mgs
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: Use a Rover, NOT an Buick V-8

To: bugide@tfs.net
Subject: Re: Use a Rover, NOT an Buick V-8
From: gofastmg@juno.com (Rick Morrison)
Date: Tue, 03 Feb 1998 00:39:22 EST
So long as you drove a stake through the T*8 before burying it,
preferably in some remote location that can never be found again.
Rick Morrison
72 MGBGT
74 Midget

On Mon, 02 Feb 1998 08:44:29 -0800 Larry Dickstein <bugide@tfs.net>
writes:
>I cannabilized a TR8 for my Rover V8 engine for an MG B.  Is that OK?
>
>Larry Dickstein
>Kansas City, MO
>
>
>
>MGMagnette@aol.com wrote:
>> 
>> Subject: Re: Use a Rover, NOT an Buick V-8
>> Date: Sun, 1 Feb 1998 12:32:30 EST
>> From: MGMagnette@aol.com
>> Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com)
>> To: mgb.roadster@juno.com
>> 
>> Hey All-
>>   Someone said:
>> "I doubt that the 63 Buick 3100 series engine was under-powered, 
>compared
>> to the first Rovers. "  It was.
>>   Strangely enough there is a story in the February 1998 Issue of 
>Classic And
>> Sportscar.  In that issue they compare a Rover P5B Coupe and a Buick 
>LeSabre
>> 400.  They compared the two cars ofcourse because they have "the 
>same" engine.
>> But they aren't the same. Let me quote two sections...
>> 
>>  "The Rovers ability on the motorway is still a thing of wonder.  
>Moving
>> naturally into the outside lane, the P5B sits at 85mph, ebbing and 
>flowing
>> with the quickest of moderns.  Kickdown delivers enough thrust to 
>shift past
>> liines of uphill, middle-lane queues and onto speeds that will cost 
>you a
>> license before they'll worry the P5B.  That's thanks to the British
>> interpretation of the Buick V-8.
>>     When the engine came over to be developed for the P5B, a Buick 
>man came to
>> help. (re-read that, "developed" means the engine was changed).  
>Rover wanted
>> it to rev higher than its top whack of 4400 rpm, and the American 
>couldn't
>> understand why.  So Rover put him in a 6 cylinder P5 with a 
>development driver
>> and send him up the newly opened M6 at 100mph plus.  He returned 
>white faced
>> and wise to the demands placed on British cars.  (Re-read that, it 
>means it
>> red lined where you'd just start going until Rover got ahold of it)  
>In due
>> course, the Buick 3.5-litre V8 became Rover's own, giving 184 bhp 
>gross at
>> 5200rpm, a 30 percent hike on the original. "
>> 
>> Ah, 30% hike.  That might just mean faster.  Ok, so we've 
>established that
>> from the beginning, the Rover versions had more horsepower and a 
>higher rev
>> line.  Sounds like the Rover might make a better sportscar engine... 
> Let me
>> quote some more.
>> 
>> "On the motorway, the Rover just dissapears.  The Buick pulls well 
>to about
>> 60mph but then begins breathing hard, just at the point where the 
>Rover
>> explodes into the distance."  You want to breath hard at 60 or 
>explode into
>> the distance at 60?
>> 
>> Someone completely different said:
>> "You encourage people to use the Rover engine in their conversions 
>then
>> ask them not to use certain Rovers, the very Rovers that use the BOP
>> engine.  See anything contradictory in this?  If you are concerned 
>about
>> saving P5Bs or P6s then encourage the converter to use the BOP 
>engine."
>> 
>> Yes, we should save the remaining P5Bs and P6s, but I've never 
>minded anyone
>> dismantling a Range Rover.  You engine choice is gonna be a 
>compromise between
>> availibility, price, power, and maybe a desire to save British 
>Classics.  The
>> BOP (Buick Olds Pontiac) engine doesn't have the power.  That leaves 
>Rover
>> Engines.  While price and availiblity change from region to region, 
>ripping
>> the heart out of a Range Rover doesn't make me too upset, but 
>destroying a P5B
>> would be tragic.  Obviously if any of these cars are beyond repair 
>why not
>> give the engine another life, but most trashed cars have trashed 
>engines.  So
>> for most, a Range Rover engine will be the greatest compromise.
>> 
>> Then someone said:
>> "I have to disagree with your statement, "You'd be just as happy 
>with a
>> normal MGB, and a nice restored Rover to drive to work".  You 
>obviously
>> haven't driven a high performance sports car.  No one who enjoys 
>cars and
>> has driven a MGB V8 would make such a statement."
>> 
>> I guess the V-12 XJ-S I drive everyday isn't a high performance 
>car...   What
>> is a V8 MGB?  It's called a TVR, why don't you get one of those?  
>You've
>> obviously never driven a Rover to work.  No one who enjoys cars and 
>has driven
>> a Rover would make such a statement.
>> 
>> I again put out my plea to stop the destruction of Rovers for the 
>sake of a
>> hotrod MG.  I say this as an owner of 3 MGs, and former Rover owner.
>> 
>> Ofcourse, this information isn't meant to criticize, just to 
>enlighten, please
>> accept it in the manor it is given.
>> 
>> John
>
>
>

_____________________________________________________________________
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com
Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]


<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>