[ROVERNET - UK] Re: V8 Engine Questions

[Aidrian Bridgeman-Sutton]

Yes to both; indeed any Rover V8 up to a 2002 4.6 can be made to work
very nicely.

However with the stock SD1 engine you may run into some clearance
isses at the front when the fan pokes holes in the radiator which
means that it will only work for a very short while until all the
water runs out.

The fix is to use the P6 water pump and I think timing cover - can
someone help out here?-, something to do with the oil pump and
disributor drive.

Some people have had success by removing the fan and adding
thermostatically controlled electric fans. If you want to keep the SD1
fuel injection you will need to bring over a lot of the wiring from
the donor car, but the engine will be perfectly happy with a good
carburetted set up, which is how many early SD1s were sold in the home
market. Late European spec injected SD1s had a taller plenum which
won't fit under the P6 bonnet unless you add a power bulge ( Ram Air
Rover anyone?)

If I were doing this much work I would consider a transmission upgrade
as well. The BW35 was arguably the worst part of the car when new,
whereas a LT77 manual gearbox from an SD1 fits very nicely and a ZF
HP22 or HP24 autobox from an eighties Jag can be made to fit with a
bit of work ( use a Discovery or Rangie  Bell housing ); if you choose
the latter make sure the ZF hasa cable kick down and not electronic
control.

An intermediate step is to use SD1 heads on a P6 block with a 3.9 cam
which gives you the bigger valves and better valve events

Aidrian

On 5/14/07, Albert Boasberg <ABoasberg at webtv.net> wrote:
> 1. Will a 1980 SD1 engine fit into a 1970 3500S?
>
> 2. Will a 1980 SD1 engine work in a 1970 3500S?
>
> Thanks.
> Albert
>