Hmmm Where Do I Start?

[Guest Ian Williams]

I have a exmo which I've purchased @ 70% complete with a 1600 crossflow engine and sierra running gear. I'm not quite happy with it and decided to re-build, however!!! I came across a Rover SD1 3500 V8 with @ 80K miles on clock and a manual one, with no MOT but i have the V5. My thoughts are stripping the sierra bits off and putting the rover parts on and using it as the donor car. The donor car also has a good reg plate which would be nice to keep. Does anybody have any advice on the best way forward? Any advice is much appreciated!

[Guest snotfart]

helluva big job with lots of bespoke engineering,the sd1 has a live axle which is a backward step compared to the independant as used on the sierra.do the engine change and try to do a reg transfer.

dave

[Guest zoomzoom]

You won't keep the donor reg the dvla take that away, it is possible to get an age related plate but you will have to use the rover parts

[Guest MarkB]

Put the plate on retention first, before you do owt.

[Guest Ian & Carole]

Mark

I know that you are the MOT guru, but am I not right in thinking the car needs an MOT before the plate can be removed ?

[Guest MarkB]

Mark

I know that you are the MOT guru, but am I not right in thinking the car needs an MOT before the plate can be removed ?

 

 

Ooops I think you might be right there Ian.

[Snapperpaul]

Easier option is to retain most of the Sierra running gear and mate the Rover V8 to the sierra type9 box, you will use sierra steering, front rear suspension and gearbox thus having enough points for an age related plate.

[richardm6994]

The rear of the exmo is designed around the sierra sub frame assembly. massive job to change this to rover. Keep the v8 and mate it to the type 9 box as others have said.

[Guest Ian Williams]

Many thanks for the advice, the only part that concerns me is the way the sierra sub frame is mounrted to the chassis. the bottom arms come through the floor to the back fo the seats and there is a 2mm thick plate bolted to the floor with only 1 upright to the sub frame bolts! ( ill take a photo next week!)

[Snapperpaul]

My Series 3 which is similar in construction has the thick plate bolted to the tub in at least 6 places.

If concerned then join the left and right plates under the car with angle or box

Edited June 4, 2012 by Snapperpaul

[Guest Ian Williams]

Finally got round to taking a photo of the plate that currently holds the lower beam and the angle that holds the top of the rear shock absorber! Any advice on this would be appreciated before I go any further with the build!

 

Many thanks for any advice!

 

 

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