A new rover enthusiast with questions

[keithg]

Hi everyone, I'm new to Rovers and looking to purchase my first one. I have a lot of experience restoring american cars and trucks, mostly Fords, but I've been looking for a 88" Series Rover as my next project. I've looked at a few so far and I was curious if there is an axle code on the vehicle that states what gear ratio is in the axle? Can you tell from the VIN number? I'd like to find one with the 4.7:1 ratio.

[leafsprung]

youre in luck because with a few rare exceptions they are all 4.7

[keithg]

On to my next question: I found a '73 88" Rover that the person has had for a long time and had been using up until this summer. He said that the clutch is stuck and and won't engage. After reading postings on here and researching the parts books, my assumption is that it's either the master cylinder or slave cylinder failing. Is there anything that I'm missing?

[leafsprung]

what exactly are the symptoms of the clutch dysfunction?

[SafeAirOne]

...He said that the clutch is stuck and and won't engage.

Usually the problem with the clutch is that it won't DISengage (disconnect from the engine). Is your issue that it won't engage (connect the transmission to the engine)??

[keithg]

Well, I think the biggest problem is that I'm dealing over the phone with someone that doesn't do the actual work on the vehicle. The Rover is 10 hours from me so I'm trying to get as much info as I can before driving there. I would assume it's a DISengage issue if that's the more common ailment.