Oldskoolrob
Active Member
How come the 3.5 v8 is considered a lemon by a lot of people? I'm looking at using one as a conversion motor (I want a carb'd v8 under 3.6l) but the 'lemon' tag is giving me reservations. Convert me Rover lovers!!
I don't want to offend anyone but....
- Thread starter Oldskoolrob
- Start date
So Cal V8
Active Member
I don't know that you'll offend anyone, but I'm pretty sure that your statement/question won't find much support here. I'm also not sure where you're getting your information from - the Rover V8 has enjoyed a very long career, spanning almost 4 decades; it has seen several iterations from the original Buick 215 CI right up to the 4.6 as well as many variations in between. It is often used as the V8 engine of choice for those doing engine conversions and it is highly sought after by hot rodders the world over - why? Because of its reliability. It is used in more cars than you can shake a stick at, Rover, Morgan, TVR to name but a handful, it has marine adaptations, it is the basis for stroker motors, it can be turbo charged, blown, fuel injected or carbureted. I am sure there are other engine platforms that are equally as versatile, but none spring easily to mind at the moment. So, how exactly you come by the statement that "a lot of people consider it a lemon" - I'm not really sure, but hey oh, to each their own...
GRTV8
Well-Known Member
Never heard the Rover V8 being called a lemon before .
Not offended - more intrigued .
Whoever told you that yarn , had their preferences firmly attached to some other breed they were trying to convince you to get into .
The Rover V8 was the preferred option motor in many other manufacturers of chassis and bodies . A google of " Rover V8 motor" will bear this out .
TVR , Morgan , MGB ,to name a few .
Rover used the V8 for 35 odd years with great success in Landrover , Rangerover starting with the P5/P6 models .
My Rover V8 is still going strong after 40 years . Only ever gave her regular oil and filter changes . No strange noises or lack of power .
Sorry to burst ya bubble .
Gerald
Not offended - more intrigued .
Whoever told you that yarn , had their preferences firmly attached to some other breed they were trying to convince you to get into .
The Rover V8 was the preferred option motor in many other manufacturers of chassis and bodies . A google of " Rover V8 motor" will bear this out .
TVR , Morgan , MGB ,to name a few .
Rover used the V8 for 35 odd years with great success in Landrover , Rangerover starting with the P5/P6 models .
My Rover V8 is still going strong after 40 years . Only ever gave her regular oil and filter changes . No strange noises or lack of power .
Sorry to burst ya bubble .
Gerald
ghce
Well-Known Member
Oldskoolrob said:How come the 3.5 v8 is considered a lemon by a lot of people? I'm looking at using one as a conversion motor (I want a carb'd v8 under 3.6l) but the 'lemon' tag is giving me reservations. Convert me Rover lovers!!
mmm the only V8 lemon that has well known acclaim is the Triumph Stag V8, perhaps this is the one you are referring too as the Rover V8 has been proven to be one of the most reliable long serving units of all time and has NO history of that tag.
Graeme
Oldskoolrob
Active Member
Well that's pleasing to hear. It might be because here in Oz we had the Leyland P76 which tainted rover v8s and we didn't have a whole swag of english cars like triumphs etc either. Maybe it's the rest of the car that was the problem? I've only heard bad things about the SD-1's too. But I think that's also down to the car and not so much the motor. Are there any things I should look for / avoid when getting a donor motor?
Oldskoolrob
Active Member
Yes it'd have to be a 3.5 n/a as I can only go up to 3.6l max engine size for the car where I am. I have dreams of quad webers lol...
Oldskoolrob
Active Member
Are there any models that have a front-bowl sump?
stina
New Member
Wow , where did you get that info from , maybe someone who's into V6 V8 fords or other types of boat anchor ! The old Rover is legendry for it's creamy smooth torque for the size of the motor , and weighs less than allot of 4 pots half it's capacity . If your enquiries are just engine related you would do well to google the V8 forum and have a word there .
Oldskoolrob
Active Member
...just stuff you hear. I thought I'd ask the question here as I assumed (correctly) that you'd all be the most knowledgeable on the motor - lemon or not. I'm off to the Cortina forum now to investigate the other half of my proposed transplant
unstable load
Well-Known Member
You will be happy with your choice of an RV8. Lovely smooth engine that can be made to hop
if you have the inclination to, but it does require deep pockets to up the power by a lot.
In my opinion, you could do a LOT worse than the Rover V8 engine.
You could also cheat a little and use the P76 crank in the 3.5 block for a bit more than 3.6l..... :twisted:
if you have the inclination to, but it does require deep pockets to up the power by a lot.
In my opinion, you could do a LOT worse than the Rover V8 engine.
You could also cheat a little and use the P76 crank in the 3.5 block for a bit more than 3.6l..... :twisted:
Oldskoolrob wrote,...
Hello Rob,
Where abouts are you in Australia? That was certainly not the case here in N.S.W a few years ago, so unless the rules have changed since then :?
Ron.
Hello Rob,
Where abouts are you in Australia? That was certainly not the case here in N.S.W a few years ago, so unless the rules have changed since then :?
Ron.
Hi Rob.
The fact that you are from Aust has a bit to do with the perception of it being a lemon. (Which it definitely is not)
In a contemporary "Wheels" article about the 3500 "S", the headline was something along the lines of "Nice car, but wheres the power?"
And of course, when compared to the 5.7 Chevs and 5.8 Fords of the day, the little Rover mill is simply outmuscled by cubes.
And that's how we Australians have traditionally thought of our V8's...bulk torque and horsepower (Oooh yeah )
Relative to those V8's , you couldn't really call the little 3.5 "muscular", but its still a lovely little motor with ample torque and power. (My engine is tired but I can see how it could be)
Smooth, reliable, lightweight and robust.
Rebuild the motor right; with the correct cam, performance manifold and suitable 4 barrel carby (or webers if you got the $$), and it will be an excellent choice for your (MK 1?) Cortina.
And if possible have it all balanced.
The fact that you are from Aust has a bit to do with the perception of it being a lemon. (Which it definitely is not)
In a contemporary "Wheels" article about the 3500 "S", the headline was something along the lines of "Nice car, but wheres the power?"
And of course, when compared to the 5.7 Chevs and 5.8 Fords of the day, the little Rover mill is simply outmuscled by cubes.
And that's how we Australians have traditionally thought of our V8's...bulk torque and horsepower (Oooh yeah
)Relative to those V8's , you couldn't really call the little 3.5 "muscular", but its still a lovely little motor with ample torque and power. (My engine is tired but I can see how it could be)
Smooth, reliable, lightweight and robust.
Rebuild the motor right; with the correct cam, performance manifold and suitable 4 barrel carby (or webers if you got the $$), and it will be an excellent choice for your (MK 1?) Cortina.
And if possible have it all balanced.
Oldskoolrob
Active Member
I'm in QLD where the new rules state that the Mk2 Cortina weighing in at 922kg can have a motor up to 3688cc naturally aspirated (922x4 as per their table). So I think a little 3.5 will go nicely, it's just a matter of deciding if it's worth the time and trouble as the original 1600 only has 45000 original miles on the clock. I'm currently doing the bodywork for a respray and considering my options...
colnerov
Well-Known Member
Hi, as it's a Mk2 Cortina you could make a copy of Jeff Uren's Savage and fit Fords Essex
3 litre V6. I know it's down on capacity and power but because it has a twin choke Weber
it has punch off the line, plus keeps it all in the family! I presume you had that engine down
your way?
Colin
3 litre V6. I know it's down on capacity and power but because it has a twin choke Weber
it has punch off the line, plus keeps it all in the family! I presume you had that engine down
your way?
Colin
Oldskoolrob
Active Member
Yeah I'd certainly considered that but we never had the 3l V6 down here. Or if we did they were very very rare. Finding a small capacity (most of our 6 cyls of the erea were 3l+ and the smallest common v8 was 4.2) carburettored 6 or 8 cyl is a bit tricky. In a perfect world I'd love to get a Toyota 4veu but they're rarer than rocking horse 'leavings'!
unstable load
Well-Known Member
Run away, screaming!!colnerov said:
The Rover will use less fuel and be a far smoother engine. Stick with the SU's and you won't go wrong.
