Rover SD1 Track Car with 5.7 LS1 and T56 6SPD

[SPROVER]

Model: 1984 Rover Vandenplas SD1
Colour: Blue
Engine Type: LS1 Gen 3
Engine Mods: Standard at the moment
Gearbox: 6 Spd Manual T56
Diff: Stock which will break on first launch
Brakes: Jaguar XJS Front slotted and vented Discs with EBC pads
Suspension: GAZ Adjustable front and rear shockers with uprated springs
Wheels/Tyres: Simmonds 15x7 front and rear
Interior: Stripped out
Other Mods: Roll cage
Build Period: Hopefully sometime this year it will be up and running
Future Plans: A nice cam for the track,upgraded diff because the standard ones are as strong as candle wax,rear disc brakes,OTR and tune to suit plus probably alot more
Cost: Well its left me with not much in the bank


Ive owned this car for nearly 14 years now and its been through a lot of changes.It first started out with a Rover 3.5 V8 and Holley 2 Barrel running straight gas.I then put in a brand new 3.9 V8
with a turbocharger set up running straight LPG through a Gas Research Throttle Body.It was an old school set up but worked really well.I was only running 9 pounds of boost and it made just on
300 HP at the motor.It didnt have a huge amount of power but the torque was unbelievable.It had full boost by 1800 RPM and didnt need to rev over 4800 RPM.I remember running a VX Clubsport
255 kw when it first came out.He was quite surprised when he couldnt keep up.
It was my everyday car for about 5 years until i lost my licence in it. After that it sat for a few years while i toyed with 4wds and something not as quick.Then i had a bright idea to turn it into
a track car.Ive always liked the shape and the racing history of the Rover SD1 and the fact that there arent many of then around.So i sold off the engine and turbo bits to get an LS1 conversion done.
And basically this is where i am at today.Hope you enjoy the pictures!


This is what it looks like

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/06/1072.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/06/1073.jpg

The old motor coming out

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/06/1074.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/06/1075.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/06/1076.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/06/1077.jpg

The big empty space for an LS1

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/06/1078.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/06/1079.jpg

[SPROVER]

Before i sent it out to have the conversion done i changed all the front bushes to upgraded ones and had a jag disc brake and caliper conversion done as well.
The Standard Rover Discs were terrible standard and dangerous at higher speeds.These are a popular upgrade in England for them and are suppose
to work really well.

The new discs

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/06/1063.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/06/1064.jpg

Taking out the front struts to get the discs fitted up and putting in the new inserts and springs

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/06/1065.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/06/1066.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/06/1067.jpg

The new Jaguar discs and calipers fitted up

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/06/1068.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/06/1069.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/06/1070.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/06/1071.jpg

[PSI250]

hey Chris, did this used to have plates PSI005 or something along those lines back in the day??

i remember seeing a Boosted SD1 a few times at the thurs-fri night drags in melbournes east 10 or so years ago.

[SPROVER]

hey Chris, did this used to have plates PSI005 or something along those lines back in the day??

i remember seeing a Boosted SD1 a few times at the thurs-fri night drags in melbournes east 10 or so years ago.

Yeah thats the one.Ive actually still got those plates here.Use to go to a few of those back in the day.It use to make people look twice at it
when it took off.

[Landover]

Nice looking ride Chris. How does it go with the LS1. Taken it out on the track yet, or is it still work in progress. I see why you have been to busy to head bush.

You should add some pictures of your brothers Dolomite. With the 3.9 in it it's part Rover. Are you going to put them up against each other on the track.

Post up some pictures when it's in action.

[PSI250]

Yeah thats the one.Ive actually still got those plates here.Use to go to a few of those back in the day.It use to make people look twice at it
when it took off.

haha that tested the old memory bank! it was a fair few years ago now though but i remember seeing it and thinking WTF's in that!

[SPROVER]

haha that tested the old memory bank! it was a fair few years ago now though but i remember seeing it and thinking WTF's in that!
Thats a pretty good memory you got there Cal :D. That brings back some memories now.Did you ever see it run other cars?


Nice looking ride Chris. How does it go with the LS1. Taken it out on the track yet, or is it still work in progress. I see why you have been to busy to head bush.

You should add some pictures of your brothers Dolomite. With the 3.9 in it it's part Rover. Are you going to put them up against each other on the track.

Post up some pictures when it's in action.

Thanks Dave.Yeah its taken up some time alright and my cash:(. Its currently a work in progress but should be up and going soon i hope.I'll try to get some pics of my brothers Dolomite up as well.I've been wanting to head out bush for awhile as well but i need to go over the Disco.Having to many cars as hobbies is time consuming and can leave you broke :D But i love it :D:D

[SPROVER]

installed some new GAZ adjustable shockers front and rear with uprated springs.Cant wait to try them out on the track

The difference in spring height

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/06/1014.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/06/1015.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/06/1016.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/06/1017.jpg

[SPROVER]

This is the car all loaded up and ready to get the conversion done

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/06/1011.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/06/1012.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/06/1013.jpg

[PSI250]

Thats a pretty good memory you got there Cal :D. That brings back some memories now.Did you ever see it run other cars?


i can only recall seeing it cruising round and taking off!

i had my straight gas turbo XE fairmont ghia at the time, and as you would know, sleepers and gas turbo setups weren;t that common back then, so thats why it kinda stuck in my memory bank!

[jon3950]

Looks like a bit of fun. Had a couple of SD1s as road cars back in the day and still have a soft spot them. Would still like to build one up as a tarmac rally car.

I'll never forget the two TWR Rovers that came to Bathurst in '84. The best sounding cars I ever heard on the mountain.

Cheers,
Jon

[98 LS]

Looks like a bit of fun. Had a couple of SD1s as road cars back in the day and still have a soft spot them. Would still like to build one up as a tarmac rally car.

I'll never forget the two TWR Rovers that came to Bathurst in '84. The best sounding cars I ever heard on the mountain.

Cheers,
Jon


Ahhh! The BASTOS/CALTEX Rovers! Awesome. Tom Walkinshaw had his **** together all the way back then.

I remember Andy Rouse dominating the BTCC back then in an SD1 too..

p.s love the SD1 conversion mate.

[SPROVER]

Thanks for the comments guys.I have some footage of them racing back in the day and they sounded great.Ive always liked them and plus the fact you hardly see any of them.Plus they are a pretty well balanced car.

Well heres a few more pics :)

The motor and gearbox all fitted up nicely.Along with the race seat and wiring all done.It sits nice and low as well as being far back in the engine bay.
It should handle nicely which is what im after.Along with a bit of power I still have a fair way to go but will get through the list i have slowly.
Anyway here are the pics with motor and gearbox fitted.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/06/889.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/06/890.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/06/891.jpg

[muddymech]

great looking car, loved watching them battle the 6 series bmw in the touring car days

[loanrangie]

Love the SD1, my mum had one when i was a teenager and i learnt to drive in it along with the old mans rangie. Driving instructor had to keep telling me to slow down after getting out of the rover and into the corolla for lessons.

[Lehto]

Hello from finland!

Nice car you got there with a certainly good choice for engine!

I hate to ask this but do you have any pictures of how the T56 fits into the gearbox tunnel? Did the tunnel need any modifying to take the T56 or was it a "straight fit"?

[SPROVER]

Hello from finland!

Nice car you got there with a certainly good choice for engine!

I hate to ask this but do you have any pictures of how the T56 fits into the gearbox tunnel? Did the tunnel need any modifying to take the T56 or was it a "straight fit"?

I will post some pictures up either tonight or tomorrow for you.The gearstick is in a really good position.The guy who did the conversion finessed the tunnel a little with the hammer :D and just cut the hole a little bit bigger to get the gear stick in its position.Im not running a center console so wasnt worried about it looking standard.

[SPROVER]

Here are the pictures of where the gear stick comes through.I havent finished covering the hole yet.


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/07/999.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/07/1000.jpg

[SPROVER]

The gas tank has been removed now and there is alot more space and probably alot less weight.It was a 100 litre gas tank.Just need to clean the
back section up now and it should look good.Anyway here are some pictures.


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/07/997.jpg

The new fuel cell going in.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/07/998.jpg

[Skiboy]

Love the project and the loved the SD1s.

Shame they did not last the test of time and not more good ones around. A road version with the LS1 would be very neat.

I grew up driving my Dad's various P6 3500's then SD1 - lovely cars to drive and could pull a great wheelie from school!

It is where my RRC association comes from - the 3.5 engine.

So keep up the pictures as just love this project - well done.
Skiboy

[rovercare]

If its been at Winton for a shake down, this thread must need a shake up!

[SPROVER]

If its been at Winton for a shake down, this thread must need a shake up!
I completely forgot about this. I will update it this weekend. I have some more plans for this car as well. I'm getting another body shell with front coil overs, kmac adjustables, limited slip diff, Moser axles, four wheel disc brakes and more[emoji3] .