The V8 Owners Forum -

trying to find out max rpm on sd1 3500 v8 fitted with holley 390 carb, only figures i can find as standard are 5250 max rpm anyone shed any light.

Sounds about right. Maybe 5500. It's not much, put it that way.

Chris.

cheers

Stock v8 will max out at 5800rpm on stock hydraulic lifters.
If you want more rpm you will need to alter a few things.

thanks for that without spending fortune what can be done to up the revs

Anecdotally, my Urban, Stock Twin Plenum 3.5 is red-lined from time to time in a lower gear, at speed, lightly loaded, (but never unloaded) and seems to peak just about 5700 rpm on the gauge, mirroring what mgbv8 says.

I was told, early doors, that the rpm is self limited by the hydraulic lifters and as such inhibits damage. I was also told that they love to rev at this level.

True it must be, methinks, because at the same time, (perversely or not?) I routinely run lightly loaded at very high revs up to 5000rpm for a few miles a couple of times per year, to let the engine have its freedom, clear the snot from its nasal passages and keep the oil in the arteries flowing nicely. The max red-lining is performed at the same time.

Done this pretty much from 1993 to present and the engine is still going strong after 106,000 miles.

Mind you, an engine not used to such occasional day trips might croak!



If you ever see a small mushroom cloud over the Bedford Bypass, say a little prayer!

All you need to do to make it rev much higher is put anti-pump lifters in. But it doesn't mean that the rest of the engine will hold together when you do manage to hit 7500rpm

thanks guys it will be given plenty as its track only, i think it has been worked on but unsure to what extent till it goes pop but should go well in a nova spaceframed cheers

Hi Ramon
That is such a nice engine bay a true work of art.
Mike