rover v8 3.9 serpentine engine

[kmcrae]

After having a spate of bad luck with my 4.0 v8 I have decided to look for another rover v8 engine. Has anybody fitted the later "serpentine" engines in a MGB? There seem to be more of these for sale compared to the earlier version. People seem to think that it will not fit without using the SD1 front cover/ pulley system.

[kmcrae]

 -- moved topic --

[jimbb88]

I have done a 4.0 in a rubber bumper shell with the '89-92 fuel injection. My car is LH drive so what I did may not work for you. I re-located the steering rack to clear, moved the radiator a good bit forward- it touches the slam panel. This is a much better setup as both the water and oil pumps are far superior to the SD1 style.

Curtis will add some pictures to this I hope, as I have nothing on file to attach.

Jim Stuart

[BlownMGB-V8]

Hi Jim, could you elaborate on how you feel the water pump is improved?

Jim B

[jimbb88]

It appears to me that the impeller has more surface area on the late Rover, and while there are some variables, I think the 4.0 and the earlier 215 with this setup ran cooler than my original 215 with the original pump.

[kmcrae]

Jim B,
Did you need to move the rad because the engine is longer? If so how much did you have to move it. I am in the early stage and have an empty engine bay so can cut out any metal if required. What was the issue with the steering rack, did the bottom pulley foul the ARB?

[BlownMGB-V8]

Kevin, my install is atypical and the engine is further forward than any other I've seen. Most mount the filter remotely to move the engine back, I did not. However, the slam panel had to be moved as far forward as it would go, in fact the grille bolts directly to it as opposed to having the small extenders. But I do not (yet) have a serpentine drive. That will change with the 340 install.

Jim