Oil 'splash plates' above rockers under early valve covers

mrtask

mrtask

Well-Known Member
I am currently preparing the V8 from my organ donor before finally swapping it into my restoration project. I've been stripping, cleaning and preparing the intake manifold, valve covers, carburettor 'elbows' and various other bits'n'bobs from on top of the engine before I have them refinished in 'blue grey' RAL 7031. I've polished up the 'ridges' on my early-style valve covers. I noticed there are no 'splash plates' on my rocker assemblies, because the motor was originally fitted with later-style flat-topped SD1 valve covers which incorporate these 'splash plates'. I've just realised I should probably post this in the 'Wanted' section. I'll copy it to there as well.
rover-v8-rocker-baffle.jpg

The six-million-dollar question is if anybody has a pair of these baffle plates they'd like to part with for a reasonably small sum? Please don't hesitate to reply if you are able to help me, as soon as my gasket set arrives and I get the engine parts back from the painter I want to fit it all and carry out my engine transplant. I'd prefer to have fitted the two 'oil splash plates' before I tighten up the valve covers on their new gaskets.
 
G'day Mrtask: I have quite a few baffle plates should you be interested, they are free of charge, but you might compensate me for the mail. I can mail them if you give me your address. Regards, Chris Varming Denmark
 
Hello Chris. Thanks for the offer, in the meanwhile I have sourced a pair from a helpful member of the V8 Owners Forum (www.v8forum.co.uk).
Hey, it's a long shot, but I don't suppose you have a headlamp washer/wiper set-up for sale? I understand they were offered as an optional extra on Scandinavian cars, perhaps only Norwegian exports, I'm not sure. Either way, very rare, reckon it would look really cool on my restoration project, so I thought I would ask...
 
Wow, never even heard of that... Must study the parts catalogue when I get home!
 
Sorry mate, can't help you there - I haven't heard or seen a head lamp washer/wiper set on any Scandinavian owned Rovers. - Some years back I actually asked the members of the forum about the need for these baffle plates, I have a SD1-engine in my P6 and there are no baffle plates - I guess the conslusion was that there is no need for them and you can do very well without them. - Good luck with your project! Regards, Chris Varming
 
Hi Chris - my engine is a bitsa - bits of this and bits of that - it had SD1 'flat-topped' valve covers when I got it. I want the motor to look original again so I've swapped them for a pair of the older and I think nicer looking 'ribbed' valve covers, in which the splash plates are integral rather than bolting to the rocker pedestals. I found that after the valve cover swap, without any splash plates in place, the engine breathed out a lot of oil which ran down onto the exhaust manifolds and burned off, trailing an acrid smell behind me! My re-fit will include a new crankcase breather and with the baffle plates will hopefully leak less.
When you pour new engine oil in your SD1 motor can you see the rockers through the fill hole? If so, the baffle plates have been removed from your valve covers. They're only held in place with tiny screws, wouldn't really want them coming loose and rattling around in there!
 
Well, I have been told that when the V8 SD1 engine were leaving the assembly at Leyland the were actually without baffle plates, the reason was that there was no need for them. (hear-say?) - Anyway, should you need any spare parts for the old P6 engine, feel free to ask, as I have about 8 or 9 engines floating around in the barn and my superior tells me that I should start getting rid of "all that stuff"..... Chris Varming
 
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