Re: P6 project: BW35 to LT77 manual box swap: the verdict

[DamianZ28]

Got this for £550 In May this yr, good solid car, ran until end of Aug, now in the middle of top end rebuild,, it was pretty worn out, several cam lobes were almost rounded! New bits are cam shaft, uprated oil pump, new timing chain with metal upgraded sprockets, new rocker shafts/ arms, lifters, push rods, inner/outter valve springs.
Has had inner/outta sills repaired to a high standard, I reckon all four inner wings will need some attention, floor pans are very good, body panels are tired but usuable, will need two rear doors though. My aim is to do a sort of rolling resto with a few mods, I am a Hot Rod/ american muscle car fan New paint will be Red with tan leather, wheels will be Cragar 500 eliminators, pics to follow.
Body work will be left standard, badges removed & may move the rear number plate to below the bumper.
Suspention will be removed and rebuilt as I progress!

Love the last pic, so much better with those alloy rims and stunning straight paint but yet retains its classic British heritage, Damian

 

[sdibbers]

Re: P6 V8, £550 runner!!

Wow! Result with the car there! And how in gods name did anyone drive it with that as a camshaft? I doubt it could've pulled the skin off a rice pudding like that.

 

[FrazzleTC]

Re: P6 V8, £550 runner!!

That looks like you've got a nice tidy car there! What are you going to do with the car's existing interior?

 

[NickDunning]

Re: P6 V8, £550 runner!!

Nice one!
That is a comedy cam, Mr. Pilkie's 2000 would have taken that out in a straight line dash

 

[DamianZ28]

Re: P6 V8, £550 runner!!

That looks like you've got a nice tidy car there! What are you going to do with the car's existing interior?

Hi Frazzel, Its in very good condition with no rips or tears, just needs good clean, feeding & re-coloring.

Yeah I got quite a shock when I removed the cam, I reckon it must have had a lack of oil changes & possibley have been running modern oil without the correct Zinc Minerals perhaps? but there again its nearly 40yrs old, all the parts were worn, the lifters were nicely dished, timing chain stretched, rocker shafts & arms all worn! Should make a huge difference!
Once its all run-in I have a new Mallory Electronics Disty with uprated coil to fit, bargin off Ebay, brand new never used!
Also at a later stage fit Edelbrock manifold & Holly 390 four barrel card with 14" K & N pancake filter

 

[DamianZ28]

Re: P6 V8, £550 runner!!

Apologies for my slightly large photos, I will try to upload smaller images, I used the last option from my photobucket folder, maybe try 'IMg' image thingy or change the settings on my camara, any thoughts guys?

Thanks Damo

 

[testrider]

Re: P6 V8, £550 runner!!

Good luck with your project, it helps to start with a decent car though. I like the car in your inspiration pic do you know anymore about it?

It's funny how changing the cam results in the engine being almost completely stripped to the bare block, I had to do mine last year. You might as well have the sump off and clean it out whilst you have it in bits too.

Also if you need to do any work on the brake master cylinder it's a hell of a lot easier with out the cylinder head in the way!

 

[corazon]

Re: P6 V8, £550 runner!!

I second that, many a time have i perused the tiny pics of that orange p6 on Rudiger's site
Got anymore photos?
I was planning the rear numberplate drop at some point too, looks really good.
Look forward to seeing your project unfold!
Jim

 

[DaveHerns]

Re: P6 V8, £550 runner!!

What did you use to get the alloy engine components so clean,esp the rocker gear ?

 

[KiwiRover]

Re: P6 V8, £550 runner!!

What did you use to get the alloy engine components so clean,esp the rocker gear ?

Money. They're new, says so in the first post.

 

[sowen]

Re: P6 V8, £550 runner!!

Apologies for my slightly large photos, I will try to upload smaller images, I used the last option from my photobucket folder, maybe try 'IMg' image thingy or change the settings on my camara, any thoughts guys?

Thanks Damo

You can click on edit in photobucket above the thumbnail of your photos and change the size of the pictures, and you can pre-select the size of the pictures before you upload them (can't remember how to do that as I set it up a long time ago). All my pictures are 800x600 which only need a little scrolling to see the far right of the pictures (on my computer anyway) on this forum. I think it's a limitation with the forum software which Richard (webmaster) has tried to improve.

Anyway, cool project

Has it got a pressed metal black & silver plate on the back and seperate raised letter white plate on the front or are the photos taken during the change over?

 

[DamianZ28]

Re: P6 V8, £550 runner!!

Hi Guys, Thanks for the nice comments!

LOL, yeah all the rocker arms /shafts are new, sump/baffle plate & oil pick up has been removed, cleaned & new gasgets.

Simon, your P6 is awsome, thats some engineering you've out into it! Yeah mine has the black plates all round!
Heres the Cragar Alloys I have on order, there 7x15" the 5 on 5 stud pattern is the same as Buicks apparently! Cant wait to receive them!

Jim, here some more pics of the Aussie P6, I just love it, very similar to how I want mine to look, not so low as this but with the red paint & alloys! 8)

This is my old P6 from 2007, it still lives in Somerton! nice alloys, I think 15" rims really improve the look on Rover P6's.

 

[ghce]

Re: P6 V8, £550 runner!!

Even with out the Mags that colour is superb against the sundym glass, I think you have converted me on my choice of colours for the future.

Graeme

 

[webmaster]

Re: P6 V8, £550 runner!!

I'm a big fan of the smoothed rear end, number plate under the bumper. Mind you I would say that, here's mine back around the turn of the century...

I also did a couple of photoshop mods on the ausie car a while back, when planning my coupe conversion.

 

[EccentricRichard]

Re: P6 V8, £550 runner!!

Wow! Love those Cragar wheels... probably better painted silver than chrome-plated, mind. A bit bling. What performance upgrades have you got planned?

 

[DaveHerns]

Re: P6 V8, £550 runner!!

One of Sowen's front spoilers would really finish the aussie car off a treat.

 

[sowen]

Re: P6 V8, £550 runner!!

I like the cragar's 8) . I guess you're going to have to get the old angle grinder out to fit them, unless they've sold you a set with a really girly offset (I've got a thing for deep dishy wheels )

That aussie customised p6 must be either sat on the bumpstops or have some pretty serious work done underneath to get it to that ride height. The front hockey sticks will be extremely close to the tread on the tyres there :shock: , cool either way.

 

[quattro]

Re: P6 V8, £550 runner!!

That Aussi car is very nice indeed.

I would love to have a good look at the rear axle to see what he's done to get it to sit like that on those wheels.

Do you know what colour it is?

Richard

 

[SydneyRoverP6B]

Re: P6 V8, £550 runner!!

Hello Damian,

Your Rover looks nice.. How many miles is on the clock if you don't mind me asking?

I have never seen the copper coloured Australian Rover during my travels when I have been in Victoria, but then that is not surprising given the size of the place. The Rover carries Victorian number plates which by there appearance are from the 1970s. Each state and territory within Australia has their own state or territory government traffic authority that issues number plates etc, so a person's address will determine the plates that appear on the car.

Ron.

 

[DamianZ28]

Re: P6 V8, £550 runner!!

Hi Guys,

Ron , its showing 73000 miles on the clock but that could be 173000 judgeing the state of the cam shaft or lack of it

Rich, dont worry the Cragars will not be chrome, the finish will be polished alloy, I agree chrome is too 'blingy' , I think the offset is 99mm & yeah I'm like you Simon. I love deep dish wheels! Moders alloys just dont look right with there flat surface no rim finish!! ok on modern sports car but not on muscle car classic's! Ok rant over.

Yep the trusty grinder with 1mm cutting disc will be put into action for the inner rear D-posts, I saw your modification Simon, was it a 'PIA' or fairly straight forward, I wont be lowering the rear suspension , I will lower the front a little, will try your trick of usuing rear springs as 1" is enough to acheive the look I'm after..

Right just need a couple months of work & lock myself in my garage if only LOL..busy job, too many house DIY stuff thing & young children!! even the cat harrasses me :cry: