And now for something completely different, Rover Sd1 Stage rally car

[Sunbmw]

Re: And now for something completely different, Rover Sd1 Stage rally car

Well guys, been beavering away, and getting somewhere...not very fast.

Firstly, got the rear turrets finished off...............







Then moved on to the linking arrangement for the axle, please bear in mind that this is mostly guess work, I was hoping to go have a look at a proper car that has the 4HA under it, but had some idea so just freestyled it.............

Holes for link boxes.......



Link boxes made.......







Now then, for the link bars to fit, they fit to the piece of the shell tghat is upright where the back seat usually is, this is fairly thin steel, so I have plated it with 2mm steel, and tied it to the shell by removing the embossed parts and welding through, i'll let the pics do the talking........









Then welded some link bar brackets I made........





Then I had to remove some of the boot floor to accomodate the watts linkage.........



Then filled it in...........



(Thats finished off now by the way)

Then started on the watts towers......





Since then I have strengthened all the towers, fully welded everything, drilled etc. next on the agenda is dipping and painting...........watch this space.

[Stringpants]

Re: And now for something completely different, Rover Sd1 Stage rally car

Just read this all the way through....you are doing a cracking job...I spoke to a guy who was rallying one at race Retro this year and had a good look inside etc...its nice to see something different being done...

Good Luck and keep the pics coming,

Russ.

[MK1_Oz]

Re: And now for something completely different, Rover Sd1 Stage rally car

[exboyracer]

Re: And now for something completely different, Rover Sd1 Stage rally car

Nice fabrication there, well done!

[gorilla1q]

Re: And now for something completely different, Rover Sd1 Stage rally car

Sweet I used to love the SD1 years ago at the time it was my dream car Fabrication and ideas on this project are spot on

[Sunbmw]

Re: And now for something completely different, Rover Sd1 Stage rally car

Thanks for the kind words fellas....................

A quick update from the extended weekend, got plenty done, including having a bit of a move around so I can get at her a bit better, and make a start on her sister (spare shell)..............

I used the crane lorry from work, and used the oppertunity, whilst I could get properly underneath, to take some pics.............

Axle now connected with all the link bars (not bolted or spaced up yet)............









Twin dampers again, however, I only have two at the minute, so to attach the axle, I have used one each side.........





Some underside pics, as you can see, next job is to fabricate the watts bars...............





This pic gives an idea of how I have tied the strengthening plate to the shell............





Fully floating car!



Finally, erm...........I was gonna say beauty and the beast, but neither are particularly beautiful at this moment in time!

[Stringpants]

Re: And now for something completely different, Rover Sd1 Stage rally car

Keep the faith and keep the pics coming...

Russ.

[MK1_Oz]

Re: And now for something completely different, Rover Sd1 Stage rally car

I am loving this build. Good memories!!!! Great work.

[Sunbmw]

Re: And now for something completely different, Rover Sd1 Stage rally car

Sooooooooooo, I have had yet another super productive couple of days, whilst I am waiting for some hardware for the rear (rose joints etc for the watts bars), I made a start on the front, so, I had decided a long time ago that I was going to run compression struts, but it took me till Friday to source some, then I had to fab some brackets up, and I was fairly pleased with the results, I also took the time to strengthen the area as much as I could............

















I also had been bidding on a "Cheetah" subframe on ebay, basically, it allows the engine to be lowered and moved back, well, I got out bid.......twice in two weeks, so make of that what you will, so, I studied the pics and decided to make my own.

Firstly, remove the middle of the subframe...........





Chop the middle section down..........



Weld back in place..........



Fill the gaps.............



Done......(well, nearly)





Note that I haven't re-affixed the original eninge mount brackets (albeit down and back) as I think I am going to chassis mount the engine, and also, I want to dry sump it, so I will leave the engine positioning till I suss that out.

Then just trial fitted the struts to see what kind of castor and camber I might hope for.....







Lets hope for more good weather so progress stays strong

[exboyracer]

Re: And now for something completely different, Rover Sd1 Stage rally car

Looking good

[Wicked]

Re: And now for something completely different, Rover Sd1 Stage rally car

Nice outdoor projeckt And I was whining about that I dont have a good garage

[Sunbmw]

Re: And now for something completely different, Rover Sd1 Stage rally car

Well, on Monday, we were super slack at work, so I opted to have a couple of days off, to get some more done, and my god, what a good couple of days it was, super productive again.................

Actually, it started on Sunday when I went to an SD1 club event called "Spares day", where you take your old crap and see if it is of any use to fellow owners, and managed to sell some bits, but more importantly, I "happened" upon a dry sump pan and front cover for the V8, something that I hadn't envisaged buying yet, but boy has it dome me a favour, with that, I could now sort out the engine mounts, I am chassis mounting the motor, so I had bought an XE kit from Motorsport tools, and adapted that..................

Dry sump pan..........





Engine in place, measured up as to where she needs to be.........



Chassis brackets tacked in place...........





Tubes tacked to the original mountings, which I have modified and cut down.........







Tried the heads and covers on to check for clutch cylider clearance, by the way, this has moved the engine back 3 inches, and down 2 inches............







Then take her all out and weld em up properly!



A bit of a gap to fill on this un............



This one was better though.........



Chassis mounts..........Done!



So, after breaakfast I did the pedal box...............

Bias adjuster on original pedal...........





Plate for cylinders on pedal box, to match the one I had already done in the shell ages ago..........




So then, the shell is just about ready now, few little jobs but for all intents and purpose, ready to dip and paint.

I am Soooooooooooo glad that I went on to "Evo 2" with the shell, I would have been dissapointed with myself had I left it as it was when I first painted it with the standard axle etc.

Watch this space.........................

[MK1_Oz]

Re: And now for something completely different, Rover Sd1 Stage rally car

i am really enjoying this thread!!!! Great work.

[northeee]

Re: And now for something completely different, Rover Sd1 Stage rally car

looking great its going to be a beast. back in the day must have been round 1988 went to a rally day in my mates mexico to donington park and was driven round a rally stage by russell brookes in an SD1 great times.

[MK1_Oz]

Re: And now for something completely different, Rover Sd1 Stage rally car

...driven round a rally stage by russell brookes in an SD1 great times.

<<<<<<<jeleous!!!!! I used to like watching that little fella.