Went to pick up my P6 today.

It was in Stoke, bought unseen by me before I buggered off to Czech,
MOTless but taxed until the end of next March - the joys of tax
exemption and my first ownership experience of it. Was a hopeful buy but
after my previous experiences with P6Bs I wasn't hoping for miracles.
Thought I was quite likely buying a load of scrap metal with a few
valuable bits and a 10.5:1 Rover V8. Figured it'd probably need at least
sills and rear calipers.

So we trundled down to Stoke to collect it. Bloke drives it out of the
garage (two good signs), hands me a huge folder full of service history
dating back to the mid 70s and I start prodding and poking the Rover
looking for impending MOT faults. I'd have to book it in for an MOT in
order to drive the thing home. On a hot day. In a P6B, a car notorious
for fuel vapourisation issues, on unleaded fuel which seems worse than
the old 5 star for boiling.

After 10 minutes with it idling happily away I still haven't found
anything particularly shady other than the four wings all having a few
very crusty bits. The base unit appears solid as anything, and the MOTs
show it doing an average of 700 miles a year since '93. Tyres were
replaced a couple of years ago and have done around 2000 miles, a nice
bonus. Even the handbrake appears to work. All the electrics work and
the oil pressure is a reasonably healthy 30 psi @ idle. Signs of tappet
noise, so I'll give it a good flush and change the oil and filter for
the stuff I bought for the Rangie. That should help.

So I pay the man and head off to the MOT station, crossing my fingers
and putting the RAC on speed-dial. First impressions are that it doesn't
feel too bad, steering is a bit wandery and the speedo has a 10 mph
wobble zone that doesn't stop, someone's probably kinked the cable.
Autobox is a bit thumpy at first, but the temp gauge is happily sitting
in the lower end of the green bit, oil pressure is 45 psi on the move
and it feels ok. Pinks if you properly nail it, but it will.. they do
that unless you back the timing right off.

It's made it through Stoke's infernal traffic, made it along the A500
and onto the M6. It's almost inspiring a bit of confidence now, cruising
along at 55 mph / 2500 rpm, mirrors are useless, but the seat is comfy
and it's not made any dodgy noises. Seems to be tracking fine, still a
couple of inches at the wheel before much happens, but the gauges are
all reading happy readings and the ventilation system works. The little
vent between the steering column and the speedo is great. Lets up the
speed a bit.. yup, it's still happy at a speedo reading of somewhere
around 70, 3000 rpm. I'm enjoying this.

Get to the end of the M62 and into Liverpool, first set of lights the
oil pressure gauge starts to flicker at idle. Oh ********. Panic for a
sec, listen to the engine, still sweet, check the temp gauge, still
sweet, oil pressure gauge.. 25 psi, all isn't bad. I'll change the oil
anyway. To the MOT station. Fingers crossed. Listening for any creaks
and rattles, changes in engine sounds.. I hate going for MOTs in unknown
cars.

Get to the MOT station, where all the mechanics down tools and come and
have a look. The boss wanders out of his office to inspect it. They seem
to like it. The apprentice mechanics want to know what the hell it is,
but they know it sounds nice. They're pointing at the rusty bits on the
wings which is somewhat irritating. They shut up when it's pointed out
that the thing is nearly 37 years old.

I then have a tense 40 minute wait while the MOT tester does his thing.
It's the first time he's clicked the "Before 1975" button on his gas
analyser, that amuses him. I wander about, drinking coffee and chatting
to the mechanics in the main workshop while the tester does his thing.

The time arrives. Tester wanders into his office and enters all the
data. 5 minutes later he hands me a nice green 12 month MOT and offers
to buy the car in a couple of weeks if he can get the money together
without his wife freaking out.

It's been a good day.


--
Pete M - OMF#9

Rover P6 3500 Auto
Range Rover V8 Turbo (sold)
Volvo 850 T5 CD Estate
Mk1 Golf GTi 1.8 (For Sale)


"In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of
people very angry and is widely regarded as a bad move."

On 1 July, 01:31, Pete M wrote:
Went to pick up my P6 today.

I'm very jealous. Had mine (but it was only the 2200) when I was
totally skint and needed a reliable, economical commuter car. Now I'm
not skint and don't need a reliable economical, I'd love another P6,
especially a V8. What colour is it?

Yes that vent on the steering column is god's own invention. And those
padded C pillars perfect for nodding off in the back. And the opening
quarterlights...

fishman wrote:
On 1 July, 01:31, Pete M wrote:
Went to pick up my P6 today.

I'm very jealous. Had mine (but it was only the 2200) when I was
totally skint and needed a reliable, economical commuter car. Now I'm
not skint and don't need a reliable economical, I'd love another P6,
especially a V8. What colour is it?

"Tobacco Leaf". Mid '70s equivalent to wheatgrass, one of those colours
nobody sane would choose.

Yes that vent on the steering column is god's own invention. And those
padded C pillars perfect for nodding off in the back. And the opening
quarterlights...

I'd forgotten how cool the old P6s are. My dad had literally hundreds of
them in the 70s.


--
Pete M - OMF#9

Rover P6 3500 Auto
Range Rover V8 Turbo (sold)
Volvo 850 T5 CD Estate
Mk1 Golf GTi 1.8 (For Sale)


"In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of
people very angry and is widely regarded as a bad move."

In article ,
Pete M wrote:
Autobox is a bit thumpy at first,

Every P6 auto I've come across has this set up wrong. The BW 35 relies on
just the one cable to set the gearchange speeds by throttle opening and to
do the kickdown. And if you have wear in the throttle linkage you loose
the kickdown, so most adjust the gearbox cable to get it back - thus
fooking up the relationship between the two at low throttle openings which
is crucial for smooth changes.

If you follow the shaft which is coupled to the actual carb back to the
bulkhead you'll find it pivots in a brass bush inserted into a grommet.
The grommet has likely collapsed. Hopefully the bush is still there.

Disconnect the gearbox cable, repair that shaft bearing, and adjust the
throttle so with pedal to metal the carbs are fully open. Then connect the
gearbox cable so it only just operates the kickdown valve at full
throttle. You can feel where the valve operates by pulling the cable.

With this done correctly you should have pretty smooth changes.

--
*Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don't have film *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article ,
Pete M wrote:
I'm very jealous. Had mine (but it was only the 2200) when I was
totally skint and needed a reliable, economical commuter car. Now I'm
not skint and don't need a reliable economical, I'd love another P6,
especially a V8. What colour is it?

"Tobacco Leaf". Mid '70s equivalent to wheatgrass, one of those colours
nobody sane would choose.

Ugg. ;-) IMHO they look best in Cameron green or white.

--
*If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article , Pete M says...

I then have a tense 40 minute wait while the MOT tester does his thing.
It's the first time he's clicked the "Before 1975" button on his gas
analyser, that amuses him.

ROFL...it amuses me as well.

It's been a good day.

Hasn't it? I thought they had aluminium wings? I'm sure they do. At
least it'll just be a rub down and repaint.


--
Conor

I only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't
looking good either. - Scott Adams

In article , Pete M says...

"Tobacco Leaf". Mid '70s equivalent to wheatgrass, one of those colours
nobody sane would choose.

Heh-heh. I had one of those. Diahorrea brown as the missus calls it.


--
Conor

I only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't
looking good either. - Scott Adams

In article , Dave Plowman (News)
says...

snip
With this done correctly you should have pretty smooth changes.

Ever thought of setting up as a Classic Rover specialist? I'm not
kidding...



--
Conor

I only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't
looking good either. - Scott Adams

On Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:09:27 -0700, fishman whimpered:

On 1 July, 01:31, Pete M wrote:
Went to pick up my P6 today.

I'm very jealous.

Me too, I've always wanted a P6. Just not found one available at the
right time when I've had money available. My mate's dad had a P5 and a
P6B when I was a kid. If I could find a decent one before december when
baby arrives, I'd use one as a family car!

Mike P

Conor wrote:
In article , Pete M says...

I then have a tense 40 minute wait while the MOT tester does his thing.
It's the first time he's clicked the "Before 1975" button on his gas
analyser, that amuses him.

ROFL...it amuses me as well.

It's been a good day.

Hasn't it? I thought they had aluminium wings? I'm sure they do. At
least it'll just be a rub down and repaint.

Rust suggests otherwise.

--
Pete M - OMF#9

Rover P6 3500 Auto
Range Rover V8 Turbo (sold)
Volvo 850 T5 CD Estate
Mk1 Golf GTi 1.8 (For Sale)


"In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of
people very angry and is widely regarded as a bad move."