My next project has arrived. A 2003 Rover 1.4 Impression.
A few niggles, light scuff damage along OFFside of car. Both Doors and rear wheel arch.
Here is the reason the previous owner decided to sell up. Evidence of Oil-Coolant mixing in the sump showing on the Dip Stick :~
Further evidence of Oil reaching the coolant. I had already added some SPEEDFlush to the coolant and run the engine for a while. SPEEDFlush is good for clearing a lot of the oil which lurks in the cooling system when a Cylinder Head Gasket becomes damaged. The Coolant and Coolant Expansion Bottle were far dirtier prior to adding the SPEEDFlush and running the engine. :~
Not a bad looking car :~
The engine and the engine compartment were filthy and full of dead leaves etc. I gave it a bit of a clean using a Mist Sprayer with a dilute engine degreasant solution. Drove it round to the nearby Jet Wash to clean the whole area up, including the front Alloy Wheels which were black with Pad Filth. I dislike working on a filthy engine. The car drove very well. One thing I really liked, the steering wheel situated perfectly in the straight ahead position when driving straight ahead. Plus, the Steering Wheel locked in the straight ahead position too. These are signs I like to see in a car adding to confidence as you get to know more about it.
It was a typical "ebay Spares or repair" car and the honest description may have put some people off including myself initially. wanting something to keep me productively occupied for the next few weeks or so I decided to take a chance. so far, the signs are good that I've backed a winner here. Not counting my chickens just yet. I shall take it ... carefully ... to my friendly MoT tester and have booked it in for Monday. A couple of careful miles only should not do any harm. I've arranged that the emissions be tested first and if it fails to meet those values to stop the test and I'll take it away and renew the Cylinder Head Gasket. If it passes the emissions to continue with the full test. Although the car drove beautifully, brakes, steering, lights tyres etc all there, it is still much of an unknown quantity to me. The MoT expires today... tax until end of December.
So far so good. More follows.
A few niggles, light scuff damage along OFFside of car. Both Doors and rear wheel arch.
Here is the reason the previous owner decided to sell up. Evidence of Oil-Coolant mixing in the sump showing on the Dip Stick :~
Further evidence of Oil reaching the coolant. I had already added some SPEEDFlush to the coolant and run the engine for a while. SPEEDFlush is good for clearing a lot of the oil which lurks in the cooling system when a Cylinder Head Gasket becomes damaged. The Coolant and Coolant Expansion Bottle were far dirtier prior to adding the SPEEDFlush and running the engine. :~
Not a bad looking car :~
The engine and the engine compartment were filthy and full of dead leaves etc. I gave it a bit of a clean using a Mist Sprayer with a dilute engine degreasant solution. Drove it round to the nearby Jet Wash to clean the whole area up, including the front Alloy Wheels which were black with Pad Filth. I dislike working on a filthy engine. The car drove very well. One thing I really liked, the steering wheel situated perfectly in the straight ahead position when driving straight ahead. Plus, the Steering Wheel locked in the straight ahead position too. These are signs I like to see in a car adding to confidence as you get to know more about it.
It was a typical "ebay Spares or repair" car and the honest description may have put some people off including myself initially. wanting something to keep me productively occupied for the next few weeks or so I decided to take a chance. so far, the signs are good that I've backed a winner here. Not counting my chickens just yet. I shall take it ... carefully ... to my friendly MoT tester and have booked it in for Monday. A couple of careful miles only should not do any harm. I've arranged that the emissions be tested first and if it fails to meet those values to stop the test and I'll take it away and renew the Cylinder Head Gasket. If it passes the emissions to continue with the full test. Although the car drove beautifully, brakes, steering, lights tyres etc all there, it is still much of an unknown quantity to me. The MoT expires today... tax until end of December.
So far so good. More follows.