Rover SD1 Vitesse TP

[simont485]

Hi all..

So for my 1st post I'm opening with a bit of a question regarding the Rover SD1 Vitesse Twin Plenum

I do own one of these and have always wanted to know for sure what the BHP of the TP was. The only figure I have ever seen written down is 190bhp quoted in the Rover Sales Brochure.

But there are rumours/here-say that the TP had more power anywhere from 5bhp to 30bhp+

If anyone has a definite answer please let me know........

[TarquinMX5]

The only figure quoted by Rover was 190bhp. The racing versions were giving approx 300bhp at that time and the reality is that, without the WL9 cam, the roadgoing version was much the same as the single-plenum version.

The roadgoing cars kept the std cam as the WL9 was deemed less suitable for the majority of private customers and as the racing rules allowed changes to cams, they stuck with the original. With the WL9 cam Rover expected a figure of c220bhp on the roadgoing version. Any figures quoted by owners are usually guesswork, unless from a rolling road. There was little, if any, difference in performance, so it's safe to presume little, if any, difference in output on a std. twin-plenum (twin throttle bodies).

Having said that, good cars.

[simont485]

Hi all..

So for my 1st post I'm opening with a bit of a question regarding the Rover SD1 Vitesse Twin Plenum

I do own one of these and have always wanted to know for sure what the BHP of the TP was. The only figure I have ever seen written down is 190bhp quoted in the Rover Sales Brochure.

But there are rumours/here-say that the TP had more power anywhere from 5bhp to 30bhp+

If anyone has a definite answer please let me know........

Edited by simont485 on Sunday 9th April 12:43

[Quavers]

I was once told that power varied from engine to engine - some engines could make more power than others.

[TarquinMX5]

In my previous post I forgot to say that the only real difference, apart from the twin throttle-bodies / plenum was that they had stronger forged rockers, so there was probably a slight increase but not much, however, it gave an opportunity to achieve higher output levels if reqd..

[simont485]

Twin Plenum Rockers...from my car when the engine was rebuilt.....

[daqinggregg]

There is an article in ‘General Gassing’ titled RE: Stunningly restored Rover SD1 Vitesse for sale, that quotes 190 BHP, not sure it’s definitive though. Link https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Sebastian Tombs]

Rover never actually listed or marketed the twin plenum as a separate model. As far as Joe Public was concerned it was the same Vitesse as before, and therefore 190bhp.

[Mercky]

simont485 said:

Twin Plenum Rockers...from my car when the engine was rebuilt.....

What’s with the welded tappets, was it Rovers idea of maintenance free??

[simont485]

Mercky said:

What’s with the welded tappets, was it Rovers idea of maintenance free??

Part of the Homogolation rules for the BTCC....these were welded on road cars but adjustable on the race cars.

[Flying Phil]

Those rockers are also forged steel. On most RV8 engines they used aluminium rockers with steel inserts for the valve and pushrod contact areas. The aluminum also embeded rubbish from the oil and this led to rapid wear on the underside of the steel rocker shaft.