The V8 Owners Forum -

These seem extremely good value and with a 3year guarantee. £999.00 +VAT

I'd assumed TVR Power had gone with the rest of it but their web site is still up and running.

http://www.tvrpower.co.uk/store_misc.php

Kevin.

Im hoping thats a misprint!!

'know more issues with cracked blocks'

Am I imagining things or is that block Top-hatted on one bank only?, thanks for the link - i'll be taking a pair of those copper gaskets as soon as funds allow!

Hairbear,

Obviously both banks, I blew up the picture to make sure, but what is nice is the clean nicely machine bottom of the V to aid drainback and cam lubrication.

As for the gaskets at £165.00 + VAT each thats unbelieveable. I can remember many years ago trying to get a head gasket for a supercharged OHV converted Morris Minor couldn't find one, so took the old one to Klingers in Sidcup and guy said if you can wait half an hour we will make you one. Half hour later he appeared with a gasket and then produced a spare from behind his back. I said great how much do I owe you and he said no charge. Now you can understand why us older folk talk about the good old days, but a Rover V8 would have been fun in the minor if they had existed then.

Kevin,

(Senior or should that be senile petrol head)

Jeeeezz! They might have centered the glass over that coffee-table wheel a bit better. Hope that isnt an example of their work.....KABOOOM!!

check out the older thread regarding the 'cosworth' blocks. Its a load of bollocks really.

That block doesn't look like it has tophats in it either. I wonder what '-re-engineering' they have done?!?

Olly.

On closer inspection, they may not be top hatted, but it was the more accurate casting process to centre the cores and the higher density of the alloy cast under high pressure that's important, which make a top hat liner unecessary.

Kevin.

Kevin, where does it say that about the alloy and casting process? Those blocks do not have top hats, not for that price!

IIRC it was RPi that advertised the 'Cosworth' castings a while ago. I'm not sure that a slightly revised casting process can guarantee that the liners won't slip, especially with a 75% failure rate of the original factory castings, which was more design that anything else.

Also, although £999 + VAT does seem relatively reasonable for a brand new block; it would be less that that to buy a seasoned block and have it top-hatted, and you'd be guaranteed that would be solid.

As for the smoothing of the valley to aid drainback etc., there's nowt wrong doing that yourself; half an hour with a decent dremel gets that sorted. Drill two holes at the front for timing chain lubing etc; sorted.

but a Rover V8 would have been fun in the minor if they had existed then

Can´t agree more with you, it is a splendid combination ! Of course it needs a bit of attention to the underpinnings...

^^^ "A bit of attention to the underpinnings"

Quote of the year so far mate

I know it doesnt mention much about the casting, but it does seem to have a much cleaner/smoother finish than the older blocks.

Maybe its just because its new and i've only ever tried to get used blocks to look like that.

Olly,

The information I had about the casting process and core alignment, came from a Land Rover engineer who went up to, Cosworth and watched them casting some blocks.

I only passed this on for information only, I have no affiliation with TVR power and they unfortunately are not paying me commission.

Kevin.

winkle wrote:...I know it doesnt mention much about the casting, but it does seem to have a much cleaner/smoother finish than the older blocks...

Quite agree. The block does look very smooth - so it must be a completely different casting.

Hey, I wasn't having a go so don't stress. I just find it quite funny how they seem to be giving the impression you can now get a 'Cosworth RV8', and that by slightly changing the casting process and core alignment can make such a massive difference to put a 3yr warranty on a block with such previously poor reliability issues. I stand corrected if those changes that have been made completely eliminate the liner issues etc associated with the later spec blocks.

I guess its a case of waiting for someone to buy one and run it. That certainly won't be me though. If I wanted a 4.6, as mentioned previously, it'd be using a seasoned block picked up for peanuts and fitting top-hat liners.

Whos stressing mate. It certainly aint me. Agree with you on the top-hats, if i had a grand burning a hole thats the way id go to - you know where you stand with top-hats..