After Sitting Close to 10 Years Will this Old Rover V8 Run Again? 

My second car was a Monza red 3500 automatic HBN 616N, a lovely motor, kept it for 3yrs and traded it for a Range Rover which wouldn’t go past a filling station 😂 happy days.

Exciting project! Thanks for sharing. Door sounds great when closing!

This Rover is in such an excellent state, it makes me jealous!

It sounds absolutely superb. Possibly the best barn find ever! My uncle had a humble 2000 in Zircon Blue for about 12 years, lovely car. I believe this is called Monza Red.

Very envious of you Adam, it looks and sounds like a really nice car, I’ve never owned a Rover, but have always admired them, and this V8 appears to be a gem 👍🙂

That's beautiful makes me sad that Rovers no longer with us

What a great find, beautiful car

I had a 3500S (manual) back in the day loved every moment inboard discs at the rear (pain) but the points could be adjusted while the engine was running so a dwell meter hooked up and off you go! 18 mpg local 25 mpg touring hood and trunk lid alloy I think.

Congrats!!!! That V8 sounds very good. If it were my car, I would replace the old worn points and condenser with a Pertonix electronic ignition kit right away. If you are keeping the Rover long term, you might want to consider a new 123 Distributor which will allow you to tailor the ignition advance curve with your. iPhone for optimum performance on today's fuels.

That was a really nice episode. I always loved the P6's. My mum had a 3500 in the early 70's whilst my dad ran a Range Rover. The sound of these Buick/Rover engines is beautiful.

Engine sounds great too!!!

Congratulations Adam and it sounds beautiful. ❤

Wonderful vintage barn find! Can't wait to see your Rover charging down the road once again.

That's a lovely car Adam. Mines a 2200TC, still in restoration stage, but nearly there.

What a lovely car Adam , So pleased to see you methodically going through all the checks you done rather than just trying to start the old girl up,I’ve watched so many other people do. It’s in such a lovely condition for a 51 year old car. What is your intention to do with it once you have done all the work on it ? Looking forward to watching the progress on this lovely car.

Seem to be the "in" classic at the moment. A few being revived in the UK by RU-vidrs, both 2 litre and 3.5 litre versions. Yours has the better bodywork by far. Interesting car and a good one to see restored.

Fantastic result Adam she sounds great looking forward to seeing the next update 👍

Someone obviously loved this car. This is definitely a win!

Beautiful car. My barn find is red too

Such a lovely car, and that colour suits it so well. Love the styling, being born in the 60's i remember when these were a common sight on the roads. Car of that era were just so different when it came to body styles, back in the day when collision regs and wind tunnels did not dictate how a car should look. So great to see this survivor!

Sunny Spring day in Sweden and the Rover is alive

Love the rover v8. Pity it's not the manual one😊😊. But I would still buy it from you❤️❤️

Nice one!. Took me back to my childhood. Dad had an orange V8.

Well done pour cette magnifique P6 !

you have a great looking and sounding motor she is a head turner what a beauty

Nice sound from that little V8. Nice project Adam, lots of fun for you and your viewers !

Very easy to work on . That exhaust sound awesome.

This reminds me of my very own V8 same colour . 1976. These cars were the Bomb in there days.

Sounds great.

i think you will just love this car when you get it road ready they were police car in the uk so they move when you want

Nice job. Car is a winner !!!

Wow, that's beautiful. You don't get them in that condition in the uk.. They dissolve with rust here. It's a lovely car to drive. Like sitting in an armchair

Excellent RoverV8......looks mint

That's got to be on of best Rover V8's out there in unrestored condition- what an amazing find.

What a wonderful car this Rover is.Just looking up to it being taken for a good drive.These cars are now a very rare sight ,classic British motoring which is gone for good.

Really enjoyed the video. This was the top of the Rover collection and a beautiful car to drive. You have done well to get it running again after 12 years.

that plug socket came in the cars toolkit

I had a 3500 s a brilliant car.. always had a bit of fuel vaporisation in hot weather… especially stuck in traffic. Fixed it a bit with a more efficient radiator to keep things cooler if needed opening the bonnet and heater on full blast hahaha. It had a full length sunroof so no problem there. I was going to reroute the fuel line I seem to remember it went along the block in between the block and the exhaust manifold not ideal for keeping fuel cool. Love you videos. You’ll see the p6 will grow on you they’re great cars indeed.

Loverly car Adam. You have a spotless feeling for good projects. Congrats!

One nice car Adam congratulations on your purchase well done on bringing it back to life can't wait to see more on this car

That Rover in red is absolutely beautiful

Congrats, what a joy. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻😁

This car is saying thankyou ! Adam , you must be pinching your self ! Well done ! And someone else suggested Monza Red .

It sounds and looks lovely Adam. What a find!

Great result Adam! I think you have lucked out. Hopefully I will slowly acquire some of your skills as I get to know my car better by working on it over the approaching summer.

Must check the engine breathers they get blocked and cause oil leaks. These are great engines. Very rarely overheat. Keep the engine oil clean as they have hydraulic tappets.

Great video 😊 thanks

Nice car, remember when i was young in beginning of 1970 to 1975 it was a copper brown painted 3500 with an old man and woman who had it, it was a wery nice car.😇

That engine sounds the dogs bollocks. I think you have a gem there. Nice one.

Great videos and love your attention recommissioning before firing up - the old girl deserves some love! My dad always had Rovers - a P4 is my earliest memory, a grey 105 which seemed so boring next to those flash Fords with “fins” and fancy colours. Then he changed to the P6 2000 manual soon after they came out, in white, when the only engine option was a 2 litre. It looked fantastic, like a spaceship after the P4 and made those Fords look, well, just flash! I loved it, but it was a bit cramped after the P4 and being the “baby” I had to sit on the hard “hump” in the middle on the back seat. Later dad had a P5B (“B” for Buick V8) auto Coupe which was like a ship after the 2000. You’ve got a beautiful car there with the best transmission option (I understand the manual could strain the transmission if driven too enthusiastically) and I’d be interested to know what are your plans for this lovely car? I’ve always hankered after one of these but, sadly, not many have survived in the UK because of the road salt used during the winter months. I guess in Sweden they don’t salt the roads but maybe just use winter tyres instead?

Lovely car. Nice work

You made a comment about the dashpots first calling them dampers then changed your mind to dashpots, in fact you were right both times because they are actually CALLED the dashpot dampers, in that on Skinners Union (SU) and Stromberg C.V' (Constant Velocity) carburators that is their entire function - an oil filled reaction type damper that prevents the air inlet barrel and combined fuel supply needle from opening too quickly on a sudden flooring of the accelerator and bogging the car out or stalling it - consider it an early iteration of the accelerator pump theory although in this design it doesnt actually pump any fuel. when looking a carb over stick your finger in the throat and feel the dashpot and try to lift it off its seat it should move smoothly up its bore with limited force, if it doesnt it will NEVER start or at least run properly. back in the day, when we were servicing cars with S.U's and Strombergs ( Rollers, most Leylands and Rootes/ Chryslers) we used to routinely fill the dashpot centre tube with 20w/50 engine oil ( manufacturer recommended) in summer, and neat redex upper cylinder lubricant (which is a much thinner oil akin to ATF) in winter, as a legitimate service item these dampers are in reality a major item often over looked these days by people not used to such old technologies, and not understanding how or even why it works, I've seen countless youtube will it run videos of people attempting to start vehicles such as minis etc after long lay ups and busy pumping the bejeezuss out of the throttle pedal while cranking them over and wondering why it isnt even coughing for them, I just sit and shake my head and smile at them - as since such designs dont even POSSESS an accelerator pump they are achieving absolutely nothing but a tired leg and an engine that struggles with an overly lean start mixture attempting to start from cold. due to wide open throttle valves with no fuel added When attempting to start an SU (or Stromberg) in a single OR multiple equipped vehicle that hasnt run for a long time and you are pouring neat fuel directly into the devices inlet throat DONT be tempted to even TOUCH the accelerator, bite the bullet and LEAVE IT ALONE and just crank it untill it starts at the correct stochiometric rate (fuel to air ratio). another trick to aid recalcitrant fuel delivery is crank it over for a couple of revs while blocking the inlet with your hand this has the effect of using vacuum to help fill the float bowl quicker. oh and older S.U's with manual chokes MUST be started from cold with the choke lever fully OUT - summer or winter, gradually reducing it half inch at a time as the car begins to warm up and the engine starts to hunt as yours did.... it wasnt a misfire it was simply hunting due to over fueling. hope this is a help to any of our younger viewers with little or no experience of such devices fitted to ongoing or projected rebuilds to keep in mind, by the way you were right to put anti sieze compound on the plug threads as ANY steel to aluminium interface that is subjected to high temperature changes ALWAYS results in galvanic corrosion with water as its catyliser which seizes and virtually welds them together solid - and if that happens you can be in a whole world of pain if you damage the plug threads on an alloy cylinder head trying to remove them. also with that in mind NEVER EVER put straight, neat water in the radiator - even if premixed with plain anti freeze, ALWAYS use a stand alone coolant which contains inhibitors to stop galvanic corrosion happening inside the block.

It's not a Jaguar but still a very nice looking car! Interesting to watch you go thru the process to get it going, great work!

I too have had a P6B, a yellow one, I sold it and bought a '86 XJ6, much regretted, the Rover was the more interesting and better all round to work on. You've got a good 'un there!

Textbook stuff Adam, bravo. 30psi hot at idle is correct. I love those distributors with the outside adjustment. Don’t be tempted to fit electronic ignition the original set up is fine and very reliable with new points and condenser. NB Some cleaning and lubrication is needed, you should be able to turn that adjuster with your fingers. Also check the centrifugal advance balance weights aren’t seized. A full strip down, clean lube and re-build on the bench will pay dividends, improve performance, reliability and fuel economy Re the brakes. Since you’re used to working on Jag rear ends these shouldn’t scare you too much. For rear pads you’ll need to screw the pistons back in. There is a specialist tool for this but a small spanner 11/32 or 3/8 from memory works at the expense of some sore finger ends. It’s doable on axle stands, just a question of finding a “reasonably” comfortable position where you can get both hands in there. Looking great so far, I’m so jealous but my P6 days are long gone now. Best, TonyS South Glos. U.K.

This car looks like a keeper rather than one to trade on/up!

Blinking marvellous 👍

Nice job these rover v8s are so good it's a similar engine as my tvr engine

Loved this video very intersting adam

Excellent Adam, the engine sounds very strong and healthy. It would be a joy of a video detailing the engine bay and repainting the black side panels.

Loved these back in the day...chunky and dense. Parents had a '61 Olds F85 that was the original recipient of this engine...def looked different from the rover iteration

Exciting

I used to replace the Lucas points with Bosch type and I also had electronic ignition fitted plugs were NGK instead of good old Champion type 8 29:56

Super jealous! I've been looking at P6s for a little while now. I guess they were all Automatics, because I've never been able to find a stick shift.

The metal fork next to the points pivot should have a block of thick felt soaked in oil in it, positioned to be in contact with the points cam. It lubricates the cam and prevents the plastic heel of the points wearing too quickly. Without it, or if it is dry, your points will close up very rapidly. Maybe why it died in the first place....

I’m going to say you scored a great buy

Magic!

That was awesome, well done! That sounds like a tight engine.

Great job Adam! Looks like you've found yourself a winner. They must have shared the parts bin with Jaguar...I see several familiar looking parts. Again, good job, she sounds great.

when i was younger man i made an extended backing trip from canada to denver along mostly backroads. alongside the road i encountered many bottles that looked identical to the one in your video. at the time, i was curious as to why they were there and what was in them, although i never investigated. now, many years later...well... let's just say that i can assure you the fluid in them was definitely NOT gasoline.! :)

if u got a good p6 they were great especially for comfort over long distances but the quintesential rover is the p5c(b) for buick. if u find a good one buy it if u can

Oil pressure is very good 👍

Very nice. The rear brakes are a bit fiddly being inboard. Mind you, so are your Jags so I guess that's not a real issue for you. Great to see it start and run pretty well.

Well done Adam. Great purchase! Don’t sell it! MGC next?

Hi Adam, I'm really interested in your approach to getting the P6 up and running as I have also purchased a very similar car but can't get it to start, BTW I also have a 1973 Daimler Sovereign 4.2 so I'm following you on both fronts, may be its my phone but I find your speaking volume very low and hard to follow, but I admire your organised way of approaching the car problems, thank you.

Wow !

Cue ... Phone call from my son working on his classic MG which would not start after many years of ownership. Any ideas Dad? Yes son, have you checked the Points Gap in the Contact Breakers? What's Contact Breakers Dad? He had previously successfully fitted an MG K-Series VVC 1.8 to his Rover Metro 1.1c as an engine upgrade but was unaware of the old technology. 1.1 c C for carb .. 😉

That was far too easy ;-) Been well looked after

Very nice what year is that white xj6 I have a s3 1979 xj6 looks the same great vid

felt the sense of acomplishment when the motor started. Just a Q, what is the key hole left of the steering coloum for, lock the glovebox?

Quality Bosch plugs...someone has looked after it.

Adam, check out :Wheeler Dealer, season 14, episode 1 featuring a Rover P5B--you may find it helpful. Sincerely, Christopher Charles, Colorado Springs, Colorado

As I could not see your tools closely this comment may be off base, but it looks like you are using 1/2" wrench and sockets, professionals use 3/8" wrench and sockets the strength is still there and the walls of the sockets are thinner, that may well solve you fitment issue.

How absolutely fantastic, I fear you will struggle to bring yourself to sell this glorious find, perhaps you can persuade your daughter to buy it, she might agree if you promise to look after it for her.

When it comes to the oil change, please make sure you refill the new oil filter with as much oil as it will take before refitting it. If you don't there is danger of the oil pump not priming! This is a idiosyncratic issue with the Rover V8.

best rovers p6

Eddie china or wheeler dealers is to watch for info on this car

Do you mind me asking what it cost you.

You definitely purchased a bargain.

It's a Buick v8 ,,Buick had made this v8 but did not like it,and rover bought the rights to it and produced it for there cars..

please crank up the sound, you are very quiet and getting more difficult to hear, which is terrible ; )