Recent content by Keith Coman

Just thought I'd share a few reflections on overhauling rear calipers on a '69 TC - first-time job for me. 1. Original problem symptoms were a weak handbrake and binding brakes. The car was effectively undrivable. 2. Take plenty of photographs and notes. They're better reference-check than...

A NZ Rover club newsletter article this month reminded members of an inherent fire risk posed by the fuse box fitted to Series 2 P6's. This item is located in the glove box. It was claimed that loose fuse holders can generate heat which can be capable of melting the fuse box's flimsy light...

Pierre and Wadhams both give excellent off-the-shelf service. Pierre is self-employed and so provides a neat personal touch and is an all-round great guy to do business with. Wadhams is very professional and provides easy-as on-line shopping. If you're outside the UK, expect eye-watering...

Removal of both as a complete unit is my preferred option. Drilling out the spotwelds on the bonnet catch plate (a time-saving workshop tactic for getting engines out of first generation monocoques back in the day) makes the job a doddle.

Hi 1. Yes - it is possible to do the job in-situ. However it is anything but easy. The principle challenge is getting the car high enough off the ground to pull the gearbox in and out - that unit is *heavy*. Fine if you have a hoist and gearbox jack, but a challenge otherwise. Not...

Bush mechanic suggestion: Dunk the assembly in boiling water prior to drifting out the old bushes; likewise when installing the new ones.

HarveyP6 is on the money. I've found that once the basic timing and ignition are spot on, it becomes a case of faffing around with the carbs to get smooth running. In my experience TC carbs are incredibly sensitive to even small adjustments to both idling and mixture as well as the lost-motion...

If ever you have the head off it's worth giving serious consideration to replacing the valve seats as a preventative upgrade. Apart from no-lead considerations, if the unit has done a relatively stiff mileage there's a plausible risk of a valve seat dropping. A good way to check if a seat is...

I've never considered torquing these items and AFIK the workshop manual supplies no data. I just crack each one up with whatever spanner and socket will reach. Subsequent problems? None.

All is not lost, hoick out one of the munted ones and take it along to a good engineering supply outlet for a replacement with matching threads. There are even some nifty plugs on the market with sight glasses in their bosses.

Yep - prime the carby if the car's been standing for a while, should then fire on two key turns. Agreed with the above poster, P4's are amazing. Even if left for 3 months, my 90 will start on the button. I once saw a P4 that probably hadn't turned since Harold Wilson shuffled off in carpet...

Last Night of the Proms Retro Micrometer - quaint.

Awesome work! Thanks for posting. All of the best for your resto efforts in 2013. :D

A sample measurement exercise revealed that shim diameters sat within the range 12.55mm to 12.65mm. Happy medium = half inch. FI: In my shim collection are a number of items that do not come even close in height to those specified for Rover shims [although their diameters are common], so it's...

Hi Steve, What oil do you use yourself? I've used 20w50 multigrade for years in my SU's with no trouble. I should also add that all my motoring has been in fairly "tropical" conditions where the year-round temperature does not dip into single figures Centigrade too often, so presumably a...