Hola,
So, this is the current big project. You'd think I would have learned my lesson, what with having this car's twin some ten years ago and being severely bitten by it. You can read about it here.
So that there is my old one. The one below is my 'new' one. If this were a game of automotive Snap! I just kicked yo' ass.
I don't know why I bought it. I think because it was cheap, and because it was local. Plus, I have something of a perversion when it comes to old Rovers. And I love the 800 Vitesse, despite past experiences. The other thing, though, was the history. You often see the line "one elderly owner" in an advert, but usually that's nonsense. In this case, however, it wasn't. In fact, in the three minutes my T-plate Vitesse worked, I actually managed to get a pic of it next to this, my 'new' one. I knew where the car lived, I'd seen it on and off for a decade. That put me at ease.
When I got it, it was a bit forlorn, having been off the road for about a year. It was ripe to say the least. The interior was full of old man filth, the body was looking very sorry indeed and the engine bay was hanging. The latter wasn't helped by the failed header tank (a common problem on the Vitesse, as they crack where it curves around the offside turret), the shot rocker gaskets and the general filth.
I sorted all that though. I hit it hard with some Autoglym de-greaser (seriously, that stuff is incredible), I changed the rocker gaskets, fitted a Volvo header tank (well, I say fitted, it needs attaching), put in new plugs, leads, new coil pack, new battery and gave it a bit of a buff up. Noice.
Before:
After:
Also gave it a tidy up inside, fitted a racy steering wheel (haters gonna hate, but this sucker is being built for fast road applications) and a temporary gear knob (old one was literally sticky) and new gaiter leather.
Also gave it a scrub, which it seemed to enjoy. Comes up okay for a £475 snotter.
Then I had to tackle the big visual detractor, no not the hole in the bumper, though that is on the list. I am of course talking about the dead chrome. Step up a £3.99 roll from eBay...
Muuuuch better.
Then some thieving curse word bricked it with a rock and stole my brand new Falken rubber. Joy. But I got the last laugh, as Falken were kind enough to send me some more. So ner. Though I did have to buy a new window and fit it. No big deal. Just annoying.
And that's about all I've done to it. The car is now at Great Escape Cars in Redditch getting sorted for an MOT. The brakes were all completely shot (on disc was actually broken) so it has a completely new set of Mtec discs, pads and braided lines to go on. I snagged a set of lowering springs too, though I may knock half a coil off the fronts, these cars always seem to sit nose high. I have the Falken rubber to go on, but it won't be going on the Vitesse alloys. I have a set of Rota GTRs waiting in the wings for it. Rotas. On a Vitesse. World's gone mad.
Once that's all done, it's getting a new clutch, timing gear replacement and then it'll be back on the road, and that's when the real fun can start. The goal is to get 275bhp out of it. It might take months, it maight take years, it will probably involve an engine rebuild, but so be it. This is a long term project, so it's fine.
Thanks for reading!
Chris
So, this is the current big project. You'd think I would have learned my lesson, what with having this car's twin some ten years ago and being severely bitten by it. You can read about it here.
So that there is my old one. The one below is my 'new' one. If this were a game of automotive Snap! I just kicked yo' ass.
I don't know why I bought it. I think because it was cheap, and because it was local. Plus, I have something of a perversion when it comes to old Rovers. And I love the 800 Vitesse, despite past experiences. The other thing, though, was the history. You often see the line "one elderly owner" in an advert, but usually that's nonsense. In this case, however, it wasn't. In fact, in the three minutes my T-plate Vitesse worked, I actually managed to get a pic of it next to this, my 'new' one. I knew where the car lived, I'd seen it on and off for a decade. That put me at ease.
When I got it, it was a bit forlorn, having been off the road for about a year. It was ripe to say the least. The interior was full of old man filth, the body was looking very sorry indeed and the engine bay was hanging. The latter wasn't helped by the failed header tank (a common problem on the Vitesse, as they crack where it curves around the offside turret), the shot rocker gaskets and the general filth.
I sorted all that though. I hit it hard with some Autoglym de-greaser (seriously, that stuff is incredible), I changed the rocker gaskets, fitted a Volvo header tank (well, I say fitted, it needs attaching), put in new plugs, leads, new coil pack, new battery and gave it a bit of a buff up. Noice.
Before:
After:
Also gave it a tidy up inside, fitted a racy steering wheel (haters gonna hate, but this sucker is being built for fast road applications) and a temporary gear knob (old one was literally sticky) and new gaiter leather.
Also gave it a scrub, which it seemed to enjoy. Comes up okay for a £475 snotter.
Then I had to tackle the big visual detractor, no not the hole in the bumper, though that is on the list. I am of course talking about the dead chrome. Step up a £3.99 roll from eBay...
Muuuuch better.
Then some thieving curse word bricked it with a rock and stole my brand new Falken rubber. Joy. But I got the last laugh, as Falken were kind enough to send me some more. So ner. Though I did have to buy a new window and fit it. No big deal. Just annoying.
And that's about all I've done to it. The car is now at Great Escape Cars in Redditch getting sorted for an MOT. The brakes were all completely shot (on disc was actually broken) so it has a completely new set of Mtec discs, pads and braided lines to go on. I snagged a set of lowering springs too, though I may knock half a coil off the fronts, these cars always seem to sit nose high. I have the Falken rubber to go on, but it won't be going on the Vitesse alloys. I have a set of Rota GTRs waiting in the wings for it. Rotas. On a Vitesse. World's gone mad.
Once that's all done, it's getting a new clutch, timing gear replacement and then it'll be back on the road, and that's when the real fun can start. The goal is to get 275bhp out of it. It might take months, it maight take years, it will probably involve an engine rebuild, but so be it. This is a long term project, so it's fine.
Thanks for reading!
Chris
