FINDHORN CARS 3.5 Rover V8 Engine

The second engine powering Findhorn cars at differing specification levels is the Rover V8, usually in 3.5 or 3.9 form.

As with the B series 1800 engine, the Rover V8 has a long and interesting history, really because it is such a good engine. It started life in Buicks, but was judged too small in the 1960s. Here in England, it powered generation after generation of Rovers, including the Range Rover, where most were fitted.

It is very light. Its block is far lighter than the B series block, being aluminium against cast iron. When built up the engines are comparable in weight, resulting in the engines being interchangeable with major suspension changes. The V8 has always had hydraulic tappets, making it an inherently quiet engine.

In Findhorn cars, as indeed in MGBs, the more powerful B series engines and the less powerful V8s are not dissimilar in power output, but the V8 has bags more low speed torque. I am always struck by how many more gear changes people not familiar with the V8 make than I would. Open the throttle and a V8 surges what ever the revs. Naturally, as the state of tune increases, the V8 far outstrips the B series. It does have twice the cubic capacity!

It is the flexibility, the torque and power and the V8 burble that make it such a great sports car engine, whether following the traffic, powering past as the opportunity arises or settling down for a long fast run, the engine just delivers whatever is asked of it and that includes truly astonishing acceleration in the gears.

We recommend carburettors on the 3.5 V8. These can be the original SUs, if your engine has them, with an MGB type inlet manifold and the SUs arranged at the back of the engine. Alternatively four barrel Webbers are great carburettors, well suited to the Rover V8. Both these engines start easily and don’t get flooded by electric chokes or generally have hysterics around the garage!

You can opt for a bigger V8, in which case we recommend the 3.9 EFI. In fact the second picture above is of a 3.9 engine.

CLICK here for Standard 1800 engine

CLICK here for Supercharged 1800

CLICK here for 3.9 EFI. Rover V8 details

CLICK here for other engines.