Rover prototype twin-cam, 16-valve 2200 engine

Demetris

Demetris

Well-Known Member
johnsimister said:
I would love to know if any of the prototype twin-cam, 16-valve 2200 engines still exist anywhere. James Taylor's book says five or six were built, and the one fitted with Bosch L-jetronic injection made 170bhp. It was the last new all-Rover engine developed by the original Rover company.
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I don't remember now where i have found these photos, but the location should be Gaydon Heritage Motor Centre.
The block is very recognisable, even without the side plates, as is the water pump, oil pump arrangement and the sump.
It is clearly a very close relative to our engines.

2200 DOHC 2.jpg2200 DOHC 3.jpg2200 DOHC 4.jpg2200 DOHC 5.jpg
 
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That’s really interesting. I wonder how they beefed up the bottom end to handle the extra power? Bearings are pretty much a service item on a standard TC engine.
 
sdibbers said:
. I wonder how they beefed up the bottom end to handle the extra power?
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I wouldn't wonder too much, they won't have done anything, and should you mention about the service life of the bearings, something along the lines of "we have increased the rigidity of the block by deleting the sideplates" would flow forth....

Cynic? Moi? Nah......

Nice looking lump though.
 
It seems that the block was redesigned. Deleting those side plates is not that simple, you have to cover the water jackets with something.
Also the bottom flange looks much thinner than that in our engines. I imagine that in 10 years time, from late '50s to late '60s engine design have progressed enough to allow them to improve on the weaknesses of the original block. Of course this is just a guess, and perhaps, since this was still an experimental engine, had quite a few faults to be ready for production. They were on the right track though!
 
Saw it at Gaydon a while ago. Much more interested in the P6 5 & 6 cylinder engines though.
 
Didnt know they had that engine in development Grrrr bloody BL !

Would have been a very tasty ride had that gone into a P6 shell.

Graeme
 
The Rovering Member said:
Aw, yes l do, the one that was sold to the motoring journalist. That's a shame, the five cylinder was almost reborn there with my firing a post off without googlarising first. :rolleyes:
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It's fine. It's a story that hasn't been told for a long time.

In short; you have two different engines that were under development. The 5-cylinder and 6-cylinder engines.

The 6-cylinder engine was fitted into several cars, including the surviving car that has been owned by an RSR member since the 1970s. It's not been on the road in many decades, but is being rebuilt. The owner has possession of the three remaining 6-cylinder engines.

The surviving 5-cylinder engine is with Gaydon.

And there is a lot more to the stories of both engines :)
 
Yep. He had just the one installed in his car, but then the other two remaining engines were being disposed of, and Lyn Thomas who worked for Rover at the time managed to procure them for him.
 
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