TR7 Rover V8 Conversion
History
Above all else, the Rover V8 engine is of American origin! It first saw the
light of day in an early 1960's Buick.
The rights to build the engine were snapped up by Rover in the mid 1960's
(after Buick stopped making them!) and the first
car to use the engine was the Rover P5B. The P5B was the sort of car used by
Prime Ministers (the Queen also had one).
The British Leyland cars to use the V8 were, in roughly date order, with
approximate figures:
| Vehicle | Engine size (cc) | CR | Power
(bhp) | Notes |
| Rover
P5B | 3500 | 10.5:1 | 180 | First use by
Rover, used 100 octane |
| Range
Rover | 3500 | 8.5:1 | 130 | Tuned for
torque |
| MGB
V8 | 3500 | 8.5:1 | 135 | Shoehorned
in! |
| Rover
P6 | 3500 | 10.5:1 | 170 | Same as P5
spec |
| Rover
SD1 | 3500 | 9.5:1 | 155 | Engine block
strengthened, bigger valves and ports |
| Triumph
TR8 | 3500 | 8.5:1 | 135 | First
injected version |
| Rover SD1
Vitesse | 3500 | 9.5:1 | 190 | UK spec.
of TR8 injection, new block |
| Range Rover
3.9 | 3900 | 9.0:1 | 190 | Larger
pistons, new block, new injection control |
| MGR
V8 | 3900 | 9.5:1 | 190 | Used the RR
version |
| Range Rover
4.2 | 4200 | 9.0:1 | 220 | New
crankshaft |
| Range Rover
4.5 | 4500 | 9.0:1 | 240 | New
crankshaft? |
In 1971(?), the Range
Rover was born.
Let's face it, if the V8 can move this lump to 105mph, it should be OK for
our TR7s!
The engine generally remained unchanged (barring CR differences) until about
1988, when Rover created the 3.9 litre version
This block was stronger, and so allowed the bore to be increased.
In the early 1990's Rover started to try increasing the stroke and
eventually got to 4.5 litres.
Whilst the new Range Rover (pictured) now uses a completely revamped V8,
I beleive that the Range Rover Discovery still uses the old 3.9 litre.
So OEM engines should be available for at least another couple of years.
V8 FAQ?
Question: Why wasn't the V8 engine put in the TR7 sooner?
Answer: Supply problems, the SD1 took them all. Note that the engine bay was
designed for a V8.
Question: Why was the TR8 never available in the UK?
Answer: The TR7/8 was scrapped just before release.
Question: Is the V8 used elsewhere?
Answer: Lots of UK 'kit car manufacturers' such as TVR, Morgan, Marcos
use the 3.9 litre (sorry guys :-). TVR have taken the V8 to 5 litres, just
give them the money and your TR7 will annoy any TVR.
Question: Why not just fit a Sprint engine.
Answer: The V8 is readily available in the UK, and it is, in general, more
reliable. The V8 can be extended to over 300 bhp.
TR7 V8 installation details
Like the TR7 Sprint, the TR7 V8 is a safe and sound modification in that the
installation design was carried out by BL.
All you have to do it copy what they did! Rimmer Brothers can supply kits for
the V8
conversion.
Find your engine
In the UK, it is possible to find a V8 in almost every scrap yard! These
days, they are always the SD1 item.
It is possible to find a running SD1 Vitesse for about 300 pounds sterling.
Also, Rimmers will supply a brand
new engine, either 3.5 or 3.9 litre.
In the US, you could probably find one of the 2000 or so imported SD1s being
scrapped (perhaps a crashed Range Rover?), otherwise you may have to import.
You could also try RoverWeb for more Range
Rover information.
Converting a TR7 to TR8 specifications
Let's assume you have bought the Rimmer kit :-) See free catalogue for
details.
To be continued.........
Errors and omissions excepted!
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