Breathing some life back into my 420 Turbo (Lots of pics)

[agw_01]

NB: If you're going to post telling me how much you hate my car or to say that I should get rid of it, stop right now. You're wasting your breath. These posts are just a duplicate from another forum but I decided to post it here as I know there are a couple of people here who'll appreciate it. It's no skin off my nose if I get this thread deleted. You may think I've got my head in the clouds but I like my car I don't see any problems with what I'm doing. Don't like it, click the back button

I've been putting this thread off for quite some time now but seeing as how I'm making some decent progress and have found the enthusiasm to get it sorted, thought it might turn out to be quite an interesting read.

Ok, for those that don't know my 420 Turbo has been off the road since September last year. A combination of a leaky power steering pump, minging engine bay, patchy bodywork and an urge to dabble with aftermarket management were at the top of the list... and then with me buying a 216 Coupe for next to nothing had a perfect runaround while the 420 was off the road.

The plan was to work on the car over the next few months to hopefully have it ready for the Summer.

Here's how she stood in May 2009.

So, after sorting the Coupe I started working on the 420. Tbh, I did very little before Christmas and am now kicking myself as it's put me quite far behind schedule. All I did was remove and strip the inlet, exhaust and auxiliary pumps... and then proceeded to remove a few more pipes and brackets for the red 420 Turbo which replaced the Coupe as a runaround.

The weather then took a turn for the worse and my free time was spent ironing out any niggles on the other car, but once they were all sorted and with the weather improving, I started getting stuck in.

In the last month or so I single-handedly removed the head and gearbox (that was fun!) and the dashboard also found its way into the garage.

I borrowed an engine crane and with the help of a few mates, had the car looking like this...

Stripped the engine down a bit more and stood back... hmmm, it could do with a lick of paint.

 

[agw_01]

So I moved the engine, front subframe and a few other brackety things into the back garden where I attacked them with some Gunk and a pressure washer, followed by a few coats of Hammerite. This was done over the course of a week.

The front engine mount was showing signs of splitting (caused by worn rubber engine stabilisers - mine have been replaced by poly bushes so I shouldn't have to worry about such problems in future)

It wasn't split all of the way through, so I repaired it. With the stronger stabilisers mentioned above, it should hold out.

I gave the engine bay some similar treatment... a good dose of Gunk, hosed down with a pressure washer followed by some green Hammerite.

I then refitted the front subframe... starting to feel like I'm getting somewhere now!

Turning my attention to the head, I started stripping it down. Not looking too bad for 140k. I guess having run it solidly on V-Power while in my ownership has helped to stop any severe carbon build up. The bottom end is also in excellent condition, still with visible honing marks.

First step is to remove the cam carriers...

It's then a case of removing the tappets, compressing the valve springs and removing the valves...

The valve stem seals were removed as well

The components from each port were bagged individually. I then set about grinding the valves in to ensure a good seal. The head is going to be fully rebuilt with new stem and cam seals, exhaust ports will be enlarged to match the gasket and it'll all be topped off with Piper 270 cams. I'm also trying to get hold of some vernier pulleys to dial them in properly but not having much luck at the moment.

 

[agw_01]

The gearbox is also getting some attention. I rebuilt it about 15 months ago with steel caged bearings and using the stronger but less effective TorSen Type B LSD. Whilst it was on the car it developed a noisy bearing, so the box was stripped and the noisy bearing identified. I'm going to replace the bearing and swap the LSD with the weaker but quite frankly awesome Type A TorSen. I'd find it quite hard for even the most die-hard of Rover haters to keep a straight face with that thing working its magic!

All gears and synchros still appear to be in good condition.

Most people with modified engines will agree, it's a good idea to keep an eye on things. I had 5 gauges before I took it off the road, 3 in the centre heater vents and 2 in the lower dash pocket. There were also 3 different brands/styles so I decided to replace the boost and volt gauges to match the others. I also wanted to relocate the now matching boost and AFR gauges.

Obviously it's not finished yet... going to dig out the fibreglass when I get some time.

As well as this, I got hold of another centre console and attempted to tidy up my centre gauge mount.

I previously had the oil temp sensor placed in the sump plug but with it being in the path of airflow across the bottom of the engine, caused the gauge to drop right off when on the move... this made it impossible to get any idea on the temperature of the oil. Due to this, the sump was removed. I'm going to get a nut welded to the inside of the sump, allowing the sensor to be placed out of direct airflow and deeper into the sump.

I also took the opportunity to attack the sump with Gunk. It'll be sanded down and given a few coats of Hammerite once it returns from being welded.

I'll finish up by giving a few sneak peaks of some of the tasty kit I've been collecting over the past few months...

Megasquirt MS-II ECU which will be running on the Ford EDIS ignition system

Full silicone coolant hose kit paired with stainless steel hard pipes (still awaiting some hoses)

I also picked up an Apexi AVC-R. These are hard enough to find in silver, nevermind black... I soon sorted that though!

I also have the following waiting to fit...

Goodridge braided brake lines
Walbro 255lph fuel pump
Cleaned and refurb'd blue-band injectors (also waiting for flow figures)
Lightened flywheel with 36-1 trigger pattern for the ECU
Rear upper lateral link/rear ARB droplink polybushes
Poly exhaust hangers
Piper 270 cams (as mentioned above)
New bootlid with 220 GSi spoiler and 3rd brake light
Jap rear plinth
Jap arch extensions

The wheels will also receive a refurb and the body given a damn good going over with any rust removed and replaced with fresh metal, finally being treated to a machine polish.

The rear of the car will be completely de-badged, the only hint of madness will be this sticker placed in the lower right corner of the number plate plinth.

 

[Gaijin]

I find your dedication to this rather obscure marque fascinating and very interesting.

Do keep us in the loop.

 

[oneale90]

Looks good!

* subscribing *

 

[grudas]

nice work on the car dude probably the only type of rover i like... :O

 

[Fr0dders]

Awesome project. Very good reading

i wouldnt fit that badge on the back however. Id fit it inside somewhere.

 

[agw_01]

I know the first few posts are a bit long winded, but I tried to keep it as entertaining as I could.

MrLOL, I know what you mean. It'd have to go on the inside of the windscreen. I could have it on the dash strip but I reckon it'd annoy me.

 

[PeterNem]

***** ++

 

[paradigm]

Under the sunvisor tbh.

 

[agw_01]

***** ++

No love for the sticker then Pete?

El, that's an idea.

 

[stoke1863]

how much have all your parts cost you?

 

[andi]

I think the original design sticker was made to replace the warning sticker on the drivers sun visor on the Impreza.

Thats where I first saw it anyway, probably 10+ years back now..

 

[agw_01]

how much have all your parts cost you?

Since it went off the road in September, I've probably spent about £800 on parts. That includes the ECU, ignition system, fuel pump, new alarm, Piper cams, coolant hoses, brake lines, polybushes.

Add to that the previous mods and I've probably spent £4k over 3 years, including the cost of the car. Tbh I don't really know as I don't tend to keep track

Andi, ahhh that's interesting. Maybe under the passenger's sun visor is a good idea then.

 

[stoke1863]

well im not going to go into what i think about the costs you are spending on that car. Seems like a a mini money pit.

Its your life mate and you obviously realy like this car so keep going!

I remember when my grandad had this car. He loved it to bits! Until it broke

 

[Fr0dders]

No love for the sticker then Pete?

El, that's an idea.

sunvisor sticker is a great one.

Mimics the airbag safety stickers US cars have there

 

[agw_01]

Hardly a money pit is it? A money pit is something that you keep ploughing money into because it keeps breaking.

Modifying a car to make it faster, handle better and stop better is a hobby and something I find interesting. I don't need to pay anyone for labour so the only costs I incur are to buy the parts...some of which are quite exotic and not something you'd find on your typical Rover

 

[GeX]

watching to see how the MS installation goes. I run it on my car, and have been trying to convince my mate (phoenix on rovertech.. you may know /of him?) to ditch MEMS for ages on his coupe

 

[Eliot]

Thanks this has thought me a little with the detailed writing and stuff just wondering in the photos is the subframe that black bat thing that joins the two sides of the car just wondering cos I never know what people mean when it's mentioned

 

[Trojan]

Interesting to read and view the pics, but I'm struggling to see the point. For the £4k it's cost you so far, you could have bought a car just as capable without the need for investing hundreds of hours into it.