Any GTRs being built with Rover V8s any more?
Discussion
I know the factory's official preferred power plant is a Chevvy V8, but are any new purchasers going for the Rover?
With the advances there has been with the Rover over the last five to ten years it's perfectly feasible to build a 400bhp normally aspirated engine for the same as a mid-powered (and priced) Chevvy. Of course the difference is the Rover is a LOT lighter.
It just so happens I have a very high spec' 5.1litre Rover V8 (with Group 'A' heads, steel bottom end, dry sump etc etc) which, if I decide to go the Ultima route, will be rebuilt with the aim of adding a vortech supercharger to make a lazy 450+bhp. I suspect I'd need to get a 700bhp+ Chevvy to match that and it won't sound as nice (IMHO).
Do the factory still sell headers for this installation?
Another engine that would make a great installation in an Ultima would be the 4.5litre TVR AJP8. Despite the bad press (mainly associated with the Speed 6 engine) this engine is very reliable and extremely light and tiny in size. You can pick one up with all it's ancilleries, including ECU, for less than 4000GBP (from a wreckers). That's 350bhp+, approx. 100kgs.
With the advances there has been with the Rover over the last five to ten years it's perfectly feasible to build a 400bhp normally aspirated engine for the same as a mid-powered (and priced) Chevvy. Of course the difference is the Rover is a LOT lighter.
It just so happens I have a very high spec' 5.1litre Rover V8 (with Group 'A' heads, steel bottom end, dry sump etc etc) which, if I decide to go the Ultima route, will be rebuilt with the aim of adding a vortech supercharger to make a lazy 450+bhp. I suspect I'd need to get a 700bhp+ Chevvy to match that and it won't sound as nice (IMHO).
Do the factory still sell headers for this installation?
Another engine that would make a great installation in an Ultima would be the 4.5litre TVR AJP8. Despite the bad press (mainly associated with the Speed 6 engine) this engine is very reliable and extremely light and tiny in size. You can pick one up with all it's ancilleries, including ECU, for less than 4000GBP (from a wreckers). That's 350bhp+, approx. 100kgs.
It seems unlikely that the rover engine would be significantly lighter.
How much would one with full accessories weight?
The Chevy V8s are roughly 420Lbs (for the all alum. ones)
still under 500Lbs for iron blocked ones.
Seems unlikely that it would be enough weight difference to require a chevy engine to make an extra 250hp to account for.
I can't seem to find exact weight specs though... anyone know them?
110Kg seems really light for a 5L+ anything, is that really the weight?
Though in the UK, rover or TVR engine might be more affordable, I dunno
Ash
How much would one with full accessories weight?
The Chevy V8s are roughly 420Lbs (for the all alum. ones)
still under 500Lbs for iron blocked ones.
Seems unlikely that it would be enough weight difference to require a chevy engine to make an extra 250hp to account for.
I can't seem to find exact weight specs though... anyone know them?
110Kg seems really light for a 5L+ anything, is that really the weight?
Though in the UK, rover or TVR engine might be more affordable, I dunno
Ash
This comparison of engines weight etc has been done on the engine forum.
My steel Chevy weighed 215kgs, a rover V8 is around 175kgs.
My word of warning is that the rover V8 engines above a genuine 350bhp are rare and to match the power to weight of my car (500bhp chevy) you would need a 460bhp rover!
My steel Chevy weighed 215kgs, a rover V8 is around 175kgs.
My word of warning is that the rover V8 engines above a genuine 350bhp are rare and to match the power to weight of my car (500bhp chevy) you would need a 460bhp rover!
Seems to show the rover 30kgs lighter than some claim...... but it seems about right. I know they are light and weigh about the same as my cossie YB 2litre and I know they weigh less than an alloy blocked chevy. so 145kgs may be fully dressed
My engine was 215kgs with alternator, air filter, Distributer, MSD unit etc... only thing not included was the headers. It's also possible to lose another 40kgs by having an alloy block.
A 70kg weight saving would be nice though!
My engine was 215kgs with alternator, air filter, Distributer, MSD unit etc... only thing not included was the headers. It's also possible to lose another 40kgs by having an alloy block.
A 70kg weight saving would be nice though!
I guess it depends on who you talk to regarding the weight issue. The most common weight for a SBC I could see (iron block) was approx. 250kgs which is 100kgs more than the most common weight for the Rover. That's a big difference when you're talking power to weight ratio. OK the Ultima still weighs under a 1000kgs with the SBC but this figure needs to be taken into account when you are looking at the power outputs of the Rover vs Chevvy.
Five years ago 350bhp would have been very difficult to achieve with a Rover V8 (and hideously expensive) but as alternative castings are available for the cylinder heads the one restriction is removed, namely valve sizes (and in particular the exhaust valves).
SBC still have the advantage when it comes to outright BHP but that weight has to be taken into consideration. OK, you can go for an ally block for the SBC but it's still heavier than the Rover and generally very expensive.
I think for the same money as a 500bhp Chevvy you could build a 5.2litre Rover V8 with forced induction and 450+bhp. There are plenty of 5.0litre Rovers about (ex-TVR) and I know that there are various packages around to add a supercharger or twin turbos to these engines (a company in Aussie are working on a package for TVR Chimaeras for $10k AUSD that'll give 450+BHP, for example and there's a Griff' for sale at the moment for 25k GBP with twin turbos).
I'm not knocking the SBC, it's a great engine, but given the popularity of the Rover in the UK I just wondered if there was still demand for an Ultima fitted with this option.
Personally I don't think the resale would be harmed if the right engine is fitted. After all I'd rather have a 350bhp Rover than a bog-standard 330bhp SBC!
Five years ago 350bhp would have been very difficult to achieve with a Rover V8 (and hideously expensive) but as alternative castings are available for the cylinder heads the one restriction is removed, namely valve sizes (and in particular the exhaust valves).
SBC still have the advantage when it comes to outright BHP but that weight has to be taken into consideration. OK, you can go for an ally block for the SBC but it's still heavier than the Rover and generally very expensive.
I think for the same money as a 500bhp Chevvy you could build a 5.2litre Rover V8 with forced induction and 450+bhp. There are plenty of 5.0litre Rovers about (ex-TVR) and I know that there are various packages around to add a supercharger or twin turbos to these engines (a company in Aussie are working on a package for TVR Chimaeras for $10k AUSD that'll give 450+BHP, for example and there's a Griff' for sale at the moment for 25k GBP with twin turbos).
I'm not knocking the SBC, it's a great engine, but given the popularity of the Rover in the UK I just wondered if there was still demand for an Ultima fitted with this option.
Personally I don't think the resale would be harmed if the right engine is fitted. After all I'd rather have a 350bhp Rover than a bog-standard 330bhp SBC!
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