Dismantled 3.5 litre Rover V8

**RoverP6B** · 22nd January 2010, 11:34 AM

The following are some photos of my dismantled Rover V8. The engine was a 1974 issue running a 10.5 : 1 compression ratio. Total mileage covered was 203,000. (327,000km).

As the compression was too high for the quality of fuel and the distributor timing curve to adequately cope, initial timing had to be set to TDC at 600rpm, but the engine would still ping if pushed hard and especially if coolant temperature was much above 82 degrees.

Engine oil was initially Catrol GTX and then GTX2 up until 1989 at which point Pennzoil GT Performance (later called Street Machine) was used. In all cases the oil was a 20W-50 specification.

Oil was changed typically every 2500 miles (4000km) or less, oil filter every second change..ie 8000km or less.

Oil pressure for a long time would sit at 45psi for 3000rpm, but towards the end it had dropped to 35psi for the same rpm.

Air filters were Land Rover paper element up until 1987 at which point foam Unifilters were fitted. Foam filters were used until the end in 2007.

When stripped, the bores were smooth and free of abrasive wear. There were scuff marks on the piston skirts. The camshaft lobes were worn with some quite heavily...down by 3mm compared to others. Camshaft bearings had lost all their lining and the camshaft was running on the steel backing.

Main and big end bearings displayed considerable copper across the full width of the shells.

The oil pump front cover showed little wear as did the oil pump gears. The timing cover which housed the gears was very smooth will no sign of abrasive wear. The skew gears looked almost new with little wear to be seen.

The original timing set consisted of a morse type chain and a nylon toothed aluminium alloy timing wheel. The nylon teeth bar two had all broken off and chain was very loose.

The main bearing caps did come loose during the late 1980s and the sump had to be dropped so as to tighten the offenders. There was also evidence of fretting between the main bearing caps and the block registers. The early Rover V8 engines up until circa 1977 had the weakest bottom end as far as crankshaft retention via the caps was concerned.

The engine used on average 500ml of engine oil per 1000 miles which is typical for a Rover V8 without valve stem oil seals. This consumption figure remained with little variation during the 33 years in which it ran.

Ron.

**PhilipA** · 22nd January 2010, 12:00 PM

Now THAT is a worn cam and lifters.
You were lucky the cam lobe shoulders did not break up and the bits score the oil pump body. This happened to mine in Saudi in 200000Km.

Maybe it was your oil filter anti drain back valve. LOL.

Regards Philip A

**RoverP6B** · 22nd January 2010, 04:00 PM

Where abouts do you go to have an oil analysis undertaken? I don't have any oil from this engine to have tested, but I can have some from my new engine tested, and that is something that I would like to do.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Ron.

**justinc** · 22nd January 2010, 05:16 PM

Hi Ron,

Did you have trouble getting 10.5:1 pistons for it? I have an original 3500S motor here that I'd like to rebuild to original spec again, have had conflicting info so far as regards piston availability. I'd like to retain 10.5:1 as it will be used infrequently, and octane booster will compensate for poor quality pump fuels. I want to retain that unbelievable torque of a Hi comp 3.5 with SU's

PS: You were VERY lucky with that cam gear, they WILL touch pistons if it hops a tooth

JC

**RoverP6B** · 22nd January 2010, 05:49 PM

Hello Justin,

The 10.5 : 1 pistons were the original ones that were in the engine when it was built in 1974. The engine was in my 1974 3500.

If I still had the pistons I would give them to you. My understanding is that they are quite hard to come by.

The only part of the engine that was changed in the 33 years were the rocker shafts and head gaskets. One of the original tins blew during the mid 1990s so I fitted composites instead.

The carburettors saw new floats and seal kits when necessary but apart from that everything just kept on running. The original 1974 Lucas starter motor is still working perfectly and now sits happily on my 4.6.

I did use an ocatane booster on occassions and it did make a difference, although the engine would still ping.

The Rovers that I have driven with the 9.25 : 1 CR engine never had the ping like the 10.5 : 1 CR engines, in fact I have yet to drive one that did. It was always an engine with the high comp like mine that would set the marbles rattling.

Ron.

**justinc** · 22nd January 2010, 08:03 PM

Ah, I thought you had rebuilt it using 10.5:1 pistons again, so how does the 4.6 go ??

Make sure the tyres are no bigger than standard, slippage before breakage I say...

JC

**djam1** · 23rd January 2010, 08:52 AM

Must have been noisy with a Cam and lifters like that
I always thought a cam lifters and timing chain only lasted 120 000 Ks lol

**RoverP6B** · 23rd January 2010, 08:55 AM

Hello Justin,

The 4.6 has transformed the car...

Much nicer to drive, less throttle required, runs in top gear which delivers 38.5kph per 1000 revs all the time, never needs to change down for over taking or going up hills..pulls like the proverbial train. To top it all off delivers better fuel economy too...

25 to 29 mpg country running.

It is a low compression engine..8.37 : 1 so power delivery is better for an automatic than would be the case with a high compression engine.

Ron.

**RoverP6B** · 23rd January 2010, 09:01 AM

djam1 wrote,..

Must have been noisy with a Cam and lifters like that

G'day,

It was surprisingly quiet actually. There was tappet noise which could be heard while at idle, but nothing untoward. Engine smoothness was very good indeed, although not nearly as smooth as the 4.6.

There was no bottom end rumble or knocking from the camshaft. If I did a top end rebuild instead I dare say it would have gone for another 150,000km without an issue.

Ron.

**Taz** · 23rd January 2010, 09:23 AM

I have a 10.5:1 block and pistons etc I was about to throw out if anyone wants it. Im in Perth thou.

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