Is My Rover Metro a Wiring Rat's Nest? - Metro Restoration, Part 2

[@chrisblay]

You're like a living encyclopedia on Austin Rover Metro development over the years. 👍

[@TwinCam]

There’s plenty of this to come - but also plenty to learn!

[@connorbamber3614]

I really enjoy these videos. I feel like I’m sitting in the garage with a mate chatting about cars. Relaxing and always exciting for another episode.

[@jean-luccavill3824]

Great content as always, just be careful not to fall into the trap of making making a project bigger than it needs to be! So keep the momentum!

[@tomdrives]

This is always satisfying, I remember stripping my SD1s interior and my Coupe. Good times.

[@nakoma5]

I must say at this rate you are probably destined to become the future Metro Guru every future Metro owner will look towards for all Metro knowledge.

[@roberttaylor6295]

Ed, how you manage to turn a potentially very tedious but important job into a gripping 3/4 hour of enjoyable viewing is testament of how over the whole of your series you have built a totally loyal viewership via your so obvious enthusiasm, even though I am sure for tasks like this you have edit out perhaps several choice expletives of frustration. Well done! I could as much think of doing all this fiddly stuff as flying to the Moon - and still have clean and cut-free hands and immaculate nails! Lol Thanks and roll on the next! Rob

[@briandovey6241]

Love your enthusiasm mate, I was the same 48 years ago, some of the old wrecks I had that I worked on, clutches, gear box, engine rebuild etc!❤ 👍

[@tedecker]

I learned just like you Ed, by just getting into it. Fifty years ago I financed college by buying and fixing up cheap MGs. Midgets could be bought for a few hundred bucks and sorted out quite easily.

[@johnclements6852]

Never boring Ed, just a very pleasant and informative video. Well done, mate. Happy New Year from Christchurch New Zealand.

[@TwinCam]

Have a good one, John 🙂

[@PSJOHNS3571]

Never boring, I really love watching your videos Ed your enthusiasm is truly inspiring keep doing what you do best my friend 😊

[@poon]

Just discovered your channel. You are awesome. I'm subscribed!

[@Stuartrusty]

Back in the early 1990s I started learning how to install electronic security systems and in car entertainment. One of the first things I was taught was how to tap into the car's wiring loom and switching circuits correctly. I was told in no uncertain terms that screw connectors, cheap red/blue/yellow crimp connectors were never to be used for a reliable installation. Mostly solder and sleeve and proper skeleton crimp connectors into plastic blocks or slide over plastic or PVC insulators, just like factory originals. In the many classics I used to do at the time (Cobra replicas, Jags, Triumph Stags, various early 70s British fare, the odd Lotus, Austin Healy, etc) there were bodges aplenty. Twist and tape, wires just stuffed into light and switch connectors, bare wires trapped under screws for earth connections etc. My end goal was always to make the repairs and mods/additions as good as if not better than factory. No stragglers allowed. Everything in proper connectors, neatly integrated into the original loom with looming tape.Thing to remember when installing radios and the like is to tap into the original loom wherever possible, preferably from the fused side of the fuse box and definitely not from the back of the ignition switch! Even made wiring looms from scratch, one notable one was for a T-Bucket, had a lot of challenges with that one but fun none the less. I take my hat off to you Ed for wanting to do the job properly and admitting to your earlier mistakes (made many of those myself!) Thanks for a really comprehensive look at disassembly of the dash, it's no easy task, as well as the pro look in your videos.

[@normanporter743]

Started work in B M C garage when I left school at 16 .just after the mini 850 came out .have worked on then all ,now 72. Hade to stop working 3 years earlier due to health, still enjoy your channel. Get the engine gearbox out, put a new main bearing in it

[@Carlos-d4y1t]

Eds getting braver taking bigger jobs on now. Could end up being like cortina city and get bummed in the garage😂

[@warrenny]

Not boring. I found that watching a whole interior being removed to be entertaining.

[@AJB1]

Brings back memories of my wife's old '94 Metro!!! I remember the screw holes in the door pockets disintegrating when I had to take the card off to reattach the lock that fell out of the door (dealer had done paintwork before she bought it in '97). Remember a mess of twisted wires when I had to replace the non-original and broken radio in '98 (replaced it with a Sony CD player!!). And remember talking the column and stalks to bits to figure out why her headlights had suddenly stopped working (wire from the light switch had fatigued and snapped where it has to flex as you turn the indicators on and off). It was a good little car though, despite all the things I had to fix over the years!

[@neildaniel8232]

Absolutely agree on getting the bodywork done professionally! Taking the same approach with my '89 Mini, body to the pro's which is sucking up a massive part of my budget then do the mechanicals myself. Oh and just enjoy the process of disassembly, it's you getting to know Melvin intimately. Plus don't forget to take photos of stuff as you go along, I know you have video but having pictures showing where wires go, how things route beside each other and where awkward fixings are makes a big difference when it comes to the "Refitting is the reverse of removal" stage.

[@simonheap4294]

I added LDV stalk fronts (from a G reg 400 minibus) to my 1988 Maestro when I changed the whole dash illumination to Rover orange from the green. If I remember, the lenses inside the front covers of the LDV ones were clear and an orange 286 bulb in the holder provided the colour 👍🏻

[@andrewmoorhouse687]

Happy New Year Ed. Good to see someone that can wield a spanner. I always liked my Metros, particularly the K series Rover versions. My 1.4Si I drove all over Europe; the Italian border force I remember had never seen one before and hadn’t a clue what it was! I covered about 63,000 miles in that car over 4 and a bit years. It was reliable too and still on its original clutch and the like. I had a GTi previously, which sadly wasn’t as fault free, but a good one was a pleasure. Engineering-wise they are just so interesting with their Hydragas suspension and advanced engines. The K series I remember had much longer bolts that held the block, head and I don’t know what else together, which apparently made a much more accurate and stronger unit. It’s a shame that some of the brilliant ideas Rover had were never really appreciated by the masses. I’ve just visited the British Motor Museum at Gaydon, near Birmingham and some of the Austin Rover prototypes were so ahead of the game, yet never saw the light of day. Like ECV3 from the early 1980s, an aluminium bodied 5 door hatch with a 3 cylinder turbocharged engine capable of well over 100 mph and yet capable of over 100 mpg too. So many opportunities lost. It’s so sad really.

[@jamesellsworth9673]

"Some disassembly required."🙂😇 Our hero knows a whole lot about these vehicles. He can also do a lot of work in a small garage.

[@acl6573]

Fantastic video - so interesting… wonderful details about mirrors and stalks. Dreaming about an 1.8 VVC Metro …

[@TheGhiaDriver]

The passion and love is infectious! Great video! But I must urge caution with the temptation to modify and change, its easy to fall down that rabbit hole. Speaking as someone who did the very same on their own car it quickly begins to lose its charm and soul, the very reason you loved it in the first place. As I got older I ended up returning it back to standard and it was all the better for it. Since you already have a modded red one I'd urge more originality or at the most OEM+.

[@plym1969]

I'm always impressed by your can do attitude. Your quite an inspiration! Thanks for a great year of videos. Happy New Year and here's to many more quality videos in 2024!

[@danielcope6310]

You will never be boring, really enjoyed this vlog. Just glad I'm not the one who as got to put it all back some day. 🤔

[@DrEvilsFinger]

Top job as ever. I never knew about the wing mirrors. Certainly not a boring video.

[@gogglet72]

Great video ed. Back in the day people would fit the red flashing light and the stickers to give the impression they had an alarm fitted.

[@alseeineye]

I’m so wanting to get another Metro - keep the videos coming ❤

[@KJM.72]

Good work there Ed the strip down seems to be coming along nicely I see the bmw grey screw driver is coming in handy 😉 all the best

[@TwinCam]

Thank you my friend, I do believe this one was nicked from my Dad’s old E90!

[@cjmillsnun]

A suggestion, look for the interior from a Metro GS or GSI. It's a lovely velour.

[@stuwilsonrallying]

I've always found it easier to strip doors while still attached to the car as keeps the door from moving about if lying in floor or bench.

[@TwinCam]

Yes I did originally plan on stripping the doors in situ, but didn’t want to risk the glass falling into the door. I’ve seen a friend do it and it scarred me 👀😅

[@stuwilsonrallying]

@@TwinCam trust me it's easier with the door still on the car

[@Summers-lad]

If it falls into the door it can't fall far, and the guides that it slides in help to control it too. On my Audi A4 you had to remove the door frame (from waistline up) to take out the glass, but on a more traditional design I'd always do it with the door in situ. @@TwinCam

[@fhwolthuis]

Well done Ed. I am wondering about the features you are mentioning like electric mirrors etc. Doesn't that take away the basic charm of Melvin?

[@TwinCam]

When it’s something stealthy, I don’t think so, but as I say, I don’t know what I’m going to do yet. I’m incredibly back and forth with ideas, so even I don’t quite know what I’ll wind up doing. For now, however, the basicness is to be retained.

[@hasbeengood]

You might want to cobsider shelving or stackable bins??

[@thebigcheese6606]

Nice work. Thanks

[@terryatkinson899]

Its like a meccano set multiplied by 1000. I put a led bathroom light from screwfix in my shed €40 and as well as cheaper on electricity, the light is so much better without shadows. I had 5 bulbs dotted around the place and it was poorly lit with lights in the wrong places. Welding isn't the mystery you think it is, im positive a bright lad like you would manage it especially as you love reading the instructions unlike most of us 😂 You cut out a piece and weld a new bit in little by little after practicing on scrap, see Alex's Assets KZbin channel for inspiration, she's doing really well now she has a half decent welder. It's a skill that will come in useful and i was like you, afraid to try but love it now after much practicing, regret not having a go years ago.Welding kit has become affordable unlike when I was young and researching what you need is easily done on KZbin.

[@TwinCam]

Yes I am planning on learning - I have a friend to teach me! But on this car, there are no simple patches. It’s whole valances and double skinned wheel arches.

[@CarlMCL]

There is an opportunity to install some sound deadening, maybe when you get your interior re-done.

[@brettc1169]

If I remember correctly you can swap out the stalks for the ones with intermittent wipers toggle and it should work fine too 👍

[@LonelyPickle-m4r]

I thought you liked the simplicity of your base spec Metro? You always say about it. Surely adding electric windows, custom interior, etc takes away from what it is?

[@jonnycando]

When you buy used you get what the market will sell you…..

[@markf3619]

dont forget most important , a nice sound system dont cheap out on this !

[@andytaylor9032]

Hi , i know this is a little off topic but could you tell me where to get an air filter from? I have the same 1.1 rover metro , i live near to Rimmer bros as well!,, but trying to source the air filter is proving difficult..

[@glmm2001]

Didn`t notice you had aircon 😅 At least the buttom! Aircon was available in Spain

[@TwinCam]

Always good to modify with OE components rather than ugly aftermarket switches 😅

[@sen5908]

Hi, I had the same looking metro as you, 1.1c 1991, but I can't remember it ever having a choke? Am I wrong, my F reg had one though

[@FariesWearBoots]

What car do you think would be better for a first car The Rover Metro or The Nissan Micra k11?.

[@GenialHarryGrout]

Is it possible to just change the green strip in the stalks to make them orange?

[@MarkJackson-x1d]

How is the restoration going I am doing a rover 100 recently which I am struggling to get parts for do u have any advice on replacing panels and components like a fuel pump if u can help me it would be appreciated

[@TwinCam]

My advice would be to join the Metro Owners' Club group on Facebook. Lots of parts available. You just need to know where to look.

[@dangerotterisrea]

Good effort, might be worth getting an aftermarket harness unless youbfabcyva few hours going through the wires

[@TwinCam]

As the damage is far less than expected, the original loom could very easily be repaired to a high standard. However, we’ll see whether we want a different loom for the sake of more features when reassembly time rolls around.

[@EngineVids]

A 2 hr video would be nice😅😎

[@colrhodes377]

Are you doing this all yourself, Ed? I had no formal training but i used to help my grandad right from being about eight. I know how to repair pre-mid80s cars but not a clue after that. I can't do a damn thing with my Jag because everything in techie . I've just aquired a rotten Sunbeam Stilleto which I'll be starting in the next week or so, now that we're in our new house with a lovely double garage

[@TwinCam]

Of course the bodywork will be done by someone else, and the engine/gearbox stuff will be done by someone else, hopefully with myself watching on to learn. Apart from those and plating/powder coating, everything myself!

[@hhgttg69]

good luck with it.

[@classic1989mini]

The door latch which is cracked, why not glue on a washer so it secures when you next fix it back in place

[@jgh548]

I’ve always been confused about why Rover changed the dash moulding for the new Metro to cure the warping, but stuck with the same dated 1980’s design?

[@MrTaxiRob]

Whenever I look for a new dashboard for my 26 year old Chevy truck, I find that the recycler has cut the wiring harness for reasons beyond the scope of human understanding. And that's often compounding the damage done by aftermarket alarms and stereos.

[@patrickhostler5939]

I just adore the simplicity of cars from this period… all the ‘stuff’ on modern cars… just seems so unnecessary

[@jensenhealey907efi]

BTW, I have experience with converting older british cars to fuel injection so if you need advice on that eventually, just hit me up. I even have some technical papers I have written on the process in pdf format.

[@TwinCam]

Metro GTis were fitted with fuel injection from factory, so the high pressure fuel system and wiring is all readily available. As for the engine-side, I am looking aftermarket, but exact plans are yet to be made. I originally wanted to run twin Weber carburettors, but with a 16v head, I’d need to run an ignition ECU anyway for optimal timing, so it lends itself to a full injection system.

[@jensenhealey907efi]

@@TwinCam I would recommend a Microsquirt ECU since that will do fuel and ignition control for a very reasonable price. It works well with a four cylinder engine. And with an wideband O2 sensor it can do self tuning or optimization while driving the car. I have been buying these in good used condition off of facebook market place here in the US for less that $300

[@emma.j.nation]

@@TwinCam Jenvey Heritage throttle bodies could be your answer - modern fuel injection that looks like Weber DCOEs (horrendously expensive though)

[@thewise3551]

There’s probably an actual rats nest in my Hyundai i10 at the moment.

[@NuttyAboutOldMGCars]

I fear this will mot het built back up, excessive tear down often ends the resto

[@TwinCam]

Do you propose either a half-baked restoration or just a bodge job then? 🤡

[@jensenhealey907efi]

Why are you going to completely disassemble the doors, latch locks, windows and etc? Are you planning on changing the color of the car? Maybe limiting the disassembly of the car could possibly keep this as a gradual rolling restoration rather than a complete disassembly that might lead to a stalled/failed project later.

[@TwinCam]

Why would any of that mean changing the colour of the car? The car is being totally resprayed, so the shell needs to be bare. If it isn’t bare, it can’t be totally resprayed. Also, I don’t see your logic in a ‘rolling’ restoration? The car isn’t on the road.

[@laurenhuyton6917]

this comment would only make sense if he was repairing not restoring 😂