's worth over a bag of sand in parts, if not at least close. But it being a low owner car, mileage being not low but hardly high, and a perfect engine, and baseunit, scrapping it for the money would be such a shame. And also check this car out, only a handful of cars up the production line from NPE: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 4347wt_968 This ebay car appears to have the silver only steering wheel, a 1964 no chrome clock, rare bronze flatpleat herringbone cloth. The engine in this one is about 50 after the one in NPE.

Regarding the pictures of NPE, I said I would take some pictures when I got the car, but when I got home yesterday, it was dark, and pointless to try. And now the car isn't going to be out of the garage until my white car is back. So if Nick doesn't mind, Here are some photo's of the car that he took:

 

[P6-SI]

Nice one Adam, she looks a good one, is that new suspension parts on her as well. I would stick to tobacco leaf, don't give yourself to much work changing the whole car a different colour.

The engine bay looks really clean and tidy, so if the engine is good as is the suspension ,whats first on your list of jobs to do?

Ps did you get my pm I sent you.

 

[chrisyork]

That looks a really nice car Adam. Well worth any effort you put into it!

Your write up prompts a couple of questions reference the auto in the Ebay ad. The clock in the Ebay car has the black bezel which always went with the rev counter in the S1 pod. I wasn't aware it ever made it onto production cars without the rev counter pod? I've actually done the opposite on Lucky and fitted chrome bezels to both clock and rev counter - because I prefer the look. I can see why Rover blacked them, though - there is minor screen reflection. That isn't a problem with the clock in its original location, so I didn't think Rover ever departed from chrome? Also I don't understand what you mean by an all silver wheel?

Chris

 

[FrazzleTC]

This looks like an excellent project. I look forward to seeing the updates. The panels which are tobacco leaf look like they have a really good paint finish on them from the photos, and it looks like it has a very good exhaust. Good luck with the project!

 

[ghce]

oui what my cat doing

Oui what my cat doing in your photo the little b#r%$#d turns up in all my photos too!! :roll:

Graeme

 

[Adam Birch]

The engine bay looks really clean and tidy, so if the engine is good as is the suspension ,whats first on your list of jobs to do?

Ps did you get my pm I sent you.

Thanks, engine has done 60,000 miles, it runs like a sewing machine. But the running of the engine is off a small auxilary tank, not the proper fuel tank. Sorting this out is going to be one of the first jobs, there is fuel in the tank however this is about 20 years old - it smells stagnant and when I knocked the tank it sounded as though there was sand in there. So I'll try to get the tank cleaned when I can.

And I haven't received a PM, so sorry if I haven't replied.

The clock in the Ebay car has the black bezel which always went with the rev counter in the S1 pod. I wasn't aware it ever made it onto production cars without the rev counter pod? I've actually done the opposite on Lucky and fitted chrome bezels to both clock and rev counter - because I prefer the look. I can see why Rover blacked them, though - there is minor screen reflection. That isn't a problem with the clock in its original location, so I didn't think Rover ever departed from chrome? Also I don't understand what you mean by an all silver wheel?

I was told that the black bezel for the clock did make it onto the production cars, and that this was only done as an experiment during the 1964/5 period, so it was not available on series 2 cars with just the clock. So after their year of experimenting, they went back to the chrome. That is, as I understand, what Nick told me. What I mean by the all silver steering wheel is the 2000/badge part has no gold paint (as far as I can see), whereas the lines to either end, and rover emblem are usually gold, with only the 2000 part silver. I hope I don't need an eye test, if you can see the gold.

The panels which are tobacco leaf look like they have a really good paint finish on them from the photos, and it looks like it has a very good exhaust. Good luck with the project!

Thanks . The panels are excellent, as I said there are still parts to come, that includes a nsf wing, and other various parts that are currently in Surrey, but regarding the paint, it's not brilliant. The reason is although that paint has seen hardly any action, it spent most of its life in a garage with things stored on it. So what 20 years ago was a new paint job, has been ruined by scratches on every panel, due to things being knocked over etc. That's one of the things I need to take a photo of. Practically everything is new. If it has blue paint on it, it's new. This includes all suspension, radiator, engine sideplates and mounts, brake discs and pads, and several other things that I can't think of at current. All the outer panels are like new condition - the wings that I have are NOS in factory primer. Thanks

Oui what my cat doing in your photo the little b#r%$#d turns up in all my photos too!!

My neighbour's cat likes my dad's car (827 coupe), the stupid thing has put scratches all over the bonnet. It's never done that with any of the other cars we've had outside.

Any way, Cheers, Adam.

 

[P6-SI]

Hi Adam ,

It won't let me send a pm to you, you might not have it set up on your options or it's somthing my end. Never mind, It doesn't matter I was only babbling on anyway.

Good luck with the car

Si

 

[Adam Birch]

Long time no update:
I have since got the fuel system working, and as I have been looking around the car, I have found other small jobs to be done. The other day, I decided to look at the condition of the spark plugs. I'll try to get a picture of what happened to one of them tomorrow; I haven't seen such a problem. I have also fitted the engine out with some new coolant hose pipes, ready for the road. Also after having a look at the small jobs, I noticed that one of the gaiters on a steering rod was nackered, so I replaced that yesterday.

Doing this myself has taught me a great lesson; don't do something without giving at least a bit of thought about it first... When doing the steering arm, to break the joint, I did not leave the nut on, so of course I ruined a few threads. Thankfully, after spending some time with a file today, I managed to fix those ruined threads, and it's now back on the car.

Also, earlier today, I decided I would try to get her started. Probably not the best of ideas regarding the neighbours, because there is currently no back box fitted to the exhaust... She ran for a few seconds. I think that when I have a backbox, airfilter, and have done a proper service to her, she should hopefully run well - She hasn't had a proper run for nearly 20 years.

Unfortunately I have not recently taken any photo's of her, sorry. But if I remember, I should hopefully get at least a couple of photos on tomorrow...

Cheers, Adam.

 

[rockdemon]

Excellent look forward to seeing your progress!

 

[Adam Birch]

So far, not much progress picture wise. I have taken panels off that are in dying need of paint - I can't afford a professional job at the moment, so I'm going to, one day, at least get some paint on the current wings, so when driving along, those wings don't catch the rust bug.

If any of you are wondering why I have been doing jobs in such a bizarre order, well I'm only doing them as I think of them, as I don't have a set list. Maybe I should do a list, however my way seems to be working ok for now...

When taking the photos earlier today, I found some shots of my old green car stored on my camera, so I thought I may as well add those in too.




There is also the dodgy spark plug, I've never seen one break in this way, maybe it was flawed.


And a shot that I took today of NPE, my current project. Only reason for the front shot is I couldn't get the car out of the garage today - time, as well as the fact my dad had parked his car in front of the garage entrance. But hey, It's a photo:



Will update further when I can, hopefully soon. When Nick came up to Whitewebbs museum the other day, we spoke about the event at Beamish in May, and it is only an idea, but if NPE is on the road, and re-run in, then he'll be able to get insured to drive me and a couple of friends up there for the event. That'll be interesting, and somewhat fun. But at the moment, it is only an idea...

Cheers, Adam.

 

[bri p6b v8]

beamish is a fantastic place,try and get there its an event you will not want to miss :wink:

 

[Adam Birch]

beamish is a fantastic place,try and get there its an event you will not want to miss

I'll try to get to Beamish, the rate at which things are happening, I don't think it will be in any of my cars, and due to the fact I have a blasted English exam the next day there is at least a bit of doubt I'll go at all. But I'm hoping to turn up, and Nick and myself have been discussing that if we did all go, it's more likely to be in his BMW - for money/time/space reasons, and so that my brother can then come too.

Nothing worth noting has been happening to NPE, apart from I have thought of a name - Unbitrium. My reasoning is because during a recent science lesson, 'sir' shortened the names Neutron. Proton, and Electron to NPE in that order. I then thought "hey that's my car's reg. plate." Seeing that we were studying the atom, I decided to look up the element with proton number 123 (because it's the next part of the numberplate), to reveal a synthetic element; Ubt - or Unbitrium.

Hope this is good enough of an update

Cheers, Adam.

 

[Adam Birch]

Hello People,
Today I have been doing a little more work to 'Unbitrium' today, and I even had the pleasure of getting her running... to the neighbours' dismay - Next job on the list; fit a backbox

First off, I had got the brake master cylinder off, and decided it's seized; so a new one is required of that.
After noticing that the paint had bubbled from the area under the master cylinder, and surface rust was poking through, I set to with a wire brush, and some basic aerosol paint to protect it for now. The old paint had a rubbery texture, I think it may have been the epoxy type.
I also set to, only a bit, with the interior - I had been having fun seeing what was under the interior panels and cards, to find nothing but goodness - today was putting those back. I also fitted the speedo cable, at last - was the first job I was hoping to sort, but was postponed due to a missing angle drive.
I also got round to re-fitting the spark plugs, in anticipation for starting her up today. After looking in the distributor, I discovered that someone had been a little too generous with the oil - nice thin layer over the points - a contributing factor to why she didn't run for more than 20 seconds last time I tried. So a clean up sorted it.

Last was the starting and running of her - At first she was spluttering, and died a few times - she didn't like a rev either. I then tried without the choke, and half throttle, and she ran, but with backfiring out of the exhaust, and carburettor - she spluttered to a halt, yet again. I had to run her on the choke, while playing about with it, and she then ran nicely for 30 mins!! that was until I decided enough was enough - too loud. For the 30 minutes, I got her off the choke, and could rev her without trouble. Completely off choke requires a little rev - the idle speed obviously needs sorting, and as she hasn't really had much attention for 20 years, I'd say the mixture too. The temperature stayed at just under half way, once warmed up. The revs were accompanied with a load of soot out the back - she obviously needs a good run one day soon.

While running I noticed a few problems - the heater fan didn't work - I know the fusebox hasn't melted, however I have not checked the fuses themselves. If not, then hopefully that's just a loose wire or something. I also tried the lights - any help on this one? See pictures.

I know you all like pictures, and pictures are what I have. Though there's only a couple, I should get more one some time soon - They are also bad quality - please excuse this, I used my phone, as this is what I had to hand at the time - 1.3 megapixel - big whoop :roll: I'll use my proper camera next time.

Problems:

(Main Beam)

(Full Beam)

Just a photo of the front of the car (with Dad's 827 coupe in the background):


Hope you can help.

Cheers, Adam.

 

[chrisyork]

hi Adam

I like the name - devious and intellectual!

You've actually been making quite a lot of progress by my observation! I do understand the "do the cheapest jobs first" method of proceeding! Very satisfying to have her (him?) running. That'll probably do for now, in that you've identified any problems and the rest of the engine tuning etc can wait until you're much nearer MoT time. Remember that a contributory factor to bad running could well be the age of the fuel in the car.

Seems like there are some real issues in the front wiring! I think I might start by verifying which lamps actually work as lamps. Take them out and use a battery charger to verify they work. Then I'd get fast of the wiring diagram and work my way back from the lamps making sure that the right colour wires connect to each other as you go. When you are back into the main harness, call a halt and go back to the start and verify all the earthing points at the front of the car. I'd expect that to sort most of the problems. If not then a similar exercise is needed starting from the fusebox end!

Chris

 

[Adam Birch]

hi Adam

I like the name - devious and intellectual!

You've actually been making quite a lot of progress by my observation! I do understand the "do the cheapest jobs first" method of proceeding! Very satisfying to have her (him?) running. That'll probably do for now, in that you've identified any problems and the rest of the engine tuning etc can wait until you're much nearer MoT time. Remember that a contributory factor to bad running could well be the age of the fuel in the car.

Seems like there are some real issues in the front wiring! I think I might start by verifying which lamps actually work as lamps. Take them out and use a battery charger to verify they work. Then I'd get fast of the wiring diagram and work my way back from the lamps making sure that the right colour wires connect to each other as you go. When you are back into the main harness, call a halt and go back to the start and verify all the earthing points at the front of the car. I'd expect that to sort most of the problems. If not then a similar exercise is needed starting from the fusebox end!

Chris

Hi Chris,
All I can say is Thank You very much. I'll try that as soon as I can.

Once I have completed the light and heater dilemma, I think I shall put a new gaitor on the DeDion tube, then sort out the brakes. Then, once I have completed both of those jobs, I'll fit a back box, then focus on the bodywork and interior.

I really ought to put on some before/after pictures too - Do people think the phone pictures are adequate? To me, they look better quality than I expected.

Cheers, Adam.

 

[Adam Birch]

Hello,
Due to my exams, I have not been able to do much work to Unbitrium recently - and I shouldn't really be doing anything to her until the end of the month... Also, my plan of doing all mechanical then interior/bodywork has been turned upside down. Recently, I received a decent amount of parts, for use on Unbitrium, though this was all bodywork and interior. So this is the work I have managed to do recently:

I had started testing the lights, and found that one didn't work, so for starters, I will get a new unit.

A few weeks ago, my friend Jack, who also has a P6 called Dogtanien, came over to help me put some of the 'new' interior in Unbitrium - in this time, we managed to get a better rear parcel shelf, interior D-post covers, door cards, and the rear seats fitted. This happens to be extremely useful for him, as he needed the practice of taking the door trims to pieces, for his own P6.


Unfortunately, I don't have any carpets for Unbitrium at the moment, but after having a ride in what was Duncan's 3500, Nellie, I decided that carpets aren't a priority for now. So the other week, I got around to fitting the B/C post interior panels.


Neither do I have seatbelts for her, however this will be sorted soon (hopefully). Meanwhile, earlier today I got on with fitting the front seats, and fitting one wing to her - to make her more MOTable than she was.


And shock horror moment; as I was trying to find a wing photo to upload - well to my own surprise I haven't taken one of the wing actually fitted. However, this wing is only hanging on:


The front wings that I have obtained are mexico brown, as is the spare front valance. Of course they are far from decent in condition, just as I need them, because I only want them to just chuck on before I get the other, better wings and valance repainted. Because these wings are already rusty, dented and chipped, the aim is to just chuck'em on, without worrying about needing to rust proof them. As for rear wings, I am going to be getting the unused/unwanted wings from my friend's project, while I wait for funds etc for my good wings to be re-painted.

Cheers, Adam.

 

[rockdemon]

All good stuff. Also gave you a chance to prod around the inner sills!

Rich

 

[Adam Birch]

All good stuff. Also gave you a chance to prod around the inner sills!

Oh that's something I forgot to post - as I prodded around the inner sills, it became apparent that they were made out of used tracing paper - they had drawings of shapes from GCSE students doing rotations...

Only Joking, they're solid metal, without rust, and the car hasn't been welded. One of the main attractions is that Unbitrium has been rustproofed within an inch of her life - from new. There are only a few areas where surface rust is starting to show, so I'm just sorting those little bits when I spot them. Otherwise, rust wise - what's this rust thing you speak of? I wish I could say the same for JOD, but he isn't too bad.

Cheers, Adam.

 

[rockdemon]

it became apparent that they were made out of used tracing paper

I wouldnt wish that on anybody ... although it is amazing that newspaper repairs can last from 1989....!

 

[Adam Birch]

I was once told by a Morris Minor enthusiast, that he knew someone who paid around £10,000 for a 'freshly restored' MG B roadster; only to find that come MOT time, the castle rails were made out of undersealed paper mache - the people hadn't even done the usual bodge of fibreglass. That car was then scrapped at a great loss.

This topic relates to the MOT scenario - should it be every 2 years, or stay the same? I personally am against the change, because whereas it would be a lot cheaper and less hassle every 2 years, at the moment people struggle to keep the car on the road at every MOT. If at a yearly interval, there is a bit of rust that is easily fixed, but if it goes unnoticed for two years, that small bit of rust would have a chance to spread, and possibly in the effect of economics, could write off the car - which is not good for the classic car movement.

Cheers, Adam.