Any Rover V8 experts?

[richard at home]

I'm trying to identify the cylinder capacity of my Rover v8. It has an unusual code: S81D.....A.

It has a compression ratio of 9.37:1

Any ideas? It's not in any Rover V8 code lists....

Cheers!

[stevieturbo]

What vehicle is it from ?

Just measure the bore/stroke ?

[richard at home]

stevieturbo said:

What vehicle is it from ?

Just measure the bore/stroke ?

No idea what it came out of. It's in a cutom built car I've just bought. I don't really want to strip the motor just yet, especially if the engine code can identify what it is!

I was just hoping someone might have a better list than what I've managed to find so far.

[stevieturbo]

https://www.v8forum.co.uk/forum/

[GreenV8S]

richard at home said:

I don't really want to strip the motor just yet

If you're willing to take the sump off, that would give you sufficient access to measure the capacity.

[stevieturbo]

Obviously intended for larger engines, but one way to measure displacement in-situ. I believe you need to disable the valves

https://www.precisionmeasure.com/product/cubic-inc...

I've also seen talk of a spider style tool to measure bore with the heads on, for scrutes to check specific classes, but that was years ago. Never really seen it online since although have seen it mentioned.

I'm sure with a bit of improv, a tool could be made to get a good sizing on the bore. Stroke is easy enough to measure

[Boosted LS1]

You could just fill it with a measured amount of oil from tdc downwards and use a dial guage.

[richard at home]

stevieturbo said:

https://www.v8forum.co.uk/forum/

Yep, tried there!

[richard at home]

Thanks for the ideas.

Looks like I will have to measure it! Was hoping someone might have seen that code somewhere...

If I find BDC on one cylinder and find oil capacity of the piston to the plug hole, that would give me some idea?

It'd still be nice to know what the motor is though.

[Boosted LS1]

Mark tdc and bdc with a disc. Bring piston to tdc and rig up some sort of sight line via the plug hole. Lower the piston and fill up to your sight line. I've never done it but think it'll work. Suck oil out with a flexi pipe and bring to tdc.

[stevieturbo]

Is it necessary to know ?

Let's face it, if it's really old, it's likely a 3.5

What fitments and accessories etc are there ? how many head bolts ?

[Zener]

Pull the sump you will then be able to measure stroke bore size etc inc any goodies in the lower end , not a bad idea anyway to make sure nothing nasty lurking in the sump pan

[oakdale]

I wouldn't put too much emphasis on the s prefix, it probably just means something specific about that engine like it's been rebuilt.

Could the number possibly be 31D? That would mean Range Rover.

[CAPP0]

Other than the engine number, why do you think it's a non-standard capacity?

If it's actually a Rover V8 (ie the Buick-based lump which we all know and love) then there are only a certain number of standard sizes, give or take a rebore here and there. It's always possible that someone has built something to a non-standard capacity but given the thought and effort which they would have to go to to do so then I'd have thought that would have been recorded with the car somewhere. Clearly given your predicament, it hasn't been - so Occam's razor would lead us back to a standard capacity?

[richard at home]

Turner Engineering identified it at a 4.6, so it's quite a modern motor. Originally with MEMS injection. From a Landrover.

Well done them!