I understand that UK Rover engine builders are much more involved and skilled in such a practice, with Rover engine, than in US or anywhere else in world, but can anyone put me in touch with someone, or with a garage, that has done the sort of engine build I describe below, which has been previously done on 351W Ford rebuild, by the way, so technique should be suitable for Rover engine as well, using Rover 4.6 Litre engine: The 4.6 L engine has already taken advantage of traditional hot rodding techniques of improved engine breathing, air/fuel in and out. Additionally, it also uses desirable longer connecting rods, for longer stroke, needed for the envisioned build. What I envision, is a Rover fuel injected 4.6 L. V8 engine with improved combustion, such as was done on the all aluminum Jaquar V12 engine of the mid 1980s, for example. Improved combustion significantly improves performance, heightening efficiency, leading to lower or at least equal to stock Rover emissions, higher mileage, reduced sensitivity to fuel detonation, all using 87 octane fuel. The key to achieving this is longer than normal connecting rods (already longer on 4.6 L, compared to earlier 4.0L), and very high compression ration, around 11.1, through use of dish top pistons to promote combustion efficiency, similar to what was done on aforementioned Jaguar V12. If you have any familiarity with what I am talking about, what say you?

 

One problem with trying to re-vamp the 51 year old Buick 215, even if done the rest of the drive train wouldn't be able to handle the extra torque.

 

if you want a more efficient Rover engine you can start by finding headers for a DII, then you can replace the cam. "air/fuel in and out"

what do you achieving by installing longer rods (4.6) on a 4.0 crank and then having custom dished pistons made to lower the compression back down to something that can be lived with?

 

Indeed. I learned that lesson years ago by rebuilding a Pontiac 400, but not the 140,000 mile transmission it was connected to. Ah... to be young and foolish with money to burn.

 

They are a lot of fun in stock trim. On an older Rover there are soooo many things that will need attention. And they already do 0-60 in 3.2 gallons. Enjoy while saving for an LR3.

But there are options for the Rover that have been done...

 

I have to say the one with the 8 CV carbs looks interesting, you got to love syncing those.

 

I think the British blokes have lots of these available on the cheap, and like the Chevy and Ford V-8s here, they get plenty of attention. My brother had a 56 Chevy with Olds 442 engine and 4 speed. Lots of stuff bolts in because the major car companies had a family of engines and transmissions that "fit". Rover did not make a wide range of vehicles, but certainly became hostage to electronics.

 

"Rover did not make a wide range of vehicles, but certainly became hostage to electronics"

Seems to me that the whole auto. industry has become hostage to electronics, and getting more so, worse, every day! I have been "into" electronics for over 50 years, and even I think that the auto industry has gone to extreme levels in use of electronics.

 

Yep we used to have a direct linkage between our foot and the carb. Now there is an electronic throttle control, in case we press too hard too fast. Pretty soon the town wifi links will send codes to limit speeds possible in their jurisdiction.... and automatically provide your GPS location and speed to police dispatchers. And you thought NSA listening to cell phones using the Tiger Woods encryption technolgy was bad.

 

Unless you know how to write firmware for the ECU - then this is a waste of your time.

Put in a BMW V12 engine from a 750 BMW and be done with it.
Sell the rover engine to some one who can use it.