mrtask
Well-Known Member
I hope everybody will go easy on me if I'm asking stupid questions. Last year I helped a good mate of mine to yank the V8 engine and automatic gearbox out of his P5B saloon. It is currently languishing in a corner of my garage while he further modifies his front subframe, which he has previously adapted to take independent dual wishbone suspension and a steering rack from a Granada.
I was surprised to discover the engine has a low compression ratio of 8.13:1. Going from the engine numbers list over on the V8 Owners Forum we think it may originate from a '70 - '83 Range Rover. Whatever, it is what it is, but could it be made to be "a bit more"?
I am quite literally "asking for a friend"! At one point his plan to was to ditch the old Rover engine altogether and fit a substantially more powerful V8 from a more modern car. In the meanwhile he's gone and blown a bunch of money on a very rapid 'modern', and apart from having seriously depleted his bank account, he is realising even if he fitted a brand new Corvette engine his old P5 is never going to handle like his new vehicle, despite all the suspension mods and braking upgrades he's had done to it! So he's now thinking about sticking with the RV8 after all, but perhaps refurbishing it before refitting it.
Soooo, I was pondering. What exactly dictates the compression ratio of a Rover V8 engine? Is it a matter of the top of the piston having a deeper dish shape than a higher compression engine? Or are there other differences as well? I suppose what I'm wondering is if it would be possible to increase the comp ratio of this old 3.5 litre V8 'simply' by fitting different pistons? I (we) welcome your thoughts, wise ones!
I was surprised to discover the engine has a low compression ratio of 8.13:1. Going from the engine numbers list over on the V8 Owners Forum we think it may originate from a '70 - '83 Range Rover. Whatever, it is what it is, but could it be made to be "a bit more"?
I am quite literally "asking for a friend"! At one point his plan to was to ditch the old Rover engine altogether and fit a substantially more powerful V8 from a more modern car. In the meanwhile he's gone and blown a bunch of money on a very rapid 'modern', and apart from having seriously depleted his bank account, he is realising even if he fitted a brand new Corvette engine his old P5 is never going to handle like his new vehicle, despite all the suspension mods and braking upgrades he's had done to it! So he's now thinking about sticking with the RV8 after all, but perhaps refurbishing it before refitting it.
Soooo, I was pondering. What exactly dictates the compression ratio of a Rover V8 engine? Is it a matter of the top of the piston having a deeper dish shape than a higher compression engine? Or are there other differences as well? I suppose what I'm wondering is if it would be possible to increase the comp ratio of this old 3.5 litre V8 'simply' by fitting different pistons? I (we) welcome your thoughts, wise ones!