Rover V8 vs Chevy V8

[v8 jago]

I think i know what the majority of you will say but it might give me the little push to do the deed. I have a 5ltr rover now that has all the best bits in the bottom end and it produces around 320-340 bhp. Does anyone think it would be best to buy some wildcat heads, inlet etc to make it around 420bhp then 200bhp of gas on top of that or Ditch the rover and go sbc 427 and get around 600bhp with tasty bits in ??? I am wanting a realiable engine, And nearly everyone with a chevy i know doesnt have problems with theres where most rovers are having problems with something. Mine its head gaskets and when im on the road it gets very hot after around 8 or 9 miles and that is driving it of the power band on the cam. Any views to which and why ??? Will this be a white wash

Edited by v8 jago on Tuesday 26th August 17:15

Edited by v8 jago on Tuesday 26th August 17:20

[GreenV8S]

v8 jago said:

Mine its head gaskets and when im on the road it gets very hot after around 8 or 9 miles and that is driving it of the power band on the cam. Any views to which and why ???

Could the overheating be related to the HGF failure? I would guess that any engine of comparable power is likely to have similar overheating issues if it's a radiator / airflow issue.

[Lee@LA]

The cost will be better with the s/b chevy route plus more power.
But with the extra weight of the motor plus more power & torque from the chevy you might have to do something with the suspension.

A Chevy will be the better option. Tim Garlick in super mod changed from rover to a chevy.

[v8 jago]

GreenV8S said:

v8 jago said:

Mine its head gaskets and when im on the road it gets very hot after around 8 or 9 miles and that is driving it of the power band on the cam. Any views to which and why ???

Could the overheating be related to the HGF failure? I would guess that any engine of comparable power is likely to have similar overheating issues if it's a radiator / airflow issue.

I do have a big ally earth mover rad to go on it, But im thinking the torque will be as nice as the extra power and i could do with the extra weight over the front.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpvu44zSQA8 See what i mean

Edited by v8 jago on Tuesday 26th August 18:12

[v8 jago]

Lee@LA said:

Tim Garlick in super mod changed from rover to a chevy.

My mate bought his top end of him and is trying to get it running as it should. He keeps saying if i go chevy i will be making a mistake.

[SurreyMustang]

I'm not a Chevy lover, but it has to make far sounder financial sense to go with the Chevy.

Bigger, stronger engine, far less stressed, parts will be loads cheaper and far more available from a wide variety of sources, as will information on how to get the figures you want.

[veryoldfart]

what was the original capacity of the buick engine, and isnt it an ally engine, and isnt that a drawback (lighter by a bit but more fragile).

i thought the buick engine when used in LR's in OZ retained its original capacity?

Edited by veryoldfart on Tuesday 26th August 17:53

[Boosted LS1]

^ It did but it also stayed iron as in the 300 and 340. If I were the OP I'd buy a 4.0 or 4.6 and fit a blower or turbo. It stays cheap and light plus so long as standardish parts are retained it stayes fixable. Otherwise I'd go sbc, big capacity rover's struggle to breath.

[BB-Q]

Just look at the parts prices- surely that must make your mind up for you? Plus, there's plenty of Rover fans out there to sell your other stuff to to fund your SBC project.

Would it be cheaper to import a crate engine or build an engine up from a core?

[eliot]

I sold this 3.9 stg 1 for £1000:


And bought this fully rebuilt engine, with new carb, manifold, dizzy, headers etc for £400

(plus a bottle of welding gas, transfer box and a petrol flymo thrown in!)

[v8 jago]

I have now started advertising my old engine so it looks like im going to go sbc route. I sort of have the chance of a built engine that has been done right and it has hardly done anything. I have to wait to make sure it is going up for sale, Otherwise ill be looking around for a 400ci or bigger.

Edited by v8 jago on Tuesday 26th August 23:39

[eliot]

v8 jago said:

I have now started advertising my old engine

I saw it over at v8owners!

[Time Machine]

Throw too much gas into a Rover and you'll start melting the ally heads. Switch to Buick iron heads and you'll melt pistons.

You seem to have made your mind up already but here's another vote for the SBC. The Rover V8 is fine in stock or relatively stock trim but when you started turning it up you have more expensive running costs, lower performance and a less reliable motor.

[thunderbelmont]

Definitely go Chevy. Take an LS1 - it'll fit where a Rover will, and will produce bags of power very cheaply by comparison. Older generation chevy stuff can lead you down the line of all sorts of aftermarket stuff.

They say that you can build two chevy's for the price of a ford, probably three for the price of a mopar lump.