Rover 220 GTI
Re: Rover 220 GTI
Nearly there and if you do get it running ready for Longbridge then i might see you there
nuff said!
Re: Rover 220 GTI
Bit more work carried out on this lovely day.
I started the day off loading up all the bits I had brought home to work on including the head and the bench I managed to save from the tip so that I could rest the head on whilst being worked on. And I took it over to my parents where the car is currently residing due to drive being flatter than mine.
You may be able to make out the unit with the head on in the garage under the bubble wrap. See it's getting closer to going back in as it's travelled 1/4 of a mile to be within a few feet on the the bodywork.
I've cleaned up the face of the manifold itself ready to be installed and I've also cleaned up the block face as well seeing as it's been left in the open air albeit under the bonnet but still not locked away under a gasket.
I've also given the piston ports a clean as well as there was some remnants of the wet and dry on the top of the pistons. I took the hoover to it and now all 4 piston tops are clean.
Next job on the list was to remove the oil so out came the 19mm spanner and I cracked the nut off and let the texas T flow. As you can see from the collecting bottle still a lot was left in there.
After draining the oil and seeing as it was still early on in the day I thought I'd remove the roversport bumper and replace it with the red one that was originally on the car so that I could finish rubbing down the bumper so it would be ready for paint when I have the cash to do it.
I then took the roversport bumper home and had some lunch. After that and dropping the bumper off at home I popped back to the car and whilst the bumper was off I thought I'd have a bash at removing the rear section of the exhaust to see what would be involved in fitting the rear silencer that I got from Jollins. Turns out it looks as if it's not going to be an easy or cheap mod to do as the fixings are totally different (see my other thread http://www.rovertech.net/forum/viewtopi ... 1&t=135019).
I remembered that I'd need a some new spark plugs so off to my local friendly dealer who hooked me up with a set of NGK's for when the engine gets near to being ready.
I then set about after glancing at the car at the side skirts I'd also brought with me when I brought the car and I thought sod it I'll see how bad it'll be with them on.
Must admit the front three screws easy as pie. The ones running along the length of the car a little bit more work required as I had to drill holes at certain intervals and then screw in self tappers to hold it in place and then thirdly I got to the back wheel arch and what a pig it turned out to be. There is very little if anywhere to be able to affix the skirt itself and I've had a nightmare of a job trying to get the skirt to sit right so that I can open and close the door (to which I've admitted defeat for the time being so I left the door closed and kept the skirt in place.
Any tips on how to get the skirt sitting right would be appreciated.
Anyway this is how it stands at the moment but with the front wheel back on and the jack not being there.
And that's my lot for the day.
I started the day off loading up all the bits I had brought home to work on including the head and the bench I managed to save from the tip so that I could rest the head on whilst being worked on. And I took it over to my parents where the car is currently residing due to drive being flatter than mine.
You may be able to make out the unit with the head on in the garage under the bubble wrap. See it's getting closer to going back in as it's travelled 1/4 of a mile to be within a few feet on the the bodywork.
I've cleaned up the face of the manifold itself ready to be installed and I've also cleaned up the block face as well seeing as it's been left in the open air albeit under the bonnet but still not locked away under a gasket.
I've also given the piston ports a clean as well as there was some remnants of the wet and dry on the top of the pistons. I took the hoover to it and now all 4 piston tops are clean.
Next job on the list was to remove the oil so out came the 19mm spanner and I cracked the nut off and let the texas T flow. As you can see from the collecting bottle still a lot was left in there.
After draining the oil and seeing as it was still early on in the day I thought I'd remove the roversport bumper and replace it with the red one that was originally on the car so that I could finish rubbing down the bumper so it would be ready for paint when I have the cash to do it.
I then took the roversport bumper home and had some lunch. After that and dropping the bumper off at home I popped back to the car and whilst the bumper was off I thought I'd have a bash at removing the rear section of the exhaust to see what would be involved in fitting the rear silencer that I got from Jollins. Turns out it looks as if it's not going to be an easy or cheap mod to do as the fixings are totally different (see my other thread http://www.rovertech.net/forum/viewtopi ... 1&t=135019).
I remembered that I'd need a some new spark plugs so off to my local friendly dealer who hooked me up with a set of NGK's for when the engine gets near to being ready.
I then set about after glancing at the car at the side skirts I'd also brought with me when I brought the car and I thought sod it I'll see how bad it'll be with them on.
Must admit the front three screws easy as pie. The ones running along the length of the car a little bit more work required as I had to drill holes at certain intervals and then screw in self tappers to hold it in place and then thirdly I got to the back wheel arch and what a pig it turned out to be. There is very little if anywhere to be able to affix the skirt itself and I've had a nightmare of a job trying to get the skirt to sit right so that I can open and close the door (to which I've admitted defeat for the time being so I left the door closed and kept the skirt in place.
Any tips on how to get the skirt sitting right would be appreciated.
Anyway this is how it stands at the moment but with the front wheel back on and the jack not being there.
And that's my lot for the day.
Re: Rover 220 GTI
Great work and it's coming along well, as far as the exhaust goes, are the exhaust trims still available
nuff said!
Re: Rover 220 GTI
Oh yes I forgot to PM you. I took them off as well and are in the boot of the car for you.roverman1 wrote:Great work and it's coming along well, as far as the exhaust goes, are the exhaust trims still available
Re: Rover 220 GTI
Yeah if I can get there I'll bring them along with me. It's all gonna be a case of cash and the lack of it because of being out of work again. That's one of the reasons I'm cracking on with the car. And then on an evening I can send off applications for jobs as well as cv's.
Re: Rover 220 GTI
Update time and it's a big one.
Big day as the block as you remember it being ready to accept the head after being cleaned.
The day started off just before 10am with me turning up at the car and opening the garage and checking that I had everything ready for the day. Sorry for the lack of pictures of this as there was just me for the first 30 mins as Andy was enroute to give me a hand and also set me on my way to get some stuff done once the hard stuff was out of the way (keeping an eye on me so I don't man bits it up).
Andy turned up as I was taking a few minutes to warm up in my fathers car I've been using as it was bitterly cold this morning and I'd decided to heat my hands up on the heaters. But Andy wasn't alone as he'd brought his 5 year old son with him.
He had a glance around the engine bay and made comment that the manifold needed a little going over with the wet and dry and he rubbed down the face of the block just getting rid of the surface stuff that had built up with it being in the open air.
Once the block was clean and we were ready to inspect the head the rain started. Damn it why couldn't we have the weather we've had for the last 2 days as it would have been perfect.
I put some cardboard down on the floor and and also some cloth to dry the bottom of the head as it had been sat on the bubble wrap and I'm assuming oil that they had used when they did the skim. We took hold of the head and placed it on the cardboard on the floor and Andy then wiped it down to get rid of any fluid on the bottom. Again sorry for the lack of pics.
Once that was done I dug out the headgasket I got from Baz all those many moons ago as it was a multi layered one compared to the one in the kit which was a very thin direct replacement for the original. Needless to say we plumped for the multi layered version and then once it was placed in position we both grabbed a side of the head and lowered it into position before resting it in place.
Next on the list of jobs to do was to fit the head bolts to fix the head in place.
I did the reading and pointing out of the locations of each of the tightening order whilst Andy did the first 2 tightenings, First being 29 flbs of torque and then followed by I think 58 flbs of torque. After this was done there was a bit of head scratching in which both me and Andy couldn't work out why but the instructions asked for a -90 deg +58flbs torque and then finally a 90 degree.
I tried ringing Ross and Marty for some advice but didn't get any answer and so I resorted to ringing Craig and he gave the reason behind it. So off we went doing what it said on the paperwork.
At this point my dad turned up and offered a well needed cuppa and also asked Andy if his son wanted to watch some telly as we were wanting to concentrate on doing the tightening and he look bored watching us messing with the engine.
After that was done and we were happy with the bolts being checked checked and checked again to make sure they were torqued correctly it was down to the exhaust manifold. The gasket was fitted and then the manifold was fitted into place and the nuts finger tightened as they would need undoing to fit the mid rail coolant pipe when the replacement comes back from Marty as he kindly has said he would know one up for me considering the state of the old one.
I fitted the top rear cover on the cambelt cover and fitted the 3 bolts holding it in place and Andy reconnected the fuel pipe to the fuel rail then at this point I was feeling quite good about what work had been carried out and then it went very slightly pair shaped as I thought I'd put all of the bolts in the plastic boxes for the parts removed when taking it apart but I couldn't find all 6 of the inlet manifold bolts. God know how one of them had escaped but it had. I managed to source a replacement from my collection though.
At this point Andy got a call to go pick his other half and daughter up so a list of things to be done whilst he was away was concocted for me to do. Basically it was re-fitting the parts that I'd removed to be able to take the head off.
I made a start by reconnecting the hoses and pipes to their respective areas and then fitted the top part of the inlet manifold after running a small bead of sealant round the bottom part to help make the seal. Then the top part went on and all the bolts fitted and tightened down. I then fitted the pipe going from the inlet manifold to the vacuum servo.
Then onto the thermostat housing which was located in the boot of the car along with the hose. Onto the refitting but before fitting the bolts I ran another bead of sealant round the face of the housing and then fitted the 2 bolts and tightened them down.
I moved onto the spark plugs and the eagle eyed amongst you will also notice that I haven't fitted the cam covers just yet. Andy suggested that I hold off and fit them after putting some oil directly into the tops before fitting the covers.
I'm getting there now. Just a few more things to do today including fitting the coolant pipes back on the top and bottom of the radiator as well as reconnecting the top coolant rail to the reservoir pipe and also the thermostat housing. Obviously the top pipe will not be totally secured until I get the mid rail pipe back and fitted but whilst I was in that area I decided to fit the little red coolant pipe that leads to the thermostat housing as the old one was all cracked and looked rubbish. It's the first bit of new bling in the car and I thought this would be the best time to fit it.
I then fitted the HT leads to the spark plugs in the order they came off and fitted the very not good looking spark plug cover which is going to have to have a replacement one sourced as it looks pants and it is split half way along. I've fitted it anyway for the time being as it hides all the leads.
If anyone does have a spark plug cover that'll do as a replacement it would be appreciated.
Jobs still left to do for another day are
Remove oil filter and replace with new filter
Add oil
Add coolant
Take delivery of replacement mid rail pipe and and then refit
Fit all pulleys, tensioners and belts and do the timing
Refit screen wash and power steering fluid bottles
Locate studs for throttle body mount from Hawk Fasteners and then refit along with all pipes to the throttle body.
And refit air filter to the car.
It may seem like a lot to do to get it back on the road hopefully ready for Longbridge but I will try my best to get it there. Oh and it'll probably be best to get the MOT redone and I also need to get the sorn taken off and tax back on the car.
To add to all the work carried out today in the engine bay I also fitted the black passenger side kick panel to the car seeing as the drivers side was done ages ago and I forgot to do the other side.
The more annoying thing is the top rear mounted spoiler as the driver side I had problems with when fitting it and I decided to try and sort that by adding more stikaflex. To no success and I think when I next work on the car which will be in the next few days I will be removing it and putting it away until I can get a chance to have another go at fitting it. Not ideal but I'll see how the stika flex dries overnight and I'll reassess it tomorrow. It may just be a case of starting again with the spoiler.
Big day as the block as you remember it being ready to accept the head after being cleaned.
The day started off just before 10am with me turning up at the car and opening the garage and checking that I had everything ready for the day. Sorry for the lack of pictures of this as there was just me for the first 30 mins as Andy was enroute to give me a hand and also set me on my way to get some stuff done once the hard stuff was out of the way (keeping an eye on me so I don't man bits it up).
Andy turned up as I was taking a few minutes to warm up in my fathers car I've been using as it was bitterly cold this morning and I'd decided to heat my hands up on the heaters. But Andy wasn't alone as he'd brought his 5 year old son with him.
He had a glance around the engine bay and made comment that the manifold needed a little going over with the wet and dry and he rubbed down the face of the block just getting rid of the surface stuff that had built up with it being in the open air.
Once the block was clean and we were ready to inspect the head the rain started. Damn it why couldn't we have the weather we've had for the last 2 days as it would have been perfect.
I put some cardboard down on the floor and and also some cloth to dry the bottom of the head as it had been sat on the bubble wrap and I'm assuming oil that they had used when they did the skim. We took hold of the head and placed it on the cardboard on the floor and Andy then wiped it down to get rid of any fluid on the bottom. Again sorry for the lack of pics.
Once that was done I dug out the headgasket I got from Baz all those many moons ago as it was a multi layered one compared to the one in the kit which was a very thin direct replacement for the original. Needless to say we plumped for the multi layered version and then once it was placed in position we both grabbed a side of the head and lowered it into position before resting it in place.
Next on the list of jobs to do was to fit the head bolts to fix the head in place.
I did the reading and pointing out of the locations of each of the tightening order whilst Andy did the first 2 tightenings, First being 29 flbs of torque and then followed by I think 58 flbs of torque. After this was done there was a bit of head scratching in which both me and Andy couldn't work out why but the instructions asked for a -90 deg +58flbs torque and then finally a 90 degree.
I tried ringing Ross and Marty for some advice but didn't get any answer and so I resorted to ringing Craig and he gave the reason behind it. So off we went doing what it said on the paperwork.
At this point my dad turned up and offered a well needed cuppa and also asked Andy if his son wanted to watch some telly as we were wanting to concentrate on doing the tightening and he look bored watching us messing with the engine.
After that was done and we were happy with the bolts being checked checked and checked again to make sure they were torqued correctly it was down to the exhaust manifold. The gasket was fitted and then the manifold was fitted into place and the nuts finger tightened as they would need undoing to fit the mid rail coolant pipe when the replacement comes back from Marty as he kindly has said he would know one up for me considering the state of the old one.
I fitted the top rear cover on the cambelt cover and fitted the 3 bolts holding it in place and Andy reconnected the fuel pipe to the fuel rail then at this point I was feeling quite good about what work had been carried out and then it went very slightly pair shaped as I thought I'd put all of the bolts in the plastic boxes for the parts removed when taking it apart but I couldn't find all 6 of the inlet manifold bolts. God know how one of them had escaped but it had. I managed to source a replacement from my collection though.
At this point Andy got a call to go pick his other half and daughter up so a list of things to be done whilst he was away was concocted for me to do. Basically it was re-fitting the parts that I'd removed to be able to take the head off.
I made a start by reconnecting the hoses and pipes to their respective areas and then fitted the top part of the inlet manifold after running a small bead of sealant round the bottom part to help make the seal. Then the top part went on and all the bolts fitted and tightened down. I then fitted the pipe going from the inlet manifold to the vacuum servo.
Then onto the thermostat housing which was located in the boot of the car along with the hose. Onto the refitting but before fitting the bolts I ran another bead of sealant round the face of the housing and then fitted the 2 bolts and tightened them down.
I moved onto the spark plugs and the eagle eyed amongst you will also notice that I haven't fitted the cam covers just yet. Andy suggested that I hold off and fit them after putting some oil directly into the tops before fitting the covers.
I'm getting there now. Just a few more things to do today including fitting the coolant pipes back on the top and bottom of the radiator as well as reconnecting the top coolant rail to the reservoir pipe and also the thermostat housing. Obviously the top pipe will not be totally secured until I get the mid rail pipe back and fitted but whilst I was in that area I decided to fit the little red coolant pipe that leads to the thermostat housing as the old one was all cracked and looked rubbish. It's the first bit of new bling in the car and I thought this would be the best time to fit it.
I then fitted the HT leads to the spark plugs in the order they came off and fitted the very not good looking spark plug cover which is going to have to have a replacement one sourced as it looks pants and it is split half way along. I've fitted it anyway for the time being as it hides all the leads.
If anyone does have a spark plug cover that'll do as a replacement it would be appreciated.
Jobs still left to do for another day are
Remove oil filter and replace with new filter
Add oil
Add coolant
Take delivery of replacement mid rail pipe and and then refit
Fit all pulleys, tensioners and belts and do the timing
Refit screen wash and power steering fluid bottles
Locate studs for throttle body mount from Hawk Fasteners and then refit along with all pipes to the throttle body.
And refit air filter to the car.
It may seem like a lot to do to get it back on the road hopefully ready for Longbridge but I will try my best to get it there. Oh and it'll probably be best to get the MOT redone and I also need to get the sorn taken off and tax back on the car.
To add to all the work carried out today in the engine bay I also fitted the black passenger side kick panel to the car seeing as the drivers side was done ages ago and I forgot to do the other side.
The more annoying thing is the top rear mounted spoiler as the driver side I had problems with when fitting it and I decided to try and sort that by adding more stikaflex. To no success and I think when I next work on the car which will be in the next few days I will be removing it and putting it away until I can get a chance to have another go at fitting it. Not ideal but I'll see how the stika flex dries overnight and I'll reassess it tomorrow. It may just be a case of starting again with the spoiler.
Re: Rover 220 GTI
Little Monday morning update for you all.
A distant memory of something long forgotten hit me this morning. A few years ago when I had the coupe I ended up winning a sportex backbox off eBay for 99p but never got round to fitting. I went into the shed this morning and found this lying at the back.
Yes it looks a little tired but I compared it to the one I'd taken off the car and to my joy it was the same firmest to the centre section.
I spent around 20 mins trying to get it lined up right and on all the hangers and this is the result.
It's not a bad fit to be honest but it'll do for now until I can afford something cat backish.
I also picked up some studs and accompanying nuts for the throttle body bracket from Hawk fasteners first thing and then I went round to my local motor factors to pick up the oil and coolant needed for the big day rushing when the car can be started for the first time.
A distant memory of something long forgotten hit me this morning. A few years ago when I had the coupe I ended up winning a sportex backbox off eBay for 99p but never got round to fitting. I went into the shed this morning and found this lying at the back.
Yes it looks a little tired but I compared it to the one I'd taken off the car and to my joy it was the same firmest to the centre section.
I spent around 20 mins trying to get it lined up right and on all the hangers and this is the result.
It's not a bad fit to be honest but it'll do for now until I can afford something cat backish.
I also picked up some studs and accompanying nuts for the throttle body bracket from Hawk fasteners first thing and then I went round to my local motor factors to pick up the oil and coolant needed for the big day rushing when the car can be started for the first time.
Re: Rover 220 GTI
Update and this is going to be a roller coaster of emotions.
Me and Andy started work just after 10 this morning and started putting the rest of the car together and also doing the timing.
Andy got on with the fitting the pulleys and belts into place and once he was done he was left with this.
He used a little technique to get the belt on and hold it in place so he could get the top end on using a screwdriver to hold the bottom in place whilst using a spanner on the top to hold it in place and then it was a case of sliding the belt into place to which I admittedly don't have a picture of.
I was left to refit the throttle body and bracket as well as connecting all the hoses. We ended up cutting up a mid rail pipe to temporarily bodge the t series pipe to fit until the replacement comes back from Marty who is knocking up a replacement mid rail pipe.
Once that was done and the engine had the oil filter replaced and Andy had confirmed the timing was set correctly and from what he said was one of the easiest timings to do as everything was going better than could be expected. At this point we were going to be finished in time to pick the kids up after getting the tax on the car.
The oil was replaced and the coolant was also replaced. All the pipes were checked and double checked and the battery was connected, it was time to try the car for the first time.
I lifted the car up so the axle stands could be removed at the front and then moved to the back. As I lifted the back of the bar up there was an almighty bang. Sheepishly I looked at Andy who was stood at the back of the car and he immediately looked under. Phew it was the plastic basin that held the coolant that had been removed. Unfortunately it broke the basin and spilled all the coolant all over the drive. I dropped the back end back onto the axle stand and then went to the front and jacked it up to be able to get what was left of the basin out of the way as well as the waste oil bottle. And then it was shaking back to the rear of the car to remove the axle stand from the back. Once on the ground I went into the car and turned the car over once and then the battery died so a jump start was required which my mothers Nissan Note. After a little jiggering about and getting the note in position the leads were connected and then the gti was hooked up.
After a few minutes of charging the key was turned on the Gti and it fired into life.
My god the goosebumps were certainly firing and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
The car juddered once it was running which got me thinking it might be the leads not corrected. But after a few minutes running at 1.5k revs the engine settled down and started to purr.
This is where the big smile on mine and Andy's face ended as he shouted that the leak had started again.
FFS not again I could cry.
We checked everything over and over again and seeing as I put all my eggs into one basket I'm screwed.
The only thing we can think of is the block has a crack in it that wasn't evident and would have only been seen when the engine is warm which is when the oil leak starts happening.
The only thing I can think of doing now is doing what were going to do in the first place which is to fit a turbo engine in. 3 main problems I have no cash and also now no car and no time.
I'm almost in tears I really am. After all the hard work we have put into the car and for this to happen it is soul destroying.
Can anyone give me a lifeline please.
Me and Andy started work just after 10 this morning and started putting the rest of the car together and also doing the timing.
Andy got on with the fitting the pulleys and belts into place and once he was done he was left with this.
He used a little technique to get the belt on and hold it in place so he could get the top end on using a screwdriver to hold the bottom in place whilst using a spanner on the top to hold it in place and then it was a case of sliding the belt into place to which I admittedly don't have a picture of.
I was left to refit the throttle body and bracket as well as connecting all the hoses. We ended up cutting up a mid rail pipe to temporarily bodge the t series pipe to fit until the replacement comes back from Marty who is knocking up a replacement mid rail pipe.
Once that was done and the engine had the oil filter replaced and Andy had confirmed the timing was set correctly and from what he said was one of the easiest timings to do as everything was going better than could be expected. At this point we were going to be finished in time to pick the kids up after getting the tax on the car.
The oil was replaced and the coolant was also replaced. All the pipes were checked and double checked and the battery was connected, it was time to try the car for the first time.
I lifted the car up so the axle stands could be removed at the front and then moved to the back. As I lifted the back of the bar up there was an almighty bang. Sheepishly I looked at Andy who was stood at the back of the car and he immediately looked under. Phew it was the plastic basin that held the coolant that had been removed. Unfortunately it broke the basin and spilled all the coolant all over the drive. I dropped the back end back onto the axle stand and then went to the front and jacked it up to be able to get what was left of the basin out of the way as well as the waste oil bottle. And then it was shaking back to the rear of the car to remove the axle stand from the back. Once on the ground I went into the car and turned the car over once and then the battery died so a jump start was required which my mothers Nissan Note. After a little jiggering about and getting the note in position the leads were connected and then the gti was hooked up.
After a few minutes of charging the key was turned on the Gti and it fired into life.
My god the goosebumps were certainly firing and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
The car juddered once it was running which got me thinking it might be the leads not corrected. But after a few minutes running at 1.5k revs the engine settled down and started to purr.
This is where the big smile on mine and Andy's face ended as he shouted that the leak had started again.
FFS not again I could cry.
We checked everything over and over again and seeing as I put all my eggs into one basket I'm screwed.
The only thing we can think of is the block has a crack in it that wasn't evident and would have only been seen when the engine is warm which is when the oil leak starts happening.
The only thing I can think of doing now is doing what were going to do in the first place which is to fit a turbo engine in. 3 main problems I have no cash and also now no car and no time.
I'm almost in tears I really am. After all the hard work we have put into the car and for this to happen it is soul destroying.
Can anyone give me a lifeline please.
Re: Rover 220 GTI
I really feel for you Kain i really do, this is soul destroying. When you replaced the gasket did you do a modification to the oils feed on that corner of the head, I'm sure I've read somewhere that there is some modification that needs to be done on the M and T series to try and cure the oil leak.
I would very much doubt that the block would have a crack, the T series suffer the exact same problem even after a gasket swap.
I would very much doubt that the block would have a crack, the T series suffer the exact same problem even after a gasket swap.
nuff said!
