Range Rover V8 in a Chimaera.

[BLUETHUNDER]

I have the chance of acquiring a brand new 4.6 cross bolted short block for £1,300.What i want to know is,do the Range Rover and TVR short blocks share the same internals,as i was under the impression that TVR only cast there magic wand over the top end,i.e camshaft, heads,ext. Can anyone verify this. Thanks

[bsdnazz]

I've no idea about the compatibility of the RR unit in a Chimaera...

However, to take what was a 3.5l unit and produce 4.0l, 4.3l, 4.5l and 5.0l units from it something more than work on just the top end must have been done.

Stroked and/or bored I think.

[pbrettle]

Someone like Steve or Peter or even the likes of ACT will be able to comment better than I, but I understand that the 4.6 RR motor is a revision of the 4.0 V8. However, quite a lot of the ancilliaries have been changed and the location of the belts etc are different. I guess there is no real reason why it wont fit, but chances are that it will cost quite a lot.

The TVR Rover V8 engines are a development of the 3.5 then 4.0 ones - not the 4.6 so there will be quite a few differences. To be honest, you might as well go and speak to the likes of ACT or V8 Developments first - they can do you a short recon engine for about that amount (maybe more, but will get a warranty)...

Check out alternatives first though..

cheers,

Paul

[Jochen]

Hi Mark,

I was faced with the same situation, when my 4.3l died. So I bought, first of all a new short block from V8 Development. This was a brand new original RR 4.6l. The only but important differece was:
1). The engine has been balanced by V8 (important for high revs.
2). the original postons have got pockets
3). The cam is from V8 Development - Hybrid 218

All the other stuff was in the first run from my old pre serpentine 4.3l.

But to be honest, to get the best out of it,you have to modify the gas flow. So we have done some more modifikations:

Stage 3 heads
portet and polished manifold
48mm trumpets
78mm throttle body
air fuel meter from the RR 4.6l
and most important having done the mods
rechipping by Mark Adams on a rolling road.

Jochen

[HarryW]

Here's another landie link that gives you some of the info you're after re the differences between an early 3.5 based engine and the 'new' x bolted 4.6....www.ajmac.co.uk/rover_4.htm
I hope it helps explain some of the history and differences between them.
I know there are quiet a few 4.6 conversions out there so its not as if its breaking new ground so to speak.

Harry

[GreenV8S]

Presumably you're looking to provide your own heads and cam etc? I'm not an engine expert but I know enough to know there are some things that need to be right in order for your heads to work on that engine. I think the piston/deck height has to be right for the heads, and depending on cam and valves you might need pocketed pistons, the short engine may or may not come with them and they may or may not be the right size.

You really need to talk to an engine specialist about this. Presumably you are not looking to build the engine up yourself? The person you want to build it would be the first person to ask. V8 experts Tim Lamont and Mark Adams are Pistonheads regulars and may be able to help you too.

That's a good price, and several hundred pounds less than I paid for my 4.6, but you only need one little thing to be wrong and it'll cost you far more than that to put right. I think you would need to be very confident it was right to be worth going for. Otherwise I would advise you to stick to a known package from one of the reputable engine builders.