Thread: Rover V8 engine number sequences

G`day Diana

Depends what the v8s from but generally 9 digit .... 3 digit prefix ( identifier ) 5 digit series and 1 digit suffix ( design mods ) .

3 numbered prefix will suit around 79

2 numbers and 1 letter prefix for around 82 through 86 .

The stamped compression ratio can also help to date a 3.5 .

If you have an engine number prefix and stamped ratio ( and suffix if a 3# prefix ) i may be able to work out what it came from ?

Cheers

Peter

Originally Posted by PLR

...

If you have an engine number prefix and stamped ratio ( and suffix if a 3# prefix ) i may be able to work out what it came from ?

Cheers

Peter

Peter

I looked at a donor vehicle yesterday and the vehicle is a bit of a mystery, then I seem to have taken down the wrong engine number.

• VIN from ADR plate indicates a 2/82
• VIN using Calvin indicates a 1970 - 79 CKD 2 door.
• Body and most trim looks to be a early phase II (1985 model)
• dash and radio/stereo location look to be a post 1986 model

The engine number I wrote down is 39800**** (no suffix letter - which must be wrong).
When I checked with REVS there is an engine number mismatch.

If the engine prefix 398 is one of the early engines - is it one of the blocks that need reinforcing or whatever they do?

Diana

Does anyone have a list online that has the breakdown of engine numbers??

So if we were to find an engine, we can just look at the engine number and know what size and year it is????

Clarkie

Originally Posted by sclarke

Does anyone have a list online that has the breakdown of engine numbers??

So if we were to find an engine, we can just look at the engine number and know what size and year it is????

Clarkie

Clarkie

Early this morning after making this post I found the following site: All Rover V8 Engine Numbers seems to list the entire range of Rover V8 engines.

Still doesn't tell me about the ones with the stiffened block.

Diana

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

Peter




I looked at a donor vehicle yesterday and the vehicle is a bit of a mystery, then I seem to have taken down the wrong engine number.

• VIN from ADR plate indicates a 2/82
• VIN using Calvin indicates a 1970 - 79 CKD 2 door.
• Body and most trim looks to be a early phase II (1985 model)
• dash and radio/stereo location look to be a post 1986 model

The engine number I wrote down is 39800**** (no suffix letter - which must be wrong).
When I checked with REVS there is an engine number mismatch.

If the engine prefix 398 is one of the early engines - is it one of the blocks that need reinforcing or whatever they do?

Diana

Hi Diana , this is for RR .

I`ve a 14D that came from an 81/2 4door .

From what i can work out 22D is the first of the EFI 85/6 but if manual , first EFI for auto was 23D so Carby went to 19D ( 20D/21D only Saudi Arabia ) but we don`t/didn`t see all the variants here , you may note 14D doesn`t get a mention anywhere in the pommie figures that are on the net but they exist and it seems only in Aus .

Also as all the V8s interchange any can be in any car our 85RR has an 86D P38a , reg says 15A SD1 .

398 engine # is an early block , it may also have the smaller valves if original heads but i`m not 100% sure on this as they are the last of before the 11D , which is i think the first of the modified blocks , though not quite what is know as the stiff block , i don`t think the stiff were untill 12D .
The major problem with these 398s is not so much the lack of extra strength in the block as the lack of grip the main caps have in the block .

They still work fine just don`t like to revs as much because the caps are able to skew/move and come loose because of the design but the oil pressure gauge tells when the bolts need a tighten or if the gauge isn`t watched the noise tells .

They can be modified to take the later caps but not much can be done for the ribs etc for strength but unless there`s a good reason too probably better left as is .

A bloke over the West has one of the earlier blocks that has been fitted with larger liners to give 3.9ltrs and he has had no probems with the block or mods , i won`t say who it is coz i`m always plonking Brad in it . whoops .

The 398 is a 8.13:1 ratio change so should be 78/9 . Some 80/1 models had 9.35:1 ..11D . All 81/2 had 9.35:1 ...14D ( reason 12D and 13D are missed is because they were low comp )

Sorry none of this is much value but 398 is an early engine though the later of the type and it should have a sufix A-F. If the last # you noted in the engine # was a 1 , could be it`s a hidden F ?

Cheers

Peter

ive tried to find my engine number on 1983 rrc engine build date on top of rocker cover is 6/83 , obviously V8 9.35:1 carbie model please tell me where to find it.

Originally Posted by leyland

ive tried to find my engine number on 1983 rrc engine build date on top of rocker cover is 6/83 , obviously V8 9.35:1 carbie model please tell me where to find it.

Leyland

The engine number on a Rover V8 should be on a flat to the LHS of the block between the middle two cylinders. I think that is cyls 3 and 5. You can see it in the gap in the exhaust manifold.extractors but the first and last digit may be obscured.

Others will soon tell me if I'm wrong - but if the block has been machined (decked) the number may be very faint. In the TD5 the number is only etched in and it almost washes off.

Hope you can find it.

Diana