MG Sports Cars

engine swaps and other performance upgrades, plus "factory" and Costello V8s

Go to Thread: Previous•Next
Go to: Forum List•Message List•New Topic•Log In


kmcrae
kevin McRae
Dorset, England
(19 posts)

Registered:
08/22/2009 09:33AM

Main British Car:
1978 MGB GT Rover 3.9 V8

rover v8 3.9 serpentine engine
Posted by: kmcrae
Date: January 11, 2010 02:41PM

After having a spate of bad luck with my 4.0 v8 I have decided to look for another rover v8 engine. Has anybody fitted the later "serpentine" engines in a MGB? There seem to be more of these for sale compared to the earlier version. People seem to think that it will not fit without using the SD1 front cover/ pulley system.


jimbb88
Jim Stuart
Maryland, USA
(47 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 07:43PM

Main British Car:
1966 MGB V8 conversion Rover 4.0 fuel injected

Re: rover v8 3.9 serpentine engine
Posted by: jimbb88
Date: January 17, 2010 05:48PM

I have done a 4.0 in a rubber bumper shell with the '89-92 fuel injection. My car is LH drive so what I did may not work for you. I re-located the steering rack to clear, moved the radiator a good bit forward- it touches the slam panel. This is a much better setup as both the water and oil pumps are far superior to the SD1 style.

Curtis will add some pictures to this I hope, as I have nothing on file to attach.

Jim Stuart



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/06/2021 11:42AM by MGBV8.


BlownMGB-V8
Jim Blackwood
9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042
(6470 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 12:59PM

Main British Car:
1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS

authors avatar
Re: rover v8 3.9 serpentine engine
Posted by: BlownMGB-V8
Date: January 18, 2010 03:06PM

Hi Jim, could you elaborate on how you feel the water pump is improved?

Jim B
Get Your BritishV8 T-shirt by clicking here


jimbb88
Jim Stuart
Maryland, USA
(47 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 07:43PM

Main British Car:
1966 MGB V8 conversion Rover 4.0 fuel injected

Re: rover v8 3.9 serpentine engine
Posted by: jimbb88
Date: January 23, 2010 10:04AM

It appears to me that the impeller has more surface area on the late Rover, and while there are some variables, I think the 4.0 and the earlier 215 with this setup ran cooler than my original 215 with the original pump.


kmcrae
kevin McRae
Dorset, England
(19 posts)

Registered:
08/22/2009 09:33AM

Main British Car:
1978 MGB GT Rover 3.9 V8

Re: rover v8 3.9 serpentine engine
Posted by: kmcrae
Date: January 23, 2010 12:01PM

Jim B,
Did you need to move the rad because the engine is longer? If so how much did you have to move it. I am in the early stage and have an empty engine bay so can cut out any metal if required. What was the issue with the steering rack, did the bottom pulley foul the ARB?


BlownMGB-V8
Jim Blackwood
9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042
(6470 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 12:59PM

Main British Car:
1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS

authors avatar
Re: rover v8 3.9 serpentine engine
Posted by: BlownMGB-V8
Date: January 23, 2010 04:15PM

Kevin, my install is atypical and the engine is further forward than any other I've seen. Most mount the filter remotely to move the engine back, I did not. However, the slam panel had to be moved as far forward as it would go, in fact the grille bolts directly to it as opposed to having the small extenders. But I do not (yet) have a serpentine drive. That will change with the 340 install.

Jim


Go to: Forum List•Message List•New User Registration•Log In
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.