buick v8 history and a couple of questions??

**RRV80** · 26th August 2009, 07:30 PM

Ok so i know of course that the rover v8 is an all aluminium v8 which was sourced from buick in the 60's. I undersatnd in the mid to late 60's buick reverted back to using cast iron blockes etc on their engines - is this correct?

The main thing i am getting at, and it is something i have not heard of before, but i might not of been listening, are the bellhousing patterns of the later 'cast iron' block buicks the same as our 'rover' v8 pattern.

What is stopping someone from putting a late 60's early 70's 350 or even 455 buick v8 in a Land Rover/Range Rover and fitting it up to the original transmission, fuel injection equipment and ancileries???

Of course you have the extra added weight of the cast iron block but that is no different from fitting a chev or even a diesel donk, and being a yank engine - there a many many many various performance upgrades etc.

Imagine a 7.4 EFI V8 puching your classic RR or disco along, i would imagine it would have no trouble catapaulting one of these things along.

So my question is - why hasn't anyone done it? Is it not as easy as it sounds?

**RRV80** · 26th August 2009, 07:32 PM

oops double post

**Redback** · 26th August 2009, 07:43 PM

There's an echo

**Redback** · 26th August 2009, 07:44 PM

echo, echo

**langy** · 26th August 2009, 07:57 PM

Interesting topic - but with the possible exception of a v6 thing called a fireball, the answer is no. I googled buick v8 and got this:

[ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buick_V8_engine]Buick V8 engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

interesting read - esp the bit where GM wanted the tooling back, and rover politely said no way.

**TwoUp** · 26th August 2009, 08:04 PM

Have you thought about the length of the motor? Old mounts out fabricat new and weld acordingly.
New motor longer, use thermo fans and of course a larger (hand built perhaps) radiator and of course shroud.
Oops motor projects rearwood, bell housing larger, cut firewall remove gerbox mounts and fabricate new. Larger bell housing impares footwell in cabin.
Now the prop shafts, Hmmm maybe something off the shelf somewhere?
Oyyyy the motor is vertically larger, up the mounts on the chassis, raise centre of gravity, but this is not so bad. Alignment to rear changes, consider in above mounts fabrication.
Weight, new coils, shocks?
Fuel, if not now new tank/s.
Larger air filter to be included in or on the vehicle.
Size of exhaust and the exhaust exit?
Gearing can be done OK.
Fitting alternator and aircon to be considered and what side they are on to plumb.
Clutch slave, what side, new lines.
Starter what side and fabrication.
Electrical works to match your existing etc.
Heat in engine bay?

Getting it signed off for rego....

Do not want to put a damper on this but...........

Regards,
peterW

**RRV80** · 26th August 2009, 08:27 PM

Yeah well i guess the size of it is the major factor, apparenty not much largetr but it would be, from what i have read so far buick 340 is pretty close in size etc even rover headers etc can be used, i dont plan on putting a buick alternative in i was toying with the possibility of the idea

And the points you have stated, i see no difference as compared to fitting any other sort of engine not designed for the LR, 350 chev, gm diesel etc.

EDIT
Buick 215 -28.00L x 27.00H x 26.00W
Buick 350 - 30.50L x 28.50H x 23.00W
Buick 322/425 -33.50L x 29.00H x 28.00W
Buick 400/455 - 30.00L x 30.00H x 23.00W

L - rear of block to fan pulley
H - front of sump to top of air cleaner
W - overall

so ther isn't alot in it

**Sprint** · 26th August 2009, 08:33 PM

another thought is the 3.8L V6 from a VN-VR commodore..... essentially 3/4 of an evolved rover V8

**RRV80** · 26th August 2009, 08:40 PM

but that is going backwards imho, i spose a cast iron big block is too, but a aluminium 455 is in development in the states - if you want to pay 5900US for the block that is

**loanrangie** · 26th August 2009, 09:04 PM

The rover V8 bellhousing pattern was used by buick up till 1964 when they adopted the generic buick /olds /pontiac pattern - BOP. So no, later buick/ pontiac motors wont fit . Early V6's used the same patter but also changed to the later BOP pattern as well. The V6 adopted by holden for the VN uses the smaller GM A body FWD pattern and is unique to FWD GM vehicles.

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