Brad's 825 Sterling Coupe KV6

[neo]

Hi ya Brad coupes looking good its nice too find a kv6 that lasts iam still enjoying mine

[Very Tall Brad]

Thanks, Tony.

Yes - all good so far. Just the usual used car niggles which are now all fixed.

[Stewart]

By the way, I have recently aquired the special tools for doing the cam belt change on the KV6.. (I have also bought a 75 by accident.. honest gov)

[Very Tall Brad]

Lovely

[pre_pace]

That's a real shame Brad, although your figures speak for themselves. I think it would be fair to say you've shown much more patience than many others have or would have.

[Very Tall Brad]

That's a real shame Brad, although your figures speak for themselves. I think it would be fair to say you've shown much more patience than many others have or would have.

And a lot more cash! Thanks.

[funkkydrummer]

As feared and sort of expected, this car expired this morning on a trip back from Birmingham with mayo in the oil cap and a very swollen expansion tank. Steamy? You bet. Head gasket failure again.

This has been my very well cared for everyday car for the past 6 months. It has run very nicely but I knew this day would arrive soon despite the fact it had a huge overhaul (gaskets etc) at 48000 miles. It has now done just under 71000 and it's number is up.

I won't be repairing this one. I have run out of patience now with KV6 cars. This is my 16th chg failure in 14 cars. You can't say I haven't tried...

You say you wont be repairing the coupe. What will be its fate?

How much work is involved in a gasket change on the KV6? I have always overlooked many of the posts regarding the KV6's as I have had no interest in chocolate engines in the past!!

The reason I ask is that me and my old man recently changed a k-series cylinder head gasket with success and it wasn't too much hassle. Does a good replacement gasket exist similar to the replacements available for the k-series?

[Very Tall Brad]

Ha ha

[Richard Moss]

Hopefully you'll keep the plate for something relevant

[dollysprint]

Whilst the KV6 may have the "K" in its name its about the only thing it has in common with the K series 4 cylinder. I wouldn't want to put anybody off having a go at anything much less saving a Rover 800, but the KV6 is quite literally double the effort and cost of the 4 pot engine to fix. The timing belt kit and locking tools(if you dont have them) are £500 alone. Any mayo in the cooling channels of the engine must be removed as too the rest of the cooling system, meticulous is the only word to describe a rebuild of a KV6, liner heights are absolutely critical and more likely to move on a V6 engine because of the natural tendency for a piston to "scrape" up one side of a cylinder on the up stroke and "scrape" down the cylinder on the down stroke and K series liners are "glued" in not pegged. Its nearly always the rear bank that causes the problem. It is not uncommon to find KV6 800's showing garage invoices in their history of between £3-4000 pounds for a rebuild.The only gaskets available now are the uprated ones but thats no guarantee
Having said all that it can also give a great sense of satisfaction to get it right even if you know even the best rebuild probably wont last longer than 30-40,000 miles. Having said that some seem to stump up large mileages but they are sadly few and far between.
The kv6 is one of the best engines I have ever driven but it is fragile, its like owning a Triumph Stag, one day you just know its going to let you down.

[Very Tall Brad]

How well put, Dave.

[BlueRover]

I will keep it and have something in mind for it. But it won't be a KV6.

?

[rovercoup]

A great shame to hear of the demise of your KV6 brad. From reading many of the threads i dont think anyone could have done more to keep one of these beuties going and is testiment to your loyalty and love of the brand. hope you can get a legend 2.7 or T series turbo to fit in.

simon rs has a T series turbo currently on ebay at £50 but i guess youve got a brand new one tucked away somewhere? probably under beige coupe mats no doubt. Best wishes what ever you do with it.

[Very Tall Brad]

That's nice of you to say, Steve. But no - not a 2 litre turbo.

[Charles827si]

Sorry to read about your woes with this car Brad, but if there is a chance that you'll convert it to a 2.7 with manual gearbox, then I would defo buy it from you. If you want to sell it later that is