The Only R8 in the village

1

1234dist

New Member
I class myself as a collector and restorer.
My passion is of the R8 variety and i tend to aim for the more rare versions, just to make sure there will always be at leased one of these cars kept for prosperity.

Each of my cars gets a build thread when i start so people can see the full transition my cars go through.

Hope you enjoy.

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RoverSport 220 GTI m-series
http://projectaep220.blogspot.co.uk
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Rover 220 Coupe Turbo FDH
http://projectfdh.blogspot.co.uk
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Modified Rover 220 Coupe Turbo
http://projectsyl.blogspot.co.uk
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Rover 420 GSI Turbo Restoration Project
http://project420gsit.blogspot.co.uk
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Rover 216 Cabriolet
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Rover 220 Coupe Turbo FDH
http://projectnfr.blogspot.co.uk

i regularly offer fix it days in my unit based in Hazel Grove, Stockport http://roverrevival.blogspot.co.uk where we tackle more of the tougher jobs that take a few people to sort.

Here's one of my older cars i did a restoration on a 1968 midget
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I'm especially fond of M series engined R8's. Turns them into proper Rovers!

My Dad had a 218SLD with leather etc as a retirement car after many P6's. It fitted the spec extremely well. Actually regret selling that one after his death.

Chris
 
I have had many experiences with A,B, K, L, M and T-series engines.

i must admit i'm more of a fan of the blown t-series than a nasp m but the engine is definitely a nicer looking engine then k or t series.

Mine desn't look like this anymore as i restored the original air box but you get the point
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One of the best cars Rover ever built.

I get fed up with people commenting on the headgasket failure. Known problems aside owner neglect is the biggest cause. Over 3 million engines built. It would be interesting to see real figures comparing failures of the K-series against the old A-series. I doubt it would be significantly worse. Really it is a victim of it's own success people just jump in and drive without ever checking oil or water.

Colin
 
In all fairness based on my own experiences, the "Original" gasket supplied with the car from new was the problem.
As soon as you swap that out for MLS or Klinger you should be right for 80K easily the originals are good for 45-60k which is why most people found they failed early.

Anyone who "used" their car and maintained it every weekend will be able to spot the tell tail signs but i have heard of a car on its original gasket at 187k
 
I fondly remember a 414SLi I had from new in 1990...lovely car.

When I traded it in against a 416 hatch 4 years later, I couldn't help thinking I'd made a mistake.
 
Do blown R8's get T series then - I had the idea they were all M's?

We're doing a bit of digging on the origins of that M16. It is just possible that it may be a migration of the cylinder head design from the abortive Solihull P10 DOHC16 2.2ltr slant four across to Longbridge where it met an O series on a dark night. That would make the M16 a proper Rover engine as distinct from a rebadged Austin. The P10 was the replacement for P6 that was later cost engineered down from being a Rover to being an SD1 (and fitted with Triumph engines!).

We're enquiring as to how Dave Wall, the designer of that engine, is now, so if anybody's heard from him recently we'd like to get in touch.

Chris
 
I'm not aware of any m-series turbo's in the R8 and the 220gti only had it for two years, thats not to say people didn't do a conversion.
 
I get fed up with people commenting on the headgasket failure
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Sorry Arthuy ,didn't mean to annoy anyone. I had 2 Rover 214SI's new in 1990 and 1993 and both did 70K +miles without HG failure
I believe Rover used a plastic dowel to locate the head which proved unsatisfactory?
 
admittedly rimmerbros do sell them as copper items now but in all fairness, plastic is enough, obviously not if your going to throw the head on to try and locate it as it will crush and disfigure but its only a guide hole to make sure you put it in the right place.
 
Dave, i didnt take offense at anything on this forum. I meant the general public and know it all types.
The cars have lots great things like performance and economy that would shame plenty cars 20 years newer. But first thing people want to say is k series hgf:-(

Colin
 
Thanks for the welcome v8guy,

Regarding the k i must admit the HGF is not my reason for not liking the k its the faf required just to bleed the engine and for something that requires the cooling to be perfect its like popping a balloon before you even blow it up.

Doesn't stop me having 3 though, i have a 1.6 in a zr and the cabby and a 1.8 turbo in one of my 75's but everything else is a t-series bar the one m-series
 
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