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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2010 21:43:25 GMT
Hello From across the pond, Where do I start? Well, I have been a Land Rover collector for quite some time (mostly SI, SII, SIIA, and a 72 Range Rover) I really enjoy my Land Rovers and you can say it is a passion. But Lately I have been looking into exploring the world of vintage long distance rallying. I have beat my brain to a pulp trying to figure out what pre 1968 car to use, and it has been a challenge to say the least. I love the Mini, but unless i am into torture (I am 6'2" tall 230 lb) I would only get one for typical rallying. I looked at the US cars and non appealed to me. And finally I was left with the MB fintail, which looked like a good strong car, but I really don't have any mechanical experience with the MB product. Amazingly, during all this I never even thought about the Rover cars, until one day while watching Top Gear reruns they did a nice segment on the P5. I almost jumped out of my chair when I saw it. This was the car I was looking for! So as all virgins do, I bought the books, read up, and was happy to find that the Rovers where used in long distance rallies! So now beckons which way to go... 3.0 or 3.5? Personally I rather go the V8 since I have tons of mechanical time with them, but it looks like they only made them automatic. So i'll ask if anyone on the forums knows of a kit to change to manual. Second issue I have with the V8 is the fact that finding a left hand drive is rather difficult. And lastly if I want to be allowed in some of the events I am planning to go to, I can only go for the 68 model year (unless they start to rewrite the bylaws as the calendar turns to 2011. Now for the 3.0. The only problems I see with the 3.0 are that I have never worked on the 3.0 so I don't know their temperament. Second is lack of power, some of the vintage races will be in 8000+ altitudes with steep roads. This is where the V8 will show its true colors. So are there period modifications that one can do to the 3.0 to raise the hp (apart from polishing the inlet ports in the cylinder head and work to the exhaust system). I am sure a few of you have played with increasing the output of the 3.0 and keeping it within period modifications. Is there a specialty shop that can provided these type of modifications in a kit? Carbs, etc. Lastly, (yes I am a bit longwinded) I am open to any and all advice! Like I said earlier I have worked on my Land Rovers and I have replaced a few wiring looms, so electrically I know what to expect and how to fix it. Mechanically, I know the V8 and how to work the carburetors, but with the 3.0 I have no clue. As for the car itself... not to worry it will remain stock, but with a few added safety items (period racing bucket seats, running the break lines inside the car, seat belts, lights, etc. All in all anything I would add I would also make it so I can remove and replace it to bring the car back to its original look. Well, that is it for now! Thanks for your time and a happy new year to all! Robert Blanchard
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Post by Warwick on Dec 30, 2010 22:58:34 GMT
Welcome Robert, and Happy New Year.
Wouldn't a P6 be a better proposition? The body and suspension would certainly cope better. Or are you like me - the P6 looks too modern to my eye. The P6 was a 1970s car introduced years ahead of its time. The P5 was a mid 1950s car that was solid enough to live on through the '60s.
I think you would need to modify the rear suspension and (at the expense of ride quality) replace the rear spring rubber mounts with conventional spring hangers.
I can put you in touch with a friend down here who has done a very nice manual conversion on his P5B Coupe. He used a P5 clutch pedal assembly, a Toyota Supra 5-speed gearbox, and the 3.5 was taken to 5-litres.
Regards, Warwick
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Post by dmaxwell on Dec 30, 2010 23:01:09 GMT
Hello and welcome! Where on the Left side of the Pond are you located? Lot of folk on the forum will be willing to put in their two (or three) cents worth! I'm out here in California and have a '65 Mk IIc.
David Maxwell
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2010 23:12:19 GMT
Hello All, Warwick, I looked into the P6, but it just didn't do it for me. I like the classic lines of the P5, its more 'Me" for lack of a better explanation. I figure that switching to a manual would be possible but difficult especially when finding a car to begin with is a challenge! Dmaxwell, I am all the way in south Miami, Florida. Not to many early Land Rovers here. I know of four excluding mine. As for Rovers P4, P5, P6... I have never seen one down here... frankly, personally I have never seen one in the States! Robert
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Post by Warwick on Dec 30, 2010 23:34:01 GMT
I looked into the P6, but it just didn't do it for me. I like the classic lines of the P5, its more 'Me" for lack of a better explanation. Yes, I know exactly what you mean Robert. (Sorry about the typo - but all fixed now)
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2010 5:33:51 GMT
Yes i get that a lot. I figured people remember the first letter in my name and they remember the "chard" in my last name, and the subconscious fills the rest! I just noticed that the club magazine has a rally P5b article... guess its time to become a member!
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Post by glennr on Dec 31, 2010 9:01:39 GMT
Welcome to the forum Robert. How about something like this?? www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zAsNX4vCQM
The P5B can be converted to a manual if you are mechanically minded. Good luck and keep in touch with me for updates?? Happy New Year to all!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2010 19:00:10 GMT
This is more what I had in mind: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ywx92mM5TkBut I would not take it that far since I want to drive the car as well. I do like the louvers on that NZ car... Happy new year! Robert
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2010 19:11:28 GMT
That navigators pod looks smart. Good place to have the battery cut off switch...
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Post by glennr on Jan 1, 2011 11:01:05 GMT
This was the car that was used for the article. The guy was very helpful.
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Post by Smallfry on Jan 1, 2011 22:51:07 GMT
Sigh. I do wish I had kept my saloon Welcome Robert. I would go for a V8 saloon if I were you. I believe the body is stronger than a coupe. Also, the engine layout will be very familiar to you, and you can easily and cheaply get Offenhauser, Edelbrock, Weiand manifolds for the Edelbrock Performer 500 carbs (not Holley) for the engine. Of course you could use any of your old domestic engines. The car will take the weight, and the engine bay is just about big enough to take a Ford/Chevy big block..........although they are a bit heavier than the old 3 litre 6. As you are aquainted with Land Rover, the electrics will also be familiar, as will a few other components. The car can easily be changed to manual. In fact if you are keen, I have one sitting in my workshop now that you can have for nothing if you care to collect it ;D Good luck
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Post by glennr on Jan 2, 2011 9:52:22 GMT
Sigh. I do wish I had kept my saloon Come on..give us a cuddle
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2011 1:56:48 GMT
Smallfry, Thanks for the offer on the manual transmission but my Land Rover sinks when it tries to cross the Atlantic ;D. Maybe I'll take you up on that offer when I get the Rover I recently found a 1968 3.5 left hand drive Saloon that I am looking at, but right now the timing is not right. Hopefully the chap still has it come late February early March. I have been doing my research on the Rovers and found that a 1960 P4 80 made it all the way in the 2007 Peking to Paris race: www.pekingparis.com/with no mechanical issues. Maybe someone knows the owners. I would love to write to them to see what they did to prepare the P4 to get it ready for that race, well that and the amazing experience they had! Their names are John and Joan Fallows. I also bought the book "How to build a successful Low-cost rally car" No mention of the classic rover P4, P5, or P6 in the book... Anyway, right now my goal would be to join the Trans-America rally challenge (New York to Alaska) but there is a lot of things that have to be done before then, firstly is to find the car, then to rebuild the mechanics, strengthen the chassis in the right places, etc, etc. finally would be to test out the Rover before the race. It is a good goal to have but I know I am cutting it close. Lets just see what the new year has in store for me! Robert
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Post by Warwick on Jan 13, 2011 3:03:37 GMT
Yes i get that a lot. I figured people remember the first letter in my name and they remember the "chard" in my last name, and the subconscious fills the rest! Ah, yes. That would explain it Roger. I'm usually very careful with people's names and their spelling. I used to only have to explain whether I was Warwick or Warrick. But these days a lot of people seem to struggle with those choices. The best one I've ever had was last year when I ordered something over the phone. When I gave my name, they asked if it was Warrick. I said "No, it's the one with the silent W in the middle." I thought at least he doesn't think it's Worik. When the parcel arrived it was addressed to Warwrick. It's now in their system, so all packages from them are addressed the same. I thought you might like this. And this one from our own Damian. roverp5.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=2465&page=2Cheers, Wazza
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2011 4:01:24 GMT
Sweet! Nice to see the P5 in action! And its Robert ;D ;D ;D ;D lol Which event is your picture from? Looks like Africa...
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Post by Warwick on Jan 14, 2011 2:06:30 GMT
Sweet! Nice to see the P5 in action! And its Robert ;D ;D ;D ;D lol Which event is your picture from? Looks like Africa... Sorry but I couldn't help myself. I don't know. Just an image found on the electric interweb thing. Certainly looks like Africa. My guess would be that it is historic rallying rather than an old photo. A P5 did compete in the East Africa Safari rally in the '60s when the Peugeot 404s tended to dominate, so it could well be a photo from a rerun of the Safari. I have some Rover Company footage of the factory rally P5 returning to the UK in the '60s if you are interested. It would have to be mailed.
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Post by Warwick on Jan 14, 2011 2:43:03 GMT
I just did a quick Google of the East African and yes it is running again - every 2 years. Could this be the same car? If it is it's a different year because it's Car 14 in this photo. www.eastafricansafarirally.com/pg3/index.htmAnd here's something very interesting. A certain Richard Martin-Hurst has been rallying P5s and P5Bs for some years, including the East African, the 1993 London to Sydney rerun, and the Targa Tasmania. Could these photos be of his car(s). Does his name ring a bell Robert? If I were you, I'd try contacting him. Nothing to lose. www.eastafricansafarirally.com/prichardhurst.htmAnd now I've just found this! www.eastafricansafarirally.com/2003/info_pages/richard.htmGlenn, why not try contacting him and see if you can get permission to reprint some of this with some good photos?
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Post by David on Jan 14, 2011 16:05:01 GMT
It would be a reprint: Warwick - August 2008 of Take Five
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Post by Warwick on Jan 15, 2011 2:19:57 GMT
It would be a reprint: Warwick - August 2008 of Take Five Gee, that was quick and efficient! I joined the forum early in 2007 but didn't join the club until the following year I think. I probably don't have that issue. I'll have to check.
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Post by Warwick on Jan 15, 2011 11:56:25 GMT
Thanks to the extensive photo library of Rob Turner, I now have a couple of shots he took in the township of Bright in Victoria, of a Dutch entry in the 1993 London to Sydney rerun. Rob is a member of the Rover Car Club of Australia, the New South Wales Rover Owners' Club, and the Rover Sports Register (UK), and was a member of the Rover P6 Club (UK) when he took the photos. Plus this nice photo of the 1968 P5B of Richard Martin-Hurst and Bill Meade taken at the finish of the 1993 rerun in front of the Sydney Opera House, by Tony Cope of the New South Wales Rover Owners' Club.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2011 16:04:32 GMT
Don't you just love these cars!
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Post by glennr on Jan 15, 2011 19:29:07 GMT
Great photos Warwick. Can you e mail me with any more details? A nice article for Take Five me thinks.
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Post by Warwick on Jan 15, 2011 20:39:19 GMT
Great photos Warwick. Can you e mail me with any more details? A nice article for Take Five me thinks. I'll ask Rob and Tony if they'll drop you a line.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2011 21:36:36 GMT
Very nice shots! Thank you for those! especially the last one which show some modifications... All I need now is just some time and a bit of luck then I'll be good to go!
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Post by Warwick on Jan 16, 2011 7:30:21 GMT
Robert,
Did you look at those East African Safari links?
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