I have heard of using 300 Buick parts to make the 215 motor bigger and more powerfull. What all is involved? Any web sites to get details? Anyone done it?
You use the 300 crank in the 215 block (along with a .030" overbore, I believe) to make it 266 cubic inches. To run a manual trans, you then need a special flywheel, as the 300 crank is 1/2" longer. Not sure about automatics. The 215 engineering was sold to Rover. Some of the Rover parts (fuel injection, etc.) will work. I believe you can also use the aluminum 300 heads, but I can't recall the advantage to that right off the top of my head. Should make for a high-revving little engine. D&D Fabrications north of Detroit seems to be 'the guys' to talk to for this swap. http://www.aluminumv8.com/ I considered this one myself, but decided on a 350 instead.
Got exactly this on the bench at the moment. A x-bolted late type Rover block overbored by 0.040". Uses a 300 crank with the D&D flywheel along with 5.875" H-beam Scat rods and Chevy 305 forged pistons. Heads are ported and flowed Buick 300 and the cam is a Crower 50232. Makes a solid 4.9 with about 310 bhp. Allan
J Man, Hi Not sure exactly what to do with it at the moment. Cost wise in USD; well I picked the block up for $90, the rebore cost $350, the rods and pistons cost me about $600, heads I bought a couple of years ago for $150 and cost about $900 to port and flow with new larger valves. The flywheel was $275 from D&D. Cam was just under $200 shipped. Shipping on all the bits cost me around $500 over two years so I've got around the $3000 mark tied up in this. Allan
I do have set of Ford 260cid .030 pistons that makes 215/Rover3.5 262cid with 300crank. If you use use 305 pistons you have to sleeve it.Rover 3.9 litre has larger bore.Also you need special starter (longer crank) and Rover uses neonprene rearseal. Friend of mine made such of engine using old Rover block with ropetype seal and 64 crank. 64/300 cid crank has 215 size mains and lenght is same.
Sites for 215 data Check with D&D (website given by another). British V8 newsletter, and Rover web sites. Good Luck Someone is also trying to put a 340 crank into a 251 or rover 4.0 block. Randall Black
Ford Pistons Ford pistons are for 170 cid six-cylinder engine .030 oversize produce 4.358 cc.I bought mine in speedshops clearing sale for 50$.I also bought 300cid .060 pistons in same price. You can also use Vega 140 cid and chevy 267 pistons with 300 cid crank (compression may vary). I asked about rearseal adaptor from British firms couple years a go, and they said , you should use modern 4.6 engine, conversions like this are past.I still have pistons but they are in Finland..
Timo, once again, please... Could You give dimensions of these pistons? Are any of them in dimension allowing to use it in 3.5 engine, or bigger?
Sebastian Check out this site. I'd suggest looking at Ford and Chevy pistons http://www.beckracing.com/silvtoc.htm
Thanks, Rossco... And why did You wrote, that RPI are not good? Any bad experiences with them? Regards, Seba
Hm, maybe... In Poland we have no big choice if parts for rover 3.5 needed... Maybe it is due of this reason, that I've heard rather positive opinions. BUt thanks for Your advice, I'll remember. Regards Seba
Timo, I've checked dimensions of ford 170 pistons - and they have the same bore diameter, as rover/buick 215, but absolutely different compression height. Maybe they work propoerly when 300 crank used, but I have no possibility to get such crank nor redesigned flywheel. So - if I'll decide to use ford pistons, I have to use longer rods to compensate differences between piston's heights. Do You know about any rods fitting there? Regards Sebastian
