Can anyone give me a rough price as to what I'm gonna be expected to pay to have a RV8 recon'd

Cheers

Darren

Are you planning to do it youself or get a firm to do it ?

I am planning to recon my own and expect to spend about £ 500 + splash out on a new holly carb and duel plane manifold.

Can't decide on whether I'll do it or to get an engineering firm to do it.

I'm wanting to go the EFI route

Regards

Darren

remember the v8 is like 2 4pots side by side - costs twice as much to do 'em up.
I've done up a couple of these now & both have been well into 4 figures.
Bob

As with all engines, depends what you want to do with it, what parts you use and who you have do it.

Assuming you don't want anythink radical and you do most of the assembly yourself I'd guess in the low 4 figure range.

This is what mine cost:

Machining work : (What I got the Company to do - Ivor Searle)
Rebore (Bores were oval - Common on RV8's - the wear about half way down the bore, 5 thou max ovality allowed)
Crank Polished (no wear so not reground)
Cam bearings supplied and fitted
Block and Heads Chemically cleaned (ESSENTIAL)
Rods checked for alignment etc
Pistons pressed on to the Rods (old ones removed as well)
Both block top faces skimmed
Two heads skimmed
New Core plugs (essential)

That was about £6-700.

Set of new pistons £170
New Hurricane Viper Cam £125 If you cant afford a hot cam, use the 3.9 cam instead of the 3.5 cam... better torque and a little more power, for sod all extra cash. Dont forget the new lifters for a new cam!
Rhoads bleed down lifters £100 (New cam MUST have new tappets / lifters or the cam will be scrap in a few k miles)
new big end bearings
new main bearings
New Cloyes / reynolds Chain and cogs
new oil pump gears and end plate (Why wreck a nice new engine for the sake of a new oil pump)
New water pump - same reason as above
Gasket set
Composite gaskets Head, and valley
New rocker shafts and rockers
Rocker Shim kit (necessary to set the preload)
new valve springs

Edelbrock manifold and Webber 500 carb and Mallory Unalite Dizzy all s/Hand for £400 and like almost new.


All in all the total came to just under £2k.

This should give me somewhere around the 220-250 Bhp mark.

It runs and sounds bloody fantastic!..

I did all the assembly work myself (havent rebuilt an engine for over 20 years... but it soon comes back to you).

You can buy a short engine, but its all the other bits that mount up.
Like Genuine Pistons are £78 EACH Plus the Rings. I got a set for £165 including the rings.

I used http://www.v8tuner.co.uk I had good quick service and helpful advice. He is a one man band in Wymondham in Norfolk. Allways quick with the delivery as well.
He buys in Parts from the USA ie Buick parts which are still available and cheaper.
remember that a 3.5l RV8 is a Buick 215 Cu inch engine.
Cant fault the guy.
Some parts are more expensive, so check prices on his website first

I am very pleased with the results.
a RV8 is NOT cheap to overhaul.

Go have a read on www.v8engines.com and turn the sound UP..
There is a section on health / state of second hand engines and a LOT of good sensible advice. Go look in the FAQ section.

There is not a lot that Chris Crane doesnt know about Rover V8's, he is highly recomended... prices to match, but still top dollar for top man. If you can afford him, use him.

To do it completely and properly then £2k is about right

Top Tip... Wlak away from ANY RV8 that is shitty BLACK in the rockerbox covers. Look for a Light Straw / Brown colour.
Walk away from Dark brown or Black ones. I didnt, and it cost me a lot of money.
Have a look through my archive plenty of Pics.
Please take note of the Engine colours... cit will be work the effort to find a decent engine to start with. and cheaper!

£50/£100 engines off ebay are almost certanly non starters requiriung a full and expensive rebuild.
Hope this helps.

cheers for advice, bursting with info now