I've always wanted something V8 (spent some of my yoof tooling round Brum with a mate in his Tiger).

No1 son keeps trying to persuade me to invest in an E39M5 Beemer ("whilst they're still affordable...." but TBH I can't justify another tin top and at the back of me I suspect it wouldn't tick all the fun boxes.
Hugely quick they might be but I suspect not as engaging as open top motoring.

So had one of those light-bulb moments recently - why not slot a V8 into the Formula 27?
The Volumex engine that's in it is rare as hens-teeth so would probably fund buying a decent second-hand V8 - but which one?
Lexus ones c/w gearboxes seem to come up at not huge amounts of money.
My only concern is will the Escort live axle, even though it has an RS200 diff be up to it?

Any thoughts/suggestions positive or negative appreciated.
Cheers, Pewe10

Obvious answer would be rover v8 and an mt75 box

I have a Rover V8 with a LT77 and I went down this root because my engineering skill is/was limited for my first build. Rovers do offer a easy upgrade solution with the larger sizes and TVR versions.

However I do like the look of the Lexus V8s. There is a slight problems getting manual gearboxes for them though. A member on here has recently done it I think.

[Edited on 14/1/15 by Irony]

Lexus V8 Thread

small block chevy?

Main problem with the lexus, and most modern v8s with the exception of the LTS series, is its width. Multivalve OHC "V" engines are very wide across the heads. I have a figure of 770mm across the front pulleys, but the guy on the Viento thread should be able to give you a proper measurement.
Good luck, they look amazing engines.

slap it in an MX5 or go the V6 route....go on you know you want to

Big sized budget (£3k+) - TVR AJP8 flat plane crank, that sound and tiny in comparison to most v8's - comes with a t5 gearbox.

Budget end - rover v8 but have a look out for the 4.6 engine or ex tvr 4.5's

Centre ground and novel (not many done) - have a look at the jag v8's (3.2, 4, 4.2, or there is the supercharged xjr/xkr/stype r versions) - relatively cheap, manual gearboxes to fit but not seen many done so you will be pioneering the engineering. All alloy and relatively light compared to some. I'd go for the non vct 4.0 supercharged xjr engine - one on ebay this week with 6 speed manual box but has gone IIRC, have a search in completed listings.

I had a 12V VR6 engine in a Galaxy and it's only as wide as a Zetec
Did think about a 24V VR6

The 1UZ-FE was my first port of call for my Thruxton GT build.

It was however too wide across the heads to fit in the chassis, as was pretty much any other v8 with overhead cams (Must admit I didn't look at the AJP V8, might be narrower as its a 75 degree V as opposed to the usual 90 degrees)

I ended up going with a rover V8 from a Chimaera and a T5 gearbox.

How wide is a Formula 27?

Thanks for the thoughts, guys, appreciated.
V6's are nice, in fact the V6 in our much lamented 760 Volvo was one of the sweetest engines I've come across however it's really about a V8.
Think I'd best get the tape-measure out....
Cheers, Pewe10

The Chevy LS engines are also pretty compact as they have a single cam which is in the middle of the block (cam-in-block design) IIRC the LS1 (5.7 first gen) is not much bigger than the rover v8.

Edit -

Found this thread with some v8 dimensions on it - looks like the LS is significantly smaller than an rover v8 - so if that will fit an ls1 will fit - easy 400hp (and significantly cheaper than building a 400hp rv8) big issue then may the the gearbox fitting and chassis clearance.

http://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/forum/topic/totally-blank-sheet-28245/page3

[Edited on 15/1/15 by Ugg10]

Not sure where they get 762 wide for the RV8 (maybe included the stock exhaust manufolds?)

The RV8 dimensions here http://www.super7thheaven.co.uk/blog/rover-v8-dimensions/ look pretty much spot on at 541mm across the heads.

The exhaust manufolds do make the RV8 wider, but in my case they fit under the top chassis rail so all is well.

Let me know if you wnt anything measured.


If you can fit the 1UZ-FE its probably a better choice.

I considered this for my rv8 Viento a while back, SBC engine is basically the same size as the rover but will be heavier as iron, LS1 engine is lighter but costlier. I think the gearboxes on Chevys can be quite wide though. Audi v8 engine cheap but very wide and gear box problem as no manual option on more common cars so no flywheel etc unless you have an Sx engine (costly), looked at 1uzfe iirc engine would fit Viento but gearbox was a challenge again due to finding RWD box. My choice would have been chevy, so many tuning options, still on the lookout for a cheap engine.

Alternative idea: Audi S4 cabrio: 4.2L v8 8krpm redline 350bhp, open top, 4x4, back seats and a decent boot... What's not to love!?

Ooooh you are wicked DanP properly got me salivating has that S4.
Trouble is it would mean selling all the other toys plus SWMBO but hey it's a one-off!
Now where are the Autotrader/Pistonheads buttons?
Cheers, Pewe10

in sevenish type car, which wasnt built for fitting something heavy in front i would only put a fully alloy V8 in.

something which should be easily available in UK, easily upgradeable, spare and tuning parts available, knowledge for tuning available....conclusion: Rover v8

the rear axle is the weak point.

a banjo axle will not cope with high torque (even it cwould cope with a high revy, torqueless 200BHP engine)...this has nothing to do if there is a LSD fitted or not. the axle itselves is too weak.

so you will need to upgrade to a sallisbury or even convert to IRS with sierra diff.