The V8 Owners Forum -

Hi guys

Well I've just bought another 3.9 V8 disco (for spares) and this one has the polly 'V' belts and a dizzy so I'm guessing that its an intermediate engine?

Does this setup use the later rotary oil pump? If so, is it worth me using it on my new build engine rather than the old gear type pump? Also as I'm going to be running a megajolt system and wont need a dizzy with this setup will I still need to fit a shortened dizzy shaft or can I just remove it and blank hole?

Thats 3 RV8's in the garage now! seem to be collecting em

As ever, many thanks

Brian

Yes to nearly all.

If it has the cam retainer just bung the hole, if not fit one is the easy answer to the dizzy removal.

If it has V belts then surely it won't be an intermediate engine?? The intermediate ones with crank driven oil pumps also have a reverse direction water pump- which you cannot achieve with V belts, serp only. The best way before stripping it down will be to look for cross bolts on the sides and pull the dissy out and see if it has a wobbly drive for an oil pump or not.

what reg is the disco? intermediate engines were from 95 and had the single serp belt.

they have the cast for the cross bolts but not drilled

I thought serpentine were poly V belts (PK IIRC)?

The intermediate engines rarely have cross-bolts, just the casting, with small journal cranks - just the extended keyway to engage cam drive+oil pump+pulley. From what I've seen TVR fitted the cam retainer on most of their later engines (I've only seen 5.0serps with small journal BTW not talking about the 4.00/450s), but I don't recall it being fitted on the LR engines with crank oil pump + dizzy.

Sorry I agree- may not have X bolts but will have the castings, but it should definately have a serp belt due to the water pump.

If it's not serpentine belted it will have a cam driven oil pump not a crank driven one.

Hi Guys

Well, the block has the castings for the cross bollts, it has a polly v on the alternator but a std v belt on the crank pulley? Think it may be a 'bitsa' engine with a pre serp cover, but as I have never seen one thats why I asked! lol

Too busy to look today (lots of kids munching chocolate lol) but will have a better look tomoz

Sounds like that weird last of the pre-serps with just a poly v belt to the alt high on the n/s bank?

Thanks Guys

I think it must be as SPEND said, last of the pre serps (no doubt LR using up whats left in the parts bin before they used the newer setup lol)

Either way, its still a good engine and complete hotwire setup for spares so worth having

Thanks for all the input as usual!

Cheers