Hi Just a brief HELLO from sunny England, I have various versions of the 215 Buick kicking about, and trying to get it to go faster,allways interesting to find another source of performance input, thats why im here, oh, and obviously to help other people with questions about the baby engine,,
Welcome to the site. Lots of good information and people willing to help. Do they still have a separate class for rover powered cars at Santa Pod? I spent alot of time at the "Pod".
No unfotunatly the RV8 chalenge has died a death, there are a few people trying to get it going again, it was good fun, spent time at the Pod, US services?? My old boiler runs mid 12s in full street trim as it turns up, and hopefully drives home againray: , there are a few other classes that are popular at the moment,
allways interesting to find another source of performance input, thats why im here you already know about D&D Fabrications? also, TA has new aluminum heads in the works, not yet in production.
Ill check out D&Ds, I knew about the new heads from TA, but did you know there are new heads over here, Merlins, made by Real Steel, there are a few sets about but I have yet to see how well they perform, as I dont have enough posts yet I cand put up a link, but if you Google, "RealSteel Tomo" you should be able to get a link. and of course there are the Wildcats, bit to expensive for my pocket at the moment,
D&D - http://www.aluminumv8.com/ but did you know there are new heads over here, Merlins made by Real Steel, there are a few sets about but I have yet to see how well they perform they're going to have to be pretty good. TA is saying that they are copying their v6 port and chamber configuration. should be somewhere around 275cfm on the intake. http://www.taperformance.com/products.asp?cat=141 I dont have enough posts yet I cand put up a link these guys? http://www.realsteel.co.uk/ they say they're getting 353ftlbs out of a 5.1L engine. i know Buick was using gross ratings, but in 1965 they were pulling 355 ftlbs on the second gen cast iron small block 300ci 4v ( approx 4.9L ). given 40 years of development, i would have hoped for a little more?
Glad to hear that someone else likes the little 215. Back in '62, with the help of a high up GM official, I was able to obtain the very first 4 speed equiped Olds Cutlass Coupe 6 weeks before they released it for sale. I showed up at the drags 2 weeks after I bought it. As luck would have it, I had to race another Cutlass like mine except it was the 3 speed. I slammed 4th gear right in front of where he was watching along the fence. By the time I came back down the return road, he had already filed a protest. All I did was reach into the glove box & get my factory paperwork that had the tranny listed. He had to forfeit his protest fee & walk away mad. His girl friend even asked me to take her home at the end of the day. Needless to say, we never developed a friendship. Best I ran that day with all stock tires, exhaust, etc., was 15.02 @ 89 mph. Not too shabby. It also got 25+ mpg cruising down the road. I really miss that car. I've got a '63 215, hi comp., 4 barrell carb sitting in the shop that will make a nice engine for a little roadster after I get the Willys panel truck with a Buick 455 in it done. Thom
That is a funny story! I found my 63 215 in a 71 Vega with a 4 speed. Who knows how it got there but it made its way into that little car!
When I get some more posts up, I need 10 before I can put up pics I will post some pics, Over here there were only 4 V8s readily available to us, Daimler Hemis, eithr 2.5liter or 4,5liter, Mercedces V8s or the Buick/Rover and the Buick was the only one that was plentful in the Junk yards, so a Big following of these engines has built, and has been in production over here from the late 60s till present,, ranging in capacity from 3.5 [215] thru to 5.0. [302] even aftermarket 5.3s are about, it was also built in Austraila in a 4.4l configuration for their P76 salon, and the Leyland terrier truck. The engine was favoured by the small car makers as well as Rover would sell complete aftermarket engines, companies like Morgan and TVR used variations for their sports cars
Good evening v8ian, Glad to hear the little engine developed a terrific following. Would it be possible for you to supply a listing of the various size engines by year & what vehicles they were in? It would make it easier to find one over here. I'd like to find one of the 302's that you mentioned or some parts to upgrade the '63 215 that I have. I hope you enjoy your new club. It's great. Thom Kleckner
Very interesting stuff! Feel free to post a bunch of quick replies to your thread so you can post pics! Or e-mail them to me at sean-gaskin@hotmail.com and I can post them for you!!! Oh and we go by a first name basis a lot on here so add your name (or a nickname to your signiture under your user CP options. Later!!
Hi Thom, US engine sizes, 99% sure, 1% guesswork, :idea2: The biggest RV8 you will have would be the late RangeRover, or Landrover, That would be the 4,6L, I ll have to confirm these details later, but Im sure Im corect, 3.9, Mid 80s Range and Landrovers, Fuel Injection, stroked 215, Neoprene crank seals, good engine!! everything from the 215s bolts on other than the fuel pump, mid 90s a 4.0 engine appeared, Fuel injection, serpintine belt ancillary drive, cross bolted mains block, but not drilled for the extra bolts, [interim engine,] different mains and big end sizes, 10 bolt heads, better gaskets, laminated head and valley gaskets, different crank to the old 3,9, but still the same capacity. about a year later a 4.0 & 4.6 were introduced, X bolted block, all have the 94mm/3.7 bore, 4,6 was a stroked 4,0, shorter rods in the 4.6 than the 4.0!!, 10 bolt heads, now with a Anular crank driven oil pump, no distributor, coilpacks mounted on the back of the engine, stainless headers, serp belt, cam now has a retaining plate rather than been held in position by the timing chain. the serp engine, once the Viscous fan and thread heve been removed are the shortest engines and are good for transplants the 4.0 and 4.6 suffered problems with shifting liners, this has been a problem due to casting quality, and core shift at the foundry, real late bolcks were made by Cosworth, [Coscast] My new engine is going to be based around the 4.6, offset ground crank, SBC rods, and either 305 chevy pistons, or possibly Honda Racecar short skirt pistons, hopfully this , if I do the stroke and use the correct bearing size, should render 5.0:laugh: The best heads would be the later 4.0/4.6, bigger waisted valves, better combustion chambers, better exhaust port, more metal to allow porting, they also have the outer row of head bolts deleted, Rover worked out thayt the heads were being twisted by the outer bolts and deleted them, seems to work, I have not had any problems yet,ou: Big Engines, the 5.0 was a re-cranked X bolted block made by TVR and fitted in their sports cars, but I dont think they were exported to you, BUT I do know a few have been personally imported,
Hey there v8ian, This info that you posted about the various engine sizes is fantastic. I'm sure we have others in v8Buick that will also find it very interesting. I was unaware that Rover ever made it in anything larger than 215. I wish I had never sold that little '62 coupe. It was an awesome little car. I drove it hard but also took immaculate care of it. Thanks, Thom
This info that you posted about the various engine sizes is fantastic. I'm sure we have others in v8Buick that will also find it very interesting. I was unaware that Rover ever made it in anything larger than 215. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rover_V8 i think i've seen a pretty good rundown on the various flavors of Rover over at Britishv8 as well.
I have loads of info on these engines, I use a UK based site, which is dedicated to theV8 engine, but focuses on the Rover V8 called the "V8 Forum" I would post a link, but not enough posts yet, if you Google the V8 Forum, im sure you will find it,
Yep, thats the link, Its a long time since I looked at the dyno session, but I seem to remember the power quote is from "out the box" heads, I am sure the heads will evolve to produce good power, the other thing is these heads are a entirly bolt on option, so the exhaust ports are still somewhat compromised, but nothing like the stock heads, I do have a pair of BV heads that I started to modify, borrowing a lot from the Roush ProStock Cleveland raised port head, mainly by milling the exhaust ports off the heads and adding a block of ally making raised ports, Im still not convinced its the right way to go, as the problem with the valves being off the centerline of the block is a bigger problem allowing the bores to shroud the valve, and severly limit valve size. Ive just had to remove your links so I could post my reply:shock:
