1994 420 Gsi Turbo

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N1tr0_9
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1994 420 Gsi Turbo

Post by N1tr0_9 »

This is a bit of a strange project thread, as its a retrospective. I bought this car back in April of this year. It might look familiar to some as there was a thread about it being advertised on Facebook under threat of being broken for parts. The seller never had any attention of breaking it, he was just fed up of timewasters.

I really liked the 420gsi Tourer that i repaired and then sold on (see herehttps://www.rover200.org.uk/forums/viewtopic.ph ... 217#p87217). I was super impressed with how good the R8 rovers are and so had an eye out for another one.

This car had been off the road for around ten years, and although it ran and drove, needed attention. The good news is that apart from a stainless exhaust and cone airfilter it is standard. Even had its original wheels. Interior was grubby and mouldy in places but actually in very good condition. Minimal rust too and only 80,000 miles which appears genuine. It was quite cosmetically challenged as the lacquer was peeling of the bonnet, front wings, boot and the roof looked like it had been baked in a desert. But basically its an extremely sound and pretty rare car.

I loaded it up on the trailer and then took it to my Dads place.

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Got it off the trailer and started giving it a poke and working out what parts i needed. I always intended to removed the cylinder head and fit a new gasket as it was leaking oil real bad, not just the front left corner, but pretty much everywhere. The radiator looked extremely marginal and was actually weeping at the bottom. All the water pipes were corroded and more rust and paint than actual metal. All the black painted metal brackets in the engine bay were rusty and flaking too.

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After writing quite long list of parts required, i started buying stuff. Because the car was so original, i decided that if i was going to do it, id try and do it right, so where possible ive been buying Rover parts, or as close as i cant get.

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itcaptainslow
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Re: 1994 420 Gsi Turbo

Post by itcaptainslow »

I remember seeing this car advertised, and wondered what happened to it. Glad to see it's being restored! Looks an (extremely rare) good baseline with great potential!
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Plodder
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Re: 1994 420 Gsi Turbo

Post by Plodder »

Retrospective threads are good :laughing2 I spent months writing mine before I finally caught up with the present.
Good looking car with the rear wheel arch flares and spoiler.
These were fitted to my 91 416 Gti. I really think they finish the car off.
Hope you’ve checked under the rear wheel arch flares , whilst they look good they are notorious for hiding a rusty sill.
Good luck with the project :clapping
1991 Rover 416 GTi Auto - Flame Red - Owned since Aug 97 :)
N1tr0_9
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Re: 1994 420 Gsi Turbo

Post by N1tr0_9 »

itcaptainslow wrote: Sun Dec 26, 2021 6:59 pm I remember seeing this car advertised, and wondered what happened to it. Glad to see it's being restored! Looks an (extremely rare) good baseline with great potential!
Yeah plan is to just fettle it and make it a nice original(ish) car.
N1tr0_9
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Re: 1994 420 Gsi Turbo

Post by N1tr0_9 »

Plodder wrote: Sun Dec 26, 2021 7:41 pm Retrospective threads are good :laughing2 I spent months writing mine before I finally caught up with the present.
Good looking car with the rear wheel arch flares and spoiler.
These were fitted to my 91 416 Gti. I really think they finish the car off.
Hope you’ve checked under the rear wheel arch flares , whilst they look good they are notorious for hiding a rusty sill.
Good luck with the project :clapping
Ive had a bit of a poke and it looked really nice. I can see a couple of surface rusty bits on the arch lips but sills look fantastic. Much better than on my bubble.
N1tr0_9
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Re: 1994 420 Gsi Turbo

Post by N1tr0_9 »

My dad was very impressed when he came home to see id pulled the front of the car apart on his drive. An explosion of tools and parts.

Removed the cam covers and was very happy to see the cams were really nice with even wear and nice colour too. Probably had a decent servicing regime. Pulled the head off and the underside of the head and combustion chambers were a bit sooty but nothing bad. The piston crowns and bores were also excellent. No scoring, no lipping and you can still see all the honing marks. Very relieved as i didnt want to have to remove the engine and strip the whole thing.

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Took the cylinder head home, removed the cams and tappets and kept them all in order and wrong way up to stop oil draining out. Then cleaned the cylinder head up with petrol ready for the machininsts.

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4V8s
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Re: 1994 420 Gsi Turbo

Post by 4V8s »

Great project, keep them coming!
Rover 214Si 16v 1994
Rover 220 turbo coupe 1995
Rover Mini Cooper 1997
MG ZT 260 V8 SE 2004 - OK, so another Rover
1967 Ford Mustang 289 V8 convertible
1974 Corvette Convertible 350 V8
1977 Pontiac Firebird 403 V8
Paul_1978_yorks
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Re: 1994 420 Gsi Turbo

Post by Paul_1978_yorks »

Great thread, and so glad you bought the car!
Current:
2018 Volvo V40 Cross Country
Former:
214 SEi x4, 216 SLi, 216 Cabriolet, 416 GSi, 420 GSi Tourer, 25, 45, 75
Topcat Tomcat
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Re: 1994 420 Gsi Turbo

Post by Topcat Tomcat »

I think it's one of those threads that's going to make me feel mechanically inadequate again! I look forward to further reports. :D
Topcat Tomcat (aka Conductorwomble)

1990 216 GSi Auto 5 Door
1995 214 Si 3 Door - White Gold
1998 VVC Coupe - Tahiti Blue/Red Piccadilly & Leather
2001 1.8 Connie 45 4 Door - Wedgewood Blue
2004 75 CDTi Connie - Firefrost
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GTiJohn
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Re: 1994 420 Gsi Turbo

Post by GTiJohn »

Boy, that's a rare car!

Great to see that it's in good nick and in good hands :clapping

Looking forward to reading the next instalments. I hope to learn things :cool
I like Twin Cams.... and Single Cams...and now Turbos
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