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MG MGB Technical - Rover V 8 question

I think I have found a Rover V-8 that has been garaged since 1985. I know that guys put them in A's & B's but need to know some additional details or someone to speak to. I'm not interested in the car or a project but just don't want to see this car go to a junk man. Please contact me on group or at my email is fine. Thx Frank
FOG Frank

I have a Range Rover 3.9 litre V8 in my MGB. What's your question?
Mike
Mike Howlett

Are you saying it is a Rover, not MG? P5 or 6 maybe or SD1.
Picture would be good.
Allan Reeling

Thanks Mike & Allan for your post. I met a guy this morning who said his neighbor has a Rover that might be for sale. The fellow said it was a 1970-71 sitting inside since his neighbors passing in 1985. He sez it is an aluminum V8. Can't tell you much more than that other than here in the states there are many people that have converted MGB's and I wondered if they were still sought after for that purpose. It would be a shame if they were valuable and the car got crushed as scrap. Frank PS- no pic as yet, want to follow-up on the facts first.
FOG Frank

You need to know which Rover. Would be a shame to scrap a desirable Rover to get the engine, unless the Car is a basket case of course. I have 2 MGB's both with Rover/Buick V8's. They are beautiful cars.
Allan Reeling

Allan, et al. Sorry for the delay, the trail went cold and I figured the guy junked the car, not the case. He finally called me today and asked if I would still be interested in the car. I don't have or know any of the details yet, nor does he. The car is in his uncles garage and has been sitting on blocks since 1985. I plan to see it later this week and should be more intelligent. Don't want to scrap it out but I know the motor is of some valve and that is what I'm trying to find out. Thanks all. Frank
FOG Frank

Good car to find....not worth much here in the usa. Definitely grab it if the price is low. Great for a v8 conversion or if it can be made a runner. They are cool cars but definitely under appreciated on this side of the pond!
S

Rover update ! Finally going to get to see the car tomorrow. It is a 1970 3500S, not been driven since 1991. The only bad thing besides four flat tires is there is no carburation on it for some reason. I'll try to get some pics to pass along. FOG
FOG Frank

Sounds like someone needed the fuel system for their own conversion. RAY
rjm RAY

In good condition those are lovely cars, comfortable and quick. It should have twin SU carbs on a "penthouse" manifold.

Mike Howlett

They are beautifully and very technically engineered, in the days when Rover built high quality and technically advanced cars. Worth saving if not a basket case! If it's just missing the carbs, they are HIF 6's, could be HS6 on the earlier models. The same inlet and carbs were used on the P5B and the SD1 prior to fuel injection I believe and are not too difficult to source. Also all parts, except for a few linkage items are available from Burlen.
Check out the owners clubs for accurate info.
Allan Reeling

Allan has hit the nail on the head about the technical aspects of the car. It was years ahead of its time. For example, all the exterior panels are removable with bolts, even the roof. The front springs are horizontally mounted and braced against the firewall so providing a crash buffer. The rear suspension is a sophisticated De Dion type with inboard disc brakes. All the dashboard switches are uniquely shaped so they can be recognised just by feel. Etcetera, etcetera. Super British engineering in the days when we could do such things.
Mike Howlett

P5B is my favourite aka the 'Harold Wilson' model. I was lucky enough to drive one in the 70s, the first time I had driven an automatic. Great presence, at one time Rover were buying them up and restoring them to use as VIP transportation.

paulh4

I had a Rover P6B 3500S (manual gearbox) for 7 years and I loved it. The gearbox is a 4 speed and not their strong point. They are very nice to drive and the ratios seem perfect but mine failed. The lubrication for the gearbox is via a small pump in the gearbox with fibre gears which is often the problem.
Ian Buckley

"The lubrication for the gearbox is via a small pump in the gearbox with fibre gears which is often the problem."

That gearbox was developed in to the 5-speed Rover LT77 and R380 gearboxes that are used in the RV8 and most MGB V8 conversions. Again the oil pump is present in those 'boxes too. Apparently you should not tow a car with one of these gearboxes unless the rear wheels are off the ground, because the oil pump doesn't work if the first motion shaft isn't turning. If you can't get the rear wheels off the ground you are supposed to remove the prop (drive) shaft.
Mike Howlett

"Apparently you should not tow a car with one of these gearboxes unless the rear wheels are off the ground, because the oil pump doesn't work if the first motion shaft isn't turning."

That seems a retrograde step, they can't be towed at all then other than a very short distance. From info elsewhere http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/gearbox/gt201.htm I was under the impression that both 3-synch and 4-synch MGAs and B can be towed with the rear wheels on the ground.
paulh4

Yes Paul, you can tow an MGA and an MGB without issue. Their gearboxes have no oil pump but are lubricated by splash. The "no tow" advice refers to 5-speed Rover gearboxes designated LT77 and R380, and it seems the 4-speed in the Rover P6.
Mike Howlett

Rover 3500s update. Sorry gents, couldn't see the Rover until this morning, so I went to the Pittsburgh Vintage Gran Prix instead, EXCELLENT event. I don't want to bore others with the details so if you are interested, drop me a note off-group and I'll give you more details. In short, it was a breath taking original one owner 'BARN FIND' and I need help and more questions. Thanks all. I'll write up the story in more detail and report. Rgds...............Frank
FOG Frank

Like most have commented, the Rover P6 was incredibly advanced in its day. The Rover 3500S is the best of the line.

My (motor mechanic) father was a longstanding great Rover admirer, and owned two personally. He was invited to a private showing of the then new P6 at the Rover showrooms in Sydney prior to its general public release when I was still a kid, and he spoke about this remarkable new Rover for days, before finally taking me with him to view the car.
There were heavy drapes over the showroom windows at Grenville Motors in William Street, just down the road from Kings Cross. We had to knock on the door. It was cracked open, and when they saw it was my father, we were quietly ushered in!

You have to remember that in this period (in Australia), the norm was semi-elliptic suspended rigid rear axles, pushrod/OHV engines, bench seats front and rear, column gear change, (mostly) four wheel drum brakes etc etc.
Suddenly here was this sporty looking compact sedan with four bucket seats, a stubby little floor gear change lever, an overhead camshaft motor, four wheel disc brakes, inboard at the rear, De Dion rear suspension, unusual bell-cranked front suspension, bolted on panel construction etc etc etc. It was truly mind-blowingly advanced for its time!

We now know that the odd front suspension arrangement was to allow room for the potential future installation of the gas turbine engine that Rover were experimenting with at the time, but it in the end allowed more lateral room for the GM sourced alloy V8 that was to follow and was belatedly installed. We also now appreciate that the original 2 litre four was a little underpowered for the car, and by today's standards, wind noise is prominent.

But they remain a wonderful, and still quite pretty quality car. I'd love to own one still.

So did my father have any negative comments? Yes: "Rover never could design a car with a decent sized boot" (trunk) he muttered.
And the V8s ran hot in this country, at least till the head was later modified in production, as it turns out, in exactly the same way my father had deduced independently much earlier!
T Aczel

So what happened?
S

S,D, - thanks for your note. Yes I'm in the process of buying the car, will probably pick it up this weekend. I've been trying to find an 'expert' on the 3500s, even contacted the Rover/Canada club but nobody seems to want to get back to me. The car is too nice to part out or restore so I guess I'll preserve it and show it. Over time I'll find someone that speaks that language. Cheers.......Frank
FOG Frank

Photo?? Speaks a thousand words!
Allan Reeling

Hey Frank,

Kurt Steel is the President of the Boston are Mg club..
I know he's got a rover car he has restored recently and has some strong contacts with the rover club in this area. Maybe he can help you out.

My email is sdevine17@comcast.net

Send me an email and Ill send you his number.

OR you can email Kurt directly here and tell him what your trying to do and you would like his opinion.
He's a nice guy and I'm sure will steer you in the right direction

Tell him I sent ya and I'm sure he can be of some use to you! :-)

http://www.bostonareamg.com/contact.htm



S

This thread was discussed between 08/05/2016 and 27/07/2016

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