20 replies to this topic

[Black.Ghost]

I am sure few people are interested, but this is back on. This car had been neglected and left on the drive since I got the Focus on the road - there was no need to do anything. The Focus is still fine, but I have decided this poor little Rover needed saving. 

 

Unfortunately, another had to die - a 3 door 25 in HFF (BRG, Pearlescent) which is a surprisingly difficult combination to find. I have new doors, new wings, an exhaust (standard), new switches, CV gaiters, new wheels (Minilite style  ), new rear lights and new electric mirrors. I put ZR seats in it as well, but would rather just have normal R25 ones (leather and heated would be nice, but were only available in the Scandinavian market apparently ), however left mine outside and now they are wet and ruined awaiting being skipped. However, I will endeavour to search for the ones I want. 

 

I have no idea if I will keep or sell it yet when it's done. I know that if I sell it in its current state, it will simply be broken as it's just not worth putting right for anyone else as they sell for so little money. I also know that I can't fault the Focus that I have either. However, the time has come for it to be sold. Whether the 25 is sold as well will depend solely on whether the lure of a 75 or ZT (or 75-T/ZT-T) proves too much. There is a very nice ZT-T in grey just around the corner from me, in the new guise. It's not for sale but I do like it.

 

I will update again when I get started on the work. Had no energy or desire to start today. 

[Ben_O]

Good to hear this is back on mate.

 

I take it you managed to sort that tensioner on the focus out in the end?

 

Ben

[Black.Ghost]

Yeah I got the Focus sorted in the end. Once I resolved my issues, I had the belt done in the garage and all the issues have gone and the car is driving fine again now. 

 

However, the Rover is not such good news. After spending just over £100 for a whole load of parts just before Xmas, I thought I would crack on with this today. So after messing around manoeuvring cars into place, I jumped started it to move it so I could get underneath. I then needed to put it on ramps so had to jump it again. Only one of the ramps slid, causing me to go up and over one of them. Fortunately, the passenger side got on the ramp, but going right over a ramp meant it put a bit of a crack in the sill. Phone battery is dead so I can't take a picture (I tried on the iPad). The exhaust is so rusty I can't hold it to get leverage to undo the rusty bolts because it will just snap clean off. So had to abandon it all for the day. Tomorrow I am off to Halfords to get a fresh supply of WD40 to try and loosen these bolts off. 

 

The garage that does MOTs just around the corner from me is Rover-MG friendly, so I think I will do all the other bits, and then see if they can cut and patch the small part of the sill that is cracked. I really don't want all those parts to go to waste and have to sell them on. I need to get this done and sold, to make space for a ZR TD in the for sale section. 

 

So for the MOT I believe it is going to need the exhaust changing (centre part only if I can get the damn thing off), CV gaiters replacing (already have them) and the breaks looking at. Once that is all done, I'll get it MOT'ed and then look to get the other parts sorted to tidy it up. 

 

I absolutely hate rust. It's so weak and yet so strong at the same time! I'll be copper greasing all bolts that go back in that is for sure! The girlfriend is working the next 3 days in a row so I have a bit of time to get all the jobs done that I want to. 

 

There are two good things though - I found my old army boots and some very think winter socks, which means my feet will no longer be cold while doing work outside. I also ordered some overalls from Ebay which should hopefully arrive tomorrow so I can stop ruining various items of clothing as well. 

[Black.Ghost]

Well the above never really happened. I put this up for sale a while back, and am still breaking it for spares. There are just too many little things that need doing to it for to be worth while. Plus, as much as it pains me, the Focus is a better car in nearly every way. 

 

So yesterday I started the process of removing the engine. I've done most of the bits but stuck on a couple:

1. The castle nuts on the driveshafts just won't budge. I'm probably being a bit weak but couldn't move them. Two options here - get hold of a small heat gun thing and try that, or see if my mate can do it whose is considerably stronger than me! Until I have done this, I don't believe I will be able to get the driveshafts off.

2. The ball joint holding the gear selector rod to the selector mechanism on the gearbox won't split using a screw driver. I have a 3ft crow bar but can't get a good enough angle on it. So I think i will source a proper ball joint splitter for that. I am sure it will come in useful in the future anyway. 

 

Other than that, the engine is being held in by just a couple of mountings and will soon be ready to lift out. 

 

It's a sad end, and I did enjoy the car but I really want the drive way back. Now that the crap weather appears to have mostly passed, I want to get the Mini out and sorted for the Summer and that is going to require enough of my time without fixing the Rover as well. I have a fair amount of spares I will hopefully be able to shift. I'll put up an ad on here and mg-rover.org for a week or so. After that, I'll whack the bigger bits on eBay and scrap what is left of poor Roberto I would give it away, but I'd be very annoyed if someone came to collect, took it straight down the scrapper and got the money for it. 

 

I love the idea of making it ridiculously quick, but I have no where to keep it (it's not causing a problem on the drive but if it doesn't move under its own steam, getting the mini in and out of the garage is a ball ache), I don't have the cash as we are supposed to be saving for a wedding and a house. 

[Ben_O]

Either get a large breaker bar on those castle nuts or if the worst comes to the worst, can't you split the hub from the strut and then swing the whole hub and driveshaft out of the way?

I had to do that on My scenic as once i got the hub nut off, the driveshaft wouldn't release from the splines.

 

Shame it's being broken up but i suppose it would cost more than is worthwhile to put it right.

 

RIP Roberto

 

Ben

[Black.Ghost]

The problem with these older cars is that actually, the process to do most of these things isn't really that difficult in itself. The problem is rust, worn parts and parts stuck together just make everything take a ridiculously long time. One of the first things I had to do was remove the battery tray but two of the bolts holding it in place are completely rusted. I tried drilling them out and the drill bit broke. So I will leave it until the end and see if I can lift the gearbox past it without actually having to remove it.

 

It is a shame it is being broken. I wouldn't mind fixing it, but I still need to spend further money because it has been sat for a while. If I had everything, I may have done it. I don't want to be spending even more for no return on it. I'm really not worried about making a huge profit now either,  I just want the space.

 

There was a point where it was going to be the fiancée's car. However, I have decided that I want to use the mini full time so she can use the Focus instead.

 

Edit - I have just been back on the MG Rover forum and feeling a pang of guilt again now! 

Edited by Black.Ghost, 16 March 2015 - 10:59 PM.