So, you want a cool British classic?

"BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires" (biturbo228) 01/18/2015 at 12:47 • Filed to: None

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But you're scared of the reliability reputation. Well, pansies, do I have the car for you! It's a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! that's had the Rover V8 swapped out and a Lexus 1UZ-FE swapped in. Although it offends my sensibilities, it's a hell of a combination :) currently bidding at £1850 with 9 days to go.

MultiplaOrgasms > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/18/2015 at 12:51

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Hmm, a Rover SD1 that had its GM Smallblock V8 swapped for a 1UZ, but does that include the entire electrics? If not the engine swap was rather pointless.

WindexCheese > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/18/2015 at 13:03

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I'm guessing the A/C is non-functional.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/18/2015 at 13:38

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I'm quite okay with this. Doubly so if it's for touring car purposes.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/18/2015 at 14:05

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I much approve of this swap, but it's pointless if all the other wiring wasn't upgraded.

Nobi > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/18/2015 at 14:08

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I'm just saying, someone did this for LeMons.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Nobi 01/18/2015 at 15:18

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Neat :) how did it do?

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 01/18/2015 at 15:20

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Eh, a 250+bhp Rover SD1 with a sunroof that's stuck open is still a 250+bhp Rover SD1 :)

Nobi > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/18/2015 at 15:32

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IIRC, it and the donor were dragged to the track and they did the swap there. They got it done just in time to turn something like 16 laps. They're bringing it to the next race ready to go though.

ranwhenparked > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/18/2015 at 15:39

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The Rover SD1's problems were never an innate part of the design, rather related to shoddy assembly and quality control. The Rover-Buick V8 is a pretty robust engine once its sorted and maintained properly.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > ranwhenparked 01/18/2015 at 15:59

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Yeah I agree. So many of the cars from that era of British manufacture were engineered well but either put together patchily or forced to be released to the public before the bugs could be ironed out. I can't remember who said it, but I remember there being a quote from someone in BL management saying 'we prefer to let the public do our quality control'.

No wonder there's such a bad reputation surrounding cars of this era.

Once put together properly, loads of finicky British cars become perfectly reliable. Even the Stag (renowned for having a V8 riddled with problems) is a solid car once put together properly. I've heard stories of half a pound of casting sand being poured from the coolant channels when engines have been rebuilt. No wonder they had a reputation for overheating.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Nobi 01/18/2015 at 16:00

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Boss :) I must say I'm impressed. Can't wait to see videos of it roaring around the track

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > ranwhenparked 01/18/2015 at 16:08

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Oh, and just to prove your point. The ad's gone now, but I saw one for sale a while ago with 314000 miles on the clock. Original engine, gearbox and axle as well :) here's the post as proof :)

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/18/2015 at 16:14

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Proof that it's a Rover SD1, not a Triumph SD1.

ranwhenparked > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/18/2015 at 16:19

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GM had much the same problems in the '70s and '80s - nowhere near as bad or as widespread as BL, but very similar. Rushing products onto the market with huge flaws, letting the paying customers do the beta testing, then finally fixing all the bugs late in the product cycle after all the reputation damage had been done.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 01/18/2015 at 16:40

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My mistake, got Triumphs on the mind. Edited now.