Hey out of curiosity... does anyone know the history/orgin of the rover V8.... i thought i heard someone tell me that the rover V8 block was an old oldsmobile or buick casting that Rover bought from them????
Block history/orgin
- Thread starter scubaman99
- Start date
True. The engine was originally a mid-60's aluminum block Buick V8. Buick had deemed the engine too expensive for their needs, using the aluminum V6 (think GNX), or regular V8's more akin to the Chevy. In the late 60's, Rover was looking for an engine for the upcoming Range Rover. Story has it, a Rover engineer literally tripped over a Buick V8. It was small, light, suited their needs. Rover bought the V8 from Buick. Took several years for it to actually end up in the Range Rover, ending up in a few other Rover vehicle first.
-L
-L
It wasn't that Buick decided that the engine was too expensive - about that time, a process was developed to produce thin-walled iron castings. They just didn't need an aluminum engine anymore.
This was, probably, the longest-lasting production block in automotive history.
This was, probably, the longest-lasting production block in automotive history.
Here's a pretty good writeup on the many variations of this block
Jetfire
Crate motor! Rover V8 to live on
And a good discussion on Pistonheads Famous torquey powerplant rumbles on
From a aftermarket perspective it feels like this engine is going to become another "small block chevy". Lot's of support.
Jetfire
Crate motor! Rover V8 to live on
And a good discussion on Pistonheads Famous torquey powerplant rumbles on
From a aftermarket perspective it feels like this engine is going to become another "small block chevy". Lot's of support.
Interesting comparison of the Chevy LS1/6 and Rover V8.
Chevrolet LS1/6 Info
It's got me thinking . . . .
Chevrolet LS1/6 Info
It's got me thinking . . . .
p m said:
I don't think there is any probably about that. The design was finalized in 59, and heavily based on the cast iron fireball V-8 of the 50s, and even carried the name away with it. It is supposed to swirl the ignited gasses the whole way down for a complete burn. 1961 the first one came off the assembly line, do they still put them in Defenders in foreign markets? If so, that's a 45 year uninterupted production run.
Pontiac had a version that wasn't too different, and Olds had the Jetfire V8 some with factory alcohol injection.
I know they have been in everything from power boats to funny little small aircraft. I don't know how different the aircraft setup was, though. Micky Thompson drove one in a few open wheel races, and many rallyes have been run with them. I think the only series it never raced was Nascar. Some loony built a chainsaw with one, and Rodders have built some pretty rad vehicles around them. If I am not mistaken, it is still the lightest V8 ever produced.
This makes it extremely suitable for dropping in a small, lightweight car.
It is without a doubt my favorite motor.
Cheers,
Kennith
I believe it was sometime in 1966 and a Rover engineer, William-Martin Hurst was touring a Mercury Marine plant in Massachusettes when he quite literally tripped over one of the small-block GM V-8s that was being rebuilt for use in a boat. At that time, Rover was involved with the "100 inch station wagon" project which eventually became the Range Rover. That was originally being designed with the Rover 3.0 litre six in mind.
Noticing that the V-8 was smaller, lighter and more powerful that anything on the other side of the pond, Rover promptly asked GM for the manufacturing rights to the engine. GM had just abandoned it, having recently perfected the much cheaper, thin wall iron casting process. GM was all too happy to flog off its discards for a few coin on some saps across the Atlantic.
Almost 50 years later....
Noticing that the V-8 was smaller, lighter and more powerful that anything on the other side of the pond, Rover promptly asked GM for the manufacturing rights to the engine. GM had just abandoned it, having recently perfected the much cheaper, thin wall iron casting process. GM was all too happy to flog off its discards for a few coin on some saps across the Atlantic.
Almost 50 years later....
Well, I am not well-versed in the history of the just-about-to-depart Jeep inline 6 4-liter - but my guess is it has roots in a 230-cid Continental straight 6, which was started around 1944.kennith said:
p m said:
In related news.....
I had actually found this last weekend while searching for cheap sources of buick valve lifters, or the difference between buick and chevy v-8
In 1965, Kaiser-Jeep began using the Buick 225 in (5.7 m) Jeep CJs. It was known as the Dauntless 225 and used a much heavier flywheel than the Buick version for increased torque. Buick sold the tooling for this engine to Kaiser in 1967, as the demand for the little engine was waning steadily in an era of V8s and muscle cars. When American Motors bought Jeep, they replaced the V6 with AMC inline sixes.
When cars began to get smaller again in the 1970s, the trend was towards the greater compactness enabled by the V6 layout, and straight 6 engines became rare in American cars except for trucks and vans. Jeeps were an exception to the rule, getting the AMC Straight 6 engine as the base engine option in 1972, and getting a high-performance 4.0 L option in 1987. Usage of the AMC 4.0 has been declining in Jeep vehicles since the 2002 replacement of the Jeep Cherokee with the Liberty, which features the Chrysler 3.7 L V6 instead.
and....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMC_Straight_6_engine
AMC's first straight-6 was the 195.6 in? (3.2 L). It was produced from 1958 through 1965 in both OHV and "flathead" side-valve versions.
The company designed an entirely new six cylinder for 1964, and this version is still in production.
I think it was listed somewhere but top gear did a show piece on the Rover V-8. I remember it being the engine of choice for UK hotrods in the 80's and early 90's....may still be now, and probably before that too.
My Dads Rover 3500 had one too back in the day.
Looked for the Top gear episode, no luck.
Ed
My Dads Rover 3500 had one too back in the day.
Looked for the Top gear episode, no luck.
Ed
a little longer quote from the same source:
AMC's first straight-6 was the 195.6 in³ (3.2 L). It was produced from 1958 through 1965 in both OHV and "flathead" side-valve versions.
Sometimes referred to as the "196" engine, this engine was originally designed by Nash in the 1930s as a flathead, and redesigned as an overhead valve (OHV) engine in 1956. The flathead version was discontinued for 1956 and 1957, but reemerged in 1958 as the economy engine for the "new" Rambler American. When the engine was changed to an OHV configuration the water pump was moved from the left side of the engine (driven by a shaft extending from the back of the generator) to the front above the timing chain. When the flathead model was reintroduced it to received the new water pump. Equipped with such high quality parts as forged crankshafts and connecting rods, these engines earned a reputation for remarkable durability. The flathead, however, was prone to the typical flathead problem of overheating under sustained heavy load, from the hot exhaust traveling through the cylinder block to the exhaust manifold.
AMC introduced an aluminum block version of the OHV 195.6 in³ (3.2 L) engine in 1961. It was produced through 1964. This engine used cast iron cylinder liners and a cast iron head.
The Modern Era I-6
The company designed an entirely new six cylinder for 1964, and this version is still in production.
So it is even older than I thought...
AMC's first straight-6 was the 195.6 in³ (3.2 L). It was produced from 1958 through 1965 in both OHV and "flathead" side-valve versions.
Sometimes referred to as the "196" engine, this engine was originally designed by Nash in the 1930s as a flathead, and redesigned as an overhead valve (OHV) engine in 1956. The flathead version was discontinued for 1956 and 1957, but reemerged in 1958 as the economy engine for the "new" Rambler American. When the engine was changed to an OHV configuration the water pump was moved from the left side of the engine (driven by a shaft extending from the back of the generator) to the front above the timing chain. When the flathead model was reintroduced it to received the new water pump. Equipped with such high quality parts as forged crankshafts and connecting rods, these engines earned a reputation for remarkable durability. The flathead, however, was prone to the typical flathead problem of overheating under sustained heavy load, from the hot exhaust traveling through the cylinder block to the exhaust manifold.
AMC introduced an aluminum block version of the OHV 195.6 in³ (3.2 L) engine in 1961. It was produced through 1964. This engine used cast iron cylinder liners and a cast iron head.
The Modern Era I-6
The company designed an entirely new six cylinder for 1964, and this version is still in production.
So it is even older than I thought...
well... At a certain point, you find that it is easier to cross-list parts from different makes/models than from the same engine family.
I have kept the rocker arm assemblies off my 68 Buick 350, to see if they fit the 3.9 or 4.0, but haven't gotten around to test it. I'd love nothing more than to shove that Buick 350 in a rover, for the bolt pattern seems to be exactly the same.
I have kept the rocker arm assemblies off my 68 Buick 350, to see if they fit the 3.9 or 4.0, but haven't gotten around to test it. I'd love nothing more than to shove that Buick 350 in a rover, for the bolt pattern seems to be exactly the same.