V8 engine upgrades

spidersonmars

I have all the parts but none of the expertise to up-grade my Rover v8 engine. This would involve changing the displacement for 3.5 to 3.9, new carbs etc. Does anyone know someone who can do this type of work? In the leinster region.

Thks.

shagman

Jim Robinson... http://www.jrv8.co.uk/
not in leinster but probably the closest rover V8 specialist.

BeardyGit

Jim's not going to be free until the end of October. I spoke with him there a couple of weeks back. He's off on his holliers at the moment I think, then has 9 engines to build and his usual contract stuff too.

What kind of car is it installed in, and what type of carbs are you fitting? Is it already a carbed engine or EFI etc?

More info please - And photos!

Gil

biggus

Steve Griffin beside castle warden golf club.,off nass rd kildare

spidersonmars

Sorry, My pictures are quite small and I will take new ones. Basically it a standard 3.5 rover engine that I want to put new cylinder heads and new air filter and the carbs etc. I have it all written down somewhere!! Is this a big job?

spidersonmars

Edelbrock 500 cfm Man Choke Carb
Edelbrock Dual Plane Inlet Manifold
Double Outlet Thermo Housing
14 x 3 " Edelbrock Air Cleaner Assembly
Carb to Manifold Gasket
Composite Inlet Manifold Gasket
Rubber Inlet end seals
Carb to Manifold Studs
Edelbrock Brass 90deg fuel banjo
82 deg thermostat
Carb Vacuum plug set

Plus new cylinder heads that are bored to 3.9Ltrs

carchaeologist

spidersonmars wrote: »

Sorry, My pictures are quite small and I will take new ones. Basically it a standard 3.5 rover engine that I want to put new cylinder heads and new air filter and the carbs etc. I have it all written down somewhere!! Is this a big job?

You want to take it up to 3.9,will changing the heads wont do this,the cylinder bores in the block will have to be bored,not the heads,they will have to be big enough to fit the 3.9 bores,you will also need new pistons too.Thats an engine out and total dissasembly job,and quite involved.

BeardyGit

The 3.9 heads can be installed very successfully on a 3.5 block with very little by way of preparation. The 3.9 heads will have a larger combustion chamber which will possibly help with the OP's intended goal, and if those heads were skimmed and used with a composite head gasket, it'll have a negligible effect on the CR of the engine overall. All in, a highly recommeded upgrade.

OP, are you going to have the block bored out to 3.9 displacement too, or just build a new top end around a set of later 3.9 heads? If you go with a rebore, you'll be looking at a new pistons, conrods/pins, camshaft, lifters (tappets), pushrods, big end/shell bearings, probably a reground crank etc etc. It's a big job.

If all you want to do it put that Weber 500 up top, just do the head swap and build up the inlet manifold and carb assembly etc....

Gil

Edit - Actually, it's worth fitting a 3.9 OEM cam anyway, or possibly look at a Piper camshaft and duplex timing gear kit when you're pulling her apart anyway.

spidersonmars

Gil_Dub wrote: »

The 3.9 heads can be installed very successfully on a 3.5 block with very little by way of preparation. The 3.9 heads will have a larger combustion chamber which will possibly help with the OP's intended goal, and if those heads were skimmed and used with a composite head gasket, it'll have a negligible effect on the CR of the engine overall. All in, a highly recommeded upgrade.

I think what I'm trying to do is what you have suggested above. I have the composite head gasket. TBH I'm a little out of my depth (as usual) no idea how much work / skill is required and/or dioes it require a specialist.

BeardyGit

From my own experience, there are many specialists, and each one will have their own idea about how you should build that engine.

What I'd recommend you do is read up on what you have at your disposal first, educate yourself a bit better about the pros and cons of various modifications, then go TELL someone specifically what you want done. I've done this myself and now I know (reasonably well) what I'm doing with the RV8. In fact, I'm doing the rebuild myself, having invested in the RIGHT tools for the job. I've the mechanical savvy to pull it off well, and I'll know it's been done just the way I want it to be done. And then I'll have the Gas analyser, torque wrenches, stand & crane plus a multitude of other bits and pieces to polish lovingly in anticipation of the next rebuild :-)

I'll dig out the name of a couple of solid books I've used - Might set you back €50-70 or so, but it'll be money well spent...Especially if you're going to pay someone else for the hours of labour that'll go into it. I'll PM you my number too if you want to give me a bell for a chat later this evening - Might be able to point you towards someone more local for you too.

Gil