First of all, I am no engineer (as will become apparent), but I actually made a tool out of a piece of 15mm copper pipe drilled with a screw and nut through the end. I crimped the thread to make sure the nut didn't drop off in the timing cover. Also located in plumbing box was 15-10mm reducer and old screwdriver shaft (about 10mm) so that the other end could fit in the drill. Copper is not ideal due to tendency to bend but managed to get it straight enough to engage with the pump drive and spin it. Spin spin spin spin spin etc - no evidence of new oil in rocker area. Remove rocker arm. Spin again, while staring fixedly at little oil hole, which remains alarmingly dry. Battery now flat on drill. Replace with spare. Also flat. Time for a cup of tea. Somewhat later, try again with charged battery - still no oil. Resist temptation to customize engine with sledge hammer, and decide there's nothing for it but to remove the timing cover. I know this will be easier with radiator out, so remove bottom hose to empty. Replace hose quickly and get container to catch coolant. Doh! Empty rad and remove after brief bad language interlude due to forgetting oil pipes from gearbox (I think); fan blades off; alternator off; fan wheel off. Apply 15/16" socket to crank pulley to remove. Won't budge, but previously incredibly stiff engine now seems to move anticlockwise with relative ease. Check book. Aha - need to jam something somewhere. This involves removing cover from front of autobox (I think) which involves laying in pool of 12 year old oil drippings plus larger pool of coolant. Lose nerve and some of will to live, and abandon plan to remove timing cover (for the time being at least) and decide to remove oil pump in situ - Haynes seems to suggest it's possible. Hmmm- what interesting bolt heads. What a marvelous idea to put these little beauties in this inaccessible place. Eventually find spanner that fits, and after much bad language actually manage to remove pump. Well, well, well - it's completely dry in there. Clean everything. Raid medicine cabinet for pot of Vaseline and pack every available space thoroughly. Replace pump (more bad language) using old gasket as no new one available - eeek - will be shunned and scolded by Rover purists. Connect newly charged drill and Heath Robinson attachment to pump drive. Turn drill speed to maximum and go for it. Some strange sucking and gurgling from pump area, followed by rather sudden and spectacular fountain of disgusting black treacle from hole in cylinder head. Bingo - we have oil pressure!! Clean up oily mess from engine bay, front wing, driveway and self. Time for another cup of tea. Decided in light of disgusting state of 12 year old oil exiting hole in cylinder head, to change oil. Sump nut comes undone with a bang resulting in gouge taken out of index finger. More bad language. Marvel at strange molasses product trickling from sump. Replace sump nut. Refill with cheap 15/40 product to flush before refilling later with "proper" oil. Retire for the day to nurse sore finger and wash out potty mouth with soap and water.
