Small block chevy

[MARSHO]

Can anyone tell me, is a small block chevy engine any bigger (physically) in size , with manifolds fitted etc ,than the rover v8?, also has anyone heard of one being fitted to a TVR 350 chassis? many thanks David.

[whitey]

look at the thread above Speed Eight Chevrolet, iron block chevy small block goes easy into a TVR chassis. An LSx engine is also possible but slightly harder as a more trick exhaust is required.

[MARSHO]

Thanks for that ,it makes for very interesting reading, but I was thinking about the wedge 350 chassis set up thanks, David.

[brummiewedge]

I looked at this when i had my wedge, the problem is the exhaust area, i think you would have to make the top engine bay rails wider to fit the manifolds in.

[MARSHO]

Thats what I was thinking, the tvr exhaust are tight enough as it is,

[heightswitch]

Jon will be along shortly to wax lyrical about the LS1 engine but for practical purposes the following is what you need to know:

rover, very light but very wide at top end and difficult for exhausts
Chevy, very wide and very heavy but cheap as chips to buy, build and tune
Ford small block, 3-4" narrower at top end than any other v8 and much easier to fit where sump issues not critical (front drop sump in most cars) with alloy inlet and heads can be made almost as light as Rover. Cheaper to tune than a rover but more than a chevy.

i like the older lumps

But for a newer car you will probably want to wait for Jon,s input.

That said, he too will fall in love with a 289 s/b very very shortly!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Neil.

Edited by heightswitch on Tuesday 22 August 11:43

[jellison]

hahahaha - Here I am.

LS is very similar to RV8 in height and length (really sod all in it for something that can diplace twice the volume if you want!), and about 1/2 - 3/4" wider - so the header have to be made by omeone that REALLY knows there stuff.

I will not bang on too much as really rather bored with it all now (and as I have my New / Old toy), but new cars surely best with newer lighter lumps.

289 is what I can gather a very light V8 for its size (thin walls).

Neil - have a good link on rear hubs - mail me.

jelly

[heightswitch]

will do when I get home tonight.
Neil.

[jellison]

heightswitch said:

will do when I get home tonight.
Neil.

Sent you a link, see what U think?

[Boosted LS1]

You really need 28" width to comfortably accomodate an lsx and the wedge just hasn't got that space and the back of the engine wouldn't fit the rails at all.

Boosted.

[302wedge]

The Chevy V8 hasn't really changed from the oringinal 1955 design. That makes them plentiful and cheap to modify but suffer from a size and over weight problem. Ford designed the 260-289-302 block 10 years later durning a time that saw smaller and lighter cars evolving. If your considering an alternative to the Rover V8 consider the lighter weight smaller Ford. It is a tight fit but well worth the effort and they'll last for ever. See the pictures at this site. I put one into a 280i and haven't stopped smiling.
http://rides.webshots.com/album/16487
Allan

[Boosted LS1]

302wedge said:

The Chevy V8 hasn't really changed from the oringinal 1955 design. That makes them plentiful and cheap to modify but suffer from a size and over weight problem. Ford designed the 260-289-302 block 10 years later durning a time that saw smaller and lighter cars evolving. If your considering an alternative to the Rover V8 consider the lighter weight smaller Ford. It is a tight fit but well worth the effort and they'll last for ever. See the pictures at this site. I put one into a 280i and haven't stopped smiling.
http://rides.webshots.com/album/16487
Allan

To clarify a bit more, the iron block chevy hasn't changed for eons, it's old and heavy like the fords. The lsx chevy is a brand new design, it's all new apart from the rod bearings plus it's all aluminium and composite construction. The ford products are dead in the water imo unless it's a cosworth 24v and even that's pretty primitive in a lot of ways! Even the 4.6 cammer is well lacking imo. The rover v8 is light and compact and can be tweaked beyond 302 capabilities in the power to weight department. In the UK it's a very good choice.

Boosted.

[MARSHO]

Thanks for the photos , it just goes to show what can be done regards, David

[Graham]

302wedge said:

The Chevy V8 hasn't really changed from the oringinal 1955 design. That makes them plentiful and cheap to modify but suffer from a size and over weight problem. Ford designed the 260-289-302 block 10 years later durning a time that saw smaller and lighter cars evolving. If your considering an alternative to the Rover V8 consider the lighter weight smaller Ford. It is a tight fit but well worth the effort and they'll last for ever. See the pictures at this site. I put one into a 280i and haven't stopped smiling.
http://rides.webshots.com/album/16487
Allan

dare I ask the weight of the ford motor? interesting to see it fit in a 280 without chassis mods

how does the size compare to the chevy?

G

[302wedge]

The new aluminium Chevy engines are great and I would love to see one installed in a Wedge, but I don't have the money to afford such an endevor and in the mean time the 302 will put out far more HP per dollar then the Rover V8. My car started as a 280 with a V6 that actually weighed MORE then the Ford 302 (even with cast iron heads). So for $800.00 (total cost)I now have a car that weighs less and produces three times the power. Could you build a engine to fit that would produce more HP? I am sure there are lots out there right now, but for the dollar I don't think there are many. Horsepower per dollar (at the same weight) makes more sense to me. My original plan was to install a Ford SHO (Yamaha V6)engine but the engine appeared too wide. The Chevy V8 is "King" when it comes to HP/$ but at a substantial weight cost (200# more then the small block Ford).

[Boosted LS1]

Ah, I see where you're coming from and assumed you were in the UK, not stateside. 302's must be in abundance over there whereas here it's rovers They've been built to 5.5 litres but a some cost. A 6.0 is available but not at all viable given the prices of lsx engines. IMO of course

Boosted.