Mick Rae
Active Member
Hi there,
My names Mick, and I live in East Lothian, Scotland. I've been an MGB person for a long time, but recently decided I'd had enough (could be an age thing!), and at about the same time a lovely Rover P6 2200sc in Mexico Brown came up for sale.
It was a car known to a friend who runs a restoration business, and he happened to show me it on the ramp a year or two back - we marvelled at how clean it was underneath, how untouched and original. He also happened to say he had been working with the car for some years, and that the structure under the panels was very solid, no welding done or required - unusual in his experience. I said I'd love such a car that was all original - but of course it wasn't for sale. It had less than 40K miles on the clock, and clearly was the owners pride and joy who has obviously cared for the car extremely well, clearly a labour of love. Fast forward a couple of years, and it was for sale, and I could not help myself. I am no mechanic by a long chalk, and so apologise in advance for any daft questions (many daft questions), but I like to have a go, could cope with the work MG's need, so looking forward to the Rover - seems very well built.
So, a basic first question. Oil pressure. Seems a little low to me,, well as compared to what I read online - cruising and idle sit around 40/45 psi on gauge. Pulls well, could sit at 65mph all day, and can go faster (but I am never in a rush). No knocks, no rumbles when cold, runs very smooth, warning light goes out upon engine start up and does not come back on - and with only 40K (just turned) on clock (backed up by service history) seems a bit early for bearings. Is it possible the gauge or even the sender unit could be at fault? I am likely going to live with it in a 'not broken, don't fiddle about' style, I just wondered if there was any worth swapping out the sender first. My restorer friend who knows the car reckoned it has been like this a long time, and as someone with a lot of experience of old UK engines, he just shrugged and said there was nothing to worry about, in his opinion its running as it should, and that he would believe the engine sound and performance over a gauge that may or may not be accurate. I know he is very expert in such matters and I am not, hence my wondering about the accuracy of gauges and senders. Sorry, I am guessing that the experts here get sick of answering such a basic question.
Meantime, I am in the process of a deep clean inside, a full service, all door to window rubbers getting replaced, rear deck seal to get replaced and various other wee jobs that can make all the difference. Its only been 4 days into ownership, and already I know I made a good move - such a beautifully designed and built car, better than anything I have ever owned.
I'll post a picture once I figure out how to make the magic come from phone to laptop.
all the best
Mick
My names Mick, and I live in East Lothian, Scotland. I've been an MGB person for a long time, but recently decided I'd had enough (could be an age thing!), and at about the same time a lovely Rover P6 2200sc in Mexico Brown came up for sale.
It was a car known to a friend who runs a restoration business, and he happened to show me it on the ramp a year or two back - we marvelled at how clean it was underneath, how untouched and original. He also happened to say he had been working with the car for some years, and that the structure under the panels was very solid, no welding done or required - unusual in his experience. I said I'd love such a car that was all original - but of course it wasn't for sale. It had less than 40K miles on the clock, and clearly was the owners pride and joy who has obviously cared for the car extremely well, clearly a labour of love. Fast forward a couple of years, and it was for sale, and I could not help myself. I am no mechanic by a long chalk, and so apologise in advance for any daft questions (many daft questions), but I like to have a go, could cope with the work MG's need, so looking forward to the Rover - seems very well built.
So, a basic first question. Oil pressure. Seems a little low to me,, well as compared to what I read online - cruising and idle sit around 40/45 psi on gauge. Pulls well, could sit at 65mph all day, and can go faster (but I am never in a rush). No knocks, no rumbles when cold, runs very smooth, warning light goes out upon engine start up and does not come back on - and with only 40K (just turned) on clock (backed up by service history) seems a bit early for bearings. Is it possible the gauge or even the sender unit could be at fault? I am likely going to live with it in a 'not broken, don't fiddle about' style, I just wondered if there was any worth swapping out the sender first. My restorer friend who knows the car reckoned it has been like this a long time, and as someone with a lot of experience of old UK engines, he just shrugged and said there was nothing to worry about, in his opinion its running as it should, and that he would believe the engine sound and performance over a gauge that may or may not be accurate. I know he is very expert in such matters and I am not, hence my wondering about the accuracy of gauges and senders. Sorry, I am guessing that the experts here get sick of answering such a basic question.
Meantime, I am in the process of a deep clean inside, a full service, all door to window rubbers getting replaced, rear deck seal to get replaced and various other wee jobs that can make all the difference. Its only been 4 days into ownership, and already I know I made a good move - such a beautifully designed and built car, better than anything I have ever owned.
I'll post a picture once I figure out how to make the magic come from phone to laptop.
all the best
Mick