[BigV123]

Dear Members,
Hello to everyone from a new member!
I have just purchased a Rover 216 Tomcat (N309 CAR) with 59,622 on the clock.
If I knew how to attach a photo I would!
As far as I know, it is a 1-owner car (having belonged to the vendor's deceased mother) and has been sitting in a garage for approx 4-years, with the odd start to turn the engine over.
Inside it is almost immaculate, however the bonnet in particular is suffering from lacquer peel it is a rusty red kind of colour!).
I would appreciate any advice on the following:
Other than getting the car resprayed and undersealed, I should of course get the mechanicals attended to first.
So my question is, when I take it to a reputable garage (the car is currently in St Austell, and apparently driveable), what are the key mechanical items that I should immediately look to attend to?
Ideally, I'd like to budget around £500 to £750 to get the car through (I'm hoping) an MOT, with at least the basics covered, at which point I would like to collect it and drive it back to Bromley, and from that point, then get any remaining 'needed' items done.
If I had the budget, I'd get everything done down in St Austell, but having just moved house, I need to be a wee bit prudent.
Thanks so much in anticipation of any responses and advice, and I look forward to attending the first relevant outdoors meet whenever circumstances allow

[StubbornPatriot]

Firstly, welcome to the club.

To recommission the car I would suggest a full service with cambelt change (and probably the tensioner and water pump at the same time), change all fluids (including brake fluid). Get the garage to do a good check over of seals and rubber gaskets looking for drying out and cracks. You may find the brakes seized on if the handbrake has been left on - if so, you may be able to free them up by starting the engine up and driving it a few yards. Then get the garage to give them a good clean up, if necessary. It's possible the clutch may have 'stuck' and doesn't do anything (probably not in your case if the car has been started periodically) - on the odd occasion I've experienced this, spinning the engine at high revs a few times usually frees it up again. Let the engine warm up slowly before doing this - in fact, let it warm up slowly before you do anything for the first few times at least. Check for perished hoses, looking for leaks when the engine is warmed up and running (also check for moisture on the radiator). Lubricate/grease cables. Check the state of the tyres, especially the side walls. Check the CV boots for deterioration. Get them to check the underside, sills and wheel arches for any rust. If the bonnet just has lacquer peel and no rust, I would prioritise the undersealing over the respray.

Generally these cars have survived well and if it's been garaged, you may find very few problems with it. Most of the above is a cautious approach. It may well be perfectly driveable as is but you probably wouldn't want to go far without the service an brake checks.

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will add to these suggestions.

Best of luck with your 'new' car and we look forward to seeing you at some events when the eventually get restarted/confirmed.

Cheers,

Duncan

[RoverRevival]

Happy to help with this but we are a little further north.

We have just pulled an sd1 from penzance.


My advice is send it directly to the mot bay, let them tell you what they want doing first.

[Mr Teddy Bear]

Just to add to the useful advice offered above, is it the Honda D16 single cam engine or the K Series? IF you're taking it to a local garage in Cornwall try to find a ex MG/Rover dealer that still retains some expertise with the cars. The Honda engine only holds 3.4 litres of engine oil for example and a lot get overfilled by garages. The Honda gear box should have a oil change every 24,000 miles and runs on engine oil. While servicing the cooling system it's a good opportunity to adjust the cable clutch, the K Series may not have an adjuster and just a spring to take up the slack as the cable stretches etc.

Obviously check all fluids/tyre pressures before moving the vehicle. An alternative is to get the car transported if you know of a reputable Rover friendly garage closer to home?

[BigV123]

Thank you all for the great advice.
Taking it all onboard, I am going to take it straight to a local (family run and very reputable) garage to where it's located and get them to put it straight through an MOT, and see what comes up.
Then, after I have rectified everything that it may have failed on, I can (hopefully) drive it back to Bromley and thereafter, find a Rover specialist to work through all the items as suggested.
Thanks again and very much appreciated, and looking forward to meeting everyone in due course.
(PS: It's the Honda engine and automatic).

[GTiJohn]

This might help with posting a photo or two - https://www.rover200.org.uk/forums/view ... =1&t=12794