302 vs Rover Supecharged

[braveheart 3]

Guys,
I have an old wedge which is getting slower by the minute and have a 302 Ford V8 which seems smaller than the Rover although heavier.However I have been speaking to Dave at SC superchargers and they do a kit for the wedge at about £4k which seems a lot so am weighing up the options any opinions would be welcome!
regards
Braveheart

[grahamw48]

302 into Wedge has been done more than once into 280s in the states, with matching gearbox. Apparently not too difficult, though you may need a particular sump.

There will be loads of tuning stuff for the Ford V8, which also is pretty light as far as Yank motors go.

Stiffening the car up should help cope.

[grahamw48]

Good thread for you here. Pistonheader '302wedge' is the man who's done it.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...

Edited by grahamw48 on Sunday 26th July 13:45

[350Matt]

all depends on how much power you want really and how much you want to spend

rebuilding a std 3.5 lump up to 220bhp is pretty cheap and certainly cheaper than the fitting and alternative lump

what engine is in the wedge now?

[braveheart 3]

Thanks for the replies, I have been in touch with the chap in the states and he is very helpful, the only snag is I need the V8 t5 gearbox which is about another £1500.
My existing engine is just standard RV8.I am trying to get something in there that will keep up with my brothers R500 ! so looking for the most cost effective 280-300 bhp
Regards
Braveheart

[350Matt]

Probably the easiest and a fairly cost effective route is to fit a TVR 5ltr engine complete, Bell-hill garage or Douglas Valley will sell you one 2nd hand for about 3K this should then bolt straight in, you'll also need the ECU, hotwire meter etc

[braveheart 3]

Thanks Matt very helpful will have a re think and see.
Regards
Braveheart

[Slow M]

braveheart 3 said:

...only snag is I need the V8 t5 gearbox which is about another £1500.

That is exhorbitant! You should be able to purchase a TK3550 with bellhousing and clutch for that sum.
B.

[jellison]

braveheart 3 said:

Thanks for the replies, I have been in touch with the chap in the states and he is very helpful, the only snag is I need the V8 t5 gearbox which is about another £1500.
My existing engine is just standard RV8.I am trying to get something in there that will keep up with my brothers R500 ! so looking for the most cost effective 280-300 bhp
Regards
Braveheart

Keep up with an R500!!!!? You might as well not bother.

Even a BIG power V8 will not keep up with one of those bar on Mways at very high speeds where the Caterham will be running out of puff.

If you really want to keep up with an R500 in a wedge (you never will on the twisty bit) you would need a tuned LS6/ or more likley and LS7 - a proper conversion with one of these (a proper one that can handle the power i.e. tko or t56 boxed on) is going to run to 12-20k.

I'd just get and R500 second hand 280-300bhp is mild 500 RV8 teritory and a TVR with one of these level engine vs a R500 is (how can I put this) going to be VERY SLOW in comparison (do the math ).

Edited by jellison on Monday 10th August 15:40

[The Lukas]

So keep ya wedge and get a R1 if you want to keep with him to a the straights at least. Jellisons right, I doubt much would keep with a R500, pretty much any TVR would struggle in a straight line yet alone corners.

But I guess going from 200bhp to 300bhp would help a bit...

[spend]

jellison said:

Keep up with an R500!!!!? You might as well not bother.

Don't be so defeatist Jon!

Simply tie the 302 to the back of the Caterham with stout rope and drive off flicking V's at your mate

[jellison]

My next one is going to be 302 "based" (it will keep up with an R500 and then some) but not on a properly twisty road or track, not much will (too light and nimble).

[braveheart 3]

Thanks for all your viewpoints and suggestions. Not sure I agree with some though even my standard RV8 Wedge didnt exactly discrace it self against the brothers previous Caterham 1.8 vvc in a good state of tune.
Other thing is 302 is then crying out for NOS.......and on it goes to close the gap....!
Thanks again
Braveheart

[Slow M]

The dilemma is that while you can build a 302 (as a 331 or even 347) to deliver a safe and reliable 500 to 550 horsepower, you have to change out or upgrade everything downriver (save for a salisbury differential) to handle the power.

B.

NO2 is for kids.

[jellison]

Slow M said:

The dilemma is that while you can build a 302 (as a 331 or even 347) to deliver a safe and reliable 500 to 550 horsepower, you have to change out or upgrade everything downriver (save for a salisbury differential) to handle the power.

B.

NO2 is for kids.

100% agree. Mine is going to be 302 ("based").

NOS yes - for playstation Muppets, not racers (well not where there are CORNERS), Later Dude.

[grahamw48]

I believe the OP was just wanting a fairly 'standard' 302 (about 300bhp?),
so probably just uprated UJs required, uprated brakes, and firm up the suspension I'd have thought. Nothing too drastic.

No doubt this is all the guys across the pond have done with their 280s.

Shpub's Wedge is probably the best car to look at as far as coping with REALLY big power goes.

[jsr]

braveheart 3 said:

Guys,
I have an old wedge which is getting slower by the minute and have a 302 Ford V8 which seems smaller than the Rover although heavier.However I have been speaking to Dave at SC superchargers and they do a kit for the wedge at about £4k which seems a lot so am weighing up the options any opinions would be welcome!
regards
Braveheart

Out of interest, is the V8 in the Wedge a pre serpentine? I would like to SC my Chimaera 400 but i didn't think the SC Power kit was available for pre serp engines?

Cheers,
James

[grahamw48]

I thought they were only for serp engines too.

The 'factory approved' SX Wedges had sprintex superchargers, on both 350 and 400s....ie...different.

Maybe you should contact them.

Edited by grahamw48 on Friday 28th August 21:12

[Chas53]

Go for the Super Charger. The performance is un beatable and it's still the light reliable RV8 engine.

Chas
Chim SC400

[BenRelle]

People go on and on about how light the RV8 is, when they seemingly know nothing about the weight of a SBF, and apparently they're too lazy to google. Check this out:

http://www.britishv8.org/Triumph/DanMasters.htm

http://www.v8register.net/subpages/v8enginedimensi... (backed up by http://www.v8engines.com/engine-4.htm)

Remember that very few people retain the iron heads on a SBF when they tune them. And why bother messing about with that when you can buy a GT40 spec engine (with alloy heads) that's been put together on a ford production line with 340hp as stock for 4.5K?