Tuscan Challenge Racer 4.5 Rover V8 Spec
Discussion
Does anyone know the full spec of the Rover V8 Engine that was fitted into the Tuscan Challenge Racers? I know it was the rare 4.5 (4441cc) engine fitted as fitted the 450 SEACs and 450BV Griffs and not the 4.6 fitted to the Chimaera 450 (4552cc). I also understand that it had a dry sump and quad weber carbs?
I have tried searching but there does not seem to be much information available about these engines.
I have tried searching but there does not seem to be much information available about these engines.
A bostin good engine if i say so my self,this is mine nearly refitted after a recent rebuild,
48 delortos.......

one before rebuild...

and this one is in my previous car and just as hairy........

48 delortos.......

one before rebuild...

Edited by wadsapple on Thursday 1st March 21:48
and this one is in my previous car and just as hairy........

Edited by wadsapple on Thursday 1st March 21:52
Edited by wadsapple on Thursday 1st March 21:55
Hi
I have a 4.5 Rover V8 Tuscan racer spec engine from the factory.
The spec is as follows.
4 x 48mm twin choke down draught dellorto carbs
TVR down draught manifold
TVR Big valve head with slim stem 1.69" & 1.45" valves
Adjustable Roller rockers
Kent mechanical high lift camshaft with solid lifts
Kent vernier timing gear with a double roller chain
TVR spec cross bolted small journal block
Cosworth 94mm forged pistons
Carillo H-beam rod
80mm crank
Dry sumped oil system
Hope this helps
I have a 4.5 Rover V8 Tuscan racer spec engine from the factory.
The spec is as follows.
4 x 48mm twin choke down draught dellorto carbs
TVR down draught manifold
TVR Big valve head with slim stem 1.69" & 1.45" valves
Adjustable Roller rockers
Kent mechanical high lift camshaft with solid lifts
Kent vernier timing gear with a double roller chain
TVR spec cross bolted small journal block
Cosworth 94mm forged pistons
Carillo H-beam rod
80mm crank
Dry sumped oil system
Hope this helps
4.5L 350bhp - 300lb/ft
Powerful and free revving.
From memory...
48mm down draught dellortos DHLA
Twin pacet pumps (competition) & Filter king regulators (replacing original single line)
Custom inlet manifolds
lightweight roller rockers
Biggest valves with wasted stems (valve seats touch)and bigger/longer guides
Ported heads
forged pistons (90mm I think)
H conrods
Iceberg crank (diesel crank)
Dry sump (twin scavenge)
Strengthened block with thicker longer webbings, deburred and deflashed. Skirted liner base.
Mallory CDI (replacing original luminition)
256 cam or similar on double follower springs and solid lifters/rods
Lightweight flywheel with 7" ap twin clutch
ARP bolts everywhere
I think thats about it!
Powerful and free revving.
From memory...
48mm down draught dellortos DHLA
Twin pacet pumps (competition) & Filter king regulators (replacing original single line)
Custom inlet manifolds
lightweight roller rockers
Biggest valves with wasted stems (valve seats touch)and bigger/longer guides
Ported heads
forged pistons (90mm I think)
H conrods
Iceberg crank (diesel crank)
Dry sump (twin scavenge)
Strengthened block with thicker longer webbings, deburred and deflashed. Skirted liner base.
Mallory CDI (replacing original luminition)
256 cam or similar on double follower springs and solid lifters/rods
Lightweight flywheel with 7" ap twin clutch
ARP bolts everywhere
I think thats about it!

Precat said:
Hi
I have a 4.5 Rover V8 Tuscan racer spec engine from the factory.
The spec is as follows.
4 x 48mm twin choke down draught dellorto carbs
TVR down draught manifold
TVR Big valve head with slim stem 1.69" & 1.45" valves
Adjustable Roller rockers
Kent mechanical high lift camshaft with solid lifts
Kent vernier timing gear with a double roller chain
TVR spec cross bolted small journal block
Cosworth 94mm forged pistons
Carillo H-beam rod
80mm crank
Dry sumped oil system
Hope this helps
Oi! This never came up in our conversation, I'm going to have a look in your shed and see what else you have!I have a 4.5 Rover V8 Tuscan racer spec engine from the factory.
The spec is as follows.
4 x 48mm twin choke down draught dellorto carbs
TVR down draught manifold
TVR Big valve head with slim stem 1.69" & 1.45" valves
Adjustable Roller rockers
Kent mechanical high lift camshaft with solid lifts
Kent vernier timing gear with a double roller chain
TVR spec cross bolted small journal block
Cosworth 94mm forged pistons
Carillo H-beam rod
80mm crank
Dry sumped oil system
Hope this helps
haircutmike said:
Precat said:
Hi
I have a 4.5 Rover V8 Tuscan racer spec engine from the factory.
The spec is as follows.
4 x 48mm twin choke down draught dellorto carbs
TVR down draught manifold
TVR Big valve head with slim stem 1.69" & 1.45" valves
Adjustable Roller rockers
Kent mechanical high lift camshaft with solid lifts
Kent vernier timing gear with a double roller chain
TVR spec cross bolted small journal block
Cosworth 94mm forged pistons
Carillo H-beam rod
80mm crank
Dry sumped oil system
Hope this helps
Oi! This never came up in our conversation, I'm going to have a look in your shed and see what else you have!I have a 4.5 Rover V8 Tuscan racer spec engine from the factory.
The spec is as follows.
4 x 48mm twin choke down draught dellorto carbs
TVR down draught manifold
TVR Big valve head with slim stem 1.69" & 1.45" valves
Adjustable Roller rockers
Kent mechanical high lift camshaft with solid lifts
Kent vernier timing gear with a double roller chain
TVR spec cross bolted small journal block
Cosworth 94mm forged pistons
Carillo H-beam rod
80mm crank
Dry sumped oil system
Hope this helps

Hi Mattrew
I built and fitted a milder 4.5 big Valve engine in my Griff as I use the car on the road, track and holiday tours around Europe.
Spec.
Rover Vitesse Group A Twin plenum (std 2 x 63.5mm)
Group-A steel rocker gear
TVR Big valve heads (43 & 37mm)
V8D Stealth cam
94mm Omega high compression pistons
HRC rods
80mm Iceberg crank
Small journal cross bolted block
All lighten and balanced.
Emerald ECU
Range Rover V8 Coil packs
Hope this helps.

I built and fitted a milder 4.5 big Valve engine in my Griff as I use the car on the road, track and holiday tours around Europe.
Spec.
Rover Vitesse Group A Twin plenum (std 2 x 63.5mm)
Group-A steel rocker gear
TVR Big valve heads (43 & 37mm)
V8D Stealth cam
94mm Omega high compression pistons
HRC rods
80mm Iceberg crank
Small journal cross bolted block
All lighten and balanced.
Emerald ECU
Range Rover V8 Coil packs
Hope this helps.
Precat said:
Hi Mattrew
I built and fitted a milder 4.5 big Valve engine in my Griff as I use the car on the road, track and holiday tours around Europe.
Spec.
Rover Vitesse Group A Twin plenum (std 2 x 63.5mm)
Group-A steel rocker gear
TVR Big valve heads (43 & 37mm)
V8D Stealth cam
94mm Omega high compression pistons
HRC rods
80mm Iceberg crank
Small journal cross bolted block
All lighten and balanced.
Emerald ECU
Range Rover V8 Coil packs
Hope this helps.

Having chased this car to Spa and back in a very sorted near on 400bhp 350 i can definately say it packs a punch, masses of low down grunt and two foot flames popping out the single rear exit can, i have hd hero footage but i think Anthony might get locked up if it went public!!I built and fitted a milder 4.5 big Valve engine in my Griff as I use the car on the road, track and holiday tours around Europe.
Spec.
Rover Vitesse Group A Twin plenum (std 2 x 63.5mm)
Group-A steel rocker gear
TVR Big valve heads (43 & 37mm)
V8D Stealth cam
94mm Omega high compression pistons
HRC rods
80mm Iceberg crank
Small journal cross bolted block
All lighten and balanced.
Emerald ECU
Range Rover V8 Coil packs
Hope this helps.
That really is a very impressive engine there Anthony and the graph backs that up. Revving to 6k is very impressive along with the perfect AFR so clearly running spot on. I preferred 4.3 to the 5.0 when I took both out.... I didn't find the 4.3 quite as fast but certainly more fun and free-revving. The 500 starts off pulling like a train but runs out of puff really early on. I am assuming the 4.5 gives you the best of both worlds.
similar but taken to 5.0 by john.
Different crank pistons etc but esentially the same above and below.
Rev'd to 7800 too!
Fairly well known chart from the Growl in 2008.

Built for Torque, was like a bullet out of the corners, way quicker than ajp Tuscans
(by the way, my 4.5 revs to 7800!!
Different crank pistons etc but esentially the same above and below.
Rev'd to 7800 too!
Fairly well known chart from the Growl in 2008.

Built for Torque, was like a bullet out of the corners, way quicker than ajp Tuscans

(by the way, my 4.5 revs to 7800!!
That is ridiculous!
I love the epic amount of torque you have from so low down..... most high revving engines sacrifice a lot of torque low down, yours most certainly doesn't.
Is that running carbs or throttle bodies? You don't happen to have a higher resolution copy of that graph by any chance?
I love the epic amount of torque you have from so low down..... most high revving engines sacrifice a lot of torque low down, yours most certainly doesn't.
Is that running carbs or throttle bodies? You don't happen to have a higher resolution copy of that graph by any chance?
Gassing Station | General TVR Stuff & Gossip | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff





