The V8 Owners Forum -

Hi folks. We have a January 1994 Range Rover Classic with an early interim 3.9 block (bosses to enable crossbolting but the smaller, non-full-width caps). This is being worked on in parallel to my cross bolted 3.5 build and my ‘93 RRC build so I am becoming very friendly with the machine shops. I’m ...

Thanks Garry. The vehicle is originally a 3.9 - so just the same as a 4.0 in terms of power assuming I keep the factory ancilliaries. But the block isn't the original so I lose nothing by switching to a 4.0 (plus I get big mains, crossbolting, etc) and can keep the same ancilliaries, so the 4.0 is c...

Think you're right Chris, - 4.6 seems like the easier way to go.

Shame, as I really like period tech, but I'd be cutting my nose off to spite my face.

Ah well. Guess I'll just have to enjoy the extra horses

Well spotted Chris. Just double checked my books and I was wrong. Rods are the same (143.8mm long with 50.8 and 22.2mm ends) but the pistons are indeed different, 3.9s are 49.5mm high with 22.5cc dish whereas 4.2s are 45mm high with the same 22.5mm dish. Plus the cam is different too, so that’s plen...

Hi all. In parallel to my crossbolted 3.5 engine build, I'm quietly gathering bits to build up a nice strong crossbolted 4.2 Rover V8 for a period install in my '93 Range Rover Classic (hence not going to 4.6). I could buy a complete 4.2 if one pops up at a sensible price, I could base it off an int...

thanks both - that's really helpful.

I'll start gathering donor bits to try a few options.

Just a quick question for you both, given your experience in the area. Just to reiterate, the basic plan is for this to be a carburetted V8 but fitted with a P38A/Disco II distributorless front cover and I would like to use a flywheel mounted OEM toothed wheel and a factory Land Rover position senso...

Thanks both. That's really helpful. I've just looked up the location of the sensor above - my block has a witness mark in the same place, so could be machined to accept the sensor - which is great news. That's great as I'd prefer the idea of the sensor being a little more hidden rather than a pulley...

You seem to be well on top of your research, top marks there! Ha ha, yep. I tried to search the forum as much as I could before posting and have devoured the following books (all highly recommended): Rover V8 - the story of the engine (James Taylor) How to power tune rover V8 engines (Des Hammill) ...

Thanks very much, both. Glad to know I'm not crazy in pursuing this :lol: Megasquirt was my planned route - much like the setup SuperV8 mentions, but interesting to hear that the OEM flywheel triggers might be usable - that's something I'd love to do: keeping it all enclosed. I am using a traditiona...

Hi all. I've been looking for a specific V8 engine to rebuild for a while... a long while: my wanted ad was posted here 6-years ago. The problem was I was looking for one of the cross-boltable 3.5L RV8s that were produced in the late '90s from the 38A castings. Referred to by Des Hammill as a "servi...

That is very, very neat. Thank you for sharing! I think the best course of action for me is to pick up a scrap chassis (I only need the seatbox crossmember - steering relay crossmember section) and to mock up the various drivetrain options using the bare V8 block, the timing covers and an empty R380...

Chris - sounds like a brilliant build and that’s incredibly reassuring to hear that it will fit. Being able to fit it while retaining a viscous fan is one of my main aims, but I didn’t think for a second I might be able to get away without trimming the footwells. May as well let you know the full sp...

Thanks very much both - great to hear its possible and Stevie, I didn't know that the liners were available locally I had inferred from some of the builders that they were an uncommon custom made thing. Dressing the engine is no problem - in stock I have an older mid-70s V8 so I can obviously incorp...

An odd question - I know. I'm currently in the process of assembling an engine for my latest project - an old Land Rover. Its an immensely well-trodden conversion - but revisiting it 25 years after it lost popularity has opened up a whole world of possibilities - 5 speed box adaptor kits (bought), A...