Carlos
Part of things
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Though I'd stick a quick post up about my new(ish) car. For the last 18 months I've had a Rover SD1 V8. It's the bog standard SE version with the 155bhp engine. I few tweaks had been made and I was happy with the way the car was headed. Until this came along (the one on the right):  It's an original Vitesse Twin Plenum, and it popped up for sale about a mile down the road from me. I couldn't resist, so bought it. It has no MoT or tax and had been off the road for quite a while and needed some TLC. This required funds, so unfortunately my beloved SE had to go. So now I'm completely reliant on public transport (and the missus) to get me about until the Vitesse is back on the road! I've had an MoT check done on it and it needs the following work: new dampers front and rear, new windscreen, rear bumper, rear wheel bearing, new suspension bushes, brake overhaul and of course some welding. More work than I hoped, but not as bad as it could have been. I've managed to get hold of all the bits I need apart from the windscreen and the serious work will begin this weekend to get her back on the road. I've decided to make a few improvements too, so have a full set of Leda adjustable dampers and all the suspension bushes will be replaced with poly versions - should result in a well-handling machine (fingers crossed). So here's a few more pics:      Not a bad looking for 22 years old!! I just hope I can get it roadworthy without too much hassle. To round off the car 'shake-up' in our house we also made the decision to get rid of my fiances little 106 XSi, and have replaced it with a newer Citroen C1. It means I wont have to mess around keeping the 106 reliable, so more time can be spent on the SD1 ;D |
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Last Edit: Jun 4, 2009 16:43:21 GMT by Carlos
Carl
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1992 Peugeot 205 GTi 2.0 16v
2004 Volvo V50 T5
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,514
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Lovely!  My dad had a 3500SE (in that colour) followed by a Vitesse too! Bodywork on yours looks really sound. Great cars and I will probably own one one day. (A574THK where are you?!) |
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable. |
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Hirst
Posted a lot
This avatar is inaccurate, I've never shaved that closely
Posts: 3,930
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Looks very smart, sounds like a sensible plan of action you've got there too! Hope it works out.
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Nice car, good plan, good luck.
My Dad has a Red SP Vitesse (an early one) while I have a V8-S (the Persian Aqua one from the Nottingham scrapyard, if you are familiar with it) - neither of which are roadworthy, unfortunately.
I think our plan is to do up and sell the V8-S (it's an auto, and neither I nor my Dad really like autos) and get the Vitesse back on the road (shouldn;t need welding, will need suspension and brakes at least).
James
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for some reason i didnt realise they made em this late?  does anyone know if they made them as a twin turbo? i know of one sat up that has a very factory looking badge |
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you can get twin turbo kits for them for sure but the heads need a fair amount of work,
the twin plenum should have the fabled "stiff block" which is a great starting point for a
power build
great looking car !
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Carlos
Part of things
Posts: 551
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Thanks for the comments guys.
James - yep seen you're car before, it'll be nice when finished, although I too prefer the manual. I will have some spare suspensions bit when I'm done as I seem to have lots of front struts (inc brand new standard ones), give me a shout if you're interested. I'll advertise them on the SD1 Club forum when I'm ready to sell though.
You could get Janspeed Twin Turbo conversions and the kits (and the cars) do pop up on Ebay everyone now and again. AFAIK they just bolt on, no head work needed, but I guess they're a fairly low pressure setup. And I believe they use carbs though rather than the EFi system.
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Carl
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1992 Peugeot 205 GTi 2.0 16v
2004 Volvo V50 T5
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Dec 10, 2008 11:56:10 GMT
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Love the car. I have a 2600S tucked away in the garage awaiting some panels and for me to pull my finger out and rebuild the engine after yet another camshaft failure. I was thinking of putting a V8 in there instead but stubborn ol' me decide to rebuild the six.
When I was poly bushing the 2600, the only ones I had problems with were the ones on the end of the little link rods that run from the back axle to the body, and getting the track control arms back in at the front.
Nice to see!
Ric
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"You're about as likely to come across a fully functioning old Jag, as you are a taxicab that smells agreeable." - James May
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lae
Posted a lot
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Dec 10, 2008 12:54:35 GMT
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Bloody hell, that looks hard doesn't it? Kudos for using it as a daily when it's done, although driving it would be worth the fuel costs  |
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Currently:
Mk1 Focus blandmobile
Formerly:
1969 MG Midget
1972 Avenger GT
1981 Datsun Cherry
1989 Corolla
1979 Mercedes W123 200D
1995 Ford Falcon
1996 Ford Telstar (bet you had to google that one)
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Dec 10, 2008 13:02:59 GMT
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Gorgeous car, love these big 'ol Rovers.My dad had 3 back in the day - a poo brown 2600, a gold 3500 and then a moonraker? blue 3500 se. The 2600 seized and got scrapped, can't remember what happened to the gold one and the blue one ended up as a donor for a Land Rover lightweight thingy  Always remember they seemed to have bags of room inside and mega comfy too. A mate had an early 2600 and when they did the clutch on it he stood on the scuttle with a rope across his back/shoulders and then round the 'box to pull it into place, then his foot slipped and he put his backside straight through the front screen! I NEED to own one of these at some point. |
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Last Edit: Dec 10, 2008 13:08:59 GMT by philball
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Dec 10, 2008 13:28:00 GMT
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Always remember they seemed to have bags of room inside and mega comfy too. I moved house using mine. Beds, settee, pets, the lot. Only things that didn't go in there were the cooker, and the washing machine.... because I couldn't lift em over the back end into the boot. I'm itching to dig mine out now, but I can't find the keys to the garage its in. Ric |
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"You're about as likely to come across a fully functioning old Jag, as you are a taxicab that smells agreeable." - James May
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Dec 10, 2008 14:16:08 GMT
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IIRC the twin plenum was favoured by the fuzz??And Royal Protection squad?Believe they were all silver/grey too.Might be wrong.
Very very nice car,I have a huge soft spot for Vitesse's,especially later manual ones
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Last Edit: Dec 10, 2008 14:16:51 GMT by captainwow
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Siert
Posted a lot
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Dec 10, 2008 19:11:29 GMT
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Very pretty!
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Dec 10, 2008 20:33:33 GMT
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Love it!!!!!!!!!!
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Current cars:-
2001 P38 Range Rover 4.0 V8 (economical family run about)
1980 Mini Clubman estate (very much in a state!)rolling shell project
1976 Reliant Robin saloon
1998 kawasaki zzr 600 (the commuter)
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10mpg
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,253
Club RR Member Number: 204
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1986 Rover SD1 Vitesse10mpg
@10mpg
Club Retro Rides Member 204
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Dec 11, 2008 10:56:48 GMT
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Great car, I had a Moonraker Blue Twin plenum Vitesse myself a few years ago, looked scruffy as hell due to virtually every panel having had serious work done (by me) but went like stink and sounded delicious, with a full Rimmer Bros stainless exhaust and a lightly tickled TVR engine.
Godd luck with the recomission, If you've got the suspension of I would seriously reccomend a SMALL drop in height a slight increase in stiffness and some better gas shocks, the difference is remarkable it turns a slightly wallowy understeery barge into a proper sports saloon/GT with oversteer on demand.
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The Internet, like all tools, if used improperly, can make a complete bo**cks of even the simplest jobs...
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Dec 11, 2008 11:01:43 GMT
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That is properly mad... relying on public transport until you've fixed your project car.... huge respect for that and your choice of car! |
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Dec 11, 2008 11:19:12 GMT
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Great car, I had a Moonraker Blue Twin plenum Vitesse myself a few years ago, looked scruffy as hell due to virtually every panel having had serious work done (by me) but went like stink and sounded delicious, with a full Rimmer Bros stainless exhaust and a lightly tickled TVR engine. Godd luck with the recomission, If you've got the suspension of I would seriously reccomend a SMALL drop in height a slight increase in stiffness and some better gas shocks, the difference is remarkable it turns a slightly wallowy understeery barge into a proper sports saloon/GT with oversteer on demand. I did that on mine. Offered a choice of vittesse springs or vittesse minus one inch, dropped the car by 2 inches from the normal 2600S ride height. very fun but still awful traction in the snow and ice until I had half my father's rockery in the boot! Ric |
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"You're about as likely to come across a fully functioning old Jag, as you are a taxicab that smells agreeable." - James May
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Carlos
Part of things
Posts: 551
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Dec 11, 2008 22:02:07 GMT
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Wow, lots of positive comments, thanks all!
I've got the Leda adjustable front struts to go on and either Leda adjustable or Gaz adjustable rear dampers to replace the tired Nivomats. For now I'll be using Vitesse springs as the main priority it to get the car on the road and a new set of spring is an unecessary expense. Eventually I may go an inch lower - the SE used these springs and sat at a good height.
As for the public transport - I normally use it anyway, but it's nice to have the car option for when it's proper cold/rainy or I just cant be arsed to get out of bed. I'll have to brave it whatever the weather now!!
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Carl
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1992 Peugeot 205 GTi 2.0 16v
2004 Volvo V50 T5
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luckygti
Posted a lot
I need to try harder!
Posts: 4,912
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Dec 11, 2008 22:11:58 GMT
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Love the SD1 and have a couple of favourites.... Hamsters! and Jezzers..... The Vitesse front end just looks so mean, and there are so few around. Glad to see one getting saved and look forward to following the refurb I need a V8! |
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Carlos
Part of things
Posts: 551
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Dec 14, 2008 15:50:05 GMT
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Started doing some proper work on the car today. Only had a few hours spare, but managed to get it running properly after replacing the plugs, leads, dizzy cap, rotor arm and coil.
The exhaust was also blowing so decided to get it up on the ramp to find out what was broken - I was very pleased to find that the entire exhaust from after the manifolds was stainless steel, whereas I had assumed it was only SS from after the downpipes. So that was good, and it's only blowing because the downpipe sealing rings have broken up. So that should be fixed for a few quid.
Discovered a few bolts missing all over the car, some fairly important ones like inlet manifold bolts and a remote gearchange bolt amongst others. Seems someone has had a lot of the car apart in the past and has had some bits leftover!! So need to track these odds and sods down, which is a PITA. I really need to find someone breaking a Vitesse as there's lots of things I need!
Another problem I've come across is when I finally got the car going it was smoking like a good'un. There was plenty of condensation in the exhaust where it's sat outside for weeks, but once that had cleared it just left some blue smoke, which isn't good. I'm hoping the previous owner has used some modern thin oil, which these old RV8s don't like too much. Fingers crossed that some 20/50 oil will help, but we'll see. Not going to be happy if it's something a bit more sinister!!
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Carl
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1992 Peugeot 205 GTi 2.0 16v
2004 Volvo V50 T5
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does anyone know if they made them as a twin turbo? i know of one sat up that has a very factory looking badge
