14 replies to this topic

[rodomo]

WHAT DO YOU THINK? I HAVE A 2 DOOR LJ "S" THAT WILL NEVER BE A GENUINE XU1.
I HAVE ACCUMULATED A 3.3 BLACK (PAINTED GMH ORANGE AND WITH CHROME R/COVER AND SIDE PLATES)AND 5 SPEED EX VK, XU1 FLUTES FOR THE GUARDS, BOB TAIL FOR THE BOOT AND STICKERS FOR THE GUARDS AND BOB TAIL. 15" ALLOYS AND 15/50/195 TYRES (TO KEEP THE ROLLOING CIRCUMFRENCE RIGHT) NOW I ALSO HAVE ACQUIRED A 3.5 ROVER ALLOY V8 (GROUSE NOTE THOSE RANGIES)AND HAVE A REBUILD KIT FOR IT TOO. SO WHAT DO I DO? FIT THE 3.3? OR ADAPT THE 3.5? REMEMBER IT WILL NEVER BE A GENUINE XU1.
RACV MAN

[LS1LX]

3.5 V8, weighs nothing and have a decent note.

[rodomo]

The Rover V8 was originally a Buick motor back in the 60's. Buick is part of thr GM group so that makes it O.K. doesn't it? If I keep going I can talk myself into this I think.

[Dangerous]

If the VK 5 speed you've got is from a 2.85 or 3.3 litre six, it will not stand up to much power at all, and the Rover engine would probably lunch it on a first hard launch.

I don't see a problem with fitting the Rover V8 (apart from the usual block size, dimensions, sump, wiring work, etc), but to get it registered, you'll probably be handed a list of mods to make, eg brake, suspension and chassis upgrades.

[rodomo]

The standard 3.5 has the same torque as 3.3 XU1 but less horsepower.

[dattoman]

They are a good engine
Look into it

They can also be stretched and made to go hard. I know of a few TR8's running around with good HP figures

[Struggler]

There was an LJ running around here about ten years ago with one of those engines.

As previously stated they are light and sound OK. Not a REAL powerhouse though.

It was featured in a couple of magazines. Yellow two door.

[dattoman]

P76 is quite wide but the 3.5 is about 4" narrower from memory
My old 32 Roadster ran a modified P76 engine (5.7 litres) that made huge torque but only about 400hp.
I ran quad downdraft webers and everything was polished ... looked nice but wasn't as fast as it should have been for the cost.
A SBC with the same $ spent on it would have had 50% more HP

[rodomo]

The 3.5 that I have has no manifolds and no fly wheel and I can lift it from the floor into a trailer by my self and I'm no superman. The 5 speed is a T5, I thought this would be strong enough? The reason these motors struggle to create power is the port size and valve head diameter, the Buick heads have bigger valves but also bigger combustion chambers so compression suffers. I read this on another site.

[to fly]

I bought the missus a Rover SD 3500 a few years back, the thing was immaculate and 1 owner and dirt cheap. It wouldnt thrust you back in your seat, but went quite well for the power to weight ratio.(same motor as you rodomo).The thing never skipped a beat and I still dont know why we sold it.(maybe because it was so british @ so UGLY) lol.Anyway the motor was faultless !!!

[rodomo]

Hmmmm Engineer? I will speak to one after new year and if it means Hadfield Kit or something, looks like 3.3 black and mods. Dont want to spend that much for a weekend cruiser.