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Thread: My Project Track Car - Rover Vandenplas SD1 with LS1 and T56 6 Speed

  1. #1
    GEN III VX is offline Occasional Contributor to the Forums Last Online: 28-03-2024 @ 10:59 PM
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    My Project Track Car - Rover Vandenplas SD1 with LS1 and T56 6 Speed

    Name: Chris
    Model: 1984 Rover Vandenplas SD1
    Colour: Blue
    Engine Type: LS1 Gen 3
    Engine Mods: Standard at the moment
    Gearbox: 6 Spd Manual T56
    Diff: Stock which will break on first launch
    Brakes: Jaguar XJS Front slotted and vented Discs with EBC pads
    Suspension: GAZ Adjustable front and rear shockers with uprated springs
    Wheels/Tyres: Simmonds 15x7 front and rear
    Interior: Stripped out
    Other Mods: Roll cage
    Build Period: Hopefully sometime this year it will be up and running
    Future Plans: A nice cam for the track,upgraded diff because the standard ones are as strong as candle wax,rear disc brakes,OTR and tune to suit plus probably alot more
    Cost: Well its left me with not much in the bank


    Ive owned this car for nearly 14 years now and its been through a lot of changes.It first started out with a Rover 3.5 V8 and Holley 2 Barrel running straight gas.I then put in a brand new 3.9 V8
    with a turbocharger set up running straight LPG through a Gas Research Throttle Body.It was an old school set up but worked really well.I was only running 9 pounds of boost and it made just on
    300 HP at the motor.It didnt have a huge amount of power but the torque was unbelievable.It had full boost by 1800 RPM and didnt need to rev over 4800 RPM.I remember running a VX Clubsport
    255 kw when it first came out.He was quite surprised when he couldnt keep up.
    It was my everyday car for about 5 years until i lost my licence in it. After that it sat for a few years while i toyed with 4wds and something not as quick.Then i had a bright idea to turn it into
    a track car.Ive always liked the shape and the racing history of the Rover SD1 and the fact that there arent many of then around.So i sold off the engine and turbo bits to get an LS1 conversion done.
    And basically this is where i am at today.Hope you enjoy the pictures!


    This is what it looks like



    The old motor coming out







    The big empty space for an LS1



    The motor which is going in there


  2. #2
    GEN III VX is offline Occasional Contributor to the Forums Last Online: 28-03-2024 @ 10:59 PM
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    Re: My Project Track Car - Rover Vandenplas SD1 with LS1 and T56 6 Speed

    Before i sent it out to have the conversion done i changed all the front bushes to upgraded ones and had a jag disc brake and caliper conversion done as well.
    The Standard Rover Discs were terrible standard and dangerous at higher speeds.These are a popular upgrade in England for them and are suppose
    to work really well.

    The new discs



    Taking out the front struts to get the discs fitted up and putting in the new inserts and springs





    The new discs fitted up










  3. #3
    GEN III VX is offline Occasional Contributor to the Forums Last Online: 28-03-2024 @ 10:59 PM
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    Re: My Project Track Car - Rover Vandenplas SD1 with LS1 and T56 6 Speed

    I installed some new GAZ adjustable shockers front and rear with uprated springs.Cant wait to try them out on the track

    The difference in spring height.










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    GEN III VX is offline Occasional Contributor to the Forums Last Online: 28-03-2024 @ 10:59 PM
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    Re: My Project Track Car - Rover Vandenplas SD1 with LS1 and T56 6 Speed

    This is the car all loaded up and ready to get the conversion done





    The motor and gearbox all fitted up nicely.Along with the race seat and wiring all done.It sits nice and low as well as being far back in the engine bay.
    It should handle nicely which is what im after.Along with a bit of power I still have a fair way to go but will get through the list i have slowly.
    Anyway here are the pics with motor and gearbox fitted.














  5. #5
    monaro_mad is offline Occasional Contributor to the Forums Last Online: 04-02-2019 @ 02:37 PM
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    Re: My Project Track Car - Rover Vandenplas SD1 with LS1 and T56 6 Speed

    Great idea, thrashed one of these around in the UK when i lived there, hated the diff (hated me too) but otherwise was a surprisingly nice car to drive, no doubt the diff will cause some problems with the extra power. The LS1 will certainly wake it up!

  6. #6
    Toddler78's Avatar
    Toddler78 is offline Considerable Contributor to the Forum Last Online: 23-03-2024 @ 06:32 PM
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    Re: My Project Track Car - Rover Vandenplas SD1 with LS1 and T56 6 Speed

    by the looks of it that thing is screaming for a lower radiator you you can fit an OTR
    I'm not a hoon, I'm just competitive

  7. #7
    JT's Avatar
    JT is offline Powertrain Control Last Online: 28-03-2024 @ 07:06 AM
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    Re: My Project Track Car - Rover Vandenplas SD1 with LS1 and T56 6 Speed

    great project! woodgrain dash is a nice touch.

  8. #8
    GEN III VX is offline Occasional Contributor to the Forums Last Online: 28-03-2024 @ 10:59 PM
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    Re: My Project Track Car - Rover Vandenplas SD1 with LS1 and T56 6 Speed

    Quote Originally Posted by monaro_mad View Post
    Great idea, thrashed one of these around in the UK when i lived there, hated the diff (hated me too) but otherwise was a surprisingly nice car to drive, no doubt the diff will cause some problems with the extra power. The LS1 will certainly wake it up!
    Yeah they are a nice car to drive and well balanced.The diff is certainly a WEAK point with them.I broke 3 of them over about 3 years when i had the turbo engine in there.I'll
    probably just get a skyline diff fitted up when i can afford it.

  9. #9
    GEN III VX is offline Occasional Contributor to the Forums Last Online: 28-03-2024 @ 10:59 PM
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    Re: My Project Track Car - Rover Vandenplas SD1 with LS1 and T56 6 Speed

    Quote Originally Posted by JT View Post
    great project! woodgrain dash is a nice touch.
    Thanks for that.Ive always liked the Rovers and its certainly something different.The woodgrain was standard in these cars at the time.It had a really nice interior
    in it before i ripped it all out.I sort of regret doing it but i wanted to get the car as light as possible for the track.Im hoping to get it down to about 1200kg.

  10. #10
    BR05CK is offline Forum Contributor Last Online: 28-05-2016 @ 10:56 AM
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    Re: My Project Track Car - Rover Vandenplas SD1 with LS1 and T56 6 Speed

    Awesome project. It is a great shape. Keep us updated??
    Are you a member of a car club? Cant see the Rover club liking it. Ha Ha

  11. #11
    HSVREDSLED's Avatar
    HSVREDSLED is offline Substantial Contributor to the Forum Last Online: 23-06-2020 @ 11:35 PM
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    Re: My Project Track Car - Rover Vandenplas SD1 with LS1 and T56 6 Speed

    Always love LS1 conversions in ANYTHING. Keep us updated!

  12. #12
    GEN III VX is offline Occasional Contributor to the Forums Last Online: 28-03-2024 @ 10:59 PM
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    Re: My Project Track Car - Rover Vandenplas SD1 with LS1 and T56 6 Speed

    Thanks for the comments guys.I ordered a 60 litre fuel tank last week and it arrived on Friday.Once i get rid of the gas tank i will be mounting it in
    the boot.Ive already got the fuel pump and surge tank and now i just have to order some EFI Fuel hose and a fuel regulator.Its slowly coming together
    and hopefully will be running soon.


  13. #13
    1BEAST2NV's Avatar
    1BEAST2NV is offline Fair Contributor to the Forums Last Online: 28-01-2014 @ 01:15 AM
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    Re: My Project Track Car - Rover Vandenplas SD1 with LS1 and T56 6 Speed

    nice one mate, good to see something abit different
    640rwhp of pure awesomeness

  14. #14
    GEN III VX is offline Occasional Contributor to the Forums Last Online: 28-03-2024 @ 10:59 PM
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    Re: My Project Track Car - Rover Vandenplas SD1 with LS1 and T56 6 Speed

    Well while i was stripping out the sound deadener and cleaning the crap out i came across this.Its only surface rust and looks worse then what it really is.





    So i cleaned it all up with a wire brush connected to a drill and then primed it.Not the best job but alot better then what it was.




  15. #15
    GEN III VX is offline Occasional Contributor to the Forums Last Online: 28-03-2024 @ 10:59 PM
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    Re: My Project Track Car - Rover Vandenplas SD1 with LS1 and T56 6 Speed

    I gave it a spray in matt black and seems to have come out alright.Looks shiny in the pictures but its not.Compared to before it looks heaps better.





    The gas tank has been removed now and there is alot more space and probably alot less weight.It was a 100 litre gas tank.Just need to clean the
    back section up now and it should look good.Anyway here are some pictures.




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