THE ROVER SD1 FORUM

dmb32c · Last edited by dmb32c on Thu Mar 06, 2008 11:58 am; edited 2 times in total

This is our first Rover. I have always liked Rover V8’s since I saw a P5B Coupe as a boy. I saw a P5B Coupe again in a car museum in 2006 and it rekindled my interest. A nice P5B Coupe was out of our reach, and P6B are just too small to fit a young family and all their shite in when going away. SD1’s are big inside and versatile and are still plentiful in NZ so I started to track down a good one, hoping there was such a thing.

I wanted a VDP EFi V8. More power than the carb model, bigger brakes and wheels. I found one in Taranaki but it needed a bit of work and wasn’t fully complete. I found another one in my home town, Christchurch. It was a fifty footer – it looked good from fifty feet away. It was a dog, wandered all over the road and was gutless. There was no other EFi’s available so what about a carb model?

I found a 3500 SE, it too was a dog with lots of bits missing, flaky paint and really cheap – no thanks. Another VDP in Christchurch, low kays, but missing bits, showing signs of neglect and someone had changed the carbs to manual P6B’s. Apparently the electronic carbs are rubbish said the owner. I didn’t drive this, I was scared enough as a passenger as it bounced all over the road. Found yet another VDP, very expensive and very nice, recent motor and auto rebuild. Again someone had junked the electronic carbs and fitted manual choke P6B units. Too dear for me and the owner decided not to sell anyway.

So to the 1985 VDP V8 auto we have now. Found in Tokoroa, sold new in Christchurch where it is now. Very nice, totally original, good service history, mostly complete and sounded great. It needed some work, it was running rough, something I felt comfortable fixing. Plus it drove quite well, not wallowing or bouncing. I picked the car up in Wellington in January 2007 and drove it home using in excess of $300 of gas – around 200 litres for 400km. It definitely needs a tune.

Quick checks at home showed an engine running rich as evidenced by the horrendous fuel consumption. The vacuum hoses were riddled with leaks and someone had richened up the carbs massively to compensate. With this fixed it ran better but I still wasn’t happy. Checks of the ignition showed that there was no centrifugal advance and the vacuum advance unit was leaking. There’s a guy here in Christchurch that rebuilds distributors and vacuum units and he sorted mine out. The Rover was running great except when first started cold. It would stutter and die and would take 2 or 3 attempts to get going. This was traced to a faulty vacuum switch on one of the carbs. This switch was rebuilt. Now it starts great and runs great. Starts from cold without stalling, is always responsive off the mark and will rev to redline through the gears no problem. Before all this it wouldn’t rev past 4000rpm, even in first. I certainly have not had further problems with my electronic carbs and don’t think they are rubbish.

We took the Rover on a run through central Otago. Fuel economy now was around 9km/l, a huge improvement over the 5km/l I was getting. It was a great trip, the car ran well and we enjoyed our weekend away.

Since then I have had to replace the mudshield on the pinion extension tube, replace some leaky power steer hoses and replace radiator hoses and thermostat. Some of the auto leaks have been fixed but it still leaks a wee bit, like the engine. The aircon has also been regassed and works well, great to have it for this summer.

Whats left to do? Not too much. I’d like to sort the engine and auto leaks but they are tolerable for now. I’d like to replace the factory radio cassette and speakers. The headlining will need doing sometime and some minor vinyl and carpet repairs too. I would love to replace the wood but that will have to wait.

So we have a great car and I now think the autos are low geared. I think we might look to replace our VDP with a manual Vitesse sometime, there are still some good ones around. In the meantime we really enjoy our VDP.

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kiwi_sd1 · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 4:48 am Post subject:

Nice to see another Kiwi on here Very Happy

Car looks great, and you've obviously spent a bit of time tracking down one that meets all the criteria - you mentioned about getting a Vitesse - did you see that one in Gore that just went on TradeMe? Looked quite nice.

Cheers,

Ray

dmb32c · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 11:41 am Post subject:

Hi Ray,
I did see the Vitesse on Trade Me, put a bid in but it soon got beyond my reach. Was yours on Trade Me? I think it looks familiar. Theres another Vitesse on there now but too dear for me especially considering what the Gore one went for.

Cheers
Dave

kiwi_sd1 · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 11:49 am Post subject:

Yes I got mine through TradeMe - I think it was about Sept/Oct. I've never owned a Rover before, been an older holden man before that! But I love my Vitesse, so smooth to drive. My kids love it too Very Happy

Eldest one seems to think he'll be allowed to drive it in a couple of years Shocked

Yep, that Vitesse does seem expensive compared to the one in Gore, but then we don't want the value to start going down eh! If I had the money I'd get it - my double garage would look great with two Vitesses side by side Cool

dmb32c · Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 12:01 pm Post subject:

I know what you mean. I used to have an HK Premier, 307 V8. Loved my old Holdens, still do. But the Rover is better equiped, more modern and still sounds and goes good.

KwS · Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 10:48 am Post subject:

very nice car! glad to see it finally posted on here Smile

looks very tidy and well loved.

do you take her to the palms mall much? i see one that looks like yours there quite a bit (think i saw it outside work, parked infront of the library today too).

i really want a vitesse... but couldnt afford one. wouldnt mind putting the deep lip on my vdp efi.

dmb32c · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 11:13 am Post subject:

We don't get to The Palms at all, we're on the other side of town. But it does get out and about regularly, mainly weekends so you'll probably see it around sometime. Cheers