Best engine compromise between reliability and power?
Discussion
I'm fed up with my old 500 engine, I'm sorry for him (and for me because it's going to be an expensive iussue) but I can't keep going on with its multiple malfuctions and i'm seriously thinking of swapping the engine altogether.
What engine you'd advice me to buy which represents the best compromise between power (around and not less then 350hp at the flywheel) and reliability...?
What engine you'd advice me to buy which represents the best compromise between power (around and not less then 350hp at the flywheel) and reliability...?
panic said:
I can't keep going on with its multiple malfuctions and i'm seriously thinking of swapping the engine altogether.
What sort of malfunctions are you talking about? If it's suffering from internal mechanical problems then any new engine is likely to be a good solution. If it's just problems in the engine management system then there's really no reason to expect one to be more reliable than another and that's certainly not a good reason to do an engine transplant in my view. In this case a more realistic question to ask would be "which engine management system is going to be best supported in this region?".Malfunctions:
Management sistem, it performs one day 'yes' and one day 'no'...can't understand where is the problem, I've changed all the changeable, last on the list: the ecu loom fully reviewed...still the engine won't keep its idle, will misfire like crap when hot, etc etc.
Only thing left to change is the cux ecu altogether.
he engine has been recently rebuilt but its oil press is crap, I start feeling strange internal noices when its fully warmed up and press below 2.000 rpms is close to nihil (Same like happened before the recuilt, BTW the oil pump is new!).
What i really want is a carbed engine.
If i could transplant a chevy small blk that would be the ideal but the mods requested are far a too complicated job for me and for the mechanics i could find around here where i live (north Spain).
Management sistem, it performs one day 'yes' and one day 'no'...can't understand where is the problem, I've changed all the changeable, last on the list: the ecu loom fully reviewed...still the engine won't keep its idle, will misfire like crap when hot, etc etc.
Only thing left to change is the cux ecu altogether.
he engine has been recently rebuilt but its oil press is crap, I start feeling strange internal noices when its fully warmed up and press below 2.000 rpms is close to nihil (Same like happened before the recuilt, BTW the oil pump is new!).
What i really want is a carbed engine.
If i could transplant a chevy small blk that would be the ideal but the mods requested are far a too complicated job for me and for the mechanics i could find around here where i live (north Spain).
Suggest you get the oil pressure checked to make sure there really is a problem before you go any further, but if you have oil perssure problems after a rebuild I'd be heading straight back for them to sort it out under warranty. Running with inadequate oil pressure is going to knacker the engine pretty quickly.
You can fit carbs on the RV8 if you want, and there are plenty of manifolds and carbs that just bolt straight on, but I would regard that as a backward step. However, if you don't have access to anyone who can diagnose the engine management system and don't want to do that yourself then it's one way to get round the problem. When carbs go wrong they're rather harder to diagnose than EFI though so don't assume you're fixed for life. And ignition problems can plague *any* engine.
You can fit carbs on the RV8 if you want, and there are plenty of manifolds and carbs that just bolt straight on, but I would regard that as a backward step. However, if you don't have access to anyone who can diagnose the engine management system and don't want to do that yourself then it's one way to get round the problem. When carbs go wrong they're rather harder to diagnose than EFI though so don't assume you're fixed for life. And ignition problems can plague *any* engine.
panic said:
I'm fed up with my old 500 engine, I'm sorry for him (and for me because it's going to be an expensive iussue) but I can't keep going on with its multiple malfuctions and i'm seriously thinking of swapping the engine altogether.
What engine you'd advice me to buy which represents the best compromise between power (around and not less then 350hp at the flywheel) and reliability...?
If your looking for reliability and major improvements in performance have you considered going to Chevy LS1 LS2 What engine you'd advice me to buy which represents the best compromise between power (around and not less then 350hp at the flywheel) and reliability...?
JR said:
Boosted LS1 said:
Any stock 4.0 or 4.6 with a low boost turbo. 
Mike, would the 4.0 provide the required 350 flywheel bhp? (That's a nominal 50% power gain over a NA 4.0 IIRC.) Jonathan
.Speak to John Eales regarding your swap.
He will provide a carbed engine to pretty much any power requirements up to a genuine 300-330 atw...like mine (proved in racing/datalogger) or 350 if you go 5.2 which is around 420 at the flywheel.
new/recon/part exchange...he will do anything you want and it WILL work...forever!!!
very easy swap too as it will drop in.
he also has a new xflow manifold where 4x48mm carbs can be mounted under the bonnet giving even more torque. Sadly this wasn't available when he built mine.
drop me a PM for details.
John is the man on RV8s (and others) with a proven reputation over 000's of engines and over 30 years. You won't find better!
All IMHO ofcourse!
He will provide a carbed engine to pretty much any power requirements up to a genuine 300-330 atw...like mine (proved in racing/datalogger) or 350 if you go 5.2 which is around 420 at the flywheel.
new/recon/part exchange...he will do anything you want and it WILL work...forever!!!
very easy swap too as it will drop in.
he also has a new xflow manifold where 4x48mm carbs can be mounted under the bonnet giving even more torque. Sadly this wasn't available when he built mine.
drop me a PM for details.
John is the man on RV8s (and others) with a proven reputation over 000's of engines and over 30 years. You won't find better!
All IMHO ofcourse!
drive out 
LS7427ci said:
I'd go with LS6 or LS2 depanding on your budget? A lot better option for the money than a RV8!!! A bit of a s
t to fit but 400hp stock and very reliable!!!!
If it wasnt that st to fit but 400hp stock and very reliable!!!!t to fix i'd rather choose a carbed old gen SB instead...Sometime ago I've studied a bit the probs involved in the swap, the main one seems to be the chassis modifications needed and what kind of trans would fit under a griffith to be strong enough to cope with the chevy power...
Edited by panic on Sunday 8th June 21:05
Guillotine said:
Speak to John Eales regarding your swap.
He will provide a carbed engine to pretty much any power requirements up to a genuine 300-330 atw...like mine (proved in racing/datalogger) or 350 if you go 5.2 which is around 420 at the flywheel.
new/recon/part exchange...he will do anything you want and it WILL work...forever!!!
very easy swap too as it will drop in.
he also has a new xflow manifold where 4x48mm carbs can be mounted under the bonnet giving even more torque. Sadly this wasn't available when he built mine.
drop me a PM for details.
John is the man on RV8s (and others) with a proven reputation over 000's of engines and over 30 years. You won't find better!
All IMHO ofcourse!
I've spoken to John last year, he sent me a price list but then i couldnt talk to him anymore, he was somewhere in Europe testing engines in some races, if i well remember i left a message to his secretary (or maybe was his wife?) but he never returned the phone call...He will provide a carbed engine to pretty much any power requirements up to a genuine 300-330 atw...like mine (proved in racing/datalogger) or 350 if you go 5.2 which is around 420 at the flywheel.
new/recon/part exchange...he will do anything you want and it WILL work...forever!!!
very easy swap too as it will drop in.
he also has a new xflow manifold where 4x48mm carbs can be mounted under the bonnet giving even more torque. Sadly this wasn't available when he built mine.
drop me a PM for details.
John is the man on RV8s (and others) with a proven reputation over 000's of engines and over 30 years. You won't find better!
All IMHO ofcourse!
Everybody says the best of this builder... (of course it's quite expensive too)
I'd have a word with Mike,aka Boostedls1.Like you i searched for the best compromise between reliability and performance from the RV8,and like you i tried the best names and was disappointed to not get replies etc.The bottom line is,that if you want real power,driveability and reliability with the RV8 then you neeed to go forced induction,and although i am aware of many different companies/people out there who can do this,i wouldn't go elsewhere than to Mike!He's one seriously professional guy,who will only give you the very best,and at a very reasonable price for what he does
Edited by The AJP Griff on Sunday 8th June 21:49
The AJP Griff said:
The bottom line is that if you want real power, driveability and reliability with the RV8 then you neeed to go forced induction,
That's one route (and bhp/£ is probably the best) although another route is forced induction LSx (no chassis mods needed I believe.) Worth a chat to Boosted. Gassing Station | Griffith | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff