Opel Manta V8

dicky · 12-07-2007, 18:13

Just starting my new Project... Opel Manta 3500 V8.

I sourced a Rover 3500 V8 for £46.
I found that the engine code (8401) thats in a different place to normal means it is a very early engine from a 1967 Rover P5B and has the high compresion pistons (10.5:1) but has the small valve heads.

As the early engines are not designed to run on unleaded fuel I will be fitting later heads with the larger valves and a thicker composite gasket to lower CR to around 9.8:1.

161bhp and 202lbs.

Stripdown:

Started early this morning and managed to strip allot of the engine down.
So far no sunken liners or valves and the cam followers arn't stuck which is good.

Here are some pics.

spue2001 · 12-07-2007, 19:27

best bit is that GM desinged that motor lol.

phunky monkey · 12-07-2007, 19:37

was buick a gm company then???

dicky · 12-07-2007, 19:42

I belive so, but Opel is german?

phunky monkey · 12-07-2007, 19:42

just checked and your right has always been a gm company !!

dicky · 12-07-2007, 19:47

It's is an old Buick 215".

160bhp and 201lbs. Think I will go with a Newman Cam though.

dicky · 12-07-2007, 19:49

Just need one of these to put it in.

MarkyG · 12-07-2007, 20:14

any reason you didnt spend your £50 on a newer rover v8?

dicky · 12-07-2007, 21:03

It's all that I found, it will be being re-built so don't think it really matters.

Ghost_Walker · 15-07-2007, 22:59

pegasus or thor block would be nicer. 4 bolt cross bolted mains caps. and upto 5.2 litres from the box with the scope to go bigger if you speak nicelty to wildcat.

but try to find some of the rare twin turbo conversion kits. used to be mde but janspeed i think. cops had them then ditched them as it was a bit too much for them. i.e scared the pants off them

phunky monkey · 15-07-2007, 23:11

jeah the also did janspeed turbo v8 rangerovers!!!

Mark T · 16-07-2007, 20:37

Saw one at Billing.
Must be cold in winter without a heater box.

**jamied** · 16-07-2007, 20:45

That is the same engine im sticking in the calbra for drag strip...the power from them is huge. Did you get the gearbox with it as its a bit of a bitch finding them. also if you are going to strip the carbs down (should be SU type) have a look inside the chambers for cast fatigue, the carbs are strong and easy to maintain but i have found a few with bad cracks or marble affects. Also if you need gaskets look on ebay, i was surprised on how cheap they are.

**jamied** · 16-07-2007, 20:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by phunky monkey

jeah the also did janspeed turbo v8 rangerovers!!!

was this the draw-through system...carb was set in front of the turbo inlet?

BlackIce · 16-07-2007, 20:49

Arent manual gearboxes a sod to come by with these?

Jack · 16-07-2007, 20:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamied

was this the draw-through system...carb was set in front of the turbo inlet?

No, the later ones had fuel injection.

**jamied** · 16-07-2007, 20:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackIce

Arent manual gearboxes a sod to come by with these?

yep...it took me 2-3 months to find one, got a manual 4 speed with strengthen gear rods (ex police). I had to keep on looking on ebay and some of the rover/mg clubs.

Jack · 16-07-2007, 21:01

Why not just use a range rover box and adapt it to 2wd..?

**jamied** · 16-07-2007, 21:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack

Why not just use a range rover box and adapt it to 2wd..?

you could but you find that the bell houses are different on them...had two in the unit next door to mine and the shape was totally different.

Ghost_Walker · 16-07-2007, 21:06

boxes are easy sherpa van springs to mind so does jag. LT77 (ok) or R380 (better) would work fine and bolt on. see land rover mags as well. T5 as well but more expensive

if your going drag racing i'd ditch the rover and go chevy. so much easier to screw power out of.

i.e getting 250bhp from a rover is possible just starts to get expensive. do foa chevy and for the same money you'd get a hell of a lot more than 250 bhp. down side is chevy weighs abit more but is a physically smaller block. although the rover can be made shorter by changing the water pump and pulleys from other v8 rovers. look to p5, p6,sd1 and various landies.

the turbo rangies use the same basic engine as the sd1. only difference is one is tuned for bhp and the other for torque.

go to rimmer bros for the std rebuild stuff as they know what you want. and the do some tuning stuff. real steel too.

Jack · 16-07-2007, 21:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamied

you could but you find that the bell houses are different on them...had two in the unit next door to mine and the shape was totally different.

Yeah, V8 bellhousings fit on V8s, and the rest don't.

Different bellhousings for V8s and TDIs, IIRC.

Disco_Mikey · 17-07-2007, 00:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghost_Walker

LT77 (ok) or R380 (better) would work fine and bolt on

R380 is an awful box, BTW

Dont-rush-me-or-ill-start-crunching gearchange...

Jack · 17-07-2007, 07:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Disco_Mikey

R380 is an awful box, BTW

Dont-rush-me-or-ill-start-crunching gearchange...

That's because it's a land rover gearbox.

Take your time, we'll get there when we get there, enjoy the scenery...etc

Ghost_Walker · 17-07-2007, 10:58

yes true but it's a physically stronger than an LT77 and easier to find than a good T5 for sensible money

P17FLD · 17-07-2007, 11:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghost_Walker

yes true but it's a physically stronger than an LT77 and easier to find than a good T5 for sensible money

T5's arent that expensive, how much have you been quoted?