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Possible change of plan over my engine choice?
bilbo - 23/6/06 at 09:27 PM

It looks like I may have a problem with my tin-top. I won't bore you with the details, but it looks like I may have to spent hundreds on it (I'll know more tomorrow), and as it's only worth hundreds now it may not be worth it

However.....

The engine is fine. It's a Rover T16 with relatively low mileage and as I haven't yet sourced my planned V6 for my build, would this make a good alternative? I guess the main thing about this engine is that it's 200bhp in standard tune, I know it's a type of engine that will and has been mounted to a RWD gearbox, and it's free. The down side though is I'll loose that V6 sound track - I was looking forward to that

Just keen to see what other people think?

Volvorsport - 23/6/06 at 09:34 PM

i know a place that can help........

mookaloid - 23/6/06 at 09:34 PM

The idea has appealed to me in the past - however I am told it is a really heavy engine - makes a pinto look really unsuitable to use as a boat anchor!

JoelP - 23/6/06 at 09:51 PM

i used to love this engine. You can get 220bhp or more for pennies (literally) if your lump has the right pistons in it

Volvorsport - 23/6/06 at 09:54 PM

altho youve heard it before a volvo will do that, and come with a RWD gearbox .

JoelP - 23/6/06 at 10:04 PM

rover rwd is harder to find, i looked into it once and apparently it needs an lt77 box or an older r370? something like that.

bilbo - 23/6/06 at 10:33 PM

quote:
Originally posted by mookaloid
The idea has appealed to me in the past - however I am told it is a really heavy engine - makes a pinto look really unsuitable to use as a boat anchor!


I've heard this before as well

Before I started my build I thought long and hard about my engine choice before settling on the V6 Duratec. I'd probably be stupid to change my mind now, but when you suddenly find yourself with a 200bhp+ engine going spare.....

Like I say, I'll know more tomorrow on how terminal the problems are with the Rover.

Volvosport, am I right in thinking you work for Robin Hood? I know Robin Hood mated this engine to a MT75. I imagine it'll probably be do-able with a type 9 as well?

quote:
i used to love this engine. You can get 220bhp or more for pennies (literally) if your lump has the right pistons in it


Tell me more

[Edited on 23/6/06 by bilbo]

Volvorsport - 23/6/06 at 10:41 PM

type 9 will destroy itself !!!

we can make you an adapter for the MT75 gearbox , its not pretty but it works

be absolutley sure you know youre wiring , since the rover stuff doesnt really match anything .

the superspecs with this turbo engine fitted do go really well , its quite tight and hot in there tho .

JoelP - 24/6/06 at 06:44 AM

quote:
Originally posted by bilbo
Tell me more


you can use a fishtank flow valve as a home made bleed valve. Insert it in the air line that goes to the ecu. By letting air escape from here, you can make the wastegate stay shut cos the ecu doesnt realise its at full boost already. With a boost gauge you can set the boost quite accurately. I believe you want the mahle forged pistons to take the extra stress. Possible standard in the 600 engines anyway.

forgot to say, the engine sorts out its own fueling. You know you've gone too far when the engine sneezes at boost, as it runs short of fuel.

[Edited on 24/6/06 by JoelP]

bilbo - 24/6/06 at 10:33 AM

Thanks for your replies guys. That's a great little tweak JoelP - It is a 600, so it should be OK

It's also good to know I can get some help from Robin Hood if I need to.

At this point I've still not decided if the rover is worth fixing or not. It's a great car that I've been very happy with, so I'm going to get some more quotes next week and see how we go.

Cheers,
Bill

britishtrident - 24/6/06 at 02:28 PM

I honestly think the Rover T16 is the best 2 litre 4 cylinder engine ever produced much better than the big Honda units Rover used --- it is very sweet running and free revving, big question would be to stick with Rover Mems or Megasquirt it.

[Edited on 24/6/06 by britishtrident]

coozer - 24/6/06 at 03:47 PM

Get all the rear wheel drive parts from a Sherpa van. It uses an LT77 gearbox and a bellhousing and adapter plate to suit the engine.

I did this with a Montego turbo engine, bought a rusty van for £50, stripped it of the parts I needed, sold the wheels and tyres for £60 and got £25 for the shell. Sorted, as they say.

The only other thing required would be a gearlever extension off a SD1

Steve

Project7 - 24/6/06 at 04:44 PM

The T16 is good - but i think im right in saying that because its from a 600 does not mean it'll have the mahle pistons - im pretty sure that only the early engines have the mahle jobbies.

JoelP - 24/6/06 at 05:37 PM

my mate says pre95 is the best hope.

DEAN C. - 24/6/06 at 08:43 PM

M series and t series 2.0 litre Rovers are superb torquey engines,BUT, they weigh a ton,well almost.
I used to break Rovers for a couple of years and I ended up driving a 220 gti myself,very quick!!
I could have picked a good one out for myself for free(own business)at the time that I was starting my Indy but after moving a few around the country and taking a few out of cars I thought I would give it a miss.

bilbo - 26/6/06 at 08:41 PM

Well, it's decided. I'm not going to spend lots more money on the tin-top so I'm switching to plan B and T16 power

Just hope I've made the right decision

Does meen I'm looking for a new tin-top though, but that's no bad thing as I've been thinking about getting an estate for a while.

bilbo - 26/6/06 at 08:42 PM

quote:
Originally posted by bilbo
....but that's no bad thing as I've been thinking about getting an estate for a while.


I must be getting old


Also, it does look like I won't have the right pistons for JoelPs tweak. Still, I think I won't be too under powered

[Edited on 26/6/06 by bilbo]

Volvorsport - 26/6/06 at 10:17 PM

well im pretty sure , we have what you need parts wise !!!!!

andyps - 27/6/06 at 12:36 PM

The tweaks Joel mentions work with the later engines, it is just that the pistons in the earlier cars were stronger - strange really as they had less power as standard. You can get up to about 240bhp without changing much, but above that starts to need bigger fuel pump and injectors. As Joel said, if you overdo the boost the engine will cut out intermittently when you floor it - a bit like a not very smooth rev limiter. I had a Rover 800 on which the wastegate actuator failed so I had no boost restriction - when I got the throttle position right it was very quick, but a bit too much and it was like a kangaroo!

JoelP - 27/6/06 at 06:52 PM

mine did exactly that too andy! I hadnt modified it but it still did the extra boost by itself, but it only stuck intermittantly! So sometimes youd pull out and the boost would just keep rising! great fun.

roadboy - 28/6/06 at 12:11 PM

Do NOT use a fishtank bleed valve to control boost, it is guaranteed to destroy your engine.
You have been warned
Cheers
Ian

andyps - 28/6/06 at 12:19 PM

Please can you explain why?

As far as I know, on the Rover engine all it does is confuse the management system into thinking that the boost is lower than it actually is, and as mentioned, the system will cut the fuel completely if the mixture is getting too weak anyway to protect the engine. Ultimately, the fish tank bleed is a cheap way of fitting a boost controller.