Going over to the dark side....

[Yorksstag]

Dear All

Having just got my Stag back from a few weeks work at my local Triumph specialist, I have been told that some major engine surgery is required. I now have an oil pressure gauge which tells me that I have very low pressure, which means the engine has to come out and work be done on the crankshaft and bearings.

So I have two questions -

1. What are the other common faults/areas which need work on the TV8 engine, and what is the average cost of getting these other problerms sorted, when they occur?

2. If I want peace of mind and reliability I should convert to RV8 power? To get the conversion job done properly, what needs to be done and what sort of ballpark figure have other owners paid to have this work done? (If people would prefer to PM me rather than reveal such details to all, then please do)

I know the Rover conversion is not popular with many owners, but I cannot pay out thousands of pounds several times over, when the more sensible route may be to get a different powerplant.

I guess Stag ownership was never going to be completely painless, but I had hoped that my engine was in decent condition (have been driving it for over a year albeit not on long journeys and all seemed ok)

Any information/experiences/views would be much appreciated!

Cheers


Andrew

[andy p]

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what are you calling very low

[flying farmer]

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I think the real problem with stag engines is that most of them are getting old and knackered, but when people come to get them fixed they only fix the most knackered bit, and the rest of the engine will continue to fall to bits around the new parts.

Having rebuilt several engines over the years, IMHO the only bits likely to cause sudden and expensive death are timing chain/ jackshaft failure. Most other things are just age and mileage related, and most of the head gasket failure problems can be eased with the use of a header tank

A big problem is that most engines will have been apart many times and put back together by a variety of less than knowledgeable people, I have come across an unbelievable assortment of second hand parts when I have stripped engines for rebuilding

My recommendations for happy stag engines are as follows:

1 Get a properly rebuilt short engine. This means a rebore and new pistons. Putting a ring set on a worn engine may give you 20,000 miles if you are lucky.A new bottom end should last at least 100,000 provided carbs and ignition are set up properly. Make sure the crank is hardened and use a decent spin on filter assembly to keep any foreign objects out of the oilways

2 Get the heads rebuilt at the same time. New valves, guides, cam followers and valve springs. Remember, we dont want to be pulling it apart again in a few years to fix these

3 Jackshaft and water pump. Unless these are perfect on the drive gears then either replace them or do away with the original pump and go belt driven or electric. When these go they wreck the rest of your engine no matter how good it is

4 When the engine is rebuilt make sure only good quality gaskets (payen) are used. The difference is only a few quid and some parts (particularly head gaskets) are of truly dreadful quality (guess how I know that)

5 When it is all put back together, do away with the dreadful expansion tank and fit a header tank instead. It may not look original but the expansion tank set up will pull in air from any possible leak, then chuck all the water out leaving you with an overheated engine and decidedly chilly bank balance. The header tank system leaves the water under gravity pressure at all times, and will even allow slight head gasket leakage without cooling system failure

And finally, if you consider fitting a rover v8, are you going to fit a knackered one or are you going to get it rebuilt, because the cost of the parts to do the job properly will not be far different from rebuilding the stag v8, and you will have to spend more on petrol too, though if you only do a small mileage this is less of a consideration

Neil

[turbineman]

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look in mag not sure what issue on alternative engines lexus v8 4l
looked sweet and what power and reliability seamless and more mpg!!.

[stagstr]

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Yorksstag wrote:

Having just got my Stag back from a few weeks work at my local Triumph specialist, I have been told that some major engine surgery is required. I now have an oil pressure gauge ..........

Triumph specialist or Stag specialist? What else did they do that took a few weeks?

A properly rebuilt Triumph V8 is every bit as reliable as the Rover engine, and as Neil says,no moreexpensive to rebuild. However, if you are paying a 'Triumph Specialist' to make the engine swap, you must factor in the significant extra costs of mating a non-Stag engine to a Stag. ie the engine mountings, the water connections to the rad and heater, the exhaust, the connections to the power steering (Stag or Rover pump?), the choke cables, the accelerator cable linkage, the speedo, the rev counter, the alternator, fuel pipes, starter motor, the gearbox (Stag or Rover?) etc. None of these are insurmountable but will increase your labour costs considerably.

May I suggest you get your TV8 sorted and enjoy, or, unless the oil pressure light is on, remove the oil pressure gauge and enjoy.

[mickjo]

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Depends on what YOU want here, there are arguments on both sides for which ever engine you want, purists would decide TV8 irrespective of cost. Motor heads could argue RV8, due to extra power, reliability, etc its not one of the most widly utilised engine for nothing. When my engine let go, the initial thought of £2-3K for the rebuild of the TV8 engine, thus my decision for me was RV8 with fuel injection.

Honestly if I knew how much time, blood, money and thousands of frequently used swear words converting it to RV8, would I still done it. Well no probably not. Well ok I sill might of done.

If you like a challenge, got a good mechanical brain/tool kit with time and lots of patience it is worth all the effort.

Ive coupled my 3.5 up to the original exhaust and it sounds like an absolute beast, I know it was rebuilt to pump out 200BHP. Just couple of bits for the MOT, then happy days.

I guestimate its cost me best part of £3k to convert it, with about a hundred hours of my time making fitting stuff, wasted hours trawling the Tinterweb, you can buy most of everything you need from specialist stag converters but OMG you need big pockets. I mean deep.

Good luck with whatever you want to do. If you want more info on my conversion then you can pm me no prob.

mick

[sax player]

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For the purists the tv8, for the enthusiastic driver the rv8 every time.Just go through the history of the forum for the tales of woe.

Cost for the rv8...... £1000 will get you a low mileage tvr (3.9, 4.2, 4.5)unit hopefully with injection.

£300 recon lt77 box. (the suffix "d" are the stronger type)

£400 manifolds

£200 prop shortened and balanced

peace of mind .... priceless

Other parts are required but as a rule of thumb the above should be good

shaun

[Yorksstag]

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Dear All

Many thanks for your replies so far.

Checking through what documents/bills I have for the car, I have no proof of any major work having been done in the past. This may be a good or a bad thing I suppose (it is still going after 38 years, but for how much longer?!)

I must say that the idee of an EFi RV8 3.9 does sound appealing, but I'm also making enquiries as to the cost of the other jobs which could/should be done to the TV8 engine.

If anyone else has any other comments/experiences then do please keep them coming.


Cheers


Andrew

[jbuckl]

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GA / newark engines had a good offer on for stag engines, with warranty.

They were offering a service that was far cheaper that most people could do the work themselves.

The engines wererig tested, which is missing from a lot of so-called reconditioning outfits.

http://www.gaclassicengines.co.uk/

No connection, but also have not used these people either.

Just thought they seemed to know engines, have done a few stag engines & their offers on stag engines seemed to be the most thorough around, especially at the price.

[StagManiac]

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What about modifications to suspension settings to offset the 130 pound weight loss compared with the TV8? Have the owners ofRV8-engined cars found suspension work necessary?

Not that it matters but I would stick with TV8 power. That's a personal view, though and should be treated as such. I will be rebuilding mine myself and, if it breaks subsequently, I shall be repairing it myself too.

Paul

[StagnJag]

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I know someone who has got a Newark engine. He is very happy with it so far.

Rgds

Dave

[PaulW]

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Hi could not help add my 5 eggs.... A good RV8 conversion may end up costing more than a tv8 rebuild and in the eyes of many de-value the car. but......

Having worked on both engines the RV8 was a real pleasure its SO much simpler and more reliable. i would question those who say 100,000 miles on the tv8 maybe after a couple of re-builds !!

I got hold of a range rover v8 with 150,000 miles and could have got away with a new cam and rings but there are so many go faster goodies for the rv8 its hard to know were to stop still dreaming of a 5.2L upgrade.

At the end of the day its what ever floats your boat!

PaulW

[mad cyclist]

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triumph v8 all day long for me. I drive mine pretty enthusiastically and have had no probles with any of the stags i have owned that would have been cheaper or easier with the 'Buick castoff'

get the triumph engine rebuilt when it dies in the mean time i would not worry about the oil pressure guage.

have a good summer.....
rgds Nick

[StagnJag]

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PaulW wrote:

Hi could not help add my 5 eggs.... A good RV8 conversion may end up costing more than a tv8 rebuild and in the eyes of many de-value the car. but......

Having worked on both engines the RV8 was a real pleasure its SO much simpler and more reliable. i would question those who say 100,000 miles on the tv8 maybe after a couple of re-builds !!

I got hold of a range rover v8 with 150,000 miles and could have got away with a new cam and rings but there are so many go faster goodies for the rv8 its hard to know were to stop still dreaming of a 5.2L upgrade.

At the end of the day its what ever floats your boat!

PaulW

Mine was rebuilt after 90,000 miles and the crank just needed a polish and fresh original size bearings.

Rgds

Dave

[mickjo]

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Dave,

Thatsgottabe exceptional fora TV8engine,An enginefrom the seventies to get to 100k without major rebuildwas for the reserve of volvos or Saabs.

Or was that 90,000 miles on the back of a trailer taking you back home? Only kidding

Still though must be pricey for that kind of work though Dave?

Mick