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donfaber
Don Faber
Terra Alta WV
(117 posts)

Registered:
10/31/2007 10:53PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB 3.9L Rover V8

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Water neck for Rover v8
Posted by: donfaber
Date: November 30, 2022 04:08PM

Just had distributor rebuilt for my rover v8 (Delco- Remy ) - can't set dizzy at recommended timing (18 deg BTDC) location because current water neck is too big. Is there a "standard" water neck for this manifold? are water necks basically one size fits all (at least to bolt onto the manifold)?


Spitfire 350
Phil McConnell
Perrysburg, OH (Toledo area)
(258 posts)

Registered:
01/11/2010 09:19PM

Main British Car:
74 Spitfire 350Chevy

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Re: Water neck for Rover v8
Posted by: Spitfire 350
Date: November 30, 2022 06:53PM

Can you pull the distributor and advance the shaft one tooth as you put it back in?


donfaber
Don Faber
Terra Alta WV
(117 posts)

Registered:
10/31/2007 10:53PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB 3.9L Rover V8

authors avatar
Re: Water neck for Rover v8
Posted by: donfaber
Date: November 30, 2022 07:33PM

I believe so ....I did mount the dizzy right on TDC with #1 cylinder, so I'd prefer to maintain that position. Thanks for the suggestion!
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donfaber
Don Faber
Terra Alta WV
(117 posts)

Registered:
10/31/2007 10:53PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB 3.9L Rover V8

authors avatar
Re: Water neck for Rover v8
Posted by: donfaber
Date: March 17, 2023 06:51PM

Phil - have you (or anyone) ever repositioned a distributor due to space issues? Did it work?


Moderator
Curtis Jacobson
Portland Oregon
(4609 posts)

Registered:
10/12/2007 02:16AM

Main British Car:
71 MGBGT, Buick 215

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Re: Water neck for Rover v8
Posted by: Moderator
Date: March 17, 2023 08:23PM

You could gain space, slightly increase power, and improve reliability by converting to crank fired ignition.

You'd probably install a cam position sensor where the distributor goes, but it would be smaller diameter and shorter. Then you'd also add a tone wheel, probably either at the fan pulley or at the flywheel. Example photos here and here (scroll way down).

I imagine that's also what Howard Fitzcharles did here, although there aren't nearly enough photos.


donfaber
Don Faber
Terra Alta WV
(117 posts)

Registered:
10/31/2007 10:53PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB 3.9L Rover V8

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Re: Water neck for Rover v8
Posted by: donfaber
Date: March 18, 2023 08:41AM

Thanks, Curtis. Good to see your posts!


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4574 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

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Re: Water neck for Rover v8
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: March 18, 2023 12:29PM

Pics might help.

IF you just need a bit more range from your distributor, I would just clock it over one firing position. I had to that on my 68 Camaro back in the 80s when I switched over to HEI. Easy peasy.

I have the Edelbrock intake that I have not yet used & I do not plan to switch to crank fired ignition to use it.

Seems Jim Nichols mentioned many years ago there was difference between the Edelbrock & the Buick 215 manifold that needed a simple mod. I will have to dig it out.

Found it.

From Jim Nichols:
Quote:
There is a cooling mod recommended for the Performer intake. Right inside the thermostat hole you should drill a 1/4" hole to each side water passage. Prevents air pockets and aids circulation.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/18/2023 12:36PM by MGBV8.



mgb260
Jim Nichols
Sequim,WA
(2482 posts)

Registered:
02/29/2008 08:29PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8

Re: Water neck for Rover v8
Posted by: mgb260
Date: March 18, 2023 01:03PM

Plus, Use a pan head allen bolt for the front intake manifold for clearance for the distributor. Smaller distributor fits better than large coil on cap HEI. D&D has a nice swivel thermostat housing and some have drilled out the bolt holes of the Ford thermostat housing. I'd cut down the center divider under the carb base a 1/2" too.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/18/2023 01:19PM by mgb260.


donfaber
Don Faber
Terra Alta WV
(117 posts)

Registered:
10/31/2007 10:53PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB 3.9L Rover V8

authors avatar
Re: Water neck for Rover v8
Posted by: donfaber
Date: March 18, 2023 07:44PM

Here's a pic of my dizzy (and vacuum advance) sitting right up against hose coming out of water housing, to radiator.
faberdistributorspacing.jpg

Is clocking over one firing position just moving the dizzy gear engagement one tooth? Is dizzy twisted the same amount in same direction to compensate? Thanks very much - Don


mgb260
Jim Nichols
Sequim,WA
(2482 posts)

Registered:
02/29/2008 08:29PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8

Re: Water neck for Rover v8
Posted by: mgb260
Date: March 18, 2023 08:23PM

Don, This is the one you need for the Edelbrock intake. I think it is for 215 Buick.
thermostat-housing-for-edelbrock-offenhauser-manifolds-two-wheel-drive-vehicles-886-p.jpg
Download June 10, 2014 007.jpg



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/18/2023 08:25PM by mgb260.


Moderator
Curtis Jacobson
Portland Oregon
(4609 posts)

Registered:
10/12/2007 02:16AM

Main British Car:
71 MGBGT, Buick 215

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Re: Water neck for Rover v8
Posted by: Moderator
Date: March 19, 2023 12:23AM

Looks a bit congested there. Have you considered relocating the water port on your radiator?
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MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4574 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

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Re: Water neck for Rover v8
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: March 19, 2023 09:29AM

I have one like Jim N. pictured on my 215. Plan to reuse it on the Edelbrock. Still not a lot of room, though.


mstemp
Mike Stemp
Calgary, Canada
(224 posts)

Registered:
11/25/2009 07:18AM

Main British Car:
1980 MGB Rover 4.6L

Re: Water neck for Rover v8
Posted by: mstemp
Date: March 19, 2023 10:15AM

Looking at Don’s photo, is the existing thermostat housing/water outlet not a swivel mount? Looks like D&D’s version.


donfaber
Don Faber
Terra Alta WV
(117 posts)

Registered:
10/31/2007 10:53PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB 3.9L Rover V8

authors avatar
Re: Water neck for Rover v8
Posted by: donfaber
Date: March 19, 2023 01:58PM

1) I do currently have a swivel mount water neck. I've been looking for one like I saw in pic from Jim Nichols since last fall - any suggestions on where to find one would be appreciated. I'll reach out to D&D too. I'll also look at a Ford unit to modify - thanks for all the help!
2) Curtis - suggesting my engine area is a "bit congested" is kind. I' hope to do some work in there after I get timing straightened out.

Don Faber


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4574 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Water neck for Rover v8
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: March 19, 2023 02:36PM

TA Performance still lists a thermostat housing for the Buick 215/300/340

[www.taperformance.com]



donfaber
Don Faber
Terra Alta WV
(117 posts)

Registered:
10/31/2007 10:53PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB 3.9L Rover V8

authors avatar
Re: Water neck for Rover v8
Posted by: donfaber
Date: March 20, 2023 04:20PM

Carl - TA Performance has the part, will ship to me tomorrow. Thanks!


donfaber
Don Faber
Terra Alta WV
(117 posts)

Registered:
10/31/2007 10:53PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB 3.9L Rover V8

authors avatar
Re: Water neck for Rover v8
Posted by: donfaber
Date: March 30, 2023 05:24PM

Don'sThermohousing.jpg
Carl - thanks for finding this Buick 215 Thermostat housing! I still need to clean things up, but there's alot more room for dizzy to turn! I did find TDC and reinstalled the rebuilt dizzy (from Jeff - Advanced Distributors), Good project.


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4574 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Water neck for Rover v8
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: March 31, 2023 09:28AM

Glad it worked out, Don.

It's what we do here. :)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/31/2023 09:29AM by MGBV8.


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