What to do with the RV8 engine ..

What to do with the RV8 engine ..

Author
Discussion

mk1fan

Original Poster:

10,677 posts

234 months

Saturday 14th January 2023
quotequote all
So the time is approaching where Wendy gets to the head of the queue and the recommission begins.

I'm flip flopping between what to do with the engine.

The engine is a pretty strong 3.5 - 187bhp following a rolling road tune. There are, however, a few issues with the wiring and other peripherals so the factory ecu is out and Emerald is going on with a fresh loom.

The choice I have [given myself] is whether to retain the 3.5, add some later 4.6 heads and do some cleaning of the ports etc..

Or,

Source a 3.9 / 4.0 with some 4.6 heads etc .. as with the 3.5.

I've scratched the V8 itch so not interested in getting a 4.5 or bigger as getting it to be as fun as the Speed 6 is not an expense I wish to incurr.

The car isn't 'original'.

So, keep it 3.5 or go 3.9. What would you do?

KKson

3,442 posts

134 months

Sunday 15th January 2023
quotequote all
I'm on to my third V8 Wedge. Started with lovely standard 350i 187bhp. Then had a John Eales engined 390SE 247bhp. Now on to a 450SEAC 300bhp. Of the engines the 3.9 was just lovely. Had a new V8 developments Stealth cam, big valve heads, Cosworth pistons and Jaguar AFM. It was a screamer and just revved up very freely. The 350i on a long run got 28mpg. 390Se 24mpg and SEAC does high teens. Personally I'd go for a modified 3.9 as it was a good compromise.

Belle427

9,961 posts

242 months

Sunday 15th January 2023
quotequote all
The 3.9 can be a sweet thing when built right.
Mine in a Chim was a standard 3.9 bottom end, V8D warrior heads, MC1 cam, ported intake and plenum etc.
Really liked to rev and made around 260 bhp on the 14cux.
I later fitted Megasquirt but didn't get it rolling roaded myself.
It later made closer to 280 bhp in someone else's hands with a tweak to the tuning.

350Matt

3,792 posts

288 months

Monday 13th February 2023
quotequote all
Agreed
I got 283Bhp from my 4.0 ltr build and it revved very well up to 7K
you need a big trumpet base and dencet heads for this though, going distributor less also helps

mk1fan

Original Poster:

10,677 posts

234 months

Monday 13th February 2023
quotequote all
Thank you all for the replies.

Things have changed and the Wedge rebuild has be shelved for now as the V6 S has needed to be moved from storage so moved up the rebuild calendar.

KelWedge

1,280 posts

194 months

Monday 20th February 2023
quotequote all
350Matt said:
Agreed
I got 283Bhp from my 4.0 ltr build and it revved very well up to 7K
you need a big trumpet base and dencet heads for this though, going distributor less also helps
And I managed to blow that engine up !!! So a RPI 4,6 went in, the emerald got a remap at emerald, Heads sorted by Scoler

No Matt you cant buy it back