The V8 Owners Forum -

why are bit's so expensive?

DR JONES wrote:why are bit's so expensive?

They can be expensive if doing extensive modifications for a much higher power output but for a standard rebuild, probably no more expensive than any other similar spec low tech V8 engine.

What bits are you talking about, as you may be looking in the wrong place.

Kevin.

Rover bits are expensive because they made relativly few of them (the entire output from rover was equivilent to about 3 months output of one of the small block chevy factories).
Also they have the Range rover factor, the assumption by parts supliers and garages is that any one with a range rover is so loaded that you can charge them whatever you like for goods and services and they will pay it. . . most of the rover V8s ended up in ranger rovers. . .

Mike

DR JONES wrote:why are bit's so expensive?

Because its not a 350 chevy.

don't think they are that expensive

Eliot
spot on
Mike

POAH wrote:don't think they are that expensive

Try building one with more than 300bhp then. Standard rebuild they are a relative bargain, mild tune they aren't bad, but start going a bit crazy and you can say goodbye to your wallet.

You want a race engine that holds together, it's gonna cost 10k, whereas the equivalent power output from a chevy would be half that. But then again, the chevy weighs more etc. There are a lot of factors.

If I had my choice (and money) again, with what I've spent I could have slung a Viper V10 on megasquirt in my MG.

if i ever have the funds to do the cappa again it will be a LS1 v8 going in,

If parts to rebuild an RV8 are too expensive you can always buy an half RV8 like an Rover 2000 engine .

All V8 in Europe are expensive to rebuild because here V8 architecture is not common. Stock parts are not particulary expensive. It is machine work who is expensive.

thev8kid wrote:if i ever have the funds to do the cappa again it will be a LS1 v8 going in,

Probably spend a quarter as much as you spend on your rover tone, and it'll blow a rover out the water.

yup,

never mind have to make do with the rover thats going in for now,

Also, I have a question...

What loses the rover so much power? I know the heads restrict bigger engines a lot, but what about the 3.5 and even the 3.9. That's still big compared with four pots yet not particularly powerful. I know the v8 crank restricts revs, but is there anything else?

Basically we are talking about a 50+ year old design that was intended to have good torque from off idle and peak at around 4800RPM.

Strap on a pair of modern four valve per cylinder, heads on and the power woud start at 70BHP per litre as standard with relatively soft timing and without variable valve timing add that and the sky's the limit depending on the strength of the bottom end.

Now if the Rover M16 heads could be made to fit, no no I must stop thinking of things like that

Kevin.

If one day I win to Euro Millions : http://www.grandprixclassics.com/FactSh ... o%20V8.htm

CastleMGBV8 wrote:Basically we are talking about a 50+ year old design

but so is a chevy or ford and they p*** all over rovers litre for litre don't they?