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skootch13
aaron kuertz
cincinnati
(31 posts)

Registered:
06/30/2020 01:50PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB Rover 4.6 (I'm told)

authors avatar
What Rover engine do I have
Posted by: skootch13
Date: August 10, 2020 08:54AM

Hello,

I am asking about a new to me MGB with a Rover V8. i do not know what block/engine the car has. My understanding is yo ucan tell by the serial number on the side. However, I am not finding mine in the list of engines on the Rimmer webpage.

Here are two pictures and what i think the serial number is 568D00351A

I am told the short block was purchased new and is a 4.0. I just want to know what I have in case I need to upgrade/fix anything.

Any help is appreciated


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4511 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

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Re: What Rover engine do I have
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: August 10, 2020 12:17PM

No pics, Aaron.


skootch13
aaron kuertz
cincinnati
(31 posts)

Registered:
06/30/2020 01:50PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB Rover 4.6 (I'm told)

authors avatar
Re: What Rover engine do I have
Posted by: skootch13
Date: August 10, 2020 03:30PM

Ah, 600 KB size limit.

i did some research and found other ways to determine the block.

10 bolt cylinder head and cross bolt main caps are for 4.0.

Seems that there was a 3.9 service engine for the military that sure as heck seems like it was renamed and became became the 4.0.

Story is that this block was purchased new as a short block. maybe this is how Rover numbers short blocks. Maybe it's a service 3.9.......
20200703_131450.jpg
20200703_131503.jpg


donkelly23
Don Kelly
Charleston, SC
(130 posts)

Registered:
07/21/2011 05:13PM

Main British Car:
1980 TR7 V8 Z28 FI ECM 4.0

Re: What Rover engine do I have
Posted by: donkelly23
Date: August 11, 2020 08:08AM

Pretty sure I know where that block came from
2012-06-29 16 36 20.JPG


skootch13
aaron kuertz
cincinnati
(31 posts)

Registered:
06/30/2020 01:50PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB Rover 4.6 (I'm told)

authors avatar
Re: What Rover engine do I have
Posted by: skootch13
Date: August 11, 2020 09:35AM

Cool!

So where/what is it from?


donkelly23
Don Kelly
Charleston, SC
(130 posts)

Registered:
07/21/2011 05:13PM

Main British Car:
1980 TR7 V8 Z28 FI ECM 4.0

Re: What Rover engine do I have
Posted by: donkelly23
Date: August 11, 2020 01:47PM

Probably Woody


Moderator
Curtis Jacobson
Portland Oregon
(4576 posts)

Registered:
10/12/2007 02:16AM

Main British Car:
71 MGBGT, Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: What Rover engine do I have
Posted by: Moderator
Date: August 11, 2020 01:50PM

It appears your cylinder heads are older than your engine block...

This thread contains some useful information about differences in Rover heads: [forum.britishv8.org]



donkelly23
Don Kelly
Charleston, SC
(130 posts)

Registered:
07/21/2011 05:13PM

Main British Car:
1980 TR7 V8 Z28 FI ECM 4.0

Re: What Rover engine do I have
Posted by: donkelly23
Date: August 11, 2020 02:05PM

Those blocks he bought a bunch of. They were "Brand New" 4.0
My guess is they were blems or refurbs that sat around and eventually they got rid of.
I , according to Woody, got the last one


skootch13
aaron kuertz
cincinnati
(31 posts)

Registered:
06/30/2020 01:50PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB Rover 4.6 (I'm told)

authors avatar
Re: What Rover engine do I have
Posted by: skootch13
Date: August 12, 2020 07:56AM

Ok.

I'm not sure about the Woody part. I don't know who that is. But your story about new 4.0 blocks matches to what i was told.


skootch13
aaron kuertz
cincinnati
(31 posts)

Registered:
06/30/2020 01:50PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB Rover 4.6 (I'm told)

authors avatar
Re: What Rover engine do I have
Posted by: skootch13
Date: August 12, 2020 07:57AM

Curtis, how can you tell the heads are older than the block? And what does that mean if anything?


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4511 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: What Rover engine do I have
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: August 12, 2020 10:12AM

The heads look to be the older 14 head bolt variety vs the 10 bolt that would have come on the 4.0 & 4.6. The 10 bolt heads are better.

[www.v8forum.co.uk]

The 568D appeas to be S68D. Not sure what that means.


skootch13
aaron kuertz
cincinnati
(31 posts)

Registered:
06/30/2020 01:50PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB Rover 4.6 (I'm told)

authors avatar
Re: What Rover engine do I have
Posted by: skootch13
Date: August 12, 2020 11:26AM

Carl,

I was wondering about those plugs in the head. Where is the casting number on the heads?

From that web site you linked to.The last sentence makes mention of the plugs. Maybe the head was milled for the thicker gasket?

Early 90's. Here comes the confusing time period. It seems sure that all V8s now had vitesse valves, as after 1993 Efi became standard. In 93 or just before, the valve guides changed to the modern cap type (blue), one for each valve, all V8s took on this feature yet the casting remained as per vitesse. 4.2 Litre motors however also had factory standard vitesse heads, but during production Rover switched to composite gaskets, whilst retaining vitesse heads. The heads were machined to bring back the required compression, the same thing happened to the then current 3.9; you may also see some 4.2s with only 10 head bolts, the outer 4 holes through the head being plugged, these are the composite gasket units.
Casting Numbers: HRC 2210
----------------------------------------


donkelly23
Don Kelly
Charleston, SC
(130 posts)

Registered:
07/21/2011 05:13PM

Main British Car:
1980 TR7 V8 Z28 FI ECM 4.0

Re: What Rover engine do I have
Posted by: donkelly23
Date: August 12, 2020 03:32PM

Does he have TR8 heads?


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4511 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: What Rover engine do I have
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: August 12, 2020 03:57PM

The head casting number is under the valve cover, in the middle. Can't miss it. :)

The plugs mentioned were just to plug the lower 4 head bolt holes. My 215 has the bolts, but I did not torque them.

Your heads may have been shaved. With a used engine it is difficult to know exactly what was done. Maybe Woody has a record of it.

Woody Cooper & The Wedge Shop:

[www.thewedgeshop.com]


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