Hi All, Bought this back in 2019, all original & had never been welded, until then! just the reg is kind of cool : OTT 202M.
So the first job was to remove the broken Auto BW35 gear box and replace it with an SD1 5spd LT77 manual version, I did the same conversion on my last P6 so almost identical process apart from this time I used a new SD1 clutch master cylinder which has the fluid reservoir built in.
Next was rust removal & welding in new metal, all 4 wings removed and all rust cut out & replaced with new metal, both front & rear complete suspension units removed, clean, painted & polybushed. it still has its original sills, minor rust repair on each end.
Engine next, was running but badly, carbs shot etc. started to remove NS exhaust manifold & snapped the bolt :-$ , so heads removed & one head bolt snapped flush with the block, so engine stripped down leaving just the pistons & crank, out it came & off to a local engineering company to have a full rebuild, rebore, new pistons, rings, all new bearings, polished crank, broken bolts removed, threads repaired. Block & heads skimmed. Once back I buit it back up, uprated timing chain/gears, uprated oil pump, Landrover engine mounts, all new gaskets, new water pump, new camshaft & lifters, rebuilt carbs ect. have covered about 3k miles now, I use Joe Gibbs hotrod oil which has high volume of the oil additive Zinc dithiophosphate (ZDDP), all old style V8 engines need as it provides anti-wear activity for the camshaft and lifters. Simply put, you shouldn’t use oil designed for modern engines in older style engines as your camshaft lobes will disappear, there are other makes which are very good, I use this as it is excellent quality & a £3k bill for the engine work I not taking any chances. All new braking system, new front calipers & rebuilt the rear ones, bit like a crypton factor task as over engineered but same time not as daunting as they first appeared.
So the latest addition are 7x15" American Racing Rims: Torq Thrust D's, pure filth! the tyres came off the SD1 alloys fitted (now for sale) but are a tad to big at 205/65/15 so will reduce to 195/65/15 rears & 185/65/15 fronts, am I right in saying that having 195/65 will also reduce the height of the tyre wall as this what I require to prevent the rears hitting the inner wing as they're too 'bulgy' (spot the burn marks on the OSR wing :-), I have modified the inner D-Posts and inner matching door skin so once the smaller tyres are fitted then it should give full clearance. Long term plans are to sort bodywork, repaint in possibly a medium metallic blue almost identical to the late 60's muscle cars from Dodge (Mopar) as found on Chargers, Challengers & Plymouths called B5 met blue or I might keep it almond ... hmmmm, new interior and at some point and funds permitting a new 5spd Tremec manual box, Holley carb, mild cam ect but as the wife keeps a very tight budget on me then it'll be a while, so for now its bits bobs & enjoy driving it! apologies for so many pics.
I seemed to have uploaded the pics in a random order & not 'progress order' lol, not sure how that has happened but I you hope can figure out the order they should have loaded in.
So the first job was to remove the broken Auto BW35 gear box and replace it with an SD1 5spd LT77 manual version, I did the same conversion on my last P6 so almost identical process apart from this time I used a new SD1 clutch master cylinder which has the fluid reservoir built in.
Next was rust removal & welding in new metal, all 4 wings removed and all rust cut out & replaced with new metal, both front & rear complete suspension units removed, clean, painted & polybushed. it still has its original sills, minor rust repair on each end.
Engine next, was running but badly, carbs shot etc. started to remove NS exhaust manifold & snapped the bolt :-$ , so heads removed & one head bolt snapped flush with the block, so engine stripped down leaving just the pistons & crank, out it came & off to a local engineering company to have a full rebuild, rebore, new pistons, rings, all new bearings, polished crank, broken bolts removed, threads repaired. Block & heads skimmed. Once back I buit it back up, uprated timing chain/gears, uprated oil pump, Landrover engine mounts, all new gaskets, new water pump, new camshaft & lifters, rebuilt carbs ect. have covered about 3k miles now, I use Joe Gibbs hotrod oil which has high volume of the oil additive Zinc dithiophosphate (ZDDP), all old style V8 engines need as it provides anti-wear activity for the camshaft and lifters. Simply put, you shouldn’t use oil designed for modern engines in older style engines as your camshaft lobes will disappear, there are other makes which are very good, I use this as it is excellent quality & a £3k bill for the engine work I not taking any chances. All new braking system, new front calipers & rebuilt the rear ones, bit like a crypton factor task as over engineered but same time not as daunting as they first appeared.
So the latest addition are 7x15" American Racing Rims: Torq Thrust D's, pure filth! the tyres came off the SD1 alloys fitted (now for sale) but are a tad to big at 205/65/15 so will reduce to 195/65/15 rears & 185/65/15 fronts, am I right in saying that having 195/65 will also reduce the height of the tyre wall as this what I require to prevent the rears hitting the inner wing as they're too 'bulgy' (spot the burn marks on the OSR wing :-), I have modified the inner D-Posts and inner matching door skin so once the smaller tyres are fitted then it should give full clearance. Long term plans are to sort bodywork, repaint in possibly a medium metallic blue almost identical to the late 60's muscle cars from Dodge (Mopar) as found on Chargers, Challengers & Plymouths called B5 met blue or I might keep it almond ... hmmmm, new interior and at some point and funds permitting a new 5spd Tremec manual box, Holley carb, mild cam ect but as the wife keeps a very tight budget on me then it'll be a while, so for now its bits bobs & enjoy driving it! apologies for so many pics.
I seemed to have uploaded the pics in a random order & not 'progress order' lol, not sure how that has happened but I you hope can figure out the order they should have loaded in.
