Rover Engines

[David Large]

Right guys, there must be somebody who can advise me. I have a BRA 289 with P6 high compression (10.5:1) engine. I am contemplating new heads from RPI...lots of dosh! I can go for std. heads or stage 1 and I need to reduce the compression ratio to run unleaded. I would also fit a mild cam. Who has done this? Will I notice a difference? Is it worth the investment? Heads £500; cam set £250; Mallory distributor and leads £300; all plus vat and sundries?
Who has gone down this route?
David Large

Perhaps before spending the dosh have a chat with those awfully nice guys at REAL Steel 01895 440505. Rover type specialist people who have been very helpfull to me in the past. I have a Rover V8 Ak with the Circa 1985 engine, been worked Viper cam, valves head work, Holley etc, yes you do know the difference to a non worked enjoy, pending on how loud you press the faster faster pedal.It runs unleaded and has proved to be a good reasonably econmical engine, with the right amount of grin factor when letting the pedal do the talking.
HTH
Nigel

[Bob]

Before you fart around with heads what carb are you running. Plus if your running a P6 block I would look seriously at using a later than 1984 block there much stiffer: but not later than July 92 if dont want serious emmissions ##### .I fitted stage one unleaded heads and an Edelbrock performer set up from RPI thats a performance manifold and and a 500cfm four choke carb also a piper 270/2 cam this a fairly low tune set up for a road car 200BHP plus. I;m still building my car so I cant say how it will run until Junre my dead line. But one thing I have learned is that throwing money at an old engine that has not been sorted is a mistake. And that Chevy's and Ford 302'S give more power for less money. All up I recon Iv'e spent ove 2 grand on my engine and it will never deliver like a Chevy but there again I not asking it to im building a posers machine not a flying machine. RPI are a very good firm talk to Holly if you want good advise he knows Rover V8's inside out.

[David Large]

>Before you fart around with heads what carb are you running. Plus if
>your running a P6 block I would look seriously at using a later than
>1984 block there much stiffer: but not later than July 92 if dont want
>serious emmissions ##### .I fitted stage one unleaded heads and an
>Edelbrock performer set up from RPI thats a performance manifold and
>and a 500cfm four choke carb also a piper 270/2 cam this a fairly low
>tune set up for a road car 200BHP plus. I;m still building my car so I
>cant say how it will run until Junre my dead line. But one thing I
>have learned is that throwing money at an old engine that has not been
>sorted is a mistake. And that Chevy's and Ford 302'S give more power
>for less money. All up I recon Iv'e spent ove 2 grand on my engine and
>it will never deliver like a Chevy but there again I not asking it to
>im building a posers machine not a flying machine. RPI are a very good
>firm talk to Holly if you want good advise he knows Rover V8's inside
>out.

Bob,
I know you gave me good advice about spending money on an old engine but , well I went and bought the RPI stage 1 heads and the mallory set up and it's all fitted. The car runs/starts well and goes ok but probably would benefit from being properly set up. My car is a BRA 289 and the chassis won't take a small block Ford or Chevy. The right solution would be a nice shiny Rover 4.6 but this will have to wait until the kids have finished at university. When we finished the car 12 years ago we fitted it with a Holley 390 and Offenhauser manifold and that is still on the car. I don't want an out and out racer (just as well 'cos I'd be starting from the wrong place now). I want something that looks nice, goes adequately and will take me in reasonable comfort to Le Mans and other nice places and back.
I hope your build is going well.
David Large

[kev]

Now you've got the engine upgraded do you notice a significant difference?
Have you had the engine dyno'ed before and after?
I'm interested to hear what your opinion is, as I will shortly be making similar decisions as to how to cost effectively improve the Rover.

Kev

To give you an idea I have a 4.6 engine built by john earles with big valve heads and a chipped ecu for the fuel injection it was dynod by john eales at 270bhp with 290ft lbs to get any more hp it needed to go to 4.8 the cost was approx £4000.For more info go to the rpi web site

[David Large]

>Now you've got the engine upgraded do you notice a significant
>difference?
>Have you had the engine dyno'ed before and after?
>I'm interested to hear what your opinion is, as I will shortly be
>making similar decisions as to how to cost effectively improve the
>Rover.
>
>Kev

Kev,
The car is running well but at the moment I wouldn't say there is a dramatic change. The engine doesn't seem to be as free reving as before but it needs properly setting up. I have not yet changed the cam. The engine has not been dyno'ed either before or after. This engine we bouight as a reconditioned unit in 1986 and put it in the BRA with a Holley on. It has done 25,000 miles since 1989 when we registered the BRA. Part of my reason for changing things was to be able to use unleaded fuel; RPI heads with a composite gasket bring down the compression ratio. Sorry, at the moment nothing terribly conclusive.
David

[David Large]

>To give you an idea I have a 4.6 engine built by john earles with big
>valve heads and a chipped ecu for the fuel injection it was dynod by
>john eales at 270bhp with 290ft lbs to get any more hp it needed to go
>to 4.8 the cost was approx £4000.For more info go to the rpi web site

That sounds just the ticket; I will have to start saving
David Large

[David Large]

In this discussion, one of the things that is preventing me knowing how well my engine is going after the new heads and distributor, is the lack of a timing pointer on the front of the block. My engine has never had one but has always run well. Now however with all the messing about the timing is currently only guessed, so could be well out and I cannot locate a pointer! Have spoken to Holly at RPI, he says they have none. Is there anybody who can help me or even lend me a pointer. The engine is a P6, 10.5:1 comp ratio; Holley says an SD1 pointer will fit but anything off a Range Rover block will not. We have tried 2 or 3 found locally but they are obviously not the right type. Anybody out there with a P6 timing cover lying about?
David Large

[David]

I am not sure if you need to reduce the compression ratio of the engine, but you certainly do not want to increase it. 10.5/1 C/R is probably the max you can go to without worrying too much about which type of fuel to use, although you would have to be pretty accurate with your ignition timing and your mixture settings to prevent detonation. Just a thought...