“Merlin F85” heads for the Rover V8 from Real Steel
Discussion
v8bloke said:
My Merlin heads sold on Ebay for £716 which I think was a bargain.
Here is a pic of my new 5.0L engine with TA heads. Nearly ready for fitting back in the MGB.
Hoping to make over 400bhp
What cam are you using?Here is a pic of my new 5.0L engine with TA heads. Nearly ready for fitting back in the MGB.
Hoping to make over 400bhp
I would imagine valve timing is critical to getting the best from the TA heads, and my guess is there's nothing off the shelf that will come close to being suitable.
If you make 80hp per litre you've brought the old Rover V8 up to modern Chevy LS power levels.
That's impressive, but how much do a set of TA heads cost?
v8bloke said:
I am using a (conservative) 248 mechanical cam with 0.533 thou of lift.
Thanks, just wondered as I hear they flow way better than the best Tuscan race heads.v8bloke said:
To be honest I am more interested in how it drives than chasing meaningless numbers.
Good man, too many people chase numbers and end up with a car that drives like a pig, you can make good figures on carbs at WOT but that's meaningless when it's craap everywhere else.v8bloke said:
Including tax they were £3.5k so not exactly cheap.Cheers Mark
Thanks Mark, I guess there's valve gear & manifolds on top of that too?[quote=v8bloke...Hoping to make over 400bhp
[/quote]
Did you read that bit Peter, or is it all getting too much for an old fart like you
Is the offset on the exhaust valve - pushrod as big as the picture makes it look from the rocker arms? Looks to me like inclined/staggered rocker arms might be a better design when the valve centre is shifted so much (which I thought they used on the V6 originals)?
[/quote]
Did you read that bit Peter, or is it all getting too much for an old fart like you
Is the offset on the exhaust valve - pushrod as big as the picture makes it look from the rocker arms? Looks to me like inclined/staggered rocker arms might be a better design when the valve centre is shifted so much (which I thought they used on the V6 originals)?
spend said:
Did you read that bit Peter, or is it all getting too much for an old fart like you
Is the offset on the exhaust valve - pushrod as big as the picture makes it look from the rocker arms? Looks to me like inclined/staggered rocker arms might be a better design when the valve centre is shifted so much (which I thought they used on the V6 originals)?
Thanks Dave, it was late. !Is the offset on the exhaust valve - pushrod as big as the picture makes it look from the rocker arms? Looks to me like inclined/staggered rocker arms might be a better design when the valve centre is shifted so much (which I thought they used on the V6 originals)?
Hi all, didn't quite make my target 400bhp & 400lbs/ft, got to 373bhp & 395ft/lbs on Joolz dyno.
My inlet manifold set up seems to be working well, the throttle bodies are too big though, no increase in power above approx 70% open so I might look to source some 65 or 70mm versions but not desperate to change it cos it drives so nicely. Pulls cleanly from 1000rpm right up to 6000rpm
Next I'm going to redesign the exhaust, make it less restrictive especially where it splits into 2 just before the silencer. Joolz thought that part was a poor design and could be improved. Not sure how I'm going to do it but would like to incorporate a motorised valve so that I can switch between quiet (silenced) and loud (straight through).
Got a couple of annoying oil leaks to try and cure on the engine but Rob is on it, prob leave it till the winter, they're not bad enough to worry about.
Else
My inlet manifold set up seems to be working well, the throttle bodies are too big though, no increase in power above approx 70% open so I might look to source some 65 or 70mm versions but not desperate to change it cos it drives so nicely. Pulls cleanly from 1000rpm right up to 6000rpm
Next I'm going to redesign the exhaust, make it less restrictive especially where it splits into 2 just before the silencer. Joolz thought that part was a poor design and could be improved. Not sure how I'm going to do it but would like to incorporate a motorised valve so that I can switch between quiet (silenced) and loud (straight through).
Got a couple of annoying oil leaks to try and cure on the engine but Rob is on it, prob leave it till the winter, they're not bad enough to worry about.
Else
That's interesting Andy.
Joolz thought exactly the same with my 5.5 on a triple plenum.
Nothing over about 80% throttle so assumed my big valve stage 4 heads and ported manifold were the restriction.
You have the same BHP as near as dam it but about 50 less torque, maybe that's down to the extra 300 ccs
Can you put up a graph?
Joolz thought exactly the same with my 5.5 on a triple plenum.
Nothing over about 80% throttle so assumed my big valve stage 4 heads and ported manifold were the restriction.
You have the same BHP as near as dam it but about 50 less torque, maybe that's down to the extra 300 ccs
Can you put up a graph?
Hi Peter, As you can see the torque rises pretty rapidly at around 2000 rpm and stays fairly level until about 5000rpm which makes for a nice flexible engine on the road. would have been nice to break into the 400 bhp/ft/lbs target but i am happy with it as it is at the moment. Fuel economy is poor at around 15mpg but i am resisting the temptation to play around with the mapping as Joolz made such a good job of it.
Just going to enjoy driving it around for the summer then maybe tinker a bit once winter comes.
Else
Just going to enjoy driving it around for the summer then maybe tinker a bit once winter comes.
Else
Gassing Station | TVR Major Mods | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff