Project 800

#Project800 arrives…

It’s outside our house now. There’s no getting away from what we’ve done.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It’s here, Project 800 in all its magnificence. And mould. There’s a lot of that. But it is an old Rover, so that’s to be expected.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”3813″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”img_link_large” css_animation=”appear”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Buying this – we realised this morning as we stood there in the rain, looking at it – was a bit hasty on our part. It was local, so that was one box ticked, and in retrospect it seemed to be the only box available for ticking. We didn’t really look at it all that much. As such, the last week has been spent wondering if we could come up with some marvellous excuse to get out of buying it. Maybe ‘the homework ate my money that was in the dog’ or something.

We didn’t though. We stuck to our guns and our 100% eBay feedback score and went ahead with it. It’s an old Rover, so what could possibly go wrong?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”3812″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”img_link_large” css_animation=”appear”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Well yeah, there’s that. One wing is a bit crusty. So is the under-edge of the boot lid come to think of it. But that’s about it. The front bumper has a hole in it, but again, that’s not the end of the world. The interior is utterly minging. The alloys are a bit rough. It needs love. And love is what it well get, because under the rust and the muck, there’s a good car just waiting to get out. We think.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”3811″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”img_link_large” css_animation=”appear”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The battery is goosed, so we had to jump start it to get it on the recovery truck. But good old Project 800 clambered up there with aplomb. It’s like it knows we’re going to save it.

While on the truck, we could have a good nosey underneath. All is good. It’s had a plate on the N/S rear sill at some point, presumably by Stevie Wonder and a Fisher Price welder, but meh, it seems to be doing the trick. Also, the steep incline to get on the wagon revealed that the clutch is fine. It’s got a high biting point, but hey, it works.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”3810″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”img_link_large” css_animation=”appear”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]So what’s the plan? Well, the car wasn’t the only thing that was delivered today. The postie turned up with a hernia and a grimace, and also a lot of parts. Got to love that eBay. We have:

  1. Volvo 850 header tank (a common fix for the 800)
  2. Wipers
  3. Rocker cover gaskets
  4. Oil filter
  5. Gear gaiter
  6. Boost valve
  7. Air filter
  8. Gear knob
  9. Brake cleaner
  10. Timing belt
  11. Pulleys

Basically a lot of stuff. There’s also a load of oil here, and some fresh coolant, and there are plugs, leads and a coil pack on the way, too. Not to mention a full compliment of brakes from MTEC. Lovely.

And once all that has been fitted, it will be off to Reddich, where the team at Great Escape will be doing the bits that need to be done to get it through an MOT. What a handy, helpful bunch.

But until then, it’s time to dust the spanners off…[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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