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Help Rover V8
Paul (Notts) - 31/1/05 at 09:09 PM

I am thinking of buying the engine from a Range rover 3.9 Efi auto

Could I convert this to a manual gearbox ?

it,s a 1993 L reg so would I require a cat for the SVA

Can I stick a four barrel weber carb kit system on it ?

Jon Ison - 31/1/05 at 09:14 PM

dunno if its true of later 3.9 engines but some 3.5autos needed the end of the crank machining for the flywheel, how do i know ? I bought an engine out of an auto for a spare only to find i could'nt fit a flywheel, going back many years though things could have changed, me thinks you nedd to do a little bit of research.

Marcus - 31/1/05 at 09:23 PM

Be careful,
IIRC the Range Rover V8 is a low compression engine and may need a lot of work to get any power out of it.

Marcus

AdamR - 31/1/05 at 10:39 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Paul (Notts)
I am thinking of buying the engine from a Range rover 3.9 Efi auto


Good choice! That's exactly what I have.

quote:
Could I convert this to a manual gearbox ?


You can indeed convert it to a manual gearbox. Probably the best option, but not the cheapest, is the get a Borg Warner T5 (from a Sierra Cosworth) as these have the correct spline for the RV8 and they are good strong gearboxes. You will then need the find the right bellhousing - either find a TVR version or use the bellhousing from your auto engine and buy or make an adapter plate. I'm doing the latter. Others on this forum have used Rover LT77 gearboxes (from SD1 and various other V8 applications) which are cheaper and easier from a bellhousing point of view.

quote:
it,s a 1993 L reg so would I require a cat for the SVA


As far as I know, cats are only needed for a post '95 engine. I've not dated mine yet, so 'm still worried about this one!

quote:
Can I stick a four barrel weber carb kit system on it ?


The best carb to fit is a Weber 500. I'm planning to use EFI which should be at least as good as the Weber - if I can fit it under the bonnet at least.

quote:
Originally posted by MarcusIIRC the Range Rover V8 is a low compression engine and may need a lot of work to get any power out of it.


Most of the Land Rover engines are actually high compression (9.35), but there are a few low compression (8.something) ones around. The compression ratio is stamped on the block next to the engine number.

Hope that helps!



[Edited on 31/1/05 by AdamR]

Simon - 1/2/05 at 12:14 AM

Reaming of the back of the crank isn't really necessary, you only want to get the (auto) spigot bush out and replace with a manual one.

I used a hacksaw, other may suggest filling the hole with grease, and the inserting a rod the correct diameter into lubed bush and giving it a wack. Hydraulic pressure should force it out.

IIRC 3.9 rated at 190 - 200 bhp and they run off unleaded.

HTH

ATB

Simon

TL - 1/2/05 at 12:32 AM

It's worth noting that the manual RR flywheel is heavier than an SD1 and uses a larger (10.5" clutch. (SD1 is 9.5". IMHO a RR flywheel & clutch would be slow to spin up. Also, I'm not sure if there is room in the SD1 bellhousing for the RR clutch assy? (Maybe someone else can confirm this?) The actual starter ring is the same diameter on a RR or SD1, but the RR friction face extends out almost to the tip of the teeth, to accomodate the oversize clutch cover.
I know you said you were looking at an auto engine, but just bear this in mind when you start looking at flywheels.