Russ Posted September 14, 2002 Share Posted September 14, 2002 Hi all, Just getting my Z now and I'm thinking of how I'm gonna try to keep up with you and your V8s We can get everything here imported but the easiest engine for me would be a Rover V8, 5.2. Thing is it makes 380bhp for a $10k engine but its a fair bit lighter than say a Chevy. So what would you recommend? I don't want something so heavy it messes up the handling but I don't wanna feel cheated and wish I'd picked a bigger lump. I guess Chevy or Ford is the best option as you rarely hear of Mopar here. I'm not really sure what I'm asking but I'm confused as where best to start. Looking for a good fast road engine thats perfectly driveable but fine for track days and the strip. Of course will be wanting running gear and brakes etc to suit. Can anyone recommend some good websites or books for me to get please? Looking forward to getting some American muscle under my bonnet err hood rather Cheers Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeromio Posted September 15, 2002 Share Posted September 15, 2002 I think the JTR book is about the only one that discusses swaps. http://jagsthatrun.com I personally think that people tend to worry too much about the weight and its distribution. The 6 cyl is not all that light and furthermore it's very long - spreads the weight farther up front. And when you're adding lots more power, an extra 100lbs or so is not gonna ruin it. I've not heard or seen anything about the 5.2 rover. I presume it's a bored/stroked 215 (3.5L)? That'd be quite alot of boring and stroking. There was a guy in Australia (or perhaps new zealand) who had a Buick 215 in his Z. Link is broken now though. Obviously it can be done. I think if I were you, I would just stick it in there Scarab style right over the crossmember. If you have a manual, you'd need to take a JTR approach though and use some setback. We have plenty of parts vendors that frequent this board - brakes, suspension, etc. But I think shipping to the UK would hurt real bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Posted September 15, 2002 Author Share Posted September 15, 2002 Hi, Yeah, I do worry about how well the car is balanced I suppose but my daily drive is a Peugeot 306, front engine fwd so has no where near 50/50 and that will out handle any Datsun in this country at least. I suppose I should go on availability and parts prices for over here and get on and order the book you mentioned, thanks. I don't want to kick off WW3 but are there any blatant fors and againsts with regard to the different engine manufacturers please? Like Mopar great but a bastard to fit or Ford great but whatever...? Thanks for your help, Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jens Posted September 15, 2002 Share Posted September 15, 2002 How about a bmw v8 with 6 speed they are available in germany and they have made a 400 hp m5 version. The tvr engines are probably impossible to buy without buying a car. But the cerbera 350 hp version would be nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Posted September 15, 2002 Author Share Posted September 15, 2002 Hi, Getting hold of the M5 engine would be twice as expensive as an equivalent Chevy lump, if not more As for TVR, would have to buy a £50k car to get one Good ideas tho, nevermind. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted September 15, 2002 Share Posted September 15, 2002 Russ, I like the rover's in the Z's. One of our aussie friends here on the site has a smaller version of the rover in his car and its a awesome fit, very light (like nearly 200 lbs lighter than the chevy) and adapters are available to use the Toyota 5sp behind it. It makes a nice balanced swap. You can probably save much money buy looking for a older smaller rover motor and hopping it up. As you know I'm sure, theres plenty of speed parts, granted more expensive than chevy's, but cam's, manifolds and things of that nature to get a bit more power out of them are still there. 250 hp in a car weighing 'less' than the original Z will hurl it down the road pretty fast. If there were more available (outside of the GM original version of the Rover motor which aren't exactly falling out of tree's here anymore) I would have use one in a heartbeat. I think thats the important thing, use whats commonly available in your country. If I were in Japan, theres no doubt the RB26 would be much more attractive to me. Good luck with whatever you decide. Cheers, Lone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Posted September 15, 2002 Author Share Posted September 15, 2002 Thanks very much The best Rover engine out the crate I have found is from RPi but they are mainly designed for Land Rovers and ATVs really so only make 350bhp, which sounds ok but for a $10k 5.2 engine thats not so hot. I have e-mailed a company called Real Steel who are importers of Chevy/Ford engines and are THE Rover people I've heard so I'll see what they say. I was hoping for maybe a really good 6 speed box, I was recommended a Richmond 6 speed? Hmm so much choice and variety Cheers , Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jens Posted September 16, 2002 Share Posted September 16, 2002 The normal 28? hp bmw v8 can be bought for under 3000$. But i would buy the 345 hp ford 302 from www.oemfordparts.com Its brand new and every little bit can be bought from them. So you dont have to worry about spareparts. I know you can almost doubble the 3500$ price before it has passed the custom. but compared to the 10000$ rover you have more than 3000 left for a supra transmission with ford bellhousing from http://www.classicconversions.co.uk/r154.htm and some fuel/ignition system parts. The Alu headed ford weighs 389 according to terry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jens Posted September 16, 2002 Share Posted September 16, 2002 Its only 2995$ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZROSSA Posted September 16, 2002 Share Posted September 16, 2002 Russ, From what I have observed over years of reading UK car mags like CCC and Race car engineering, You guys pay more for car parts then we do even in New Zealand. It also seems that the US v8s are a bit "foreign" to a lot of the tuners. They never seem to get really good hp numbers out of them. The rover is a nice unit but as you have seen will cost a lot of $ to get average chevy power out of them. I would just keep looking. You will find one. Even here they are still the best bang for the buck and we live in the land of cheep jap. import engines. Good luck, Douglas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Posted September 16, 2002 Author Share Posted September 16, 2002 Hi ZRossa: Our expensive parts probably have to do with our triple tax system of 17.5% so every taxable item gets 52.5% added to its value by the time its been bought, sold and the person has earnt his/her wage. Or something v much like that. Oh well Good point about engines being 'foreign' to tuners over here, hadn't thought of that! Thanks Jens: To be honest I really do not want a BMW engine in my car, I'd sooner stay stock than drive with a BMW lump under the bonnet and it wouldn't really be something to brag about here . Thanks v much for the links tho, I'm gonna check them out straight after work. Another gearbox recommendation of a Supra box! Oh what to chose Thanks v much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Posted September 16, 2002 Author Share Posted September 16, 2002 Hey, How feasible are RWD Skyline running gear and engine transplants or even Supra gear and lump? Anyone done this or is it just plain silly? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZROSSA Posted September 17, 2002 Share Posted September 17, 2002 Russ Have a look in the other 6 cylinder section. Buick v6, Toyota, Nissan a little bit of every thing. Engine weight is not really a issuie. They will almost all be lighter then the original or you can mount them so that they offer a better balance. Why not chose a HP and torque level and then work backwards. You may even achieve what you want by turboing the original engine. With the fuel prices in your part of the world mabye the turbo sixes would be more wise. Mind you they all chew the juice if you use it. Douglas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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