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Pulling down front end

Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 7:02 am
by Bills100
Hi
I’m about to start pulling down all the suspension for my 100for cleaning painting and new rubbers. I will follow the steps in the ws manual.
Any tips or tricks? Especially with removal and reassembly of front spring and swivel pins.

Thanks
Terry

Re: Pulling down front end

Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2019 3:30 am
by Bills100
Hi
I’m new to this forum But have been on many other forums for the various cars I have owned over the years. It’s not a criticism but just an observation that the rate of reply compared to views is incredibly low..I’ve never seen that before. It’s not even 1 reply for every 100 views. Any ideas about that? This is across the board in all topics. I’m sure the expertise is out there in Rover land but the idea of a forum is that is to be shared and members actively participate. Otherwise what’s the point? How can we encourage members to reply to posts if they have some answers and are able to contribute to a discussion? If that can happen more often then it makes for a better forum. So just some thoughts...
Thanks

Re: Pulling down front end

Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2019 2:17 pm
by RobHomewood
Hi Terry
Sorry you are disappointed with the forum. I havent been on any others in earnest so I dont know whether the response rate is better but there is a lot of knowledge in The RSR and I have had some incredibly useful repsonses to some of my queries.
My low level of repsonding myself is to do with my lack of knowledge- having waited many years to get my old Rover I have had to relearn everything I knew when as a youth I had to service my own car. It has been a steep learning curve for me including basic skills and knowledge and I still struggle with some things.
So I basically know nothing about any other model than my own (39 DHC) and have forgotten pretty well everything I knew 50 years ago about P4's for instance
So I woudl say dont give up on the forum - it needs people seeking information as much as those supplying it
Good Luck
Rob

Re: Pulling down front end

Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2019 3:02 am
by Bills100
Hi It’s all good...just an observation. One guy had 4774 views for 2 comments and another had 2263 views for 1 comment. It’s pretty consistent across the board. I think it can’t be just that people don’t have the answer or knowledge you can always generate a discussion or point someone in the right direction. Could it be that the average age of Rover forum users is a bit higher than say a Chevy forum? You would assume that they may not frequently be on smart phones and other devices all day. Possible I guess? Also less users overall as well.
I will definitely persist forums are incredibly valuable especially when wanting to restore a car correctly and get correct parts.

Re: Pulling down front end

Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2019 12:35 pm
by TonyG
Terry,

I’m pleased that you have voiced your observations regarding responses to forum queries. I’ve noticed the same thing and wonder just how long it must take some people to get tasks completed on their cars if they are waiting for support from other members. I’m not an owner of P4s but I always try to offer help regarding P1/2 models. These are simple machines and, like Rob, any knowledge I have has been gained through the restoration and maintenance of my two cars plus my experience of cars as a teenager 40 years ago! Rovers, were produced in much lower volumes than some other makes so there are, naturally, fewer left than some other makes. Probably testament to the quality of the cars that so many have survived and why so few owners have had to undertake complete rebuilds to keep them on the road.

Having chatted to a number of owners of all models and makes at car shows it is apparent that fewer and fewer UK owners undertake the maintenance of their vehicles and usually engage local garages or specialists. This is not a criticism, simply an observation but, I suspect, has a lot to do with the poor response you have had to your query. It must also be the case that old Rovers are changing hands more frequently in good working condition so that new owners are less likely to face technical issues. As a result, those owners with first hand technical experience are literally and sadly a dying breed. This is why it is so important that more younger owners get involved with these lovely old cars and are encouraged to get their hands dirty. Modern cars are so ‘hands off’ that an increasing number of motorists of all ages.can’t change a wheel or check the oil but classic cars are much simpler and a great place to learn new skills.

To help remedy this I’d like to echo Rob’s comment on the importance of questions being asked and hope that a greater number of replies will be stimulated. I suspect a lot of people have valuable input based on what they have done, or had done, to their cars. It’s just a matter of confidence to share it.

Good luck with your P4 and please do update the forum with your progress so that your knowledge is recorded for future owners to refer to.

Tony

Re: Pulling down front end

Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2019 7:50 am
by Bills100
Thanks for that. I inherited the Rover, sold it and bought it back. So lucky to be able to do that and get the car back with all the documentation I sold it with and more. My grandfather purchased the car new from the only Rover dealer in Perth at the time. It’s a detailed and well documented story with photos of the car crossing the Nullarbor on gravel towing a caravan and driving to far North Queensland twice. Pretty adventurous for mid 60’s in that car imagine doing that now..It was the only car he ever owned from 1961 and was his pride and joy. I have the slips for progress payments he made to the dealer.it was a lot of money back then. It was an emotional moment to see that car again. I found it in Melbourne and shipped the car back home still with the rego sticker on the windscreen from 1999. It hadn’t been touched.
I had the engine and gear box pulled and rebuilt but will do everything else myself. It won’t be a show car I want to drive it and keep original. I’m lucky to have a guy with a good store of original parts so I can keep the car completely original..I don’t think any new parts are as good quality as the original anyway.
Forums are great for technical advise but also sharing stories and experiences about cars. I have friends and have visited interstate through forums. I think this forum is going to be different but let’s see. Sometimes you can get to know someone is is prepared to offer advice and can have direct email contact for example.

Re: Pulling down front end

Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2019 11:17 am
by TonyG
Terry,

There is another club called the ‘P4 Drivers Guild’, which appears to specialise in cars like yours. You might want to give their web site a look. I don’t own one so I cannot speak first hand but there appears to be maintenance info etc.

Your car and the history sound great. So good that you own it once more and that it hasn’t deteriorated badly out of your ownership! My Tourer has been a family member throughout my life and now resides with me. It was dismantled many years ago for a much needed restoration and not touched for almost 35 years. Having it back together is a constant source of delight and it pleases me just to look at it. It isn’t perfect and I’m painfully aware of my restoration short-comings! However, the car goes well, looks good and is a joy to own. I’m taking it on a weekend trip to it’s original home in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, later this month. Around 300 miles there and back, which will be quite an adventure for an 82 year old- that’s the car, not me! If that goes well I’d like to go farther afield and retrace some of the 1930s rally routes that my car was used on. Great fun.

Tony.

Re: Pulling down front end

Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2019 2:47 pm
by Bills100
Thanks I will check that forum out. All the best with your car. I like all the old Rovers especially the Rover 12 tourers. You see them in English movies and tv series all the time. Don’t see many here in Australia though.

Re: Pulling down front end

Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2019 7:29 am
by Phil - Nottingham
Forum usage in the UK is dropping fast as Facebook with its easy photo posting and vast audience is much favoured. The posts are transient and completely unstructured so the search is fairly useless.

The P4DG Forum was once excellent for usage and there is still a wealth of info on there but now one post a week is the norm.

I moderate the P5 Forum which is still well used so there are exceptions. It does cost money however especially for pictures and it is open to none P5 Owners Club members so these are gaining free advantage over the paying club members which subsidise it. It does work 2 ways and on balance (just) having this arrangement works but it is controversial with some members

It's sad that the traditional forums are falling into disuse especially after Photobucket's action in charging for hosting eliminating many thousands of photos although there is now limited free hosting that has restored some.

Both the RSR and P4DG have very active Facebook Groups with often instant responses and loads of pictures

Re: Pulling down front end

Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2019 10:40 am
by Bills100
Thanks for the reply sorry for the delay in responding. I’m not on Facebook but it seems more and more that I need to be. Since my last post on this forum have joined the P4 DG. There doesn’t seem to be a way to communicate with members. As you say Facebook may be an option so will look into it.
Thanks again.