Rover v8 tuscan challenge spec in a road car

[roseytvr]

Guys
I have the opportunity to buy, what I am told, is an RV8 at tuscan challenge spec but unfortunately no receipts or detailed spec. The chap selling is genuine and has competed tuscan challenge and is selling me a rebuilt engine supplied by Colin Blower which clearly has very little use and comes with dry sump and quad downdraft dellortos (which will all be sold on). Obviously the cam will need to be changed but this gives rise to a whole load of questions.

I have all the engine and head numbers - am I likely to be able to identify the spec from this? The heads are engraved with "Bains Racing In 22 Ex 22" and are coded EHT 91 Z3 E7N and ERC0216 3 E652. The block is cross bolted and is marked ERC 6619 WYF E678 and HT 3294 1214. It was apparently sourced from TWR.

Assuming this is a full spec challenge motor how feasible is it to get this to a relible high spec road/track day engine. Is it a simple matter matter of just sorting induction/injection and changing the cam or is it likely to be more complicated than this? Any ideas who I should speak with to get good unbiased advice?

Any help appreciated.
Cheers
Rosey

[pwd95]

Cam & followers will dictate how the engine performs. If you don't want a race spec motor you'd be better of getting a decent 4.6 or 5 litre & refreshing it to your spec. The bottom end of the race motor will be very high spec. Bit of a waste running a road spec top end on it.

[450Nick]

Ageed, the race engines are rare. If you're not going to run it as a race motor then I'd suggest selling it and using the cash to spec a good 4.6 or short throw 5L. Just seems a waste to disassemble a TC engine as you'd need to change the whole top end!

[Graham]

Sounds like a nice motor in its current spec, although probably a pita as in a road car, so as you say you'd need to change cam and induction.

although you'll probably still need something hairy to match the big valve heads, and its presumerably got a high c/r as well.

and can you fit the dry sump tank and pump in the car, or would you take them off which will need new sump and pickups and possible new rocker covers too.

If you were going to run it as is and put up with the cold start, and high idle etc then i'd say maybe, if your going to start pulling it about and changing stuff I'd say dont bother, get something specced properly and built for purpose. Race engines tend to be good for racing but lack the range of drivability for a road car and tend to need more maint


Andy Race is probably the guy to talk to as he ran pretty much a full t/c spec motor in his griff complete with carbs

[richtvr]

I have an original Tuscan challenge rv8 in my Griffith ish lol happy to speak to you to run through some things if you wish will pm you my number

Rich

[Pupp]

Anyone able to confirm typical cam data on these motors out of interest? And, obviously, any related info if, say, rockers with a wildly different ratio are employed?

[Chilliman]

Fully mappable ecu and a milder cam? Leave the rest 'as is' and see how it performs?

Ok, probably not that straightforward