Over on the "Exhaust Note" thread with reference to the Daimler and Rover V8 engines, Dave Herns posed the following question,.."The Daimler V8 is a drag racer's favourite and can produce 1000+BHP
Does that mean it's a stronger/better designed lump than the Rover V8?"
I would take the view that the Rover V8 like most V8 engines can be made to produce considerable power, but it will cost big money in which to do so. The biggest problem with the RV8 lies in the head design which does not allow power to come easy. On the other side of the coin the design is excellent for producing lots of useable torque over quite a wide rpm range, and this is of far greater benefit that more top end power.
As an example where torque is more important than outright power, during the 1990s the Australian motor racing scene was home to a range of different makes and models from BMWs, Ford Cosworth Sierras to Holden Commodores running pushrod 5 litre V8 engines. In all the races of the season around tight winding circuits the 4 cylinder cars with their high horsepower engines and peaky torque curves had the wood over the V8s. Not one V8 victory but then at the end of the season comes Bathurst, 1000km over 161 laps incorporating long straights and long up hill slogs. On this circuit where torque is more significant, the V8s would come into their own and with a wide flat torque curve but less overall power compared to the high tech 4s, the winner would be a Holden V8.
Here is a little clip of one such victory as Alan Grice, co driver of Win Percy takes the TWR Holden Racing team Commodore around the mountain with 11 laps to go.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jzvhf2wWe8
Ron.
Does that mean it's a stronger/better designed lump than the Rover V8?"
I would take the view that the Rover V8 like most V8 engines can be made to produce considerable power, but it will cost big money in which to do so. The biggest problem with the RV8 lies in the head design which does not allow power to come easy. On the other side of the coin the design is excellent for producing lots of useable torque over quite a wide rpm range, and this is of far greater benefit that more top end power.
As an example where torque is more important than outright power, during the 1990s the Australian motor racing scene was home to a range of different makes and models from BMWs, Ford Cosworth Sierras to Holden Commodores running pushrod 5 litre V8 engines. In all the races of the season around tight winding circuits the 4 cylinder cars with their high horsepower engines and peaky torque curves had the wood over the V8s. Not one V8 victory but then at the end of the season comes Bathurst, 1000km over 161 laps incorporating long straights and long up hill slogs. On this circuit where torque is more significant, the V8s would come into their own and with a wide flat torque curve but less overall power compared to the high tech 4s, the winner would be a Holden V8.
Here is a little clip of one such victory as Alan Grice, co driver of Win Percy takes the TWR Holden Racing team Commodore around the mountain with 11 laps to go.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jzvhf2wWe8
Ron.
