Spent the last hour looking at the rover 3.5 v8 lump in the back of the garage.

Where to Start !!!!!

Any ideads or advice on stripping the engine and rebuilding.

What Cam would people recomend....

How hard is it to hone and replace piston rings???

Is it a good idea to replace the fuel injection with a wedder 4 barrel Carb kit..
Rescued attachment engine 025.jpg

I find a very useful thing to do when striping and rebuilding is to set aside a large table or bench to lay everythingout on logically so its easier to put back. ie all rods and pistons in order.

Looks like you've got a pretty decent engine there - Vitesse V8, 190Hp, loads of torque.

Nearly 20 years ago I installed one of these in my TR7. Mine was kept standard and as a result was better than many cheaply modified V8s. By better, I mean it idled well and had a broad spread of power.

I ran mine first on carbs to get the thing going, then I put the fuel injection in - this was much better.

So, If I were you, I'd keep the engine standard and keep the fuel injection.

[Edited on 22/2/05 by JonBowden]

When removing the camshaft & followers, invert engine, remove camshaft & THEN extract followers from the the same side as the camshaft. Due to the propensity of the cam following face to mushroom, if you attempt to remove them from the top/head face side then you invariably end up scoring the follower bores. Being hydraulic type followers this tends to cause problems.
Otherwise, just grab some spanners, sockets, screw drivers, etc and enjoy the eperience.

My V8 has been a money pit

You need to measure the bores for oviality, no more than 5 thou wear.
£40 HONE
£100 REBORE
£170 Pistons (Genuine are £80 EACH + rings)
£34 for 8 piston ring set, (Genuine £29 per piston!)

I got the Land Rover Overhaul manual for the 3.5 / 3.9 / 4.2 which covers all the important stuff. Good Buy.. (www.Amazon.co.uk)

I used www.v8-tuner.co.uk good quick service and good prices. Real Steel are a bit cheaper.

I have gone for the Viper Hurricane Cam, as the Typhoon cam need other mods due to the high lift.
I went Rhoads Tappet lifters, as they bleed down, and give a bit better economy at low revs.
Cam bearings £18 + fitting. I have just bought a tool for this!.
Cam £125 Viper Hurricane, Rhoads Lifters another £100.

Replace mains and big end bearings
about £35 for the lot.
Polish on the Crank - didnt need a regrind £40.

Replace Cam bearings if you fit a new cam, RV8 cams wear a lot, 70k and they are usually done for.
You MUST replace the lifters if using a new cam. or you will trash the new cam in a few k miles.

New Timing chain and cogs
Cloyes with pre stretched chain - good type
£80.

Second Hand Webber (Edelbrock) 500 4 barrel carb, and Edelbrock Performer inlet manifold - £350.

Mallory Dizzy, £250

New Oil pump gears £30
Prime / Pack the oil pump with petroleum Jelly as its NOT self Priming. (spin up with a rod in a drill throught the Dizzy hole - Its in the manual)

Check the rocker shafts for scoring, ditch if scored, as the swarf is in the ally housings of the rockers, it gets in the rest of the engine, and ruins all the new bearings.

If the Engine is BLACK inside, look in my archive piccies... WALK AWAY from it. I didnt, and have amassed a large bill, and I am doing all the labour myself.

If its that black, Use Nitromors to get the burn on black cack off, works very quickly!... Take safety precautions though!!.

Watch for signs of water in the oil.
Check the block and head surfaces are good and flat.

Use Composite gaskets not the tin ones
More expense!

I might not get Luigi Viento on the road this year now... The budget has been washed away!.

Oh... Exhaust in polished Stainless with cans is nearer £1000.
Talk to 907 (on this list) for some of his cans, cheaper and better - Look in "For Sale" - "Anyone need a Can"

Phew... I was going to bed 20 mins ago!!

Finally....
DONT expect more than 20mpg at best, more like 15 if you have a heavy right foot.

Oh... and widen all the doors in your house... You have to do that to get your new found GRIN through them after driving your v8



[Edited on 22/2/2005 by wilkingj]

Hi There
I kow it is an obvious question but how sure are you that the engine needs rebuilding any way ? from the photo it looks like anice clean unit modern engines have a very long service life , especially a big lazy V8 have you heard or seen it running ? . I would do a compression check look at oil condition ect and if it comes up ok on that leave well enough alone and use it as it is ( and retain the Fuel injection it will run better , more efficiently any way ) Just a thought It is to easy to look for a ROLLS ROYCE solution to a ford (or rover) problem remember that any kit car is going to weigh bugger all compared to the donor and even a tiered V8 is going to be a beast
best wishes
Iain

Despite my problems above....

RV8's are notorious for Cam and follower wear, its on its way out at 70-80k miles. Even if serviced and well looked after.

They are a lovely engine.

Rule of thumb:-
Looking inside - General condition

This is a good guide... also read up on their other pages. read up on RPI's site and buy at where you feel you will get the best deal.
Rpi are good at what they do, and Chris Crane certainly knows the RV8.

V8's are not cheap to refurbish... Consider it TWO engines costwise.

The one in Question looks nice, but then a good steam clean can make anything look nice.
Have a good look down the Oil filler cap with a small torch and check the COLOUR.
Shiny - Light brown - Dark Brown or BLACK. (see my link above for the results of the colour check)
It tells you a story of its overall condition.

I have learned the hard way, and just want to make others aware..

Nice point is they are a easy engine to work on. Nothing complicated...