What Does Your 3.9 / 4.0 litre Wedge Make?
Discussion
Rob Robertson from V8 Developments has just posted these interesting & informative comments over in the cage.
"Sorry to dissapoint you dave, but the wedgies came with more powerfull engines from the factory than the chims or griffs!, the very early 390 wedges that where built by nck where fitted with big valve heads/high compresion and a lot of them where fitted with 234 cams, later changing to 214 cams, a totally un molested early 390 was making around 270, they didnt drive very nice so they started pulling back on cams etc...., i know of a few 270-280bhp 4.0 chims that i built but dont know if they are ph'ers"
"Sorry to dissapoint you dave, but the wedgies came with more powerfull engines from the factory than the chims or griffs!, the very early 390 wedges that where built by nck where fitted with big valve heads/high compresion and a lot of them where fitted with 234 cams, later changing to 214 cams, a totally un molested early 390 was making around 270, they didnt drive very nice so they started pulling back on cams etc...., i know of a few 270-280bhp 4.0 chims that i built but dont know if they are ph'ers"
OK, I think we have exhausted this one, I hope you all enjoyed the banter?
Ultimately it was just a frivolous bit of nonsense from me, & you should all know by now I am rather gifted at frivolous nonsense
Now we are coming to a close it may be worth summarising what we've learnt?
1) It is possible to squeeze 270hp plus out of a 4.0 litre Rover V8
2) Doing so is likely to have a significant negative impact on driveability
3) Getting to 270hp plus will need a first rate set of ported & flowed heads, an aggressive cam and other induction mods
4) If the goal is over 250hp it's probably cheaper & more sensible to build a decent 4.6 lump than keep throwing money at a 4.0 litre
5) Even though it hurts me to admit it, the Wedgies do seem to have the most powerful 4.0 litre cars
6) A Wedge weighs 150kg more than a Chimp so this should even things up
EXAMPLE:
My last rolling road session recorded a healthy 233hp at the crank.
But wait for it Wedgies, with my new twin port flugal horn (ACT De-cat Y Piece) going on next weekend I hope to see a genuine 240hp.
Wedge Spanker is hunting you down
Ultimately it was just a frivolous bit of nonsense from me, & you should all know by now I am rather gifted at frivolous nonsense
Now we are coming to a close it may be worth summarising what we've learnt?
1) It is possible to squeeze 270hp plus out of a 4.0 litre Rover V8
2) Doing so is likely to have a significant negative impact on driveability
3) Getting to 270hp plus will need a first rate set of ported & flowed heads, an aggressive cam and other induction mods
4) If the goal is over 250hp it's probably cheaper & more sensible to build a decent 4.6 lump than keep throwing money at a 4.0 litre
5) Even though it hurts me to admit it, the Wedgies do seem to have the most powerful 4.0 litre cars
6) A Wedge weighs 150kg more than a Chimp so this should even things up
EXAMPLE:
- A Wedge with 270hp will have a PTWR of 222hp per ton.
- A Chimp with 240hp will have a PTWR of 226hp per ton.
My last rolling road session recorded a healthy 233hp at the crank.
But wait for it Wedgies, with my new twin port flugal horn (ACT De-cat Y Piece) going on next weekend I hope to see a genuine 240hp.
Wedge Spanker is hunting you down
Edited by Chimpafrolic on Wednesday 14th September 15:17
Ok, may have been a tiny bit out 
It seems there is some conflicting info in Wedge weights on the interweb.
Lets make it as fair as possible & look at the most favourable scenario for my Wedgie mates.
, perhaps I need those stage 3 heads from Rob Robertson after all?
But hang on, looking at it another way any Wedge with less than 260hp is going to struggle against my Chimp with 240hp
Come on Wedgies who's brave enough for a bit of street drag with the Chimp?
It seems there is some conflicting info in Wedge weights on the interweb.
Lets make it as fair as possible & look at the most favourable scenario for my Wedgie mates.
- Wedgie at 270hp pulling along 1150kgs = 234.78hp per ton
- Chimp at 240hp pulling along 1060kgs = 226.41hp per ton
, perhaps I need those stage 3 heads from Rob Robertson after all?But hang on, looking at it another way any Wedge with less than 260hp is going to struggle against my Chimp with 240hp
Come on Wedgies who's brave enough for a bit of street drag with the Chimp?JR said:
So after all these pages you've worked out that, all other things being equal, you won't out drag a well tuned 3.9/4.0 wedge or larger capacity wedge (which are all tuned) and you've found out that it's cheaper to drop in a lager capacity block than tune a 4.0. I think that TVR reached that conclusion about 25 years ago.
You cheeky cheese you 
Show me a real life Wedge with more than 260hp & I will gladly show you a winner.
But honestly where are they?
One road, four cars:
1) KR (claiming 270hp but he admits it's a very old figure)
2) Wedg1e (with 256.6hp)
3) Jonny weggie (with 254.6hp)
4) Chimpafrolic (moving 100kg less with 240hp)
Wedge Spanker is ready for you
jmorgan said:
Sheesh, the lengths you have to go to to keep up....
At least the bonnet looks like it comes off more that the lid...
Well Jeffster me little Welsh Rarebit, all Wedgies are without the hindrance of a catalytic converter.At least the bonnet looks like it comes off more that the lid...
The Chimp is now a full de-cat, so I am only trying to make things even
TVRleigh_BBWR said:
Chimpafrolic said:
Watch out Wedgies, the twin port flugal horn went on today
Pure pre-cat Griffith sound effects and it feels like another 10hp.
Throttle response is noticeably better too.
Wedge Spanker is ready & hunting down his natural (cheese shaped) prey
If you can wait till next year, I'll be happy to pit my 400SE against your Chimp on a RYWB day, not sure how far you from north weld. Pure pre-cat Griffith sound effects and it feels like another 10hp.
Throttle response is noticeably better too.
Wedge Spanker is ready & hunting down his natural (cheese shaped) prey
Where exactly is this super duper 4.0 litre Wedge of yours?
And what power does it make?
Wedge spanker is hunting you down
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