Rover V8

[THE73Z]

Wow, lighter than an iron L4, that has got to do wonders for a Z!!

Actually, I think that was in reference to the BMC 4 cyl that came in MGBs and Triumphs. It was one heavy little motor. A SBC adds 140 lbs to a Z and the Buick/Rover, while lighter than the SBC, still adds weight to the Z - but the trade-off for the added hp is still well worth it.

Z

[260DET]

A friend of mine has a Triumph TR7 with a Rover V8 that he races. Not the greatest of engines for that purpose, he has continuing lubrication problems due to oil slosh. It should be dry sumped.

[THE73Z]

A friend of mine has a Triumph TR7 with a Rover V8 that he races. Not the greatest of engines for that purpose, he has continuing lubrication problems due to oil slosh. It should be dry sumped.

That's a bummer. However, I think it would work fine for stop light to stop light driving and autocross. Is there a dry sump system available for it?

Seems like bushy has lost interest.

Z

[Pete84]

He's probably gone to HybridZ.

[speedyblue]

A friend of mine has a Triumph TR7 with a Rover V8 that he races. Not the greatest of engines for that purpose, he has continuing lubrication problems due to oil slosh. It should be dry sumped.

I was hoping a good baffled sump and a better pickup would remedy any problems like that. I know it's off topic, but does he use the triumph 5-speed, or something else like the Supra 5-speed. I still haven't decided which to use.

[260DET]

Not sure on what gearbox he uses, apparently the lubrication problem is basically caused by oil sloshing up inside one bank of cylinders in turns. He has this big steel plate bolted across the block base to increase block rigidity, like the old Repco Brabham F1 race engines used to have so I'm told.

Usual thing with something light, lack of rigidity can be a problem

[bushy]

No, still here. I know ive heard of a dry sump being available for the rover v8, cant remember where though. From memory it was quite costly, as the pound to $ conversion is a real killer. Im in Australia, so although a smallblock chev is available, they are similar in cost to a rover engine. As well as this there are a few places over here who specialise in the rover 8, so performance isnt one of those hard to find things.

A bellhousing is available for a supra box, so for the conversion im considering either this box, the z box, although im a bit worried about the extra torque and bellhousing/addaptor plate is unavailable as far as i know, or going with the stock rover box. any ideas on this?

as for fuel econamy, as soon as u go an 8 its out the window, but i figure a 3.5 is going to be better than a 5.0 + that a chev would give, even though horsepower is the real fuel killer. I heard a mild rover3.5 gets about 25 mpg on a car similar in weight to a z so who knows where it ends up anyway.

Thanks for your help

[Darkstar]

Bushy, as far as the gearbox is concerned, I think you should go with the Borg Warner T5. The 280ZX and RWD Sierra Cossie should fit without any problems, but you'll need to fabricate a new propshaft or modify the original Z unit.

[RUSSJZ-ZED]

Having had 2 TR8s and too many Rover V8s to count( many more than I would admit to a psychyatrist) Several factors should be weighed up BEFORE you race out and buy a motor.

1) they are primitive.real primitive!

2) they were never all that popular here in Australia.

3)Parts are not that cheap here.

4)Lightweight it may be, It is also very very thirsty.Especially the 3.5 I put an injected 4.6 in a TR8- more economical-but it is all torque-doesn't rev!

5)As mentioned previously, need big capacity to get power- Costs a heap.

6)Performance parts for all capacities are thin on the ground down here.and will cost. Beware of a "specialist" parts supplier in Adelaide!!!!!

7)A dellows /supra conversion is round $2200(this does give you a gearbox that can be reved, unlike the Rover 5 speed, which had bio-degradeable 2nd gear-the other 4 not much better)

8)The poms played with this motor, because it was all they had!

9)To set one up decently, will cost $5000(This is just engine stuff-not installing) minimum-rebuilt, dellows/supra,a few go fastie bits, There are better more modern Japanese engines out there for much less than that sort of money.

Primitive, primitive primitive!! Rigor mortis set in in about 1980-It's been on life support since then. Add a bit on here and there, inject it,All so they didn't have to develop a replacement-Only the sad sad state of the English car industry kept it going so long.

10) It's named after a dog!