Rover 416 GTI Auto - Restoring an old friend

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Plodder
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Re: Rover 416 GTI Auto - Restoring an old friend

Post by Plodder »

Well finally managed a car show this year with my local club at the Dartington Hall South Devon.
Rounded off a good couple of weeks with a new MOT for the year with non advisories.

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Back in the garage, probably for the winter, and hopefully complete a few jobs ready for POL 2025 rather than doing the work in the summer and wasting the show season.
Anyone know if you can get a rechargeable heater to keep me warm whilst working in a lock up garage with no power during the winter. :D
1991 Rover 416 GTi Auto - Flame Red - Owned since Aug 97 :)
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Plodder
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Re: Rover 416 GTI Auto - Restoring an old friend

Post by Plodder »

Well finally found time to start the camshaft belt and water pump replacement . :D

Thanks to the advice from the forum recommending a long 3/4"SD breaker bar to crack the crankshaft pulley bolt.
Invested in a 40" 3/4" breaker bar and 400mm extension.
Made the task relatively easy. But even at this length it required some effort, but not too much though, to crack the bolt . :thumbup.

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Brought a US Pro breaker bar from Tools2UDirectSW in Plymouth for just under £30. May not be robust enough for regular professional use but certainly seemed good for the occasional DIY use and was a lot cheaper than I'd seen elsewhere, Hopefully it wont break when I next use it :slapme

https://tools2udirectsw.com/products/us ... s=e&_v=1.0

Happy that I've got the worst bit sorted and can now get on with doing the rest of the job.
1991 Rover 416 GTi Auto - Flame Red - Owned since Aug 97 :)
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Plodder
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Re: Rover 416 GTI Auto - Restoring an old friend

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Well never say that's the hard bit over with!

Whilst I had the alternator, washer bottle and alarm out I decided to give this end of engine bay a clean up and also replace the power steering fluid.

From my records it hasn't been changed for at least 27 years.

However trying to disconnect the pipe/hose from the power steering pump has turned into somewhat of a saga with the union nut welded firmly to the metal pipe.

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Given the limited time I'm able to allocate each week and no access to electric light and power in the lock up garage this has turned into a 2 month saga of spraying with all sorts of penetrating and freeze release sprays , leaving to soak and returning a few days later, all to no available.

I'm now trying to release the other end of the pipe from the steering box so I can remove the pump and pipe from the vehicle and take it home so I can take a more robust approach to releasing the union. Although the other end is proving just as difficult. A longer spanner has now been ordered. :laughing2

Interestingly all the other union connections to the steering box have undone with no problem. Just seems to be this one pipe, must be the combination of metals used.

Worst case is to get a replacement pipe/hose assembly and then I will cut the pipes so the union is disconnected from the pipe and then they can just be unscrewed from the steering box/pump.

Hopefully once this is sorted I can get on with the cam belt change, but i have managed to replace the alternator brushes and will get the the steering box cover and exhaust manifold shrouds repainted whilst I do the other work.

Onwards and upwards, hopefully :laughing2
1991 Rover 416 GTi Auto - Flame Red - Owned since Aug 97 :)
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GTiJohn
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Re: Rover 416 GTI Auto - Restoring an old friend

Post by GTiJohn »

Can you free the bigger adapter nut from the body of the pump?

That way you might be able to get the loose pump out, followed by the HP hose assy and get it to a bench, where you can apply some heat to it.
I like Twin Cams.... and Single Cams...and now Turbos
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Plodder
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Re: Rover 416 GTI Auto - Restoring an old friend

Post by Plodder »

Thanks might give it a go, although a bit cold at the moment to go scrabbling about on the garage floor.🥶
Would definitely make it easier to remove the pipe assembly once I’ve released the other end.
I’ve been loathed to take a heat source to it in the car and lock up garage as I don’t want an oil fire to start. Seen that in a garage near me with a Mk1 escort. Not much left of the car in the end.

I’m waiting for Chris Taylor to get back to me after the holidays about a replacement pipe so I can make some progress on it as it’s getting a bit frustrating now :headbanging
Will make sure I get some copper or ceramic grease between the union and the pipe to make it easier to dismantle in the future.
1991 Rover 416 GTi Auto - Flame Red - Owned since Aug 97 :)
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Plodder
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Re: Rover 416 GTI Auto - Restoring an old friend

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Well finally managed to disconnect the High Pressure pipe from the pump. :clapping

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Was just about to give up for the day as had made no progress in disconnecting the high pressure pipe from the steering box, corroded solid as well, and it was looking like I would have to cut the pipe to remove it.

Once it was released with a crack I was able to carefully remove the union with loads of releasing agent.
It is now easy to assemble and disassemble and I'm able to fully tighten it again, so it will at least seal properly .
Given the problems removing the union I was surprised how little corrosion there was on the pipe.

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The pipe is a bit misshapen, but perfectly usable, and hopefully it can be straighten a bit.
But at least it's apart and I can now get on with the original task of changing the cam belt.

I might get a replacement pipe and change it in the future when that's the only task I need to do.

At least I know what to expect now :scared
1991 Rover 416 GTi Auto - Flame Red - Owned since Aug 97 :)
StubbornPatriot
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Re: Rover 416 GTI Auto - Restoring an old friend

Post by StubbornPatriot »

Congratulations. Perseverance, caution and circumspection finally paid off. That's great news. Cheers, Duncan.
1989 216GSI + 1990 216GSI + 1997 416 Tourer + ? + Triumph T160V
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