Rover V8 Lump

[markieboy]

I am hoping that someone will be able to shed a little light in plain English (ie I am a mechanical Numptey!) on the following

SD1 V8s Was it only the Vitesse that was fuel injected?
Did it only have one Plenum chamber
My engine number starts off with a 39a and someone has suggested that its a factory recon lump. Should this cause me concern, engine will be stripped back a little but it has been worked on prior to my purchase but to what extent I dont know yet.
I have indentified my rocker cover arms as being Group A/ Volvo??
Again whats the difference.
The engine is supposed to be 5.2 so I am taking the heads off today maybe to measure the volume. It appears that the crank is standard so I am doubtfull that 5.2 is correct. Any other things to look out for whilst im down there?
Also carbs, Im thinking of using carbs as opposed to the original fuel injection system. Will i need to change anything internally to suit, and what would you recommend for manifold options and carbs for ease of use, setup and reliability?
Many thanks for any help that you may be able to give me, I bought it to learn and I am learning fast!!!!
Thanks
Mark:P

[kev]

The Vitesse was the only SD1 that was injected but they put efi on their bigger engines, it's now standard on all RRV8's.

Vitesse standard had a single inlet plenum, the twin inlet plenum was a homologation special for the BTCC. Engine number 39a is factory reconditioned 3.5 @ 9.35:1. I can't see how this block can be taken out to 5.2litre, even with a heavily stoked crank!! 3.5 with a stoker kit is normally 4.3L, 4.0 with a stoker is 4.8. 4.0L overbored and stroked is 5.0L, I think in order to get 5.2 you need to change the liners on the 4.0L block and stoke the crank.

Don't go back to carburettors, why go back to the stone age, EFI is not difficult when you get a handle on how it works.

Kev

[kev]

Duff info, there was also an injected SD1 VdP, but that is rare
Kev

[markieboy]

Thanks Kev,
I am tempted with the efi as I have the full system but with a flapper valve, but what concerns me is reliability!! Yikes.
A carb I could deal with and once set up is little to go wrong with. The EFI all those wires!!!!! I dont mind spending money on the efi cleaning and replacing but to bring it up to 2003 serious money will have to be spent and I dont know whether its best to bite the bullet now with carbs or spend money maybe to have to ditch the system at a later date.
Also its slightly more cluttered within the bonnet area.
What a dilemma!
But its still early days as yet, just got the chasis rolling so plenty of time to go to think about it.
Regards
Mark

[kev]

I put my flapper system onto a standard vitesse engine with an AK exhaust and just a K&N filter on the inlet to the air meter and it gave close on 200bhp on a tired engine. It ran trouble free with little maintenance for 12 months before I got the power bug }( No need to spend serious dosh if you don't have to. The wiring took a little to work out, but work logically and it ain't too hard. No problem with underbonnet clutter it tucks away fine.

My advice is to run the car for a while before spending serious dosh on the engine. Find out what you think of the performance for your needs. I thought 200bhp would be fine, but I soon found out that the Cobra aerodynamics leave a lot to be desired and it starts to run out of puff at the ton.
Kev