Practically Classics Forum

I threw the ignition system back together this afternoon (with a shim in the ignition coil bracket... I'll fix it properly another day when I'm not so pushed for time). Sure enough after a little fiddling around with the choke as the cable isn't hooked up yet, had the engine running pretty quickly ...

<r>[] 1st October.<br/>
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This lot is (finally) back together and ready to go back onto the car.<br/>
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<URL url="https://ibb.co/7dyXHCTY"><s>[url=https://ibb.co/7dyXHCTY]</s><IMG src="https://i.ibb.co/5gc6d4zM/PXL-20250930-133721772.jpg"><s>[img]</s>https://i.ibb.co/5gc6d4zM/PXL-20250930 ...

...Continued from previous post.

[] 3rd August.

The service menu controls have now been hooked up.

https://i.ibb.co/cS359L37/PXL-20250803-152049542.jpg

The little red button on the right is actually the self test button from the original cabinet. It is now doing duty as a control which toggles ...

Will you be fitting harder valve seats when the head is off?


I've not been really aware of these engines being particularly renowned for exhaust valve seat recession so have just been leaving that side of things alone - though having the head off would only be half the job here given the ...

Had a very quick look under the exhaust rocker cover this evening (I was literally just taking some stuff to the garage, wasn't even specifically looking to do anything car related).

Not as clean as things on the inlet side as you'd expect, but still very clean for the age of engine I think ...

Finally got a chance to (very briefly before it started tipping it down) look at the Rover today. I can confirm that the head bolts are indeed tight (well as tight as spec anyway - all of 50 lb/ft for the big bolts and 30 for the little ones). Guess it's coming off then!

Looks clean enough though ...

I had a sneaking suspicion that I was facing issues with the head gasket on the Rover. Primarily based on the amount of gurgling and nonsense from the radiator and the tendency for it to immediately violently dump about half the coolant the moment the thermostat opens.

Did a really quick and dirty ...

About that wiring diagram...

This is what we started with.

https://i.ibb.co/rK7dSXm0/PXL-20250707-133035511.jpg

Not exactly user friendly.

After I'd been left alone with it for a few hours.

https://i.ibb.co/tpnfJX6F/Wiring-Diagram-jpg-8bdadacddc369ff1e34d7e420b8ca993.jpg

Still needs a bit ...

That looks complicated, at least it's designed so you can get at it to service things.. just re fitted starter motor on my Clio..


It's not really any more complicated than the setup on a modern car, just laid out differently. The handbrake is maybe a little more elaborate as it's using a solid ...

Isn't this a funky looking brake pedal arrangement compared to a modern car?

https://i.ibb.co/hF3n7GJc/PXL-20250703-154639703.jpg

That rod heading out of frame to the left runs to the master cylinder, which is quite a chunky one. Hand for scale.

https://i.ibb.co/PzVdKwYm/PXL-20250703-154634982 ...