Rover V8 Heads

[Graham]

Whats the difference between the earlier pre serp and later serpentine onwards heads.

I thought it was mainly just the deleted bolt holes... so can you put earlier heads on a later block and visa versa.

the reason I ask is i've seen a set advertised, and the ad says they only fit the earlier block as they have 3 rather than 4 bolt holes at one end ? surley thats the wrong way around ?

cheers

G

[Boosted Ls1]

All the rv8 heads are interchangeable. The way the add sounds makes little sense but I guess he's selling earlier heads from the description you give. You may find the compression changes depending on what heads you have been using. What age are the heads being advertised?

Boosted.

[GreenV8S]

I understand the head volume was reduced too, to suite the later composite head gasket. As far as I know you can interchange the heads despite the extra/missing bolt holes (on early heads with the extra holes you just fit the bolts without torquing them up) but you do need to get the volume right so that you end up with the right CR. The valve guides and oil seals etc have changed too although you could rebuild either version of the head to either spec, and there are umpteen different valve sizes to choose from. I think that's the situation, but I'd check with an RV8 specialist before parting with any money.

Edited to add: Boosted is one of the people I'd be asking if I needed to know.

>> Edited by GreenV8S on Tuesday 29th November 23:06

[Graham]

Thats what I thought. The heads are pre serp and this was the bit of th ad I didnt get

"These heads are 7E castings, which are unleaded compatable, & retain standard deck height. They will fit any Rover V8 engine, except serpentine motors, due to having only 3 bolt holes at each end, & not 4."

[v8 racing]

What thr guy is saying is that the later serp engines have 4 bolt holes on the end of the heads where one side the alternator bracket goes and other is aircon bracket, the earlier pre serp heads dont have the facility to bolt these brackets on, you can make them fit but you have to make a little bracket up yourself

[Graham]

Ah cheers that makes more sense, shouldnt be a problem for me as i use a different alt and bracket anyway


cheers

graham