Rover V8 dimensions , please
Discussion
I am looking again at feasability of some engine swops (possibly Buick/Holden 3.8V6, or even an L6 4.0 Ford Falcon) into my series 1 2.8 and asking nicely for some V8 owner to give me a couple of measurements, please
Width of Rover V8 engine at widest point across the heads (not including manifolds)
Width of Rover V8 exhaust manifold at back cylinders (widest point)
Do TVR ex. manifolds get narrower at rear of block ? (pictures seem to show this but could be lens error)
How wide is chassis at the back two cyls of the V8 ? (ie. how much wider than series 1 straight rails)
How far is engine/gearbox flange from rear bulkhead (not the heater box)
Does ex. manifold actually fit under main chassis rails (i.e you can't get it out vertically with the manifolds fitted - mine has a bit of extra width under top rails)
I've seen the Rover V8 in series 1 pics, but I'd like to be able to measure mine and plan it properly....
Anyone got any other engines into a series 1 (got the 302 and Rover pics already)
Thanks Guys.
Width of Rover V8 engine at widest point across the heads (not including manifolds)
Width of Rover V8 exhaust manifold at back cylinders (widest point)
Do TVR ex. manifolds get narrower at rear of block ? (pictures seem to show this but could be lens error)
How wide is chassis at the back two cyls of the V8 ? (ie. how much wider than series 1 straight rails)
How far is engine/gearbox flange from rear bulkhead (not the heater box)
Does ex. manifold actually fit under main chassis rails (i.e you can't get it out vertically with the manifolds fitted - mine has a bit of extra width under top rails)
I've seen the Rover V8 in series 1 pics, but I'd like to be able to measure mine and plan it properly....
Anyone got any other engines into a series 1 (got the 302 and Rover pics already)
Thanks Guys.
Edited by RCK974X on Friday 7th December 23:04
I think the manifolds do have a bit of a 'taper' on my car... but the greater problem than them clearing the chassis rails is that they extend some way behind the engine so as you lift it they'd get stuck alongside the bellhousing.
Seem to think the manifolds point inwards toward the silencer coupling flares.
Seem to think the manifolds point inwards toward the silencer coupling flares.
Thanks Wedg1e.
Tasmin200 - No unfortunately. (I am ex UK, been here 17 years)
In fact there are very few sources even for 12V Cologne engines here. There are a few (and I do mean a few) Capri 2.8i, 2.3 Cortinas (all autos), XR4 Sierras, and I've only ever seen one Granada for sale, and that's it. I think (but not entirely sure) they were all personal imports and were never officially sold by Ford NZ. There are some 2.0 Sierra 5 speed estates around.
Never seen a 12V 2.9V6 advertised here in any vehicle.
There never were Ford Granadas here, as Ford NZ sell the Aussie Falcon instead.
Even some of the Cortinas were Aus built and have different braking systems and some have different suspension
By comparison Jap stuff is everywhere, but not sure what is best pick, many of the V6s are DOHC and are actually quite wide, few with manual trans, and even Ford 302 Windsor V8s are becoming pricey, as the Falcons swopped to 302 Clevelands which are a lot bigger.
Many of the Japs have fancy manifolds with tuned runners etc. so can't fiddle with them easily either...
Common cheap 'medium' capacity engines here are the 3.8V6 Holden and the Ford 4.0 L6 (both Australian built), the 3.8 is a 90 degree V6 which shares its heritage with the Rover/Buick V8, the Ford L6 is a descendant of the USA 250 cubic inch engine (but has changed a LOT since then).
The 3.8 is right on the edge of will fit/won't fit between those top rails, and has a front sump (but can get conversions), and I think the L6 is simply too long, but will most probably fit widthwise.
Hence asking for some V8 vehicle dimensions for comparison, especially those wider frame rails.
Tasmin200 - No unfortunately. (I am ex UK, been here 17 years)
In fact there are very few sources even for 12V Cologne engines here. There are a few (and I do mean a few) Capri 2.8i, 2.3 Cortinas (all autos), XR4 Sierras, and I've only ever seen one Granada for sale, and that's it. I think (but not entirely sure) they were all personal imports and were never officially sold by Ford NZ. There are some 2.0 Sierra 5 speed estates around.
Never seen a 12V 2.9V6 advertised here in any vehicle.
There never were Ford Granadas here, as Ford NZ sell the Aussie Falcon instead.
Even some of the Cortinas were Aus built and have different braking systems and some have different suspension
By comparison Jap stuff is everywhere, but not sure what is best pick, many of the V6s are DOHC and are actually quite wide, few with manual trans, and even Ford 302 Windsor V8s are becoming pricey, as the Falcons swopped to 302 Clevelands which are a lot bigger.
Many of the Japs have fancy manifolds with tuned runners etc. so can't fiddle with them easily either...
Common cheap 'medium' capacity engines here are the 3.8V6 Holden and the Ford 4.0 L6 (both Australian built), the 3.8 is a 90 degree V6 which shares its heritage with the Rover/Buick V8, the Ford L6 is a descendant of the USA 250 cubic inch engine (but has changed a LOT since then).
The 3.8 is right on the edge of will fit/won't fit between those top rails, and has a front sump (but can get conversions), and I think the L6 is simply too long, but will most probably fit widthwise.
Hence asking for some V8 vehicle dimensions for comparison, especially those wider frame rails.
Edited by RCK974X on Saturday 8th December 21:59
It might... had a look at the VG and VQ series Nissans, but haven't found one to measure yet.
The 3.7 is a VQ engine, DOHC etc, looks good on Wikipedia...DOHC and variable valve timing.. nice.
There are also several Toyota L6 and V6 variants which might work, but most of the V6 were FWD vehicles, so not sure about gearboxes...
It's also that I've got a 3.8V6 (complete with ECU) and a matching T5 for free.....
The 3.7 is a VQ engine, DOHC etc, looks good on Wikipedia...DOHC and variable valve timing.. nice.
There are also several Toyota L6 and V6 variants which might work, but most of the V6 were FWD vehicles, so not sure about gearboxes...
It's also that I've got a 3.8V6 (complete with ECU) and a matching T5 for free.....
Edited by RCK974X on Sunday 9th December 04:40
Yeah, I had a complete car (Holden Commodore VN) as a WOF (= MOT) failure, engine and box are in good nick, and seems like a good choice, IF it will go in. Even the original rad looks like it will fit in the nosecone, probably even with the standard hoses !
Might be just the exhaust manifolds, but hard to say without trying it out.
Might be just the exhaust manifolds, but hard to say without trying it out.
Here you go, a couple of pics I took earlier.
Right-hand...
and left-hand sides of the engine:
The forward pair of exit stubs on each side are definitely further out from the block than the rearward pair.
Here's a poor one showing what I meant about the exhausts pointing towards the car centre-line en-route to the silencer (effectively following the line of the lower chassis tube):
That joint is about level with the rear of the bellhousing and the offside one is further back still!
Right-hand...
and left-hand sides of the engine:
The forward pair of exit stubs on each side are definitely further out from the block than the rearward pair.
Here's a poor one showing what I meant about the exhausts pointing towards the car centre-line en-route to the silencer (effectively following the line of the lower chassis tube):
That joint is about level with the rear of the bellhousing and the offside one is further back still!
Thanks again Wedg1e - they are useful shots for me.
I KNOW that the 350 rails are widened from 280 (i.e 350 not straight tubes, but 280 are) and your shots confirm it's bloody tight even with the widened tubes !!
Mark, Thanks for offer - next time Wife and I come to Hawkes bay, I'll send an email and we'll meet up.. I'll do my best to be in my 280.
This swop came up in my head (again) after my rad was leaking and took it out for a fix - Rad guy said "where does this come from then? " Hmmmm ..... gets you thinking.
Hey I see you have the same pressure limiter valve as mine - do you know if that is the Granada one ?
I KNOW that the 350 rails are widened from 280 (i.e 350 not straight tubes, but 280 are) and your shots confirm it's bloody tight even with the widened tubes !!
Mark, Thanks for offer - next time Wife and I come to Hawkes bay, I'll send an email and we'll meet up.. I'll do my best to be in my 280.
This swop came up in my head (again) after my rad was leaking and took it out for a fix - Rad guy said "where does this come from then? " Hmmmm ..... gets you thinking.
Hey I see you have the same pressure limiter valve as mine - do you know if that is the Granada one ?
Edited by RCK974X on Monday 10th December 08:00
I always thought the 280i used a Land Rover radiator. But when I took it to the radiator guy for rodding, he immediately said it was from a Toyota Corolla! I doubt if it has been changed since it left the dealership, but it was suggested that mine was the last one in the yard and some parts were removed yo sell the others. Only noticeable difference is the coolant overflow bottle location.
Wilf.
Wilf.
RCK974X said:
I KNOW that the 350 rails are widened from 280 (i.e 350 not straight tubes, but 280 are) and your shots confirm it's bloody tight even with the widened tubes !!
Often it was more than tight and TVR fitted the manifolds by giving the rear offside a good whack with a lump hammer.pasogrande said:
I always thought the 280i used a Land Rover radiator. But when I took it to the radiator guy for rodding, he immediately said it was from a Toyota Corolla! I doubt if it has been changed since it left the dealership, but it was suggested that mine was the last one in the yard and some parts were removed yo sell the others. Only noticeable difference is the coolant overflow bottle location.
Wilf.
As far as I know, The original rad was a Ford Granada II 2.8 (square one), but with about 40mm cut off the core to shorten it. Some people reckon it's a 2.3 Granada, which it might be, but the 2.3 Grannys I saw had same rad as the 2.8. I have a 2.8 rad as a spare, the top and bottom tanks match exactly.Wilf.
The 2.8 rad fits in the metal frame PERFECTLY, but its lower outlet then fouls the steering rack, in the sense that it would be impossible to fit a hose to it. It's almost as if TVR factory messed up and fixed it by shortening the rad....
I reckon there's probably quite a few rads would fit, Cortina 2.3 rads are similar but a bit narrower, for example. I vaguely remember even Triumph saloons (2000/2500) were about the same size too, but that's hazy !
The Commodore VN crossflow rad would fit beautifully with mounting frame mods, not sure about hoses, but I'm sure I could hack some together.
TA14 said:
Often it was more than tight and TVR fitted the manifolds by giving the rear offside a good whack with a lump hammer.
Really ? Wow. So all I need is a big industrial jack between the top chassis rails ? 
(and a big lump hammer for the manifolds..)
Edited by RCK974X on Monday 10th December 20:38
Funny, I have that experience with tools too......
Currently I've lost my favourite screwdirver - I put it down somewhere and it's gone on holiday
whilst I wasn't looking.
OK then, can someone post a photo which is, as near as possible, an overhead shot of V8 engine and surrounding body (i.e. chassis rails) from bulkhead to front body 'bar'. That should do....thanks again.
Currently I've lost my favourite screwdirver - I put it down somewhere and it's gone on holiday
whilst I wasn't looking.
OK then, can someone post a photo which is, as near as possible, an overhead shot of V8 engine and surrounding body (i.e. chassis rails) from bulkhead to front body 'bar'. That should do....thanks again.
Gassing Station | Wedges | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff