Rover V8 engine origins

[PaulT]

Morning all, I am hoping that someone will be able to answer my query on the origins of my Rover V8 engine that resides in my Stag. I have found what I believe is the engine number stamped on the rear of the block where it couples to the torque converter/auto gearbox. I can read the compression ratio and it is 10.5:1. The engine number is 568226350 and this does not appear as a number in any of the Rover lists that I have.
The compression ratio seems to suggest that it is from a P5 or a P6. The carbs are SU and the air filter assy wraps around to the rear of the carbs into a central filter cannister.

Anyone any ideas where this engine may have come from.

Many thanks in advance. PaulT

[shenderson]

According to Rimmers' website, only the earliest Rover V8s have the engine number where yours is (I read this somewhere else too), so it could be from a P5B (the first production model with this engine).

My engine has the number in the same place, and it also does not appear on normal listings.  However it was originally provided as a service or warranty replacement.

Most of the earlier engines (including the P6B) had a CR of 10.5:1 to run on 5 star fuel, no longer available.  Unless the CR has been reduced it might pink a bit on modern fuel.  Mine has 9.35:1 pistons and runs fine on regular unleaded.

These engines also have smaller valves than later ones, and suffer oil leaks from where a bit of rope was used instead of a proper rear crankshaft seal.  This was rectified, and bigger valves used after the introduction of the SD1.

There are plenty of specialists, with websites, plus info on the SD1 and Land Rover websites/forums.

Steve H

[PaulT]

Thanks for the info Steve. I agree I think it is an early beasty judging on the position of the odd engine number and the 10.5 : 1 compression ratio. I think some early P6 cars had this high compression ratio engine as well.

It seems to run fine on unleaded but the previous owner was not at all knowledgeable about the cars history so it will be up to me to find all this stuff out. As the motor is running fine (better now I have balanced the carbs and cleaned all the plugs and replaced the rocker cover gaskets etc) I will leave well alone for the moment apart from an oil and filter change as well as a coolant flush.

All I have to do know is work out which auto box it has on it. I am going to have to get under the car and have a look at the ID plate. Where's the trolley jack and axle stands!!!!! I suspect at the very least the box will need a service and some fresh ATF.

[harvey]

Early engines in both the P5B and P6B had the number at the back of the N/S head, with that cr, but I'm fairly certain the first 3 numbers in the number you have weren't used in those applications. Its the first three numbers that give the application, and the rest are the sequential serial number. It should also have a suffix letter at the end. (well, it would be at the end, being a suffix number, wouldn't it....D'oh!)