Rover V8 Swap technical Info

[Gibson]

Ok i have spent ages searching and all i can find is alot of rumours and opinions and im looking for solid fact and actual information about the Rover V8 Swap technicalities. So this is for anyone who has actuallly done the swap.

Do you have any pictures?

Engine Mounts, Where, Who How and How Much £££?

Which Engine did you use? ie 3.9 3.5 4.6 etc?

Did you use Carb or FI, Hotwire or Flappybox?

Did you have to move the Master Cylinder? and where too?

Which Gearbox Did You Use? And What needs doing to the Selector Mech?

Are The clutch slave cylinders compatible with the BMW system?

Which Exhaust manifolds did you use to clear the Steering Rack?

Is the long nosed water pump a problem like it is in the Capri conversion?

Which Radiator did you use?

Prop Shaft? Half BMW half donor gearbox manufacturer or otherwise?


I will have more questions im sure very soon. but i am trying to put together a defintive guide which i will be both confirming and documenting when i go for my swap....

I have a 3.9i hotwire engine for the swap and a LT77 gearbox from a Rover P6... so any info on these would be great.

Regards

Tom

[old_skool]

You need to speak to Buster, his mate has a E30 with a Rover V8 in it. Also Dips has a TVR based (Posh Rover) V8 in his touring. As you have already experienced, most stuff on *some* forums (not here of course) is hearsay. Best to get it straight from the horses mouth.

[bss325i]

As your local to Guildford, come to the next meet as i think dips will be there in the V8 touring so you could get a look at it and have a chat.

[Nelly]

Any v8 block will work - scrap the efi set up if it's a donner injection unit and convert to carb,
custom mount arms to allow the engine to sit low + back, Sierra cossy T? g/box with bell housing adaptor - the old Sherpa van 4 speed or 5 speed boxes fit straight on, custom prop and a relocated Clio servo.

I'm sure more will be added to this list but that's it for basics.

IMHO - the less wiring in the bay the better

[Nelly]

Rover 3.5 V8 is less bhp (170)than the stock M20B25 (172) but, bags more torque and easy enough bolt on upgrades.

[Gibson]

Any v8 block will work - scrap the efi set up if it's a donner injection unit and convert to carb,
custom mount arms to allow the engine to sit low + back, Sierra cossy T? g/box with bell housing adaptor - the old Sherpa van 4 speed or 5 speed boxes fit straight on, custom prop and a relocated Clio servo.

I'm sure more will be added to this list but that's it for basics.

IMHO - the less wiring in the bay the better

I have an LT77 already which is the same as in the Sherpa Van. same as goes in the old V8 Ambulances to. Ratios arent a problem i can get the box rebuilt to any ratios i want.
I have a 3.9 EFI hotwire version which is the 190bhp jobbie. easy 210 bhp with decent induction and exhaust mods and shed loads of torque.
I think this EFI will be an easier convert than the Carb setup, it really is a neat self contained set up really just need wiring into the permanent live and switched live and earth.

[Gibson]

As your local to Guildford, come to the next meet as i think dips will be there in the V8 touring so you could get a look at it and have a chat.

Whens the next meet? is it the German night when all the Vdubs turn up? because i have been to a couple of those!

[Gibson]

Bump for the man who has decided this is his next project....

[Gibson]

Definitly going for this swap now... been looking at the two bits of metal today and they must become one

[scottidog]

bump

[scottidog]

bump

[Gibson]

Not having much luck here are we fella?

[jaffro]

gibson have you started the swap yet??

[Gibson]

Not yet. been offered a M50 converted car that im hoping to hear about the next couple of weeks. (sounds alot cleaner than mine) depending on how that goes i may decide against the V8. cant find any info on it to make an educated decision at the moment.

[jaffro]

ok mate its just i was having thoughts on the v8 side but ive decided on somthing totally different now.

[ChrisiS]

In terms of boxes (being a landrover nut) Id try and avoid the LT77. they have a habit of eating themselves. The R380 out of late RR Classic, Disco 300tdi and Disco TD5 is the way to go. Or an early rangie 4 speed. These are a lot stronger if you intend on driving it like its stolen and/or on fire!. -All of the triallers are going this way rather than regularly changing LT77s- they are good for about 85,000 miles in a disco/rangie/Defender before needing replacement.
I had to do a replacement on my disco (200tdi, LT77) last year- still never got to the bottom of the problem....It made a loud clunk and I lost all gears except 2nd and fourth- which made an interesting drive home using 4th low, 2nd high and 4th high to get home! then decided it wanted to be in gear all the time- started to be able to drive in neutral?!

I also know the wherabouts of a 3.5 V8 out of an SD1 thats just come out of my mates Range-rover Bobtail if anyone fancies one- dunno how much he wants for it... probably not a lot.

[jaffro]

how would you go about the issue of running carbs unless you got a vittesse engine?? thats what put me off this swap!!

[FormerMember]

Hey guys, why are you even planning swapping carburettor V8 in E30 ?!?

U know it's 21st century now.. ;)

There are a lot of good V8 options around (not only BMW engines) with decent EFI.

[jaffro]

i was but not now. i just wonderd how you would get round the carb issue. just curious

[Gibson]

Hey guys, why are you even planning swapping carburettor V8 in E30 ?!?

U know it's 21st century now.. ;)

There are a lot of good V8 options around (not only BMW engines) with decent EFI.

I was going hotwire injection 3.9 actually... more powerfull and a load more torque than a 325