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I have a standard Rover V8. originating came from an SD1.
It has never been modified, will I need to have things altered on it to run it on todays leadless fuel.
If I ran it without change are there fuel additives I could use?
Hi Scotty,
The only things that need changing are the valve seats and probably valve guides and valves while you are at it. Thus, the cheapest way to do it is to buy a refubished or good 2nd hand pair of heads. This does depend on whether you have the bigger valve heads or the standard ones although it does ring a bell that these were only on the P6 V8 but it's been 10 years since I worked on a Rover V8!
Good suppliers of standard and slightly tuned stuff are Rimmer Brothers, Real Steel and RPI engineering all whom do mail order. Land Rover can be a good supplier of bits if you have a dealership or specialist close by. I would avoid general motor factors for RV8 gaskets or parts unless they are genuine as sometimes they can use sub-standard materials.
There are addatives you can use but they will increase the running cost of the car emensely.
Forgive me if I'm wrong but arn't the heads alluminium.
Mine are alluminium but the engine has later heads on it so not sure on P6 engine.
Surley the heads would have steel seats inserted and therefore be able to run on unleaded.
Hope so because I run on unleaded and LPG , am I damaging my heads in doing this and do I need unleaded seats?
Yes, the heads are aluminium so they have steel valve seats pressed in, I have been lead to believe that pre '82 ish heads are unsuitable for unleaded fuel so would require converting (or just replacement heads). But there seems to be people that think that all RV8's will run on unleaded.