‘ Smooth and imperious. Those traits emanate from the engine and give the Range Rover Classic such an elegant aura’
‘ Smooth and imperious. Those traits emanate from the engine and give the Range Rover Classic such an elegant aura’
The Rover V8’ s water pump was updated over its 37-year lifespan
Things like rapid prototypes make so much sense.’ The ability to then manufacture complicated items has improved, too, not just the way they’ re designed and tested.‘ These front covers, they were quite complicated in the Eighties. That was, I think, 12 pieces to cast. Now, redrawn, it’ s two.’
There’ s a good reason why, even when it was expensive and time-consuming in the Eighties, it made sense to develop new parts for the Rover V8.‘ The beauty is that everything fits. Every cylinder block that they’ ve ever made is interchangeable with every other cylinder block. Even with Buicks and Oldsmobiles, all the bolt holes are the same. More or less, anyway. The Oldsmobile block is slightly different because the cylinder heads are different. That’ s the only variation that’ s got different cylinder heads. Otherwise, the cylinder heads basically are the same pattern, the same basic drawing. Essentially, you could take the head off a Fifties Buick engine, and you could put it on one of the very last Rover V8 engines ever built. It would bolt straight down. It might not be how you’ d want it, but it would bolt on.’ Basically, whatever you create for one Rover V8, you create it for them all.
But John’ s appreciation for the engine isn’ t simply because it makes sound business sense to work on them. He simply really likes them.‘ It was just a nice, easy engine to work with. It’ s not complicated, like some four-valve overhead cam engine with millions and millions of bits. It’ s a lightweight engine, too. If you’ re a really strong guy, you can pick it up and wander off with it. It’ s only about 120- odd kilos as a bare engine.’
It’ s a reliable motor, too.‘ We had a lad with a Range Rover a few years ago, and we built him a 4.6. And he did 460,000 miles in about three years. Another 4.6 we built for another customer, quite well tuned, got 300hp, and he did 96,000 miles of track days all over Europe. He’ d drive it to the South of France, to Paul Ricard. And he’ d go round and round all day and then drive home again.’
And then the best bit about the Rover V8.‘ It’ s eminently tuneable. You can make fairly simple changes and get decent improvements. Cylinder heads, camshafts … all make quite a difference.’
Spring 2026 The Engine Rebuilder 31