rover 3.5 v8 performance

helpimcrap · 13 Oct 2007 at 12:43

hey... just out of curiosity but what is the performance of the 3.5 v8 rover engine like?

just the engine performance ie bhp weight etc.

seen lots of v8 rover pages but no actual info...

are they tuneable?

[huzeeee] · 13 Oct 2007 at 13:00

www.austin-rover.co.uk

Anything from 91bhp to 190bhp for the 3.5l because of so many different specs over the years. I wouldnt start with the 3.5, personally i would get a 4 or 4.5 because they have more power to start with and will cost less to tune to say 400bhp than a 3.5 (however they are more expensive in the first place).

And yes, they can be tuned.

Edit: Ohh and as for weight, they are quite light because they have an aluminium block and cylinder heads.

helpimcrap · 13 Oct 2007 at 14:22

yeah... theyre pretty crap then.

was just pondering something thats all.

Sone · 13 Oct 2007 at 14:31

helpimcrap said:
yeah... theyre pretty crap then.

was just pondering something thats all.

was in production for over 50 years so i don't think its crap

paradigm · 13 Oct 2007 at 14:39

Sone said:
was in production for over 50 years so i don't think its crap

You don't think 91BHP from a THREE POINT FIVE LITRE V8 is crap?

helpimcrap · 13 Oct 2007 at 14:40

Sone said:
was in production for over 50 years so i don't think its crap

maybe, but cubes v power its crap.

was hoping for around 250-300bhp as a starting figure (especially from the vitesse).

Butters · 13 Oct 2007 at 14:59

paradigm said:
You don't think 91BHP from a THREE POINT FIVE LITRE V8 is crap?

Its technology and age. I could quite easily say that the 21bhp that the 1940s Bently's use to have from their 8 litre engines was a little poor. But use that same engine with some modern day fettling and injection and you have a bullet proof engine firing up to 600bhp.

Bill101 · 13 Oct 2007 at 15:08

This was why B.L. got to buy the rights, the plant, and everything dirt cheap, it was low on BHP and high on emissions. It is also the reason TVR were never able to sell cars in California.

Zuma · 13 Oct 2007 at 15:32

i don't think it's fair to say the rover v8 produced 91 bhp. that was obvously in a heavily detuned land rover application. for most car use it developed around 140 bhp minimum

penski · 13 Oct 2007 at 15:46

They sound okay...But they don't give much power from the factory and they cost a bloody fortune to tune.

Even if you start with a 4.0 or 4.5, you're looking at big money to get above 350bhpish...

If you want a V8, get a small block ford or chevy. Ally heads, decent fuelling and exhaust and bob's yer mam's bro.

*n

helpimcrap · 13 Oct 2007 at 15:47

penski said:
If you want a V8, get a small block ford or chevy. Ally heads, decent fuelling and exhaust and bob's yer mam's bro.

that's what i was thinking the outcome of this might be.

i'll leave my plans to rest for now....

dalin80 · 13 Oct 2007 at 19:09

there advantage is relatively lightweight torque, the 91bhp version was decades ago and actively detuned.

300bhp is easy, also very easy engines to strip and build and lovely sounding.

Azagoth · 13 Oct 2007 at 19:19

According to my Cousin, the old SD1 I used to own put out 155BHP +/-, but it certainly didn't feel like that at all due to it being such a large and heavy car.

I will add this though, on a fast run the fuel gauge goes down quicker than the speedo goes up!

Joe T · 13 Oct 2007 at 19:26

My Dad's 4.6 is tuned to 275bhp.

[huzeeee] · 13 Oct 2007 at 19:29

We are putting a 4.5 in a tr7 with injection, should see over 220bhp quite happily, plus its a big lazy motor for cruising.

helpimcrap · 13 Oct 2007 at 19:30

i could see better performance by buying a 2.9v6 cologne engine and just turboing it for the same price as a v8 lump to get anywhere near the power.

IainB · 13 Oct 2007 at 19:31

[huzeeee];10269471 said:
I wouldnt start with the 3.5, personally i would get a 4 or 4.5 because they have more power to start with and will cost less to tune to say 400bhp than a 3.5

And yes, they can be tuned.

dalin80 said:
300bhp is easy, also very easy engines to strip and build and lovely sounding.

I would love to know where all these 300 / 400bhp Rover engines are :confused:

they start to get very expensive over 250 bhp (for the 3.5) the 4.0 & 4.6 are easier to get a bit more from, but the heads just dont flow the figures to get much from them

Joe T · 13 Oct 2007 at 19:34

IainB said:
I would love to know where all these 300 / 400bhp Rover engines are they start to get very expensive over 250 bhp (for the 3.5) the 4.0 & 4.6 are easier to get a bit more from, but the heads just dont flow the figures to get much from them

Yeah, 275 is about all my old man will get I think without going crazy and adding a turbo or a supercharger or something equally crazy!

penski · 13 Oct 2007 at 19:57

helpimcrap said:
i could see better performance by buying a 2.9v6 cologne engine and just turboing it for the same price as a v8 lump to get anywhere near the power.

Or just fit a 24v Cosworth V6 out of a Granada. 200bhp stock, 220bhp with later cams.

Ten grand and you have twin turbos and 550+bhp...That kind of money gets you knocking on 350bhp from the rover V8...

*n

helpimcrap · 13 Oct 2007 at 20:01

penski said:
Or just fit a 24v Cosworth V6 out of a Granada. 200bhp stock, 220bhp with later cams.

Ten grand and you have twin turbos and 550+bhp...That kind of money gets you knocking on 350bhp from the rover V8...

*n

i nearly fitted a granada cosworth engine to my mk3 XR3i.

top boss performance love them.