call me names!

[DaveHerns]

Or just get a modern car ..............
What about repanelling a modern car to make it look like a P6 , a bit like the Nitsuoaka (?) Mk 2 Jag replicas on Nissan Micra running gear

That raises a question - what old P6 qualities would you transfer to modern running gear - I'd go for the smell and the sound of the doors closing

 

[testrider]

what old P6 qualities would you transfer to modern running gear - I'd go for the smell and the sound of the doors closing

Seconded! Closing the doors gently with that nice click of the latch is so civilised. I'd probably go one further and say transfer the door handles and push buttons too.

I don't name any of our cars other than the Rover, the Volvo and the Mazda. My parents had a Mini when I was a kid that was called Oscar though. Having a name seemed to make the journeys more fun some how.

 

[neilc]

All cars should have the P6 indicator switch/stalk - it is just so satisfying to use - light but with firm feel as it locks into place - and it corrects properly! Nothing quite like it!

 

[sdibbers]

My '68 @000TC is called Rolly. He's a he, just seems too male to be a she. The OH name him when she first saw him and it stuck. My everyday car is a '97 Saab 900 called Sid (After the Saab Information Display, stupid I know) or 'The Black Shadow" Again the OH. mainly because it's black with blacked out windows (No, not my choice either, but it helps with the summers here and came so equipped). Looks a bit like I should be selling drugs from it.

 

[DaveHerns]

What about the boot that closes with a gentle push and refuses to be slammed ? So dignified

 

[EccentricRichard]

What about the boot that closes with a gentle push and refuses to be slammed ? So dignified

Hah! My dad's 3500S had the most bloody-minded bootlid in Cardom... it generally took about five enormous slams to get it to close at all, would sometimes jam about two inches from closed, and this even with the hinges and lock mechanism in good order.

 

[EccentricRichard]

I'm starting to think that you should try some cars out as they come and see what you think, before you modify (in a virtual and fictional way) every standard example left :wink:

Oh, absolutely! I'm not blind to the qualities of a stock car... by which of course I mean one in original condition, not a stock-car racer! Now, I personally see no reason not to convert a V8 P6 to the 5spd manual box (be it T5, R380, LT77 or the Toyota box), and I can't think why you'd keep the SU carbs either, but each to their own. It'd be a pity not to have anything left to remind us just how bloody unreliable and high-maintenance cars used to be

 

[Demetris]

I'm starting to think that you should try some cars out as they come and see what you think, before you modify (in a virtual and fictional way) every standard example left :wink:

I can't think why you'd keep the SU carbs either, but each to their own. It'd be a pity not to have anything left to remind us just how bloody unreliable and high-maintenance cars used to be

Unrealiable? High maintenance? The SU carbs?

Perhaps in your mind. But in reality, hardly.

Sorry to sound austere, but perhaps you should not speak without some sort of personal experience.

While everyone is free to vent its spleen on subjects of personal taste, when someone asks a question about how to fix this or adjust that, those who know, because they had personal involvement in the past and undestand how things work, will type here the answer.
In this way, we all benefit. It is called the learning procedure.

 

[quattro]

What about the boot that closes with a gentle push and refuses to be slammed ? So dignified

Hah! My dad's 3500S had the most bloody-minded bootlid in Cardom... it generally took about five enormous slams to get it to close at all, would sometimes jam about two inches from closed, and this even with the hinges and lock mechanism in good order.

It is almost impossible to slam a P6 boot becasue of the design of it. All you achieve by slamming it, is repturing the rear speaker if one is fitted.

Just push it down and click it into place by light pressure on the top of the numberplate surround.

 

[SydneyRoverP6B]

EccentricRichard wrote,...

I can't think why you'd keep the SU carbs either, but each to their own.

A Rover V8 running with twin SU carburettors which have been set up properly will always idle better than the same engine running a fuel injection system, and deliver close to and maybe even better fuel economy.
Once set the carburettors need very little maintenance, put a new seal kit through them every 100,000 miles or so and away you go again for another 100,000 miles.

Given a choice I would always run SU carburettors over any alternative. My 4.6 runs with them and returns over 30mpg, all with the three speed BW automatic too.!!

Ron.

 

[EccentricRichard]

I'm starting to think that you should try some cars out as they come and see what you think, before you modify (in a virtual and fictional way) every standard example left :wink:

I can't think why you'd keep the SU carbs either, but each to their own. It'd be a pity not to have anything left to remind us just how bloody unreliable and high-maintenance cars used to be

Unrealiable? High maintenance? The SU carbs?

Perhaps in your mind. But in reality, hardly.

Sorry to sound austere, but perhaps you should not speak without some sort of personal experience.

While everyone is free to vent its spleen on subjects of personal taste, when someone asks a question about how to fix this or adjust that, those who know, because they had personal involvement in the past and undestand how things work, will type here the answer.
In this way, we all benefit. It is called the learning procedure.

Dad's twin SUs were the very bugger to keep in tune together... I once met a bloke with a Jag XJ12 and SIX SUs under the bonnet. He freely admitted to being a masochist at heart...

 

[EccentricRichard]

What about the boot that closes with a gentle push and refuses to be slammed ? So dignified

Hah! My dad's 3500S had the most bloody-minded bootlid in Cardom... it generally took about five enormous slams to get it to close at all, would sometimes jam about two inches from closed, and this even with the hinges and lock mechanism in good order.

It is almost impossible to slam a P6 boot becasue of the design of it. All you achieve by slamming it, is repturing the rear speaker if one is fitted.

Just push it down and click it into place by light pressure on the top of the numberplate surround.

If only... Dad's refused to respond to that treatment. Only repeated slams would get it to close...

 

[EccentricRichard]

EccentricRichard wrote,...

I can't think why you'd keep the SU carbs either, but each to their own.

A Rover V8 running with twin SU carburettors which have been set up properly will always idle better than the same engine running a fuel injection system, and deliver close to and maybe even better fuel economy.
Once set the carburettors need very little maintenance, put a new seal kit through them every 100,000 miles or so and away you go again for another 100,000 miles.

Given a choice I would always run SU carburettors over any alternative. My 4.6 runs with them and returns over 30mpg, all with the three speed BW automatic too.!!

Ron.

Why will properly set-up SUs always make the engine idle better? Also, compared with modern fuel injection, there isn't even the slightest comparison fuel economy-wise. I know the RV8 never had terribly sophisticated EFI, but still... my dad's 3500S was always needing retuning of the carbs, one was always going out, you'd be lucky to get 10000 miles before they were right out of tune again.

 

[The Rovering Member]

In that case it could be argued that your dad's P6 had carburetter, not to mention boot locking issues that weren't fully addressed in the time that he owned the car.

 

[sowen]

Maybe we should get Adam and Jamie from Mythbusters to test the myth that SU's are unreliable and require constant adjustment

For reliability my v8 land rover will be going back to standard SU's soon, though that has a lot to do with the fuel injection not working particularly well submerged in claggy mud. When the bottom end eventually gets sorted it will be booked into the local rolling road to get properly set-up.

 

[GrimV8]

I'm starting to think that all the Rovers I've owned (many over the years) and the many different ones I've serviced for customers, from P5Bs up to SD1s and triple/twin SU carbed Jaguars too, have all had the weird habit of staying in respectable state tune from one service to the next :shock:
Maybe a lack of professional maintenance could be the key on the cars that have issues? Who knows
Can't think of another carb that was so widely used over so many applications in normal, turbo or super charged form to my knowledge :?

Noone ever complained about the economy of a Moggy 1000 did they?

I check the tune and balance of my TC carbs yearly and barely do more than clean them :wink:

If my boot lid starts to need slamming, I'll be fixing it smartish so that I don't do any damage :|

 

[DaveHerns]

Sometimes you have to rely on your own experiences rather than what your father did/has .
Especially when your father's experiences aren't shared by many other people .Then you need to ask yourself why ...............

 

[Demetris]

Dad's twin SUs were the very bugger to keep in tune together... I once met a bloke with a Jag XJ12 and SIX SUs under the bonnet. He freely admitted to being a masochist at heart...

It is really very simple. You just have to think reasonably and ask yourself some questions.
When does a carb goes off-tune? As you understand it is not a matter of it feeling bad. It is a matter of a screw or nut somewhere going slack. That simple.
If the last time you tune them make sure everything is nice and tight, then they will continue to be so. Even in a shaky engine like the TC.
Also there is no way you are going to tune successfully worn out neglected carbs.
So, everything is simple as that.
While in fuel injection when something goes wrong you are after sensors, cables, connectors etc...

 

[Phil Robson]

Hazel has a name I've always liked, but Karen my wife wasn't keen on calling our daughter it 19 years ago! Being (glorious) tobacco leaf sealed the deal, giving me the opportunity I needed!

BTW Hazel is a 'she' which seems to fly on the face of fashion on here...

 

[arthuy]

Bradd is the latest addition to the fleet. The name comes From the registration number B RDD. Sort of suit the 80's image of a fully loaded Vitesse. A bit brash and mouthy.

That looks fantastic! Isn't that a Twin Plenum? I don't think the ordinary Vitesse got that big chin spoiler... I rather fancy a big TVR V8 (or maybe the Corvette unit, or the Jaguar 5-litre) in one of those, possibly coupled with some kind of all-independent rear.

Twin Plenums were rare with only a few hundred made. They are sought after but in my opinion a bit of a waste as you have to be flying road a track to get the true benefits. Early Vitesse had standard spoiler and graphics later ones all had the deep chin spoiler. Bradd is a standard Vitesse.

Did this thread go off topic? thought it was for names of our cars?

Colin