**Why no more Rover V8 Engines**

[chim500nj]

I know that the Rover V8 engine has ceased production, but why doesn't Marcos, TVR and Westfield get together and manufacture the block and ancillaries between them from scratch.

I mean all the research and development has already been done and the cost of small updates and upgrades to the engine would surely be much cheaper than developing new engines..? I am very sure that the demand for this proven and reliable engine would be there..

Any thoughts?

[pbrettle]

Technology has moved on. In its time it was pretty advanced and introduced many new things to the mass-produced small block V8. But lets be honest, its long in the tooth now and needs to be retired. Comparible new engines (ones from the '70s) have much greater tuning potential, lower emmissions and smoother characteristics than the RV8 - why try to perfect something that would be cheaper to look at alternatives....

Ford crate engines are well worth the money these days. A quick poke around the web produced a bench tested 302 Ford (275BHP) engine for $2,600 or a 347 ci Ford engine with 380BHP for $5,495.... the list goes on. To get a Rover engine to that kind of power will cost a whole lot more than that. And I havent even mentioned that the valves are rockers and limited to two valves per cylinder.....

Yes it could be made to meet emissions rules, but lets face it - it would be just too expensive. However, that said there is a company (IIRC Javelin?) who bought the rights to produce upto 5.0 RV8's.... not sure if its a go-er though....

[zumbruk]

chim500nj said:

I know that the Rover V8 engine has ceased production, but why doesn't Marcos, TVR and Westfield get together and manufacture the block and ancillaries between them from scratch.

Because it's cheaper to buy a V8 from someone else.

[FourWheelDrift]

Like these :-

www.amerspeed.com/engine_prices.htm

www.fordracingparts.com/crateengine/main.asp

[redcar]

[quote=FourWheelDrift]Like these :-

www.amerspeed.com/engine_prices.htm

Look at the warrenty you get also, not like the TVR Power Engines, thats confidence in the workmanship.

[Boosted Ls1]

Marcos are using the ls1/6 in the TSO.

[k77-widow maker]

if they do, and cannot decide on a v8 design, please ignore the blackpool boys suggesting that they should do a straight 6 instead

[wedg1e]

chim500nj said:

I know that the Rover V8 engine has ceased production, but why doesn't Marcos, TVR and Westfield get together and manufacture the block and ancillaries between them from scratch. I mean all the research and development has already been done and the cost of small updates and upgrades to the engine would surely be much cheaper than developing new engines..? I am very sure that the demand for this proven and reliable engine would be there.. Any thoughts?

You don't know how time-consuming that would be, do you?

Firstly, the blocks were hand-poured and cast in sand rather than dies, so you need a foundry that can/ will do it.... in this day and age of Health and Safety.
Then, the blocks need to be line-bored for crank and cam, have the liner bores machined in the right place and the liners fitted (AFAIK the liners weren't cast-in but I may be wrong). The deck faces need machining. All threaded holes need tapping. And more besides - and that's just the block.
This was taken care of by a line of dedicated production machines, the whole set of which were recently up for auction. I presume the idea is that some third world country will buy them and keep knocking out RV8s, like the Royal Enfield and Morris Oxford that are still built in India, 40 years after we got sick of them here
To tool up on a low-production basis (ie every block is hand-machined) would (a) cost a mint and (b) be horrendously expensive to run. One mistake could write-off a block. Precision engineers themselves are getting thin on the ground; the yoof of today have no love for metal chippings and Swarfega. CNC rules, x=3205, y=4473, z=99?

Nice idea, extremely romantic, financially madness. Even TVR have more bits than you may think made overseas... maybe one day, Indian Rover V8s too?

Ian

[chim500nj]

Thanks for all your Input, it looks more sense to buy some US Beefy V8's then if you want an off the peg V8 soundtrack....

Shame though, however the last Chims and Griffs off the line are still going to be around for a few years yet...

Anybody think that the value of the V8 TVR's may go up at some point?

[jacko lah]

chim500nj said:

Anybody think that the value of the V8 TVR's may go up at some point?

Nope. But I don't think they go down either. Lets face it, there's alot of specialists with Rover V8 knowledge, but gradually they have to move with the times and move on to something more profit friendly.