ROVER V8 FITTING GUIDE?

Post by **rossrox** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 11:43 pm

hi all, im wanting to put a rover v8 in my moggy yeah i know its a bit common now, but i was just wondering if any one knows about a step by step guide on how to do it or any useful tips? any answers much appriciated

Post by **d_harris** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 12:05 pm

I don't think there is such a guide - I believe its a case of building a spaceframe and then dropping the car on top - but I couldn't tell you for certain.

Your best bet would be to talk to motherofgod who built one not so long ago (now in the hands of heathy if I recall)

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 2:23 pm

Contact Plastic Orange!

Post by **plastic_orange** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 5:09 pm

I've replied to quite a few on this topic (should have kept my ramblings), and will offer this advice to everyone.
Buy one already done, then personalise it, and save yourself a wad of cash and loads of effort. There are a few around, but they seem to be increasing in value (at last), so check out the usual sites.
A V8 in a Minor involves loads more work than the likes of a Ford Pop, or an american based hotrod. You have 2 options -
1. - A full chassis constructed, then the body (suitable modified) placed on top (sounds easy).
2. - Construct a framework within the car to support your chosen running gear.
There are pros and cons of each method (I have one of each).

If it were me building from scratch, I'd save myself a load of hassle, and fit a tweaked 4 banger (speak to Jonathon at JLH), as a Rover engine is very expensive to tune (unless you just want the sound). Rover engines can be as low as 110 bhp - up to 225/50 in standard trim (3.5 to 4.6). To get a reliable 250 hp from a 3.5 or 3.9 costs - Stage 3 heads alone (required) are over £1k. The bigger Rover engines suffer from block troubles, but you may get lucky.
For real power, choose an American V8 - small block Ford or Chevy for an easy 250, with 350+ readily available and cheap - or a big block - worlds your oyster.
You will also have to decide what you want the car for - drag racing, handling, posing, or just all round ability.
Check out the following sites for further reading:

My current build (stalled for now)
http://www.minormania.com/smf/index.php?topic=278.0

Rover V8 info site

http://www.v8forum.co.uk/forum/index.ph ... cdc094a89c

Inspiration:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/show ... p?t=397580

http://retrorides.proboards.com/index.c ... read=67976

Post by **rossrox** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 11:16 am

well i want it for all round ability, i want something with power but not too expensive and sounds like a hot rod, and then with all that something not too hard to put in a minor :/ well its ok if its difficult to put in, i just dont want to end up building an entire chassis or something. got any suggestions for me? or am i being really difficult haha

Post by **jonathon** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 11:58 am

Rossrox

Agree totally with Pete.
Here's what can be achieved with the Zetec and a few mods, ie supercharger and 310bhp.
The car is standard chassis except for our mods, can post up more pics of build if you wish

http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr31 ... G_0821.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr31 ... G_0841.jpg

Post by **plastic_orange** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 11:59 am

Given your comments, I'd suggest that a V8 Minor isn't for you unless you buy one already done. As I said, there are plenty options for making a Minor pretty quick without major mods (chassis etc), just not a V8.

Pete

Post by **Kevin** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 12:24 pm

Moving to custom and modified section.

Post by **rossrox** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 12:32 pm

ok so what sort of engine would you say??? v6??? i mean i want the power and the looks of the engine but i dont want to pay top price, i LOVE the look of minors but the power in them are terrible hense why i want a engine swap or extreme upgrade

Ross

Post by **plastic_orange** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 12:49 pm

You will have to consider at the outset how much you want to spend. A properly sorted V8 Minor will cost £5k+ to buy, but up to double that to build.
How fast do you want to go?
Speak to Jonathon for a 4 cylinder option - Fiat, Rover K series, Ford Crossflow, Ford Zetec. Any of these will give a 0 - 60 in around 8 seconds with around 120bhp. 150bhp+ becomes a bit more costly unless you can source a tweaked engine.
You will have to consider brakes and suspension, then make sure it is all properly set up.
Best idea would be to purchase the best condition (structurally) Minor you can afford, then spend what you can afford on the mods.
If you keep the car for a reasonable time, the costs don't seem so bad, plus resale is pretty good if done tastefully.
I really suggest you do some research before going any further.

Pete

Post by **jonathon** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 1:07 pm

Here are some 4 pot solutions

http://galleryserver.myff.org//gallery/ ... CF0015.JPG
http://galleryserver.myff.org//gallery/ ... CF0001.JPG
http://galleryserver.myff.org//gallery/ ... CF0016.JPG

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 2:33 pm

What's your budget rox? That's the only limiting factor.

Post by **rossrox** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 6:31 pm

well my limit for the minor is around £1300 but for the engine i want to pay possibly £1000. For the suspension and brakes im unsure as i dont really know what the choices are and how expensive they are, i have tried to research suspension upgrades and it comes up with the upgrade from JLH which seem expensive as what comes in there pack, are the jlh upgrades worth the money? cheers guys, ROSS

Post by **plastic_orange** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 8:30 pm

Your budget won't really get you what you want - possibly a Fiat twin cam engined minor or a 1275. JLH mods are tried and tested, and you get what you pay for.
Keep searching the ads for something to suit.

Pete

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 9:50 pm

Your money will only buy you a very 'average' Minor - and the suspension and brakes will eat up the rest - although, there are some inexpensive ways to improve both!

Post by **rossrox** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 11:21 pm

well my budgets always end up getting higheri mean this project is going to last me a few years so the budget will be stretched out of that period of time so it wont seem as expensive in the end result, cheers for your answers guys

Post by **morris62** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 8:55 am

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MORRIS-MINOR-hot- ... 1c0da5f14e

if you want ideas

Post by **MarkyB** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 3:15 pm

Here you go, cheap and easy to fit;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9XAC-BvUyo

Just lacking the acceleration

Post by **plastic_orange** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 4:55 pm

A nice V8 minor just sold on ebay for £3k - bargain at that price - would have cost double to build.

PO

Post by **morrisman1** » Sun Feb 21, 2010 7:09 pm

You get to a point in a minor where you need serious chassis re-engineering. The most basic of modifications require a lot of other work ie, brake upgrade, diff upgrade and shock absorber upgrade to make your conversion worthwhile.

Doing the engine is only half the cost!

I recommend getting something like a toyota 4age 1600cc if you can, and installing that. It is a compact engine with lots of performance parts available, fuel injection already done for you and good rear wheel drive gearbox is also available but in my neck of the woods they are getting hard to find. the best model 4age has 160hp stock standard which is more than enough for a light car like the morry minor.

I have got a datsun a15 fuel injected engine in a morry here with some mods to the engine too encluding porting, cam, valve springs along with a complete rebuild and that thing doesnt understand the word traction when anywhere near gravel, the morry is just too light on the back. I can try and drive down the driveway without wheel spin but its extremely hard and you pretty much just idle along but with a couple of bums in the back seat things work a little better. You should think about that aspect when you build your minor - when is too much power? I think that for a street car you shouldnt exceed around 130hp, that would be my upper limit, anything more than that is wasteful in a morry body unless you set it up for race, and talk to jonothan for that stuff.

Morris Minor Owners Club

ROVER V8 FITTING GUIDE?

ROVER V8 FITTING GUIDE?

Re: ROVER V8 FITTING GUIDE?

Re: ROVER V8 FITTING GUIDE?

Re: ROVER V8 FITTING GUIDE?