2hours Ownership - Clutch Gone

[Mike Noc]

Originally Posted by SCP440

Yes I know, the one I had back then was only 4 years old but there was rust in the bottom of the doors and wheel arches.

A couple of years ago I was looking at one for its potential new owner and as you say filler a plenty, such a shame as you hardly ever see one these days and have you seen the price the good ones are going for?

I know of a as good as new 2.0 Laser MK3 in storage with delivery mileage, he wants £25k for it. It was driven from the dealer to the storage and has never been anywhere since, shame he didn't buy a 2.8.

£25K?

I only paid 30 quid for this one back in the day. It looked to be in excellent nick too, and I remember when stripping it down how free of rust it was.


Sold the alloys for £25 and weighed the rest in when I had finished with it so made a modest profit, and had a lot of fun into the bargain!

[hogweed]

Originally Posted by Euanangus97

Having the nearest garage assess it this afternoon so we shall see. Tho tempted to go to ‘Duncan’ as he seems well versed in Rovers.

I’d *STRONGLY* suggest you go to somebody who knows these cars. I’m no mechanic, but replacing the clutch (or even just the slave cylinder) is a massive and difficult job due to the positioning of the engine/gearbox etc. Somebody can correct me, but I believe you have to drop the front subframe out and everything.


The garage I went to, although cowboys, yes, have been in business a long time, so you’d think this wouldn't be beyond them – but from memory, they charged me something like 6½ hours labour, and the job came to something like £650.


When I moved back to Ireland, and took it to my local Rover expert, he not only charged me about half that (mostly because he only took – from memory – 2½ hours to do it, as he knows the cars inside out), he also identified that the cowboys had chewed and bent the gearbox bolts when they did it, so he had a bit of laugh getting them out.


Be interested to see what your local garage quotes you. This time I paid £569 for a whole pile of work, and sadly can’t find the original invoice to extract just the clutch price, but that also included a new exhaust back box, replacement of a broken suspension spring, replacement of the bonnet dampers, fixing the wiring under my seats to put the airbag light out, new clutch, master, and slave.


Let us know

[Mike Noc]

Originally Posted by hogweed

I’d *STRONGLY* suggest you go to somebody who knows these cars.

Yep if you aren't going to do it yourself take it to someone who knows what they are doing.

That way you will get the longest life out of the new parts, and nothing else will be damaged.

[Avulon]

Just to note that it's not impossible to drive the car without using the clutch, been there, got the t-shirt. pulling off is the hardest thing to get good at - but once you've got it sussed it's just a matter of being easy on the gears and matching revs as much as possible.

[stevestrat]

Originally Posted by Euanangus97

Tho tempted to go to ‘Duncan’ as he seems well versed in Rovers.

Cheers

Euan

I can vouch for Dunc, nice guy and knows what he's doing. One of only two guys I trust to work on my cars.

[Sheraton]

Originally Posted by Euanangus97

Ah no worries at all then, win some you lose some I guess. Sucks to hear about your bad experiences with garages, it’s rubbish when you’re willing to shell out and trust someone to put something right only for them to take the mick. Here’s hoping i get lucky whoever potentially repairs my clutch. Having the nearest garage assess it this afternoon so we shall see. Tho tempted to go to ‘Duncan’ as he seems well versed in Rovers.

Cheers

Euan

How'do Euan

If Duncan is available for the Job - I'd recommend using his services

I've had a few repairs done by Duncan - I wouldn't consider leaving my Car with anyone else



it's a shame your Car failed so soon into ownership - I've only just got my Car back on the road (28/12/18) after timing belt issues caused engine damage back around March 2018 (a long story documented in a couple of threads on here) - that first proper drive after so long was well worth the wait and the effort - the 75 is such a Nice car to drive


Source the Parts required - Book a date with Duncan - Drive and Enjoy


Paul.

[Ross R75]

Euan, I'm just up the road from you in Edinburgh. If Duncan is available to replace the clutch, it's seriously a no brainer. He's taken more 75 gearboxes off than most people have had hot dinners. Super nice guy and knows the cars inside out.

You're welcome to drop in for a brew or I can collect you and drop you off at his unit.

[Euanangus97]

Jeezo Sheraton, that must have sucked! Though I suppose if somethings worth doing etc , glad you seem to have got it all sorted out

As for Dunc Ross, the local garage is quoting about the same as him. The only differing factor between the two being the money id have to pay to have the Rover transported up to Whitburn. Extra £100+ for transport to Duncan's might be worth it in the long run though. Albeit it I am begrudging to have to pay at all seeing as I only just bought the hecking car.

Cheers

Euan

[stevestrat]

I take it Dunc knows the car would need transporting, he might be able to offer a better transport option. If you can get it to him I'd choose Dunc over some generalist garage every time.

[Ross R75]

Originally Posted by Euanangus97

Jeezo Sheraton, that must have sucked! Though I suppose if somethings worth doing etc , glad you seem to have got it all sorted out

As for Dunc Ross, the local garage is quoting about the same as him. The only differing factor between the two being the money id have to pay to have the Rover transported up to Whitburn. Extra £100+ for transport to Duncan's might be worth it in the long run though. Albeit it I am begrudging to have to pay at all seeing as I only just bought the hecking car.

Cheers

Euan

Yup, it's been a fairly rough deal all round for you. Duncan will do a proper job with the subframe dropped, input shaft greased, and slave carefully fitted. The local garage might, but they're an unknown. These are brilliant cars when treated properly. I'd be keen to get it done properly once, rather than invite the potential for early failure.