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Honest John Classics Our Classic Cars 1976 Rover 3500 SD1

Our Cars: 1976 Rover 3500 SD1

28 December 2009: Testing times

Well, finally, I’ve had a chance to give my SD1 its first run since getting it back from Poland, and it’s a mixture of good and bad news, but mainly good. For one, I don’t think the SD1′s actually been refuelled since 2006 and, well, it must be about due now. Anyway, with the car now insured for an agreed value with Hagertys and booked in for an MoT, I thought I really should give the car a bit of a shakedown to ensure it’s ready for the dreaded test.

I have, though, only given the car a very brief run but the engine pulls well, sounds crisp and seems to be running pretty much as it should now I’ve had a fiddle with the carburettors (one thing I remember about SUs is that you can roughly tune them by ear).

The steering and suspension are all okay and it feels solid and planted on the road – just as a good SD1 should. The electrics (what there are of them) are working as they should, although the wipers are lazy… I’m sure that with some work, they’ll be okay.

However, there are a couple of causes for concern, which I will try and address in the coming days…

The brakes badly need bleeding – the pedal’s on the floor and they need adjustment – when pressed, the car pulls strongly to the right… oops. Rather annoyingly, having looked at the front calipers, someone in the past decided to sheer off a passenger side bleed nipple and not replace it. Still, at least, I now know why it’s pulling to the right.

More of a concern is that there’s a bit of a fuel leak from the front end – I haven’t had time to investigate, but it’s more likely to be a join that’s not been tightened up properly, given that everything’s been out and in again in Poland…

There’s bit of work to be done tomorrow – and, before I go anywhere again, I need to get the brake calipers off and the broken nipple out.

I’ll keep you posted…

« Earlier: The bonding process begins     Later: SD1 progress »

Updates
We decide to take a £200 Rover SD1 to receive a full body restoration. Here's the story...
The work in Poland carries on in earnest
The Rover SD1 goes to a new home. It's been emotional...
Back in daily use, the SD1's odo ticks past 50K
The SD1 enjoys another MoT test - and passes, with a few advisories...
An incapacitated Keith Adams hands over the SD1 to Richard Kilpatrick
Time to get the SD1 out to a show... and look what we bump into.
Now it's up to scratch, it's time to get the SD1 looking as good as it drives...
This running report is boring - nothing has happened. And that's a blessed relief
Rover SD1 powers to the Pride of Longbridge... and suffers not a single breakage!
Pride of Longbridge approaches and Mike Humble is looking forward to taking the Rover SD1
Mike Humble carries on working on the SD1 - it's nearly finished. Promise!
Mike Humble gets the SD1 through its MoT without too many issues
Mike Humble is never 'tyred' of working on a classic motoring icon, only a few more details and the mission is complete.
Let's get rid of that carbuncle off the rear of the SD1!
Mike Humble - once again - sets about fixing another set of SD1 maladies
Getting the SD1 up and running again...
Something's not clicking with the SD1. Maybe some factory alloys might improve matters
Mike's spent weeks getting the SD1 into a roadworthy condition. He's literally sweated cobs over it - and we're not sure he'd like to repeat the experience.
Mike Humble has been having some truly epic battles with the Rover SD1. He's winning, though.
We've handed the SD1 over to Mike Humble in order to fix all those niggles. It proved to be a bit of a battle
It's getting a thorough work-put now, and one or two teething problems are working their way through
To to start undoing some of the unwanted cosmetic modifications
We're now trusting the Rover to take us out and about on jobs. Good idea?
Has it been worth the wait. Five years after buying it, we're finally able to legally drive the freshly MoT'd Rover SD1
Plenty of work needed for the MoT - and we're not there yet!
The Rover's been shipped to MOTest in Farnham for its first post-restoration MoT. Fingers crossed.
28 December 2009: Testing times
First drive, and we're going to have a bit of work...
So now it's home, it's time to take stock of what needs doing on the project Rover SD1
The SD1 is pretty much paid for, now we just need to get it back to the UK
We've just dashed to Poland to drop off a few finishing touches to our SD1 restoration
After three years, the Rover SD1 restoration in Poland is finished. Now the work begins
 

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