What's the Deal with the buick/Rover head for TA Performance?

I've got pictures at the shop, next time I'm down there I'll throw em up.

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wizkid45/sets/72157617480262913/

Pictures taken on March 22nd of the Rover head :TU:

 

Very nice progress!

So the head shown is the stock Rover head and the current T/A v6 head and the plaster mold of the new T/A Rover head?

Any idea on flow numbers? I would guess they will be similar to the v6 heads?

Thanks!
Brian

PS......Roller cams will be available too right:Brow:

 

Awesome progress....any projected time lines? How about the 350 head? I can't wait. I was thinking of buying two sets of the V-6 heads band sawing the carp outta them and welding them back together, but this seems to be a more logical answer. Good job.

 

That's great news Mike. I see where some of the Rover boys are up to a 3.8" bore now on some of their sleeved motors and it brings up the question of valve choices. On the one hand, big valves for the big bores (and the 300/340) or on the other, shrouding issues on the small bores around 3.5" or so. Any info on what we can expect there?

I expect you'll find a ready market for this one, and we're all hoping you sell a ton of them. Who knows, maybe an aluminum 350 block could be in the works some day.

Jim

 

very nice, Mikey. it's good to see that work is proceeding on the Rover heads even though the 455 stuff isn't quite done.

 

Correct on both accounts. As for roller cams I don't know, haven't heard anything.

 

Projected time line was 10 weeks from March 22nd lol so that puts us in June somewhere but I don't know how things are rolling on it, haven't talked to dad about it in a while.

As for now I believe the road map is: Rover Head, Rover Intake (for the new head, you cant put out a head without an intake to bolt on haha), 350 SP Intake, 350 Head.

 

when you get to the 350 heads, will they be able to accept a bore over 3.900? :grin:

 

it would be wonderfull if the rover intake could be adapted to the 300-340 blocks. :TU:

 

Very interesting, I was thinking about doing some big mods to my spare heads, raised port, and raising the heads further up the block to try and get the valves closer to the bore centerline. Will the heads take standard equipment?
Rover Roller Cams, I think Wildcat make them in them in the UK, roller followers I think are SBC items,
Another thought, a lot of people have started using Motorcycle Throttle bodies, Suzuki Hyabusa I think, use a split fabricated manifold, and for ease mount the bodies on silicon rubber tubes, this would make finding a manifold for the bigger engine easy,

Im running TBs on a TVR Power/JE Engineering split manifolds

as for Rover manifolds,---

look here,
http://www.mez.co.uk/ms12.html#Michael




.

 

WOW!!! those intake systems are awesome.. almost enough to generate spontanious wood

 

Great page for all those Rover intakes!:beer

I'm thinking this style with 2 sets of 600cc carbs or TB's would be nice.

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wizkid45/sets/72157617480262913/

Update on the Rover Head, I'd post the pictures but I took quite a few. Hopefully it'll be to the foundry in the next 5 weeks or so, give or take.

 

wow, you guys are going full steam ahead. good job.

 

Man, that's just beautiful. I just saw the link posted up on the British V8 board and then came here to check it out. I can hardly wait to see the foundry shots! I really hadn't planned to use those on my blown 340, but I'm beginning to think about what I can ebay to buy a set.

Jim

 

Jim
I guess since you're using a handmade intake manifold you won't need to wait for a new intake like those of use who have 300 and 340 engines with out a blower.

 

Yeah, except that I still have to build it. But, I've done that before and it just gives me a chance to try some new twists. People get way over excited about intakes. It ain't nothin but a tube and flanges. (x8) If you can weld exhaust tubing you can make one. The first one I ever made was built out of the curved tubing off an early VW bug bumper, a short chunk of small channel iron for a plenum, and a piece of galvanized sheet metal to match the plenum to the tubes. We cut the holes for the throttle bores with an acetylene torch. It mated a 2 bbl downdraft Holley to a 4 cylinder Triumph Spitfire engine. The carb stuck through the hood, but it ran great. That was at the air base on Guam back in the 70's. Since then my efforts have gotten more refined, but they work exactly the same. Not a big deal, just takes some time. The materials are available everywhere, now they even make them out of plastic and there's no reason in the world that wood couldn't be used. So I don't think you should let that stop you. You know what? You could probably hack up a stock intake, epoxy tube stubs into the ports and run pieces of radiator hose to motorcycle carbs. There's got to be literally hundreds of ways to get 'er done.

Jim

 

About those sheet metal intake manifolds. Price range? Quote per drawing? What's the romance with the four barrel? With 215-340 port layouts ,it will be much easier to get equal runner lengths and fuel distribution with TWO carbs. Just pick :2 bbls/4bbls/Webbers based on flow required and build application. I suspect less sensitive to overlap? I suspect more equal runner velocities? This used to be pretty popular with Edelbrock, Offy, etc. until the 4 bbl. took over. How say ye? roverman.

 

Call Mark up, and see what he thinks.... I may be able to bring him a 215 block and heads for mockup.