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

[Arieke]

Would love to see these cars more on rally. They are nice. And this one is Lovely :-p

[Sunbmw]

Thanks Ari for the kind words.

Some more pics..........................

Getting the front end all built up now..................







The bonnet is like a dogs dinner,and the bolts that have been moulded into the bonnet, are miles off fitting the hinges, so after hours of drilling them,I am now not gonna use them at all! To be honest, it has done me a favour, I always prefer a bonet athat cen be removed altogether, especially as the SD1 Bonnet hinges forward which is no use to man nor beast.

I have now re-fitted the chrome trim, initially, I wasn't going to, but the works cars had all the chrome trims in place, snd if it was good enough for them..........





Looking even more like a car now...................







Popped a wheel on for artistic licence......................



Round to the back now, start with brand new bumper plates, drill em, swage em, bolt em up with alloy bolts. All good....................









Rear bumper...............done(ish)..........



Here's Dad's little helper, she's even made me a brew!..............

[MK1_Oz]

Keep it up!! Cars going to be sweet as.....

[exboyracer]

Nice one dude!

[micraman]

Last time i saw one of these being use in anger tony pond was at the wheel! well done nice too see something different

[corliss]

Looking good Lee,

Dont forget to pass the word my GrpA Replica is for sale,

Need to crack on with next 3 and get the SWB 4.5 Twin Turbo up and running,

Looking foreward to seeing your one running

[Sunbmw]

Hi all, not been very well for a bit, so not been doing a lot. However, I am now back in the saddle, and I have news of a bit of a change.............

Well, it was always going to be a ball ache trying to get the Rover log-booked, and after a few conversations at the Autosport show, I have decided that the Rover is no longer gonna be a Stage rally car, but I am fancying a go at Drifting, now by that, I don't mean skidding up Sainsbury's car park on a Saturday night, but doing the BDC proper. So, now, I have got a chance to really inovate, and I can now go much wilder with the spec than I first imagined, but, everything I do will be reversable, so if I get the need to rally the car, and I have a chance of getting a logbook, it will be doable. In the meantime, I am thinking of using a BMW engine, depending on funds, I am looking at a V10 from an M5, and some kind of sequential box.

So, yesterday, I started to look at how much lock I have, and how much I can hope for, now, bear in mind, again, this front suspension was all designed in my head, with no references or data to compare, just a good knowledge of what needs to be where, and I am more than happy with how it has turned out, let the pics do the talking........

This is full travel, but that will change slighly, as I am gonna use some different top mounts that will lift the travel up by another 50mm.........



Full left hand lock...................



Full right......................



The restrictive factor is the compression strut, however, if I make them strong enough, I may experiment with some slightly radiused arms, just a thought........



So,keep em peeled for updates...............

[Sonus]

Looking good

What is it that would make it difficult getting hold of a Logbook to go rallying?

Regarding the Engine swap; My dad used to have 2600 SD1 with a straight six and I have ever since thought that it would be cool to transplant a straight six from a BMW into one. Even better would be a straight six from a E36 or E46 M3, or an older straight six from the E34 M5 like the S38B38(?).

There is a BMW E30 here in Norway with a turbocharged S38B38 that has been verified on a rolling road to 1000HP+

[rwd2ltrfiesta]

this look awesome full chat, full lock in tandam with some jap crap crack on mate cant wait

also wouldnt it be worth using your current engine to set the car up etc

[kierzo-199]

what an amazing thread

[Sunbmw]

this look awesome full chat, full lock in tandam with some jap crap crack on mate cant wait

also wouldnt it be worth using your current engine to set the car up etc

Cheers Dude. I don't have an engine at the mo, so it will be getting its propert engine as and when.

Just bought this, might be of interest to ya.....................

[pablomills]

Doesn't the V10 lack low-down torque? Suppose that means you just need to keep it bouncing off the limiter...

[rwd2ltrfiesta]

Cheers Dude. I don't have an engine at the mo, so it will be getting its propert engine as and when.

Just bought this, might be of interest to ya.....................

oooooo u tease , whats the plans with that?

[Sunbmw]

So, I have finally done a job that I was dreading, raising the rear turrets. So, after cutting into my nice new paint I set about trying to recreate the turret shape with some pieces 120mm deep, so as to raise by that much, and it turned out really rather well..................





just need to paint them this weekend now.

So, again, onto the front...............

Moved the bottom TCA mounting points up and out as to give me some more camber and so I can run the car lower, I am going to make the TCA's adjustable in situ so I can get the geometry bang on, I am just about to buy some eccentric top mounts and also gonna make some modded compression struts, that should have the front supension sorted. I have mocked it all up and it looks like I should have a decent amount of lock................







and a decent piece of camber.............





Moore soon!...........................

[exboyracer]

Geometry looks good

[Sunbmw]

Well, main priority at the minute is the Triumph Dolomite I am restoring, so the Rover has been sat patiently under its covers awaiting some attention. So, I got half an hour the other day, and I had just bought some Eccentric top mounts for her, so decided to have a tinker. Firstly, the top mont hole was the same size as the "Tit" on top of the mounts, so a little elongation had to be performed, then I drilled the mounts in the max caster/camber osition and offered them up, happy.....................





Offered up with the requisite Titanium nuts......................





Meanwhile, I had modified the cross member, to give me a few options to where to mount the TCA's, and also I have made the TCA's adjustable in situ too..............





Massive amount of parts to etch and paint now!..More soon............

[Forest_rallying]

That workmanship is a total credit to you, it`s second to none and puts some of the Pros to shame. I ran a Rover 2,3 straight six back in 1985 and it was a brilliant handling Car around the Derbyshire Lanes, even with the heavy straight six Engine.

[team_zi]

She is going to be such a head turner when you go drifting in her. Very nice!

[Group4_Mark2]

Superb work as always

[PaulAlex]

What a great car - and fantastic workmanship

Why would getting a rally logbook be tricky? Shame not to see this out on the stages

[Sunbmw]

What a great car - and fantastic workmanship

Why would getting a rally logbook be tricky? Shame not to see this out on the stages

Well, in thier infinite wisdom, the MSA are no longer issuing logbooks to stage rally car that have more than 6 cyliders, or that are over 3lt. I suppose I could have built her to historic spec, but thats just not how I roll. Also, I could probably have gone for a Ford or Vauxhall 3lt V6, but, contradicting my choice of engine somewhat, I didn't want to go down that route. I was thinking of asking thye MSA for a dispensation, as the V8 was the engine that the car was originally available with, and to be fair, it was never gonna set the world alight, but chatting with a few folks at the Autosport show, it seemed that that would be a lost cause.

Now it has opened up a whole world of possibilites for me, and I reckon it will get masses of attraction at Drift events.................................."Ask yer Dad, Son"................

[Forest_rallying]

That Car belongs out on the Stages and where all that Hard Work you have done can be appreciated, don`t give up trying to get a MSA Log Book for it. I don`t see where the problem is with them personally. they were Homologated in Group A. I thought it was the Hybrid Specials that they were trying to outlaw and not Replicas of genuine period Cars.
Leave the Drifting to the old BMWs, Mercs, Nissans and Sierras!

[Sunbmw]

Well, still battling on, albeit extremely slowly with the Rover. Still thinking of selling her, as I have now bought a few Sunbeams that I intend to build as I love the Sunbeam. Anyway, here is how she stands at the min, unloved in the Garage...........











Also bought some wheels for her, 10x18 Comps..........

[MK1_Oz]

I so want to see this project finished!!!

[Forest_rallying]

Keep on pushing ahead with your Rover, it looks so good and all that hard work you have done`ll be for someone else to take the credit for if you sell it!

[Arieke]

I looking alot at this car. Would be a shame to not see her finished. I also got bored at a moment at my car, luckully i kept and and now for some reason I going to modify it for circuit racing and not rallycross. I loved you're SD1. Keep on Pushing

[mechanicalrepairs]

Love it, you have some real skills, just gutted it wasn't completed when I got to the end.

Carl

[Sunbmw]

Love it, you have some real skills, just gutted it wasn't completed when I got to the end.

Carl

It probably won't get finished by me now Carl, I am hoping to sell her as I am just starting my new Sunbeam project................

[Sunbmw]

Sorry to say she is on ebay now guys..................... :-(

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1612155653...84.m1555.l2649

[Sonus]

I'm sad to see this end up on Ebay, but better that than you not getting well soon

Best of luck with both the operation and selling the car

[rwd2ltrfiesta]