Rover v8

[CJG]

Hi Thinking of buying a stag with a rover v8 sd1 conversion with lt77 gearbox. what is the clubs view on this and how will it affect the value.

[Seaking]

My View is buy a car that you are happy with and enjoy it. Could be as much as -25% in value drop depends on the quality of conversion

Cheers Glenn

[mjheathcote]

It is what it is.
If it's a good conversion, price is right, go for it and enjoy!

[mole42]

Any Stag with any engine conversion will be good if the bodywork is in good condition/has been restored properly. The car is great to drive (in my opinion), is the best-looking car that Triumph ever made (in my opinion) and is increasing in value. Any engine conversion could be undone at a later date.
Buy it because you want it and don't worry about the inevitable engine-related comments.

[Motorsport Micky]

+1 What they said.

Micky

[TR5convalescent]

The Rover V8 is probably more tuneable. Depends what you want. I'm very happy with my TV8 and the 4 speed ZF auto, but I originally wanted a manual. I've seen some lovely Rover V8 conversions and would have possibly bought the one I saw before the one I ended up with, but for the colour (no, I won't be drawn on that, so don't ask).

If you like the way it looks and drives and you like the price and either you or someone else knows what they're done and has checked it over, buy it.

[kev100]

Well it all depends on what kind of Stag owner you want to be .. if you want to be a purist then a Rover engine (and probably anything else other than original) is a definite no, other than that if it looks good, drives good, is mechanically and bodily sound, and the price is right .. go for it .. I personally prefer the Stag engine ... I like the sound, and because I want to modify it and improve what Triumph couldn't do, and with the help of several members here see how far we can go with achieving that, but I am a born tinkerer...

[bonnietiler750]

I have both...I have a TR7 V8 and a stag...I think there is little to separate them in standard tune, I feel that the Stag has a perfect engine for what it is. To be honest the Rover feels like it could give you whatever hp you like mine makes 200 and it would not be a huge leap to get it to nearer 300 a la TVR Griffith, so they really are indeed very different animals also the Rover/Buick has actually won the F1 championship ...not many engines can claim that.
Clearly a std Stag is going to be dearer in the first place and hold its money better but whether its actually a better car especially if you slide in the 5 speed manual box...hmmm
I like the Stag though exactly as it is 150bhp V8 in a cruiser perfect! I've just crested 5000 miles since January this year and I find it a much better engine today than it was back in January..It does like being used

[HersnotHis]

also the Rover/Buick has actually won the F1 championship ...not many engines can claim that.

Not correct the Repco engine was based on an entirely different Oldsmobile V8 block

Notwithstanding this I agree that if a RV8 Stag is in good nick and fills the financial bill - then go for it!

H

[bonnietiler750]

Ahh.well that is rather like saying that the Austin O series was not the same as the Morris O series General Motors only made one unsuccessful all aluminium motor in the late fifties and it was used by both Oldsmobile and Buick. The Buick was called the Fireball and the Olds the Rockette but with respect it was the same engine. David Hardcastles book The Rover V8 Engine explains it all very good read. But if you'd prefer to believe that GM manufactured 2 aluminium engines in the late 50'S please feel free. With respect to the Rover it is a vastly superior unit to either of the GM offerings.
Regards

[davidf]

From wikipedia entry for Repco V8 (so might be correct?)

This engine being based on British/American Rover V8 /Buick 215 block^[4] is a common misconception, as the Rover/Buick V8 (although quite similar in appearance and size) had five cylinder-head studs per cylinder (14 studs per head with six shared studs in-between-cylinders) configuration that cannot accommodate the six stud (18 studs per head with six shared studs between cylinders) Repco RB620 heads. The difference in block design originated in Oldsmobile's intention to produce the higher power, turbo-charged Jetfire version. GM's later use of parts diagrams drawn for Oldsmobile in Buick parts catalog showing a six-stud cylinder block further fueled the confusion.

[bonnietiler750]

Clearly it is only based on the block it being 3 litres and having overhead cams etc.
But look guys just lets leave it in genuinely sorry I mentioned it now

[jakesmig]

All depends what you're after, if it's a Chitty Chitty Bang Bang burble, go for the TV8, if it's a V8 rumble you're after go for the RV8.

If you get a good car with a dodgy TV8 it will cost a lot to rebuild the engine, if you get a good one with a dodgy RV8 you can easily get a good second hand engine with plenty miles left in it for a few hundred quid which you can dump right in. If you get a good car with a good TV8, it will be better and more desireable in the longer term than a good car with a good RV8, however the TV8 takes more TLC to ensure it minds its manners. A good TV8 would be more expensive to buy than an RV8, IMO probably by up to 3K

I briefly had a TV8 in the '70's, my current is an RV8 (deliberately) which I'm happy with, IMO the RV8 can take more abuse and cost less to maintain in the long term.

All above is a personal view.

John.s

[Motorsport Micky]

Ahh.well that is rather like saying that the Austin O series was not the same as the Morris O series General Motors only made one unsuccessful all aluminium motor in the late fifties and it was used by both Oldsmobile and Buick. The Buick was called the Fireball and the Olds the Rockette but with respect it was the same engine. David Hardcastles book The Rover V8 Engine explains it all very good read. But if you'd prefer to believe that GM manufactured 2 aluminium engines in the late 50'S please feel free. With respect to the Rover it is a vastly superior unit to either of the GM offerings.
Regards

Well David Hardcastle was impressed with my TR7 with V8 (Rover Group A crossbolted block), he squirmed a bit when we ran out 7000 revs on a 2.84 axle at Bruntingthorpe when he was getting info and photos for his book...oh that's geared 164 mph.

Micky

[HersnotHis]

All depends what you're after, if it's a Chitty Chitty Bang Bang burble, go for the TV8, if it's a V8 rumble you're after go for the RV8.

john.s

I believe Specsavers now do hearing tests................
No offence but you must be joking !