Rover V8 race engine builder

C.H · Post by **C.H** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 12:40 pm

Hi
I am new to this forum.On behalf of a friend here in Switzerland i am trying to find out who, or which company in the U.K i can trust and rely on to build an Rover V8 race engine.
Requirements are at least 300hp and be able to rev (safely) to 7000rpm.
I would appreciate comments and information.
Thanks in advance.
Dominic Gulotti

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 1:38 pm

Hi
I got the machining for my Chevy done by Peter Knight http://www.knightracingservices.co.uk/ his work is very nice. I just got him to do the machining but he does full engines of most types of V8's. I am sure he will be happy to discuss a rover spec that will meet your requirments, though 300bhp, 7000 revs and reliable may be asking more than the rover can deliver! normally aspirated anyway

Best regards
Mike

ppyvabw · Post by **ppyvabw** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 2:05 pm

kiwicar wrote:Hi
though 300bhp, 7000 revs and reliable may be asking more than the rover can deliver! normally aspirated anyway

mmmm, I dunno. A 5 litre well put together might wouldn't it? But you'd be paying some serious dosh for it.

ChrisJC · Post by **ChrisJC** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 2:15 pm

You can try Wildcat Engineering
http://www.roverv8engine.co.uk/index.htm
or V8 Developments
http://www.v8developments.co.uk/

Chris.

spend · Post by **spend** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 2:50 pm

V8D, [JEDev maybe not..], Castle Race Engines and TVR Power all would have no problem with those, 300bhp is pretty trivial, the durable 7000rpm requires a bit more effort (read cost..) IIRC recently Andy Race (see TVRMonster site) was selling 5.0 race engine (a fresh spare) - certainly powerful enough but I can't recall what it was built to rev to - but would certainly be at least 6500rpm.

Most of the above will tell you they were making 300bhp plus engines in the 80's - and they probably had to rev with the smaller capacities

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 3:18 pm

I wouldn't believe a 5 litre rover engine spun to 7000 revs would ever be anything but a granade waiting to go off!

I at no point said any one, or even two of the requirments could not be achieved, but all three I think you will have great dificulty with. And as you say it will be serious dosh!
Best regards
Mike

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 3:28 pm

Does it have to be a rover? if so are there a fuller set of specifications/ class rules to go with this engine? Just if it is an open enough class, can't you go for a better starting point and save alot of dosh? For instance an ally block chevy LS/LM 5.3 engine that gives you 300+ bhp for about £1,800 and about the same weight as the rover (certainly by you have bolted on a big enough brace to hold it together). As it is out the box from chevy probably save you 5 to 6K over a rover giving the same output, and it will hold together (and you can change the cam, port the heads and have another 80bhp out of it).
Best regards
Mike

spend · Post by **spend** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 5:16 pm

We obviously have different experiences then

mgbv8 · Post by **mgbv8** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:23 pm

Why would you want to spin an engine that is happy making big power at lower rpm to 7000??

Mine makes plenty of power at 4000rpm.

What is the application for this high revving engine??

spend · Post by **spend** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:35 pm

Sports that really require steering wheels? :hehe:

mgbv8 · Post by **mgbv8** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:39 pm

spend wrote:Sports that really require steering wheels? :hehe:

So why do you need high rpm to go around corners???

Surley its down to gearing to make use of peak torque in any application??

CastleMGBV8 · Post by **CastleMGBV8** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 8:23 pm

Dominic,

On the basis of with the rover based engine power costs more money what sort of budget are we talking about and what is the intended usage?

A Rover based full race engine of 5.0L can make in excess of 400BHP and at the top of the market a Wildcat/Rover 6.0L engine can produce in excess of 700 BHP. It all depends on the size of your budget, how much is your friend prepared to spend?

Kevin

C.H · Post by **C.H** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 1:40 pm

Hi
Thanks everbody for input and ideas.The chap who wants such an engine is aware of costs , budget around 6500 pounds.
Only problem now is that it needs to be on carbs and does have to be an Rover engine.
Thanks again
Dominic

C.H · Post by **C.H** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 1:42 pm

Hi
Forgot to add.The engine is to be installed into an MGB and used for sprints,slalom and hillclimbing here in Switzerland.
Regards
Dominic

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 4:52 pm

Hi,
7000 revs, 300 bhp, as reliable as you can do for £6500
Assuming you have a core 4.6 engine already in good condition.
4.6 rover block with top hat liners, £900 to £1200
Decent set of forged pistons for Rover rods £470 to £550
Set of new 4.6 rods about £250, ARP bolts £75 lightened and shot peened add another £200 to £250
set of Merlin heads £1750 (ish)
Yella terror rockers £480
solid lifters £90
Cam £140
Machine crank £100
Ballance bottom end £250
forget the 5 litre crank they are £850
I recon you have £950 for for oil system, gaskets inlet system and everything else, have you thought of building it yourself?
Best regards
Mike
PS I haven't taken into account freight , import duty or local Vat are you absolutly sure you couldn't use a chevy