New Convertible Project Update

[webmaster]

I've not been doing much work on the convertible recently, but managed a few hours on it today. I've been finishing off the inside of the front door, created new sections to fill the 10" gap created by extending the door.

I did the bottom section a while back, just the centre and top sections to do, this is the middle section ready to go in, the shaping is quite tight so I couldn't use my folder, I formed the shapes using a cold chisel and lump hammer !

And here's the finished article, I also did the top section and removed the support tube that I had fitted to keep the door in shape.

Hopefully this was the kick start to getting a lot more work done !

 

[Erik The Viking]

That looks like a nice piece of fabrication Richard You've got some bottle cutting and shutting a door like that! ::

Good luck with the project, and I'll look forward to seeing it sometime

 

[Pilkie]

it will be interesting to see how the glass is sorted ???

 

[webmaster]

I'll just cut and shut some door windows Door windows are just flat glass which you can get cut at a few of the auto-glass type places. I'll make them in perspex first then get some made.

Had fun yesterday, went over to a P5 show near bolton yesterday in the 820, on the way back home it started misfiring and loosing power. Got home at 6pm and diagnosed no compression on No 3 cylinder. I need the car to get to work so..... I pulled the head off (snapped a head bolt in the process) found a chipped valve, luckily I've got a spare engine in bits in the garage so I pinched a valve from that, ground it in, welded a nut to the remains of the head bolt so I could get it out, put it all back together and took it for a test drive by 11pm, less than 5 hours for a head gasket swap !. Sounds easy when you say it fast !



Edited By webmaster on 1179738353

 

[DaveHerns]

Those engines are a bit prone to valve problems - are they made of substandard material ?
The days of decokes and valve grinding are long gone

 

[webmaster]

Never heard of a valve problem on one before, this engine does have 180k miles on it and it's the first problem I've had ! The only common problem is the oil leak from the o ring in the head gasket which seams to be a problem with every rover engine ever produced. I'd say the M/T series engines are one of the most reliable engines rover produced (although that doesn't count for much).

I suspect the valve problem you describe is the "sticky valve" issue that the later T series engines suffer, the valves don't fail themselves, there is simply a build up of carbon on the stem which eventually prevents the valve returning into the guide properly. This is most common on cars which are used for very short journeys and never revved hard enough to clear the deposits. Easy enough to sort and can even be done without removing the head.