Thread: Rebuilding Sid

Thanks

I think this is brilliant, made my day.

It’s got about 7 moving parts for the sole purpose of switching a light on.

I can’t help but imagine this is the output of a 1960’s british Union controlled design department

“.....a simple switch you say.... I don’t think so....”

Or a bloke sat there on a Tuesday thinking, I reckon I can stretch this job out until Friday and old Fred can take on that brake adjuster design without me...”

I love stuff like this!

I think you are a bit off - I think it is a 1940s design, just possibly 1950s, and it is quite likely something that they (or a supplier) did for the military during WW2 and carried on with seeing they had a lot in stock.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

I think you are a bit off - I think it is a 1940s design, just possibly 1950s, and it is quite likely something that they (or a supplier) did for the military during WW2 and carried on with seeing they had a lot in stock.

John was there enough left over stock for the entire 2/2a production runs, the orange lamp seems to be in all of them or did the switching mechanism change

Cheers Paul

The choke knob/cable and switch changed to a far flimsier and less reliable setup with the change to negative earth in 1967. So it wasn't the whole run of 2/2a. The parts book picture for up to there looks identical to yours.

Once started using the older choke control, the general philosophy of Rover at the time would have been to keep it the same unless there was good reason for changing it - saved on the costs of parts storage and changing the workshop and parts manuals.

Work has prevented anything getting done on Sid for weeks now, but it has not stopped the parts coming


Today’s little surprise, brand new carb body for the Solex. New old stock item.....perfect!

Exhaust is finally on its way, tried in vain to have one made locally, and did get all the pipe sections ready to weld up one myself, problem is local exhaust shops could not replicate the 3 hole flange fitting and flare into the manifold. Cost of doing so the same as buying an exhaust from the UK.

In the end, complete system from bearmach for $340 delivered. Two thirds of that was postage.

Wiring loom on order.

Just need some time now.

Finally, some time spent in the garage, first time in months.


Fully rebuilt Solex.


Had to make up a new vacuum tube, found some brass tube at the local model shop and recovered all the fittings from old distributor. Nice.

Then exhaust.. don’t know why I’m surprised, but found out the fitting kit sent with the LWB exhaust is for a SWB. So, fab time.



Making exhaust clamps in the press.


Looks the part. Had to cut and weld the drop bracket, but finally got it al to fit.


It took a bit of persuading, and a bit of jumping up and down on it to make the bends go where landrover intended, but it’s sort of where it should be.

Thinking I might need to trim the end as it sticks out a bit past the wheel

Don't trim it till the tub is on.
May not stick out as much.
If to short fumes may get sucked in with a soft top open.

whitehillbilly

Satisfying job today.


Choke light switch contraption.


Got lucky, the switch was missing the actual choke knob, but in the bag of bits from Sid there was a choke cable assembly but the switch had long gone.


The business end


Nice!


And all done and back together. Works perfectly.

I still love this bit of over engineering. Worked out that there are 30 parts to this switch.