Is the V8 well - engineered or a little crude?

tourerfogey · 19th December 2006, 16:02

Hi

Serious questions please to those of you who run V8s.

Are the V8 versions well - engineered cars?

How good is the V8 installation from an engineering point of view?

Thank you

Paranoid Carlos · 19th December 2006, 16:08

Well it's certainly a well proven unit..........

windrush · 19th December 2006, 16:44

Love the exhaust note

Scarlet Fever · 19th December 2006, 17:50

Hmm tricky to say for us mere mortals i reckon, but what i can say is that the RWD conversion seems to be excellent, with great attention to detail like the additional central shocks on the rear axle to prevent tramp with only a minimal intrusion into the boot wheel well. The car has a sublimely neutral attitude on the road with power oversteer available on demand (if you like that sort of thing) and a totally uncompromised steering feel.

The engine installation also seems to be very well thought out and executed, with the engine placed as far back as possible to aid weight balance.

However, there are a few areas that could have been better designed, the Air Conditioning system for instance could indeed be described as 'crude engineering' and the top heater hose in the engine bay has a nastly habit of blowing reasonably regularly (uprated hoses now available!) The other issue is the fuel tank, which is the same size as all the other ZTs out there and as such, with such a thirsty engine, does limit the range a little with multiple trips to a fuel stop on a longer journey sometimes needed (250 miles ish from a tankful)

OVerall, i reckon it's a bit of a tour de force from a pure engineering point of view, but there are a couple of flys in the ointment that whilst not desperately serious, can be a little annoying for the owner. overall though i am very impressed with the car and the way it has been designed and executed. It certainly isn't a 'bodge job' which when you consider the budget, time and the nature of the project (turn a front wheel drive platform into a rear wheel drive one and fit a monster engine), it could well have turned out to be.

Thumbs up from me.

Tim · 19th December 2006, 18:31

Are the V8 versions well - engineered cars?

Agree with Andy.

If you have a 75 or ZT then on a par with that, plus a well engineered engine, gearbox and axle/diff. Well engineered dynamics allows you to push the car and keep control. On top of all that you have a car which can be tuned to 400bhp without having to change any part of the car except adding stuff to the engine. I've had a 190 before the 260 and although the 190 was a great car, the 260 is exceptional. Thats not because I own one, its just that good, weak points considered.

:xmas-smiley-009:

tourerfogey · 19th December 2006, 19:30

Thanks Guys.

That's exactly what I wanted to know, and I guess exactly what I wanted to hear.

TF

Keith · 19th December 2006, 20:14

When you consider what was achieved on such a low budget the cars are remarkable

It is the kind of car you want to drive without necessarily going fast as there is just so much Torque it can almost be a one gear car.

The chassis is very strong and as said above designed from the start to handle a lot more horses. The NVH work done on my Mk2 means the ride quality and lack of rattles etc far exceeds my Mk1 ZTT

Daftest of all it costs me less to insure than my 190 it is only the fuel consumption that makes it less than ideal as a daily use car but then I didn't buy mine for the daily grind

Aga · 20th December 2006, 12:34

Was there ever the possibility that it could have used the renowned & proven Rover V8 used on such cars as TVR's etc? Seems a more logical solution to the Mustang engine eventually chosen?

Keith · 20th December 2006, 12:41

I think Rincewind answered this a while ago old Rover V8 was not Euro something compliant and going to one from a Ford Range Rover was probably to expensive/big/heavy/embarrassing (delete any that do not apply)

tourerfogey · 20th December 2006, 13:37

Aga - As Keith has said, the Buick derived Rover V8 would have needed much further development to get it to comply with current emmision legislation and this has led me to wonder how kit car builders are still able to use this engine in vehicles which need to be registered as new on a 'Q' plate - perhaps someone has the answer?..........

....presumably the emmisions legislation is different for the SVA to that under Type Approval, which would seem a little odd.

19th December 2006, 16:02	#1
tourerfogey Banned Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Is the V8 well - engineered or a little crude? Hi Serious questions please to those of you who run V8s. Are the V8 versions well - engineered cars? How good is the V8 installation from an engineering point of view? Thank you

19th December 2006, 16:44	#3
windrush This is my second home December 2004 Rover 75 2ltr CDTi Connoisseur SE HL Tourer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Aldershot Posts: 74,464 Thanks: 2,431 Thanked 3,015 Times in 2,347 Posts	Love the exhaust note __________________ ][SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] My Pearl Black Beauty Best regards Lilian and Derek Club Member No. 96 / Forum User No. 111 REGISTRATION to the club as a member FREE, FULL MEMBERSHIP is £10 WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

19th December 2006, 17:50	#4
Scarlet Fever Avid contributor ZT 260 (#27 of 217) Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Near Stansted Airport Posts: 118 Thanks: 5 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Hmm tricky to say for us mere mortals i reckon, but what i can say is that the RWD conversion seems to be excellent, with great attention to detail like the additional central shocks on the rear axle to prevent tramp with only a minimal intrusion into the boot wheel well. The car has a sublimely neutral attitude on the road with power oversteer available on demand (if you like that sort of thing) and a totally uncompromised steering feel. The engine installation also seems to be very well thought out and executed, with the engine placed as far back as possible to aid weight balance. However, there are a few areas that could have been better designed, the Air Conditioning system for instance could indeed be described as 'crude engineering' and the top heater hose in the engine bay has a nastly habit of blowing reasonably regularly (uprated hoses now available!) The other issue is the fuel tank, which is the same size as all the other ZTs out there and as such, with such a thirsty engine, does limit the range a little with multiple trips to a fuel stop on a longer journey sometimes needed (250 miles ish from a tankful) OVerall, i reckon it's a bit of a tour de force from a pure engineering point of view, but there are a couple of flys in the ointment that whilst not desperately serious, can be a little annoying for the owner. overall though i am very impressed with the car and the way it has been designed and executed. It certainly isn't a 'bodge job' which when you consider the budget, time and the nature of the project (turn a front wheel drive platform into a rear wheel drive one and fit a monster engine), it could well have turned out to be. Thumbs up from me. __________________ Andrew Phillips MGF - Scarlet Fever ZT 260 - #27

19th December 2006, 18:31	#5
Tim Feel the size of my Quads MG ZT 440SE, MG HS PHEV & MG3 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Addlestone Posts: 1,735 Thanks: 0 Thanked 128 Times in 85 Posts	Are the V8 versions well - engineered cars? Agree with Andy. If you have a 75 or ZT then on a par with that, plus a well engineered engine, gearbox and axle/diff. Well engineered dynamics allows you to push the car and keep control. On top of all that you have a car which can be tuned to 400bhp without having to change any part of the car except adding stuff to the engine. I've had a 190 before the 260 and although the 190 was a great car, the 260 is exceptional. Thats not because I own one, its just that good, weak points considered. :xmas-smiley-009: __________________ Member 23 or 63 depending on what you look at. https://www.two-sixties.co.uk/mgoc26...0rum/forum.php http://two-sixties-blog.com/ http://www.youtube.com/user/TheTwoSi.../1/1wPt2rhd_Ps

20th December 2006, 13:37	#10
tourerfogey Banned Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Aga - As Keith has said, the Buick derived Rover V8 would have needed much further development to get it to comply with current emmision legislation and this has led me to wonder how kit car builders are still able to use this engine in vehicles which need to be registered as new on a 'Q' plate - perhaps someone has the answer?.......... ....presumably the emmisions legislation is different for the SVA to that under Type Approval, which would seem a little odd. Last edited by tourerfogey; 20th December 2006 at 15:51..

19th December 2006, 16:08	#2
Paranoid Carlos Posted a thing or two Starlight CDT Conn SE Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Erdington, Birmingham Posts: 1,057 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Well it's certainly a well proven unit..........

19th December 2006, 19:30	#6
tourerfogey Banned Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Thanks Guys. That's exactly what I wanted to know, and I guess exactly what I wanted to hear. TF

19th December 2006, 20:14	#7
Keith This is my second home ZT400 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ellesmere Posts: 5,948 Thanks: 0 Thanked 43 Times in 29 Posts	When you consider what was achieved on such a low budget the cars are remarkable It is the kind of car you want to drive without necessarily going fast as there is just so much Torque it can almost be a one gear car. The chassis is very strong and as said above designed from the start to handle a lot more horses. The NVH work done on my Mk2 means the ride quality and lack of rattles etc far exceeds my Mk1 ZTT Daftest of all it costs me less to insure than my 190 it is only the fuel consumption that makes it less than ideal as a daily use car but then I didn't buy mine for the daily grind

20th December 2006, 12:34	#8
Aga Gets stuck in MG ZT+ CDTi Black Pearl Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Portchester (nr Portsmouth) Posts: 534 Thanks: 10 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Was there ever the possibility that it could have used the renowned & proven Rover V8 used on such cars as TVR's etc? Seems a more logical solution to the Mustang engine eventually chosen?

20th December 2006, 12:41	#9
Keith This is my second home ZT400 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ellesmere Posts: 5,948 Thanks: 0 Thanked 43 Times in 29 Posts	I think Rincewind answered this a while ago old Rover V8 was not Euro something compliant and going to one from a Ford Range Rover was probably to expensive/big/heavy/embarrassing (delete any that do not apply)