Rover V8 engine numbers

[tr8todd]

I just got back from picking up a TR8 for a Buddy.  The engine code on the block starts with S88D.  It has cross bolted mains, but has the extra head bolts like the 3.5 did.  Any idea what this motor came out of and what it's displacement was?  No info on the car as the owner had passed away and the car was purchased from his widow.

[WedgeWorks1]

Sounds like a 4.0.

[tr8todd]

A 4.0 with all the head bolts?  I thought only the 3.5, 3.9, 4.2 had those.  The only other engine block I have seen that started with an S was those Mercury Marine test engines that were sourced as Morgan 4.0 and TVR 4.6s.  Charlie has one that he got from a guy in Michigan that worked for Mercury.  Can't seem to find s88 on any of the engine number ID charts.

[WedgeWorks1]

Wow sounds like you have one of those "conversation" engines. I know from some rumors that the very early 4.0s had the same head bolting as the 3.5 and 3.9s with a 4 bolt main block but never seen one.