F*c***g Overfinch!!!!!!!!

Well boys they have done it again

my bezzie, who is also my brief, has advised me to stipulate that I am talking bout the old lot based at Aldershot who went tits-up a long time ago and not the Sloane family who currently own the brand - and who I also consider to be my friends (Hello Dave and Alex!!!)

I digress.

Just when I thought I had a handle on what this mob got up to between 1990 and 2003 when they stopped doing the chevy engines I find myself flummoxed once again.

Here are the variants of L98 350 small block I have seen on various disco's classics,P38s and defenders - not to mention a Rover P5B Coupe they built for Laura Ashley's son - the strange rover!

305 (5.0) carb
350 (5.7) carb
305 TBI - throttle body injection
350 TBI - throttle body injection
350 TBI - with alloy heads
350 TPI - tuned port injection
350 TPI - with alloy heads
350 TPI - with alloy heads and large throttle body

all of above had dizzy.

All of the above had either manual or ZF 4-speed HP22 Vacuum gearboxes


350 TPI - with alloy heads, large throttle body,coil packs and OMEX ECU
383 TPI - with alloy heads, large throttle body,coil packs and OMEX ECU

These were in the P38 570HSE and 630R vehicles with HP24 Electronic boxes - hence the OMEX which can talk to the HP24EH gearbox ECU.

So this bit makes sense at least.

The only common feature of all of them was at least they used the same basic post-86 L98 block, usually a 4-bolt with single piece RMS - (some 305ci cars had 2-bolt caps - but that is ok on those).

Now I find myself with another 'whatever was around at the time' special - as had been the case with my own car(don't ask)

It is in a 1995 soft-dash LSE that was converted at a cost of 45000 pounds in 1997 - every option - including the £8000 satnav/sony PS etc etc.

it is in my care because, after 165000 miles since being put in - the chevy block threw a rod at 6000 rpm when the previous owner was showing off.

So the new owner buys the car - it also needs some cosmetics and re-trim, but is very solid as had been kept in a garage and has a meticulous service history.

The car is badged as a 570HSi - so we pop the bonnet expecting a TPI 350, alloy heads, standard GM TPI ECU and a dizzy - as it should be with a Vacuum gearbox.

I looked at the engine and found the alloy heads as expected - BUT - it also has coil packs, so I am thinking it must be early OMEX car with gearbox module disabled or has had a GEMS ecu adapted to suit - Mark Adams had once told me he had done this for them a few times

Nope - neither of those - so we have a new version - little black/silver box the size of a GEMS ECU with NO IDENTIFYING FEATURES WHATSOEVER.

It is not the marine-type either - I am flummoxed

Anyone able to point me in the right direction?

The other issue - replacement engine.

The new owner has been in my 383 stroker defender and wants to upgrade to that size - as we will be buying a complete new bottom end anyway it is only a few hundred quid more to get the stroker kit.

He does not have unlimited funds so we decide to go with a L98 4-bolt 383 from GM Performance and then balance it all nicely and overhaul and refit the top end - the TPI is reliable and relatively economical when set up right and we have a very good machine guy who does great work on refurbing old heads.

To do this I need to make sure the combustion chambers are not too small to cope - want to keep the CR under 10 for driveability and reliability.

Guess what - there are no casting numbers or ID marks of any kind on the heads - all we can tell is they are slightly larger valves than standard and have angled plugs - so they could be anywhere from 58CC corvette type
to 70CC or above.

Very frustrating.

Even if we use LC pistons there is a risk of too-high CR if the ports are the tiny ones.

So we have to get them checked before we do any work

Does anyone have a nice pair of 64cc-plus ali heads that would be suitable?

Any help or info greatly appreciated fellas

Griffman

why dont yu measure the combustion chambers?

Double camels will fit the new block and have large chambers with good porting. Best stock head you'll find other than fuelie or vortec

My mate has a set of fuelies for sale I think

The Mad Hat Man said:

why dont yu measure the combustion chambers?

Click to expand...

good question.

What's the head marking like? Should be a cast shape on one end if the head where the accessory holes are drilled

Hi Guys

as you probably know I like to do things right - as do we all when funds allow.

In an ideal world we would just buy a pair of Edelbrock E-tec heads and have done with it.

I will get the CC's on the heads measured - obviously - but my concern is they may be those crap chinese copies that have been added at some point.

The horror stories about these are legend over the pond.

In the absence of a casting number I couldn't in all conscience rebuild an engine with these on - hence my request for a suitable pair to fit.

At least I know I would be starting from a good place.

Barnaby - can you put me in touch with your mucker please.

Does it not have a casting mark ? That'd be a lot harder to remove than a number.


Send me a pm, I'm on my phone so it's kind a awkward to start them but easy to reply. Will send you his number

Dr_evil said:

Does it not have a casting mark ? That'd be a lot harder to remove than a number.


Send me a pm, I'm on my phone so it's kind a awkward to start them but easy to reply. Will send you his number

Click to expand...

Hi mate - will send you a PM as well.

I have just been reliably informed that it could well have been OF that removed the numbers - apparently they did everything in their power to ensure the cars came to them for service/repair etc - apart from routine servicing info(part numbers for filters and plugs etc - they wouldn't even give LR dealers any info!!!!!)

when you get 5 mins please explain the casting marks mentioned above

How the build goin'???

Casting marks should be on the front face of the head, if it's a one piece seal it should look like a rhombus with two large humps coming off it as that's what my 92 tpi Canadian 350 was

May have other heads on though but odds are it was the high swirl 67cc ones with poor porting. Only good for low rpm performance really


http://www.v8volvo.se/mekartips/identifiering/chevrolet/toppar/toppidentifiering.html


Build is going well thanks got a new set of Hastings piston rings yesterday so that's my job for next week sorted then in with the pistons and crank.

Getting there just need the new chassis and front axle now and I'm good to re build again for the millionth time :doh:

would it not be cheaper and easier to just fit an ls whatever ??

Thanks mate - going over to workshop tomorrow so will check

A real help that table.

so you are giving the blower a miss for now?

zen said:

would it not be cheaper and easier to just fit an ls whatever ??

Click to expand...

As you well know this is a light car engine - no torque at low revs

the only real modern chevy option is the 6.0 Vortec from the escalade and they are very expensive.

Th only real option for massive torque in a landy is the 383 stroker SBC

With the Edelbrock package mine has 450lbs/ft at 3500 rpm - and sounds like this

V8 383 defender - YouTube

Sorry mate but as beautifully engineered as you jap V8's are they don't sound like that

griffman said:

Thanks mate - going over to workshop tomorrow so will check

A real help that table.

so you are giving the blower a miss for now?

Click to expand...

No worries, see if yours match up to anything on there then you can get the general number



For now yes as the money could be better spent elsewhere, been offered a mopar 360 as part ex for it but if it doesn't go I'll fit it using blow thru carbs and an inter cooler later I'm the year

griffman said:

As you well know this is a light car engine - no torque at low revs

the only real modern chevy option is the 6.0 Vortec from the escalade and they are very expensive.

Th only real option for massive torque in a landy is the 383 stroker SBC

With the Edelbrock package mine has 450lbs/ft at 3500 rpm - and sounds like this

V8 383 defender - YouTube

Sorry mate but as beautifully engineered as you jap V8's are they don't sound like that

Click to expand...

A 454 will give all the low end torque you need

Of course - even very basic 454 gives monster torque - over 400lbs/ft

Problems though -

1. you cannot get a decent exhaust system down past the LR chassis rails
2. So Heavy - completely ruins the already iffy weight didtribution.
3. so much torque off idle - make 90 face wrong way very quickly in wet.
4. many other things - cooling etc.

that is why the small block 383 is the best-suited to a LR application
with Alloy heads it is only 39kg heavier than a RV8-engined car.

Honestly mate - we have looked at every option over the past 3 years.

To get the performance we want from a rover V8 we have to give Ray and Rob at V8d over 12 grand (5.4 phantom Turn-key engine).

Our 'more money than sense' client in Germany has just taken this option for his CSK restoration - I was up there last week.

We are this week starting a 1988 90 V8 rebuild - ZZ4 crate bottom end with Edelbrock top end, rollin' thunder cam and a few other goodies.

have nice weekend all

I know what you mean about the weight but an ally top end and steel crank plus rods brings the weight very close to a 350 and ally rods will get you more or less there

Costs a lot though! This is why I'm having to run 4 or 5 leaf front parabolic springs and an uprated axle, uprated gearbox, Dana transfer case and axles along with 44" tyres for any kind of torque handling ability.

My exhaust is going to be a handmade set up runnin out the bonnet and down the side if the wings running proper dual set up and then into corvette slash cuts

In hindsight my 383 kit may have been adequate but a 454 is just amazing!

Dr_evil said:

No worries, see if yours match up to anything on there then you can get the general number



For now yes as the money could be better spent elsewhere, been offered a mopar 360 as part ex for it but if it doesn't go I'll fit it using blow thru carbs and an inter cooler later I'm the year

Click to expand...

mopar 360 is a really nice engine - just standard heads and running nice is way over 250 bhp and 320lbs.

Edelbrock cam, intake and 600 carb gives 300 bhp and 375 lbs.

Add some nice work on the heads...............................WOW

Got a 727 'box from a charger with a 1.60 LT230 on if you are interested.

Box is free - all nice - just want 100 for 1.6 transfer box and 50 for half pallet - let me know.

I was going to run a towing cam in it as I like my low end torque then possibly some pro comp or iron eagle heads

My heads on the 454 have been fully ported and the valves are huge! Check the thread in my sig for pics of the head porting.

I'd love to take you up on your offer but I'll never run an auto in a hot rod so will pick up another Muncie from the states. Happy to sell it for you on the hot rod forum if you want it gone though

Dr_evil said:

I was going to run a towing cam in it as I like my low end torque then possibly some pro comp or iron eagle heads

My heads on the 454 have been fully ported and the valves are huge! Check the thread in my sig for pics of the head porting.

I'd love to take you up on your offer but I'll never run an auto in a hot rod so will pick up another Muncie from the states. Happy to sell it for you on the hot rod forum if you want it gone though

Click to expand...

well it is just sitting there - ashcroft will give me 150 for the 1.6 delivered to them as they are really rare now - if you can get any more then you can take anything over 150. Includes torque converter and adapter plate for RV8 as well.

Pop a pic up and I'll list it for you if you want, don't mind doing it as it takes bugger all time

Not a bad price from Ashcroft though, but they are very overpriced when they sell!