Leo's Rover 420 Turbo

[LeoZwalf]

Greetings all,

I've been a casual lurker on PH for a while, finally decided to join up today

I drive a 1994 Rover 420 GSi Turbo, there's some photos and some blurb about it here

www.rover2mg.com/420GSILeo.html

Cheers
Leo

[chrisbr68]

Glad you joined up matey. Its about time!

[Rob_F]

Nice car! Bet it frightens the absoloute bejeezus out of a lot of people

Rob.

[LeoZwalf]

It does tend to worry/excite passengers (depending on their disposition).

I love taking it to Jap Night @ Ace Cafe, managed to out-run a Civic Type R, twice and that was with a slipping clutch and only 8 psi of boost.

For £650 you can't complain even if it was a non-runner. Best bang-for-buck cars out there at the moment I reckon

[chrisbr68]

True, if there is a car that offers more MPH per £(Martin Brundleism) I want one!

[LeoZwalf]

Turbo comes in...

220GTi/GSi turbo
220 Coupe Turbo
420GSi turbo
620Ti (only Rover engine'd 600)
820 Vitesse (only 180ps version) and Vitesse Sport (full 200 ponies)

I don't believe I have met this Pwig of which you spea... who or what is it?!

>> Edited by LeoZwalf on Wednesday 16th February 00:45

[nicecupoftea]

LeoZwalf said:

620Ti (only Rover engine'd 600)

I might be wrong but I'm fairly sure they used a Rover diesel in the SDi...

[LeoZwalf]

Ahh, I forgot about the oil burners.

I know the 200/400 series used a Pug XUD diesel motor, no idea what the 600/800 ones used though.

I shall investigate this further


btw. 214 SLi - best car? I think not. 420 turbo

[LeoZwalf]

Ok so the 825 diesel uses a Rover lump, called the VM.

Some specs here if anyone is interested...
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/william.whittaker1/engindata.htm

Looks like they used individual cylinder heads, most odd.

[old64er]

LeoZwalf said:

Ok so the 825 diesel uses a Rover lump, called the VM. Some specs here if anyone is interested... <a href="http://homepage.ntlworld.com/william.whittaker1/engindata.htm">http://homepage.ntlworld.com/william.whittaker1/engindata.htm</a> Looks like they used individual cylinder heads, most odd.

this engine has been used for years in Sd1 rover, Jeeps, Granadas etc....

and doesn't the 618 use a k series engine ?????

>> Edited by old64er on Wednesday 16th February 21:08

[LeoZwalf]

Well you learn something new every day, I'd never heard of that engine!

The 618 uses a Honda lump for sure. The 620Ti is the only Rover engine'd 600.

[kaivaksdal]

Hi Leo, others.

I used to own a 214si (5 door) which I spent thousands on. When it was finally finished, it was 260 bhp, 282lb/ft, used the 800vitessesport (short) gearbox, stripped, fully sorted Koni springs and shocks, strutbraced, AP racing brakes, so many things done to it I forget.

I was brilliant fun. Looked normal (ish) but did quarter mile under 14 seconds at about 110, maxed out at 137mph everywhere.

All that money spent, sold it for £3k.

Jaky was his name. Gone now.

[LeoZwalf]

I knew Jaky! I've been in him

I speak to Colin regulaly on MSN. Sadly Jaky has departed for the great breakers in the sky, but certain elements live on.

Engine/box, brakes, suspension and other things have been transferred to Colin's Rover Coupe which promises to be a beast

[MarkK]

kaivaksdal said:

Hi Leo, others. I used to own a 214si (5 door) which I spent thousands on. When it was finally finished, it was 260 bhp, 282lb/ft, used the 800vitessesport (short) gearbox, stripped, fully sorted Koni springs and shocks, strutbraced, AP racing brakes, so many things done to it I forget. I was brilliant fun. Looked normal (ish) but did quarter mile under 14 seconds at about 110, maxed out at 137mph everywhere. All that money spent, sold it for £3k. Jaky was his name. Gone now.

I remember you as well Kai - the grandfather of Rover tuning on the 220GTi group!

Favourite memory is a video of Jaky on a drag strip and the marshall shouting "F**king Jesus!" as you set off! Had me in stitches for ages.

[kaivaksdal]

Hi guys,

Nice to know that he was remembered well.

My best bits were racing a Skyline down the M4 and going to the Rover versus RS day (the one from the video clip)- I was on the rev limiter for half of that mile run!!!

The engine, gearbox and other bits were definitely "Monday build".

All that money I spent and its all still running. Good. Say hi to Colin for me....

[shnozz]

looks like my 620Ti is going to be sold to a fellow PHer in the next 45 minutes

I will be very sad to see her go. At least it loves on in the PH world.

[chrisbr68]

Saw that schnozz. If it was 6 months down the line I would have considered it!

[leozwalf]

Nearly a year since I joined PH, my goodness!
Car has been off the road for a while, in bits.

Latest progress report:

Removed:
Front calipers, carriers, discs and pads
Bumper
Radiator and some hoses
Intercooler, cold air box, filter and boost hoses.
Turbo
Gearbox
Front suspension


Added / uprated
Black Diamond clutch fitted
Sump removed, tidied up and refitted with new gasket


Bought and not fitted yet
Koni top adjustables all round with poly bushes all round
Pulsar IC
T28 from S14 200sx
Bailey DV
Poly gearshift bushes
New CV boots
Cookie 2.5" downpipe/elbow
620ti front calipers

Still to get
Fix leaky rad
ZS discs, Ti pads
Braided brake hoses
Oil feed for turbo
Turbo flanges
Slimline fans
Gearbox (being refurbished)

It *WILL* be ready for Le Mans whether it likes it or not.

[texasjohn]

nicecupoftea said:

LeoZwalf said: 620Ti (only Rover engine'd 600) I might be wrong but I'm fairly sure they used a Rover diesel in the SDi...

Yes, they used the 104hp 2.0 TDi motor which is also found in the 200 & 400.

Available with 85hp in the 200/400, but only the 104hp version in the 600. I think the extra 20hp comes from an intercooler, although I might be wrong.

[LeoZwalf]

Forgot about this thread, again!

Finally got her on the rollers yesterday and was very pleased with the results:
235bhp @ 6100rpm
239lb/ft @ 4200rpm

All my hard work has paid off, hours of being out in the cold and wet, and hot and burning weathers, skinned knuckles, cursing and ranting were all worth it!

Still got other niggles to sort but that is pretty normal for a car this age which actually gets used.

Cheers all,
Leo