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I had a career change in July and as such didn’t require a car of my own anymore, I sold my 5 series and dropped down to the wife’s car. I have been looking for a ‘modern classic’ for quite a while, mainly looking at E34 & E36 Convertible BMW’s and MK3 Golf Gti’s. I wanted to buy something at the bottom of its price curve as I intend to have it a good few years, it would be nice to get ahead of the curve for once  . I was browsing Facebook marketplace idly last week and I spotted a car local to me and one that I’d had a conversation about a few months earlier with my dad about cars you don’t see anymore and where do I see them in a few years time. I fired a few messages off to the seller who was honest and open about the cars flaws and issues and arranged delivery for sometime this week, fingers crossed today. The car is perhaps not the engine I would have chose but in all honesty I have as much fun in smaller engines cars than I do big engined motors, I had a 216 gsi auto a few years ago and that seemed to fly for what it was. Engine capacity aside though it was a car I would have bought, I like the colour and I like the leather interior. So what have I ended up with? To me it comes across as an honest enough car, 75k quite a bit of S/H handbooks and receipts, dealer plates, 2keys and fobs but no MOT.....  It hasn’t got an MOT because the top radiator hose split and it’s been sat outside the guys workshop ever since, he had a couple of other rovers he was using and this just sat waiting it’s turn, realising that wasn’t happening anytime soon he decided to move it on. Theres laquer peel on the bonnet, a scab on the back arch and some bumper scuffs will need addressing at some point but it’s a 20 year old car and wasn’t expecting a miracle. My plans are to refresh it all and enjoy it, no doubt I’ll be picking your brains as I go along. Some of the sellers pics     |
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Cool car.
Was known as the 'Tom Cat' during development, and I remember lot's of people being disappointed when it was launched as a Rover and not a new MG at the time (before all the rebadging went on later).
Maybe an idea to create the MG that never was, by swapping thins around from the ZR \ ZS range?
How about a BRM Tom Cat? :-)
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Very very nice. Looks great in nightfire red. I am a big fan of 200’s. Either that r8 series or the bubble/25’s. K series is a great engine in any capacity.
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Hi Pistolpete.....that's a fine looking R8 tomcat. Well bought Sir!!
I remember them well. I worked for Rover cars at Longbridge for 20 years.
Ive had a few K series engine cars. The best advice I can offer is to remove the centre of the original coolant thermostat at the back of the engine and re-assemble. You can then fit a "PRV" thermostat (as used in K series Freelanders) This will then operate on the top hose and give proper circulation. I worked on the Engine test beds with these engines and know a lot about them. I did this mod to my 2004 MG ZT 1.8 Turbo a few years ago.....I really miss that car...I may have to find another one.
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Hi Pistolpete.....that's a fine looking R8 tomcat. Well bought Sir!! I remember them well. I worked for Rover cars at Longbridge for 20 years. Ive had a few K series engine cars. The best advice I can offer is to remove the centre of the original coolant thermostat at the back of the engine and re-assemble. You can then fit a "PRV" thermostat (as used in K series Freelanders) This will then operate on the top hose and give proper circulation. I worked on the Engine test beds with these engines and know a lot about them. I did this mod to my 2004 MG ZT 1.8 Turbo a few years ago.....I really miss that car...I may have to find another one. Thanks for the advice, I’m going to flush the coolant when I replace the top hose. Does this PRV thermostat fit in the original location or does it get placed elsewhere? This is my engine, I’m unsure what model number it is.  |
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Rover 216 Coupepeteh1969
@peteh1969
Club Retro Rides Member 107
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Jan 30, 2019 12:32:10 GMT
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You need one of these for your overalls.
Nice looking fun car and plenty you can do to make it even more fun.
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recarouk
Yorkshire and The Humber
Posts: 435 
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Jan 30, 2019 13:24:55 GMT
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looks a lovely example in fairness, the colour is gorgeous. one car i always wish i'd been fortunate enough to own. good luck with the refresh |
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Jan 30, 2019 17:56:58 GMT
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So I’ve had a mixed day today, the car finally got delivered which is great but it came at a bit of a cost.... The drivers side Targa decided to make a bid for freedom en route to me leaving me with a great gaping hole to fill, when I say I, I mean my ever patien, tolerant wife. She’s actually done a decent job and knew not to put parcel tape on the paint without a prompt  Credit to the seller he is sorting me a replacement out as we speak. We all know posts are boring without pictures so here’s how the car stands till I’m back on Sunday.   I tentatively asked her to put some brown tape onto the glass to keep it all in place which she ever so kindly did. |
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Jan 30, 2019 18:51:05 GMT
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Hi Buddy. The PRV thermostat goes at the front of the engine behind the radiator.there are 3 ports on it. One is connected to a Tee piece in the radiator top hose....the other 2 ports go between the radiator bottom hose and the steel return pipe that goes around the back of the engine.....to the rear of the water pump.
The original design places thermal shock stresses on the engine....by having the thermostat blocking the return flow into the engine. The PRV thermostat alleviates these symptoms by running in bypass mode circulating coolant around the engine until the coolant is fully warmed up and switched over allowing coolant to enter the radiator for cooling. I believe the Engineers at Land Rover came up with the design....it worked beautifully on my MG Zt 160 turbo for many thousands of miles.
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Jan 30, 2019 18:56:56 GMT
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Oh and another worthwhile mod is to replace your black plastic inlet manifold ( with the green o ring type gasket) with the Alloy inlet manifold from the MGF/TF VVC model. You then have a proper gasket mounting face against the cylinder head to prevent water ingress into the inlet tracts. I have done this on a few Rover 75 1.8 K series cars.
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mgmrw
Part of things
Posts: 701
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Jan 30, 2019 21:14:43 GMT
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Lovely buy, can't beat a Rover. And gotta love a k series.
At 75k it's had the head gasket done already, the standard ones rarely made 30k miles (ask me how I know).
To preserve the engine I always operated the following;
1. Oil change every 5k miles or 6 months
2. Never abuse it cold
3. Avoid short runs/poor heat cycling
4. When engine warm, beat it to death as often as possible
5. Coolant change 12-18 months
I put 30k a year on Rover's with k series engines in them from age 17 to 22.
Must've put 150k on two cars, 100 of which was on a single ZR.
Had a 220gti too. It got the same treatment as above.
Love them.
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Jan 30, 2019 21:25:47 GMT
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Looks great in that colour, rover did do a nice job with these they look smart
Door handles don’t match, maybe one snapped in the past.
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1994 BMW 525i touring
2004 BMW Z4 sorn and broken
1977 Ford Escort
1982 Ford Capri getting restored
1999 Mazda B2500 daily driver.
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Jan 30, 2019 22:35:12 GMT
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Nightfire red must be the best colour for these, such a good drive. I always thought the 2.0 turbo was the Tomcat, didnt realise it was a codename for the coupe. Not putting MG badges on these was a hugely missed oppertunity, it'd be nice to see this given the treatment.
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Looks great in that colour, rover did do a nice job with these they look smart Door handles don’t match, maybe one snapped in the past. Ha, good spot, it’s one of my first things to sort out. I’m hoping it’s a painted black handle rather than plastic, I believe there are two types of handle so I’ll be on the hunt for one once I’m back with the car. There are are none on eBay which leads me to think it’s a common fault. The passenger side handle has something I’ve not seen before, a blank instead of a key slot  |
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Nightfire red must be the best colour for these, such a good drive. I always thought the 2.0 turbo was the Tomcat, didnt realise it was a codename for the coupe. Not putting MG badges on these was a hugely missed oppertunity, it'd be nice to see this given the treatment. I quite like the fact it’s a rover, to me all the later mg’s (TF/ZR/ZS/ZT) all carry the same look which the coupe doesn’t fit into. |
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Nightfire red must be the best colour for these, such a good drive. I always thought the 2.0 turbo was the Tomcat, didnt realise it was a codename for the coupe. Not putting MG badges on these was a hugely missed oppertunity, it'd be nice to see this given the treatment. I quite like the fact it’s a rover, to me all the later mg’s (TF/ZR/ZS/ZT) all carry the same look which the coupe doesn’t fit into. I agree. |
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Jan 31, 2019 10:58:30 GMT
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Yes do the prv at the front of engine. If you have to do a head gasket get the Uprated gasket.
I trained as a mechanic at a Austin rover dealer in the later 80’s
Had loads of rovers over the years last one was a rover 420 turbo
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mgmrw
Part of things
Posts: 701
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Jan 31, 2019 23:16:52 GMT
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Key blanks were common on R8s
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Jan 31, 2019 23:41:54 GMT
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Nightfire red must be the best colour for these, such a good drive. I always thought the 2.0 turbo was the Tomcat, didnt realise it was a codename for the coupe. Not putting MG badges on these was a hugely missed oppertunity, it'd be nice to see this given the treatment. I quite like the fact it’s a rover, to me all the later mg’s (TF/ZR/ZS/ZT) all carry the same look which the coupe doesn’t fit into. Very ture, i hadnt really though about it like that. I was looking at these earlier and stumbled across this, I don't know what it is because the site is in french, but i think it might be an early prototype.  |
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Looks like you bought a nice car .. and a great choice of car too .
I have a 216 auto coupe and would hate to get rid of it . It never fails to put a smile on my face .
Nice ones that are not messed around with are getting rare too.
Enjoy !
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