at the risk of being strung up
Discussion
there's no problem turbo charging the engine i have but having mostly driven large engine cars i quite like the v8 punch which you never quite get despite winding up the boost to the max
the other issue is that the lotus 4pot was never the most reliable thing and a nice 4.6 v8 will run forever
the other issue is that the lotus 4pot was never the most reliable thing and a nice 4.6 v8 will run forever
I love the Rover V8. I have a 3.5 in my race car, and it is lighter (in my TR8) than the 4 cylinder in the TR7. I bet doesn't weigh that much more than a 907 or 910.
I also think that dimensionally, it should fit fine. Motor is very compact, not nearly as tall as the 907/910 which have to be turned 45 degrees to fit. I think the big problem is going to be working out a bellhousing/tranny arrangment that works.
Over here in the US the Rover V8 is underappreciated. As good of a motor as the SBC or Ford, light and very capable. It's probably the perfect "donor" motor for project cars -- I've even seen it in some formula cars -- due to weight and size.
I also think that dimensionally, it should fit fine. Motor is very compact, not nearly as tall as the 907/910 which have to be turned 45 degrees to fit. I think the big problem is going to be working out a bellhousing/tranny arrangment that works.
Over here in the US the Rover V8 is underappreciated. As good of a motor as the SBC or Ford, light and very capable. It's probably the perfect "donor" motor for project cars -- I've even seen it in some formula cars -- due to weight and size.
Hi,
An Interesting sidenote, the Rover V8 was actually born in Detroit! It's a Buick engine. GM was having major problems with casting the alloy block to the tune of something like 85% rejects on quality control. They enlisted the aid of Rover who were able to develop the casting to something like 85% functional units. By this time, GM had decided to forego it in favor of the Chevy iron smallblock and sold the rights to the motor to Rover, who have certainly made the most of the deal.
Happy Motoring! ...Jim'85TE
>> Edited by lotusguy on Saturday 2nd October 07:11
An Interesting sidenote, the Rover V8 was actually born in Detroit! It's a Buick engine. GM was having major problems with casting the alloy block to the tune of something like 85% rejects on quality control. They enlisted the aid of Rover who were able to develop the casting to something like 85% functional units. By this time, GM had decided to forego it in favor of the Chevy iron smallblock and sold the rights to the motor to Rover, who have certainly made the most of the deal.
Happy Motoring! ...Jim'85TE
JeffYoung said:
I love the Rover V8. I have a 3.5 in my race car, and it is lighter (in my TR8) than the 4 cylinder in the TR7. I bet doesn't weigh that much more than a 907 or 910.
I also think that dimensionally, it should fit fine. Motor is very compact, not nearly as tall as the 907/910 which have to be turned 45 degrees to fit. I think the big problem is going to be working out a bellhousing/tranny arrangment that works.
Over here in the US the Rover V8 is underappreciated. As good of a motor as the SBC or Ford, light and very capable. It's probably the perfect "donor" motor for project cars -- I've even seen it in some formula cars -- due to weight and size.
>> Edited by lotusguy on Saturday 2nd October 07:11
Lotusguy, totally correct. A bit more detailed history.
The GM small V8 was born out of the idea in the early 50s that American cars might get smaller, like their new European counterparts. Buick and Olds worked together to develop the aluminimun V8 but their resulting end products were slightly different. The Buick model was pretty straightforward, although Buick used a better design on the heads -- the Buick 300 -- that flowed a bit better than any other head for the 215 up until the 90s. Those old 300 heads are still goldmine finds for 215 Rover V8 builders.
Olds did some different things with their version. THe bolt pattern for the heads is a bit different and the blocks are not interchangeable. Interestingly enough, the Olds Starfire/Jetfire from the early early 60s used a methanol injection system and made about 220 hp out of 215 cubes, which was very good for the day. And the motor was light so the Starfire actuallyl handled pretty well in comparision with its contemporaries.
By 63 or so, GM saw the market moving to larger and larger V8s and saw no need for a V8 smaller than some 6s. They sold the design to Rover, and the Rover/Buick/Olds V8 has been the V8 of choice in the U.K. ever since. What the small block Chevy is to the US, the Rover V8 is to England -- lots of knowledge, lots of tuners and lots of power. The block can go as big as 5.0 liters and 350-400 hp is possible.
An interesting side note. The V8 design also went to Australia where Jack Brabhem used it to power the Brabham-Repco F1 car, and I believe that was the motor he used to win a World Championship.
Neat little motor.
The GM small V8 was born out of the idea in the early 50s that American cars might get smaller, like their new European counterparts. Buick and Olds worked together to develop the aluminimun V8 but their resulting end products were slightly different. The Buick model was pretty straightforward, although Buick used a better design on the heads -- the Buick 300 -- that flowed a bit better than any other head for the 215 up until the 90s. Those old 300 heads are still goldmine finds for 215 Rover V8 builders.
Olds did some different things with their version. THe bolt pattern for the heads is a bit different and the blocks are not interchangeable. Interestingly enough, the Olds Starfire/Jetfire from the early early 60s used a methanol injection system and made about 220 hp out of 215 cubes, which was very good for the day. And the motor was light so the Starfire actuallyl handled pretty well in comparision with its contemporaries.
By 63 or so, GM saw the market moving to larger and larger V8s and saw no need for a V8 smaller than some 6s. They sold the design to Rover, and the Rover/Buick/Olds V8 has been the V8 of choice in the U.K. ever since. What the small block Chevy is to the US, the Rover V8 is to England -- lots of knowledge, lots of tuners and lots of power. The block can go as big as 5.0 liters and 350-400 hp is possible.
An interesting side note. The V8 design also went to Australia where Jack Brabhem used it to power the Brabham-Repco F1 car, and I believe that was the motor he used to win a World Championship.
Neat little motor.
JeffYoung said:
small block Chevy is to the US, the Rover V8 is to England -- lots of knowledge, lots of tuners and lots of power. The block can go as big as 5.0 liters and 350-400 hp is possible.
They'll never notice in Improved Touring. Next season, they'll never know what hit them!!!!!!!
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