New Rover Heads

New Rover Heads

Author
Discussion

robrover

Original Poster:

41 posts

223 months

Tuesday 16th August 2011
quotequote all
http://www.triumphroverspares.com.au/page.asp?pare...

TAs exciting new aftermarket cylinder heads, based on the successful Buick V6 design.

All new Rover V8 head castings - 1.94 inlets / 1.60 exhausts flow 500 hp out of the box standard unported or 600 hp with 2.02 inlets and ported. Fit all RV8 engines 3.9 TO 5.5 litre using standard inlet and exhaust manifolds.

Designed and cast by TA Performance, the big Buick V8 developments supplier in the States and currently being trialled and tested by TRS in Oz on their ex UK Tuscan racer. First batch being sold through TRS for AUS$5900 which I believe includes the roller rockers. 2nd batch are supposedly to be sold through TA for a reported US$27950 complete cylinder heads or US$1500 bare.

Looks like they could provide a practical alternative to Wildcats with further potential.

V8 GRF

7,294 posts

217 months

Tuesday 16th August 2011
quotequote all
Been following these for a while. Look interesting.


dbv8

8,669 posts

227 months

Tuesday 16th August 2011
quotequote all
$27950 seems expensive to me hehe

350Matt

3,766 posts

286 months

Tuesday 16th August 2011
quotequote all
So a bit of a step on from the Real Steel own heads if they flow 500hp ....

however also more expensive

v8 racing

2,064 posts

258 months

Tuesday 16th August 2011
quotequote all
As much i love to see the rover going forward i just dont see the point?, for a balls out race motor then yes there will be a market, but lets face it if you have a standard 4.6/5.0 or even 3.9 just by bolting these on is not going to give you 500hp by leaving else standard, good luck to them and i hope i am proved wrong

Buzz Billsberry

1,306 posts

238 months

Tuesday 20th September 2011
quotequote all
Speak with Ray or Shaun at V8 Developments

http://www.v8developments.co.uk/

They know the Rover/TVR V8 engine inside. I've used them for more years than I care to remember. Prices are very competative.

Buzz


jfjfjf2

155 posts

178 months

Tuesday 20th September 2011
quotequote all

Rob - I'd like to hear your opinion of the potential of these TA heads, I know they're not a panacea.

When I used V8 developments to do my head porting I obviously didn't just do that in isolation, there would have been little point as you said. From the smooth bore induction hose, Bosch AFM, smooth bore elbow, triple plenum, trumpets, ported inlet manifold, ported heads, stealth cam, red top injectors, tuned exhaust manifolds, MA chip, amongst other miscellaneous bits the development of the engine top end was a comprehensive package of tried and tested upgrades. The results were exhilarating. I have a 5 lt that revs with the enthusiasm of a 4.3 and has 350 ft/lb of torque. I don't regret any of it, most people would be satisfied and I realise that no sane person will understand why I'm still looking at further developing the engine.

I wouldn't think of installing TA heads without looking at the whole package. Of course the bottom end would need to be upgraded to cope with any increase in power (not to mention the clutch, gearbox and differential).

I could have a 525 bhp, 495 ft/lb LS3 fitted, but where is the fun in that? It would be admitting defeat and feels like cheating (sorry to those that have gone that route, it's my latent Corinthian spirit surfacing).

I'd like to hear the opinions of you and other people who know far more about engine building than I do. Should I recognize that the RV8 has been taken as far as it can go, or could the TA heads be integrated into a reliable, durable and more powerful engine rebuild? It would be a real buzz to encroach on LS territory.

Many thanks,

Julian

rev-erend

21,536 posts

291 months

Tuesday 4th October 2011
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Looks pretty good..

Mr Supercharged

498 posts

164 months

Wednesday 4th July 2012
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What has happened to V8 Developments? Their website hasn't worked for months, are they still trading? If so, why is the web site not working?

The Big G

998 posts

175 months

Wednesday 4th July 2012
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Still up and running, just received a pair of refurbished rocker covers today and have been discussing an possible engine rebuild too. Top blokes too from my recent experience with them, and they stand behind there work with no complaints. Couldn't have hoped for any more smile

Website seems to still be working fine too http://www.v8developments.co.uk

rev-erend

21,536 posts

291 months

Thursday 5th July 2012
quotequote all
Those TA heads look just like the Wildcat heads..

V8 GRF

7,294 posts

217 months

Thursday 5th July 2012
quotequote all
rev-erend said:
Those TA heads look just like the Wildcat heads..
Being for an RV8 they're bound to look similar I'd guess but these are definitely custom made parts. Have a look at this thread about their development.

http://www.teambuick.com/forums/showthread.php?167...

Mr Supercharged

498 posts

164 months

Thursday 5th July 2012
quotequote all
The Big G said:
Still up and running, just received a pair of refurbished rocker covers today and have been discussing an possible engine rebuild too. Top blokes too from my recent experience with them, and they stand behind there work with no complaints. Couldn't have hoped for any more smile

Website seems to still be working fine too http://www.v8developments.co.uk
When you click on your link it just comes up with a cover page saying at the bottom "page under construction still" or words to that effect! That's not too helpful. You used to be able to see all of their products and prices etc.....? Why don't they get the website finished, or at least put a phone number on it? Maybe they are so busy they don't need any more business from advertising on the Web???? Cheers

PoleDriver

28,799 posts

201 months

Thursday 5th July 2012
quotequote all
Mr Supercharged said:
The Big G said:
Still up and running, just received a pair of refurbished rocker covers today and have been discussing an possible engine rebuild too. Top blokes too from my recent experience with them, and they stand behind there work with no complaints. Couldn't have hoped for any more smile

Website seems to still be working fine too http://www.v8developments.co.uk
When you click on your link it just comes up with a cover page saying at the bottom "page under construction still" or words to that effect! That's not too helpful. You used to be able to see all of their products and prices etc.....? Why don't they get the website finished, or at least put a phone number on it? Maybe they are so busy they don't need any more business from advertising on the Web???? Cheers
confused

It leads me to a fully functional website!!

Mr Supercharged

498 posts

164 months

Thursday 5th July 2012
quotequote all
Those heads do look very good indeed. I did consider these ages back before going down the supercharger route.

Is anyone importing these into the UK, or how much do they weigh and could they be smuggled in a holiday suitcase? A nice family holiday, take cheap clothes, ditch them there and smuggle the heads back instead .... :-) To have them posted would be £1800 ish for the heads, plus VAT plus import TAX plus postage. I bet you wouldn't get much change from £3000 with all that!

rev-erend

21,536 posts

291 months

Thursday 5th July 2012
quotequote all
My Wildcat heads were heavier than the RV8 original heads.

Probably 20kg a piece .. just a guess but only 1 per bag.

MPoxon

5,329 posts

180 months

Thursday 5th July 2012
quotequote all
Mr Supercharged said:
When you click on your link it just comes up with a cover page saying at the bottom "page under construction still" or words to that effect! That's not too helpful. You used to be able to see all of their products and prices etc.....? Why don't they get the website finished, or at least put a phone number on it? Maybe they are so busy they don't need any more business from advertising on the Web???? Cheers
I found that when accessing the page from my Mac (using Safari) none of the side menu where the products normally are was available. It works fine from my PC using Firefox

V8 GRF

7,294 posts

217 months

Thursday 5th July 2012
quotequote all
MPoxon said:
I found that when accessing the page from my Mac (using Safari) none of the side menu where the products normally are was available. It works fine from my PC using Firefox
Doesn't work in my IE9 either although it works in Chrome.

Someone hasn't been testing their web code for portability.redcard

MPoxon

5,329 posts

180 months

Thursday 5th July 2012
quotequote all
jfjfjf2 said:
When I used V8 developments to do my head porting I obviously didn't just do that in isolation, there would have been little point as you said. From the smooth bore induction hose, Bosch AFM, smooth bore elbow, triple plenum, trumpets, ported inlet manifold, ported heads, stealth cam, red top injectors, tuned exhaust manifolds, MA chip, amongst other miscellaneous bits the development of the engine top end was a comprehensive package of tried and tested upgrades. The results were exhilarating. I have a 5 lt that revs with the enthusiasm of a 4.3 and has 350 ft/lb of torque. I don't regret any of it, most people would be satisfied and I realise that no sane person will understand why I'm still looking at further developing the engine.
Julian
This is exactly the spec I am working towards... IMO it is cracking combination of reliable best of breed upgrades. The only difference with my plan is the ACT Twin CF Plenum instead of Triple and the ACT Replica OEM manifolds instead of the tuned (purely as a prefer the look of the twin and OEM manifolds) I was thinking adding Omex 200 for mapped spark to complement the MA chip but keeping the dizzy so it still looks fairly standard. 350ft/lb is a great result.... especially when you consider you will have exchanged a few torques for higher revving BHP with the stealth cam.

Mr Supercharged

498 posts

164 months

Thursday 5th July 2012
quotequote all
Yes, I'm on a Mac using Safari, I'll switch to Firefox if this sorts it out. Can't see my boosted 4 litre lasting forever so I am researching alternatives. Probably a cross bolted 4.0 instead with top hats.....