Barrie,
Based on Des Hamil's Rover V8 book (How to power tune...), the
answer is: it depends. If you have a 3.5L, you are probably good to go
to nearly any reasonable core temp. IF you have a 3.9 or 4.2, you stand
a very good chance of cracking your block around a cylinder sleeve if
your temp gets above 200F. I think for the 4.0 and 4.6, Rover tried to
make the block a bit thicker around the sleeves, due to the super-high
failure rate of the 3.9/4.2. I'm going from memory here, but I think it
was like 80% failure rate for engines that got over 200F. Anyhow,
despite the advantages of running a higher thermostat in some cases,
it's not recommended on the 'big' Rovers. Rover did start ultrasounding
blocks, and would put a dollop of paint in the lifter valley, who's
color corresponded to the wall thickness. Of course, I polished this
drop off my block during the rebuild long before I realized it was
anything other than a drop of paint........
Barrie Robinson wrote:
> What is the maximum temperature that is the limit for the Rover V8
> - before it starts to hurt? I used one of those
> pointy-tell-the-temp things and it registered 84.7 C immediately
> after a run and electric fan howling a treat ! To me that seems
> reasonable ???? The rad, by the way, registered 74 C.
>
> Regards
>
> Barrie Robinson
> 705-721-9060
> MGB GT V8
> Aston Martin DB 2/4 MkII in the wings
> http://www.britishv8.org/MG/BarrieRobinson.htm
>
> PURVEYOR of O-ring kits for Smith and Jaeger gauges
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