slowdude Posted December 30, 2023 Author Share Posted December 30, 2023 500 miles later (and a significant road trip for the holidays and the new motor is incredibly strong). Been doing a lot of 3k to 5k pulls. Will have to do an oil change and review the oil pressure gauge which is acting up. I did put in new LED headlights from Classic Car LEDs in the UK. Plug and play, bulbs have rectifiers on them so draw is the same. Very pleased with this $75 upgrade. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted December 30, 2023 Share Posted December 30, 2023 The rover K really comes on cam at 5500rpm and pulls like a freight train. Enjoy! Tom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slowdude Posted February 13 Author Share Posted February 13 Setup the 3D printed mirrors and installed new spa mirrors. Setup new RAM mount on dash from Ebay so I can have GPS. Currently waiting for powerflex to get new center De dion bushings in, and the new A Frame is sitting in place. JAL LED rear light clusters ordered, along with rear LED fog and reverse lights. The rear light clusters came with an LED flasher relay, but doing some research it looks like I'll need a diode due to the draw on the dashboard turn signal indicator. I'm hoping that's an easy install as I am pretty bad with electronics. Excited to get all new (brighter) lighting in the car + making it more daily drive-able. Spring is coming up soon. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vovchandr Posted February 13 Share Posted February 13 JAL has been a fantastic upgrade. I don't mind spending the money one bit, especially considering how much safer it makes a small car. LED flasher relay worked just fine for me as a swap. Didn't need to do much else. Reverse light? whats that? We have those? I just use the middle finger as I back up 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IamScotticus Posted February 14 Share Posted February 14 JAL (Just Add Lightness) pics! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slowdude Posted February 14 Author Share Posted February 14 13 hours ago, IamScotticus said: JAL (Just Add Lightness) pics! Once they're on the way I'll take some photos and do a sticky etc. Classic car LEDs for fogs etc as it's cheaper overall and doesn't get used. I went the cheap route and got the LED board I need to mount to the caterham backing plate. Seemed like an OK amount of work to save $300 or so. 18 hours ago, Vovchandr said: JAL has been a fantastic upgrade. I don't mind spending the money one bit, especially considering how much safer it makes a small car. LED flasher relay worked just fine for me as a swap. Didn't need to do much else. Reverse light? whats that? We have those? I just use the middle finger as I back up I almost backed up into my daily due to these short new england winter days. Definitely need it a bit brighter at night! 😅 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slowdude Posted February 21 Author Share Posted February 21 Rear LEDs came in today. Started with the reverse and rear fog lights, as they were just bulbs. Got 3 out of 4 done... it's clear these haven't been changed in a very long time. I have screws in one rear fog which are completely disintegrated. I figure I'll need to drill them out? Worst case I bash the cover in and Dremel out the old screws as replacement covers are relatively cheap. JAL rear clusters I'll try and tackle this weekend between some house projects, looks like I have a fried ground from water ingress. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vovchandr Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 There was a reason I ponied up to the full block kit instead of a retro fit. I really didn't want to find myself stuck with another project when some wiring would break or some other weak point. Plus it allows me to swap back with ease if it ever comes to that for whatever the reason might be. But good progress! You'll be very happy. I ran around with just retrofit LED's in place of stock bulbs for my brake lights for a little bit and this is much better. Only thing that comes close at all is likely the new style tailight but I did my upgrade before they came out and to be honest I'm not quite sold on them still, especially for the price. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MV8 Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 (edited) You could also just drill or dremel the head off and pull the lens off, leaving the long screw shank to clamp with a vice grip and rotate out. Lights are brightest with a mirrored reflector. A "chrome" spray like Rust Oleum 7718830 Chrome Metallic works well, even if you do not plan to media blast/clean the bases. Not abrasion resistant but inside a light, it doesn't need to be. Could be clear coated after for more durability. If you find the ground stud base is too far gone, you could ground by extending the wire to use an eyelet under the head of one of the light base mounting bolts. I added projector leds to our daily drivers with 2156 socket backup lights (where the end of the bulb points to the rear). Big improvement. They run about $14/pair and come in amber or clear. Edited February 22 by MV8 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slowdude Posted February 22 Author Share Posted February 22 On 2/21/2024 at 10:21 AM, Vovchandr said: There was a reason I ponied up to the full block kit instead of a retro fit. I really didn't want to find myself stuck with another project when some wiring would break or some other weak point. Plus it allows me to swap back with ease if it ever comes to that for whatever the reason might be. But good progress! You'll be very happy. I ran around with just retrofit LED's in place of stock bulbs for my brake lights for a little bit and this is much better. Only thing that comes close at all is likely the new style tailight but I did my upgrade before they came out and to be honest I'm not quite sold on them still, especially for the price. Ya, I couldn't justify the 400$ or so for the direct swap ones. Turns out it would have been wasted as I have bullet connectors. Will take my time and test voltage due to red/green colorblindness, but it wasn't too bad. $5 metal drill bit later and some music in the garage. 7 hours ago, MV8 said: You could also just drill or dremel the head off and pull the lens off, leaving the long screw shank to clamp with a vice grip and rotate out. Lights are brightest with a mirrored reflector. A "chrome" spray like Rust Oleum 7718830 Chrome Metallic works well, even if you do not plan to media blast/clean the bases. Not abrasion resistant but inside a light, it doesn't need to be. Could be clear coated after for more durability. If you find the ground stud base is too far gone, you could ground by extending the wire to use an eyelet under the head of one of the light base mounting bolts. I added projector leds to our daily drivers with 2156 socket backup lights (where the end of the bulb points to the rear). Big improvement. They run about $14/pair and come in amber or clear. Ahh this is a good idea, always pick up a thing or two from you @MV8, appreciate it. I will need to do the eyelet trick on one of the front screws. Trying to replace all tired hardware when I can. Did you need to primer anything before using the reflective paint? The reverse lights are reflective, only the wierd "fog hazard lights" have that matte, I'm wondering if it's to dull the running lights in the back? I don't really understand the purpose of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MV8 Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 Wow, those nearly cover the entire base plate. I usually prime first but you could fog it on from a foot away and let that sit a few minutes before a normal coat. I don't know why they'd want the reverse fog lamps to be dimmer with a matte grey finish. The salt belt is hard on everything. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slowdude Posted February 25 Author Share Posted February 25 (edited) Went through the wiring diagrams for a 1995 S3 from blat chat. No luck. Went through the wires with my dad (who was a MASSIVE HELP. Love ya Dad!) and was able to get the following wiring for the JAL LEDs when you do not have a plug. Sharing the below in hopes it will help someone else with a Rover K series Mashup. The car being a 1.4 and then having a 1.8 dropped into it must mean I have a wierd loom - I didn't have a purple indicator wire like Revilla on blatchat has outline. Please, if anyone needs help with this, don't hesitate to reach out. Edited February 25 by slowdude Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slowdude Posted March 2 Author Share Posted March 2 Rear lights wired, not pretty on one side but I cant do much due to age of harness and brittleness of wires, wound up having to install new ground. New De dion bushings installed, A-Arm somewhat aligned with washers, had to pry a arm a bit to get it to fit over the bushings, as they stick out maybe a quarter of an inch vs the others which were flush with the de dion eye. Seems to work. Will try and drive it tomorrow and see how the rear end feels. Car is ready for spring! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slowdude Posted March 4 Author Share Posted March 4 New de dion bushing in + New A Arm radically changed the rear end and got rid of a clunk. The car has gone from very cheap UK car needing love to getting a lot of the love it needed to get back on its feet. Sorry for the poor video quality, but got a little drive in yesterday. So far: -brakes, bearings, pads, calipers, de dion ears, radius arms in 2022 -engine (crank bearings, piston rings, valves, valve guides, gaskets, tappets/lifters, water pump, belts), radiator, mirrors and inspection in 2023, heavy POR 15 when possible. New harness. Soft bits tunnel bag. -De dion Bushing, A Arm replacement along with rear hardware, LED light upgrades all around, traced a few ground errors, misc quality of life comfort upgrades as well in 2024. 2025s upgrades will be about refining + preventstive trans / driveline work, and probably getting ECU in. It's been a very long road, but the car has had a lot of work that the previous owners kept pushing off. Thank you everyone for your help and advice / guidance / patience. Hoping to get many many miles in this car this spring / summer / fall. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBuff Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 Well done. Look forward to some drives when my car gets finished. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vovchandr Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 Lets see the lights! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slowdude Posted March 4 Author Share Posted March 4 1 hour ago, Vovchandr said: Lets see the lights! Will get you these this evening! Big improvement. Not reccomended for non plug and play cars. Not sure when they started using the plugs etc, but If you're newer and don't mind taking apart the old incandescent ones, it's a hell of a value vs caterham ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slowdude Posted March 4 Author Share Posted March 4 1 hour ago, CBuff said: Well done. Look forward to some drives when my car gets finished. You have been my motivation! I want to see your green machine and mine together. Fingers crossed you're ready the 4th week of march! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBuff Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 I think 4th week in April is a better bet. DMV so who knows 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slowdude Posted March 7 Author Share Posted March 7 On 3/4/2024 at 11:09 AM, CBuff said: Well done. Look forward to some drives when my car gets finished. You have been my motivation! I want to see your green machine and mine together. Fingers crossed you're ready the 4th week of march! @Vovchandr massive apologies for the delay and poor photo quality, but they're very bright! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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