Engine transplant....

[Furyblade_Lee]

Hi guys, currently I am building up a Triumph TR7 into a hillclimb / sprint / Trackday car, and the plan was to purchase salvaged rover V8 running gear from a dead Chimera. BUT speed six engines keep popping up, and I know little about them? I have seen a few engines / gearboxes for sale . How do they compare size / packaging wise to the Rover V8 ? Good or bad idea? Yes the chassis will be able to handle it!!

[m4tti]

Tall in comparison to the v8, will probably need tilting and any second hand engines will likely need rebuilding. Parts are fairly pricey. The rover probably offers better value for money. Speed six issues are highlighted in the build thread on my profile.

Even better still would probably be an LS, Audi or supercharged jaguar unit.

[dvs_dave]

There is precedent with this. I can't find the post or pictures, but a few years ago there was some nutter of the best kind who posted on here that had dropped a Speed Six into a Caterfield of some description. Must have been absolutely bonkers to drive!

Yes an LS is cheaper, more reliable and more powerful, but oh so unimaginative. RV8 is just old hat.

[mk1fan]

BMW 4.4 V8 would fit. Abundant, cheap, reasonable power, can be supercharged, plentiful supply of spares. I've seen one put into a mk1 VW Caddy pickup so the wiring must be simples too.

[m4tti]

dvs_dave said:

There is precedent with this. I can't find the post or pictures, but a few years ago there was some nutter of the best kind who posted on here that had dropped a Speed Six into a Caterfield of some description. Must have been absolutely bonkers to drive!

Yes an LS is cheaper, more reliable and more powerful, but oh so unimaginative. RV8 is just old hat.

This indeed there is. It's an MK Indy that was or is owned by a guy on here user name SkyUk

[QBee]

Morgan Plus 8s used to be 3.5 RV8 engines when Noah was designing the ark.

These days they have a 4.8 BMW engine giving around 370 BHP unmeddled.
The Aero 8 has a 4.4 BMW engine with BMW drive train.
Both are bonkers fast.
So find a crashed/scrapped BMW 740/745........

Apparently the Lexus V8 (LS 400/430) is quite compact too, and they come up quite often. Super smooth and tweakable.

[magpies]

QBee said:

Apparently the Lexus V8 (LS 400/430) is quite compact too, and they come up quite often. Super smooth and tweakable.

this is in Alan Whitaker' s S

[330p4]

Think you may find the speed 6 engine too long without a lot of cutting
Ian

[Firing order]

Yeh speed six is good but will be a little pricey when you add on the custom oil lines tank
Etc
The wet sump m62 BMW engine will be slightly less power but less cost go for an early 4.0 or 4.4
With the non nikasil block .