Tiff Needell's 1980 Rover V8 S SD1 Group 2 on our rollers
Discussion
We enjoyed running up the Group 2 SD1 race car built as a one off as a Works entry for the 1980 Tourist Trophy Race at Silverstone by David Price Engineering. The engine was a quad Webered, dry sumped 3.5 full race engine. It made 322.2 at the wheels giving 350 at the flywheel. The engine had previously been engine dynoed at 377 flywheel. It sounded awesome!
Here is a You tube link to the car being driven at Goodwood by Tiff Needell. Crank up the sound!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c6_okvdzGw
Here are some pics and a copy of the power graph
Here is a You tube link to the car being driven at Goodwood by Tiff Needell. Crank up the sound!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c6_okvdzGw
Here are some pics and a copy of the power graph
I know nothing really of the internals, I understand it was a Crower camshaft and I saw it was on 38 chokes, that is about it. Max timing for best power was 31.7 BTDC at 5000 rpm. With twin exhausts, one exiting each side infront of rear wheels it was a sort of stereo sex thing sat in the car running it, a bit like the ultimate sound surround arcade race game!
Peter
Peter
I did Mike, it reminded me of Mick Richards 3.9 TR8 from the early 90s, twin exhausts and like a horny toad when you were in it or near it or watched it on the track! I love the sound of all engines but the Vee engines with that off beat note do something for my soul
I am 60 this year and feel blessed I still really enjoy what I am doing!
Peter
I am 60 this year and feel blessed I still really enjoy what I am doing!
Peter
I can't see the photos but I think I know a guy who used to own this car, he raced it in the Thunder Saloons series IIRC.
The regs allowed them to use bigger versions of the same engine, so I think he had put a 4 Litre version in from a TVR but he was aware of other SD1's running 5 Litre versions. It was 10 years ago so forgive me if my memory is a little hazy.
The regs allowed them to use bigger versions of the same engine, so I think he had put a 4 Litre version in from a TVR but he was aware of other SD1's running 5 Litre versions. It was 10 years ago so forgive me if my memory is a little hazy.
I don't know much history of the car, I know it has done well even to survive as the MK1 SD1s were notoriously poorly built and rust buckets! I notice on the YouTube link my mate Ken Clarke has had some dealings with it ( he was a mechanic on the Touring Car SD1s with TWR). At present the car has a John Eales 3.5 litre dry sumped full race engine in it.
Peter
Peter
Mignon said:
PeterBurgess said:
The engine builder swears blind it is a stock bore and stroke 3.5 Rover (Buick V8).
Peter
Then it's disappointing that after doing this for a living for over 30 years you don't instantly see why that can't be true.Peter
Edited by 227bhp on Tuesday 21st February 22:46
I'm just playing devil's advocate to Mignon's comment but...
Have I seen a Chevy LS make about 94lb/ft/l (taking into account the figure at the fly) on fuel from a petrol station? No. Has anyone?
Without going back (replying on a BlackBerry) it's also running a dizzy?
Perhaps there is something we don't know here e.g. race fuel? If it's 3.5 litre, I would say it would need to rev higher to make that power.
Is it larger in capacity? Don't know. Do we have enough info to confirm either way? No.
My assumption that it's running 'pump gas' (to steal a phrase from our cousins) is only an assumption.
More data needed. But it would be the first 350bhp, 3.5l Rover V8 I've come across, especially if it's running clockwork ignition and carbs. And to do that at relatively low rpm...?
Have I seen a Chevy LS make about 94lb/ft/l (taking into account the figure at the fly) on fuel from a petrol station? No. Has anyone?
Without going back (replying on a BlackBerry) it's also running a dizzy?
Perhaps there is something we don't know here e.g. race fuel? If it's 3.5 litre, I would say it would need to rev higher to make that power.
Is it larger in capacity? Don't know. Do we have enough info to confirm either way? No.
My assumption that it's running 'pump gas' (to steal a phrase from our cousins) is only an assumption.
More data needed. But it would be the first 350bhp, 3.5l Rover V8 I've come across, especially if it's running clockwork ignition and carbs. And to do that at relatively low rpm...?
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