www.fastmarinamagazine.com

Hi all thought it was about time I started a thread about my mk3 saloon which I have owned since 1996 most people who know me will have seen my green rally coupe, well that has been sold, so I am able to concentrate on this one.

This car was originally my Grandads which he brought from the local BL dealer at the time Dutton Forshaw in gravesend,the car was originally an Demonstrator car for the first 3 month's of its life.
I would have been picked up in the car as a small child from school etc when grandad was driving. When Grandad fell ill and subsequently passed away the car sat in the Garage gathering dust, until I passed my driving test then my dad and I got it back on the road for my first car and thats when I went to a car show and saw another marina and joined the MMOC and it has been with me ever since, it been a little neglected again once I got another marina so it is now time to give it a overhaul that it deserves and to get back out on the road for you all to see.



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A few pics of first restoration in 1996 and first car show

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Some random pics

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Some current pics of where I am at at present with engine and gearbox out ready for ovehaull.
As you may notice the gearbox is not standard marina but an lt77 5 speed gearbox from a Rover SD1, currently thinking what to do as its a little noisy , and got a shock when I got a quote to recondition was between £400 -£900 so not going down that route.

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Great set of pics there, take it that's yourself in the first one? Nice to have that kind of history with a car.


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Looks a good project I like \o Series engine lots. Notice the LT77 Gearbox did you need to alter propshaft to fit it What Gearbox Crossmember did you use ? as I have a said SD1 LT77 Gearbox sat in the shed
Dave

marinabuoy wrote:Great set of pics there, take it that's yourself in the first one? Nice to have that kind of history with a car.


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Yes thats me aged 6

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david painter wrote:Looks a good project I like \o Series engine lots. Notice the LT77 Gearbox did you need to alter propshaft to fit it What Gearbox Crossmember did you use ? as I have a said SD1 LT77 Gearbox sat in the shed
Dave

I believe its almost a straight fit as they were fiitted to sd1 with 2ltr o series engine. I got it from a scrap Ital .The engine backplate is different, I had to swap that over, the flywheel and clutch are about an inch bigger. And weirdly I think the gearbox is shorter than the marina one so a spacer is needed for prop.also this one has the gear remote shortened so the gearstick comes up in the same hole as the original gearstick. Also had to enlarge the transmission tunnel ever so slightly with a club hammer.
At the mo debating what to do with mine, I think im going to look at fitting new bearings myself or put up with the noise.

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Thanks for that, Mine is already attached to a SD1 2.0lt engine. I will see about putting in my pick up
Dave

david painter wrote:Thanks for that, Mine is already attached to a SD1 2.0lt engine. I will see about putting in my pick up
Dave

Put the 2 lt in as well

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That was my thinking
Dave

Different ratios obviously but as I'm sure you know the LT77 was also used in Land Rovers (and Freight Rover vans) for quite a long time- mine has one (whereas the LDV had the R380 which replaced the LT77). That may open up some more avenues for a rebuild (or at least sources of spares) that may be more cost effective?

I assume it applies to the car ones too but the Land Rover ones require ATF not EP90- if yours has been filled with the wrong oil at some point a flush and filter change may do it some good. That said mine has been noisy for the last 15000 miles and I'm sure it will continue to be so for the next 15000!

EP oil to ATF was a modification when the gearbox first came out in the SD1 we used to have to change it on service. From Memory it caused two faults one being gear change quality the other being it used to snap the oil pump drive in gearbox
Dave

Yes my box has ATF and I believe reading on some forums that there is a special oil for them now its a cross between ep an atf so improves the gearchange.
For the amount the car will get driven once done mite just do an oil change and flush if I can and put up with the noise .

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Well Done on the work you are doing. Its good to see someone else some restoration work. I'm in the process of doing some myself. Working on my 1800 saloon and my 1980 1700 saloon. Got a ways to go yet.
cheers,

Colin