I currently have a Rover 4.2 and a Rover 4.0 that I plan on using in our next project. I plan on combining the best of the two to end up with a carb/dist engine.
My question/ confusion is this. We would like to run an automatic transmission, something of a common, lo-cost american variety like a turbo 350/400....700 etc. Would anything out there be a direct bolt up? If I could find a trans from an early 60's 215, would it be the same bolt pattern? Did Rover change the bolt pattern? Will I need to buy and adapter? I'm not totally against an old powerglide either......
Also, would the old 215 intake manifolds bolt up to my engines????
Thanx!!!!!
Welcome to BritishV8!
Your question about manifolds is easy.. Yes! Buick/Olds 215 manifolds will bolt right on, as will many aftermarket manifolds including Edelbrock and Offenhauser 4-barrel models. Lots of manifolds options!
Someone else will have to answer your questions about later model automatics. Rover installed many tens of thousands of Borg Warner 35 automatic transmissions behind the Rover V8. I expect a "wanted" ad in our classified section might help you source one of those from someone who has switched to a stickshift.
Borg Warner 60,with separate bell housing, 3 speed auto from a Rover car, is a direct bolt. Using the original/obsolete 215 Buick/Olds automatics, is a bad idea. Everything else, will need an adapter. Welcome aboard and good luck, roverman.
All BOPR engines have the same bellhousing bolt pattern. The modern GM automatics do not bolt up. D&D sells adapter plates to allow Chevy pattern transmissions to bolt up.
Joseph, A correction is in order-here. 215 Buick and Olds patterns are identicle to Rover V8, only. Securing a BW 35 or 60 bell housing, from a Rover V8 vehicle, would make it easier to adapt another make of auto, with a bolt-on BH., like a C4. Cheers, roverman.
The Aisin (Toyota) trannys also have a round pattern where they bolt to the removable bellhousing. Advantage: Narrow pan that will fit the MGB tunnel.
Jim
Jim and clan, Yes like the Asian-Warner 3040 od., pre electronic,(has a kickdown cable). I have a casting pattern, ready to go, for this or a C4. This casting will also machine to fit many, round support collar, manual transmissions. Cheers, roverman.
A couple more auto trans options for you Steve.
Land rover used a chrysler automatic trans in the 82-87 Range Rovers. If I remember right they used an adapter. Probably a little hard to find, but you never know.
The other option is the ZF4HP22 auto trans used in tons of 80's and 90's vehicles such as Volvo, BMW, Ford, Mercedes, Toyota,etc.
It's a strong 4 speed non electronic automatic with an overdrive in 4th.
Land rover used this trans in various forms from 88-2002. But it had a transfer case for the 4wheel drive built into it.
These transmissions fortunately have a removable bellhousing.
So what you need is the bellhousing, torque converter and flexplate from a landrover V8 and the trans from one of the rear drive cars.
Bolt everything together and your good to go.
If you find a really good Land Rover trans that you want to use. You can remove the transfer case and use the tail housing and output shaft from a car. Once again a bolt together option but it means major trans dis-assembly.
Hope thats of some use.
Cheers
Fred
Fred,, "ZF4HP22", would this be the same as BW 3040-D ? Good news if so, as these are readily available, as low mileage imports, from Japan. Cheers, roverman.
Not sure Art.
I'm not familiar with the BW 30 40 D
If you mean the AW 30-40 trans then no. the trans is a completely different animal than the ZF.
I will get some pictures for you as soon as I can.
Cheers
Fred
Here Ya go Art.
IMGP9217.JPG
This is the Land Rover ZF trans with the transfer case removed.
IMGP9218.JPG
As you can see the belhousing unbolts from the trans.It mates to a flat circular pad.
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This is the rear of the trans. This is the adapter for the transfer case. It unbolts and the normal tailhousing bolts right on. The problem is you need to change the tail shaft also, which means taking the whole trans apart. or you could probably have a yoke machined up to fit if it came down to it.
IMGP9224.JPG
Here is the AW trans (this is the early version). As you can see the belhousing unbolts as well. The problem is that the overdrive is incorporated into the belhousing. These trans started out as a three speed and they just tacked on a overdrive to the front making a swap difficult.
Hope thats a help.
Cheers
Fred
Fred, What year is the AW pictured ? It looks nothing like the one I have, ie Toyota Celica, rear drive, pre-electronic. It has a conventional, bolt-on bell housing , aprrox. 6" deep, with OD. in front portion of main case. Perhaps Jim B. has a picture ? Cheers, roverman.
Can't help you Art, I have no pictures of that.
Jim
The AW trans is from 89. The later ones 92 and up have the overdrive built into the case but essentially the same trans.
Cheers
Fred
Fred, Jim and clan. Is there a torque/hp. rating for the AW 3040 ? If it's worthy, I could cast and machine some direct fit bell housings. Onward, roverman.
I don't have an exact figure but the best stock ones are in the supra turbo.
And those guys routinely jamb 700 + ftlbs through them.
We have a few 960 Volvo's running around with the twin turbo t6 engine in them. These ones are putting down 400 or so ftlbs into the stock 3040E with no problems.
I don't think our Rover engines are going to intimidate these transmissions and if there is a problem there are lots of performance parts available.
Cheers
Fred
QuoteWe have a few 960 Volvo's running around with the twin turbo t6 engine in them. These ones are putting down 400 or so ftlbs...
That's an intriguing aside!
A Rover with a Chrysler slushbox, oh goodie! :(
I spoke with Mark at D&D and we went with one of his adapters kits for a 700R4 from an S-10 truck. Went to the local pick a part and snatched one out.
Now all I have to do is rebuild it and I'm good to go...............oh wait.....I still have to build the car.......
Gathering parts still...........we have a plan now. I'm still trying to wrap up my MGB V6 swap first. I developed some issues with the 3.4 and had to pull it out...........Sure is temping me hard to put an aluminum v8 in it.............I picked up a 3.9 the other day, would need to adapt it to my camaro T5..............D&D has that bellhousing too.....Hummmm
I have a 200R4, all rebuid and ready, i understand this one have the phisical dimentions of the 700R4, with better ratios i was told. It has the multiple application bolt pattern. Can this be used with the addapter for the 700R4?
thanks.
No, The D&D adapter goes from small 60 degree V6(S10/Camaro)700R4 to 215/Rover. Speedway motors sells a adapter plate that goes from small 60 degree V6 to Chevy smallblock V8. You may be able to stack them and get creative or call Kennedy which has the adapter from 215/Rover to smallblock Chevy.
Thank you, Jim.
C4 with a BW35 bell housing, an adaptor ring and spacers on the converter, job done, C4 can take all the power a Rover will ever make, we are right around 500 hp with a basic shift kit and an extra plate in the forward clutch. There are 6 gear planetaries and lots more HD stuff to go. As it is we can run consistent 1.24 60's with a 1650 lb car, best ET is 8.94.
Alan
Reviving this old thread.
Intending a Rover V8 swap into a Daimler Conquest.
Cruiser.
Slush box.
BW66 or 65 would be easy, but would prefer an overdrive auto.
Any advance on a 200R4 with D&D adaptor?
Ivor
I'd still recommend the ZF trans Ivor.
It's probably the cheapest, least complicated and most effective swaps around.
Cheers
Fred.
Hello everyone, I have a 1981 original TR8 V8 i have modified by just boosting the original engine upto 300 hp but i have the original transmission still working and i was curious if i wanted an EASY Transmission alternative or upgrade what are my choices?
I would even entertain an automatic suggestion IF it was easy and affordable. What attracts me to an automatic would be that i could ENJOY my car by driving it more often and not just screaming around fun corners on the weekends...
That said im just looking for a transmission or shifter or clutch that FLOWS like butter.... mine is so rough and hard and its a lot of work.... has anyone found a dreamy (Honda-like or Japanese-like) smooth tranny that i could swap out with NOT ALOT of modification. Or is there a Kit that would help me put in said (dream tranny)?
Or final question , is it just a question of rebuilding the one i have with some upgraded parts? Im sorry i am not much of a gear head and thats why im comming here to the MODIFYING Experts.... Believe me this car is fun! Its Fast! Its JUST such alot of work...and i want to upgrade its weakest link.... ANY Ideas, options would be appreciated... please feel free to email me directly or here in the forum that i should check more often. tsomers@protonmail.com
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More auto trans info here:
https://www.mgexp.com/forum/mg-engine-swaps-forum.40/looking-for-current-info-on-rover-v8-od.3934253/
I am running a TR7 5-speed box behind a 4.6 litre Rover in a Morris Minor. No issue with gearchange. It is important that all remote bushes are in good condition. I noticed a couple of years ago that I started having problems with 2nd to 3rd shifts. Turns out some of the rubber bushes were more or less gone. I fitted poly bushes and no more problems. Oil is another factor. I use ATF.
Update: Picked-up (2) AW4 to 215/ RV8, raw-cast bell housings from foundry. Heat treated 356 aluminum, plenty strong. I will machine (1) up, mount to RV8 and take pictures/etc. Art G.