Richard, 
   Most of the MGB V8 books were written before, or just as the 
big-bore blocks were coming to market, so the problem hadn't arisen 
yet.  I don't have any good numbers for boring the 3.5L engine at the 
tip of my fingers, but I think you can find them on the D&D web site and 
catalog, and in an article by Kurt Schley and Dan LaGrau in one of the 
free issues of the newsletter on the website (britishv8.org, no www) 
JJJ 
 
 
Richard Morris wrote: 
 
With this cracking problem (and I don't recall reading about it in the 
v8 MGB books) in mind, is it better to go with the 3.5L Rover engine? 
And I assume that boring one out can also lead to the same problem. What 
is the safest a 1988 3.5L Rover engine can be bored? 
 
 
Slightly off topic is this question. I want a compression ratio of over 
10:1 (in the 10.0:1 to 11.0:1 range) And is there a problem using the 
10.25:1 pistons that were for the Olds 215? Back in the 70's when I had 
Camaro's and Corvette's, we snickered when someone used cast pistons. I 
made the assumption that forged pistons were always better. Now I read 
in the MGB V8 books and on some web sites that you should not use forged 
pistons. Why not? 
 
 
There is a 4.6L Rover short block currently for sale on eBay 
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=802 
0199936&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT . What if any problems will I have 
using my 3.5L Rover parts to complete this short block. (Do the 3.5L 
heads and other parts work without any problems?). My 3.5L block has so 
little wear in it that I could have it honed and stick with the stock 
pistons (and no compression). My idea of the higher compression ratio is 
forcing me to go with new pistons. Any thoughts on this? 
 
Richard Morris 
 
 
 
 
-----Original Message----- 
From: owner-mgb-v8@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-mgb-v8@autox.team.net] 
On Behalf Of Carl Floyd 
Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2005 10:50 AM 
To: James Jewell; mgb-v8@autox.team.net 
Subject: Re: Cooling in relation to water speed 
 
 
 
 
Now having said all that, the big-bore factory Rovers do crack, nearly 
every time the coolant gets above 190, because the factory was too 
   
 
 cheap 
 
 
during the redesign to increase wall thickness between the sleeves and 
   
 
 
 
 
the water jacket.  It's not a structural problem, and can be fixed.  
   
 
 
James, 
 
Do have any links? 
 
Thanks, 
 
Carl Floyd 
 
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