V8 excel

[bash]

nowt to do with me but spotted by a mate

bash
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lotus-excel-v8-/142122807109

[rbgosling]

Hmmm..... dunno what the reserve is, but it seems rather cheaper than getting the engine in Lilith re-built! Rather lacking in details in the description though. Looks like a Rover V8, but he's got some Lotus-badged cam covers to fit. Definitely not a Lotus 918 though.

[jeff.fenton]

The photos seem to be taken at Chris Foulds, Lotus garage in Honley, if you're seriously interested, you could ring Chris to see if he knows the car. Jeff.

[fueltheburn]

Looks like a Rover 3.5 (probably range rover so significant torque but lacking bhp)with hotwire flapper maf sensor. Carbs can produce more on these.
Easy to tune but arguably not the greatest of RV8 lumps and the hotwire setup is not known for being the pinnacle of accuracy
Thor intakes have a better reputation though I am sure Dunc probably has someyhing to say on this running a newer 4.6.
I liked my 3.5 but it was running on a quad body carb and dual plane intake which is a far better setup in my opinion.

[bash]

The 3.5s are the most reliable because of the well known probs with the larger bore engines. Speaking of bores.... all of the larger engines from 3.9 to 4.6 all have the same bore, capacity dictated by stroke, but this makes the castings thin where the steel liners are dropped in. The blocks are graded and the 4.6 have the 'best' ones allocated. unfortunately they all crack ( a very high proportion too, estimated at 3/4 from some sources ) behind the steel liner and because the liner doesnt have a flat at the top where the head gasket fire ring sits they pressurise and throw out thier water. Theres only one cure, top hat liners at a 4 figure cost but with these the head gasket fire ring sits on the liner hence no leaks. Its also a wise precaution to change the head bolts for a stud kit at the same time because alot of the cracks propogate at the base of the bolt holes, it is a very good cure tho and makes a very reliable engine almost bullet proof even when turbocharged. Read Hamills book on the subject but I warn you its a heavy technical read for engine builders rather than for someone who can build an engine.... there is a difference.
I notice that this has a bonnet scoop for the injection. Both the plenum and the trumpet base can lose height thro machining and I think by doing this the bonnet doesnt need a scoop.

bash
champion bore

[dunc]

All of the variants have some pro's and some cons..but on the whole they are cracking (no pun intended) lightweight alloy V8 engines that were years ahead of their time.

Bash- your right up to a point about the bores in the earlier generation of RV8 engines (3.5, 3.9, 4.2) being the same bore with differing stroke, but the later 4 litre and 4.6 cross bolted variants did have a larger bore and piston. My one has top hats with ARP studs holding the heads on.

I'll see your attempt at being the champion RV8 bore on these forums, and I'll raise it up a notch, droning on in my Andy Murray esque monotone about the larger ports, smaller combustion chamber, stronger crankshaft and cross bolting in the later 10 bolt engines vs the earlier 14 bolters....

Agree with Keiran about the hotwire efi offering no more power, but it does offer much better economy, as the carb (my one at least) dumps in excess fuel on WOT which the efi system doesn't.

Dunc
The undisputed heavyweight champion RV8 bore....

[Lotus-e-Clan]

Sounds like the RV8 might benefit from a zero pressure, corrosion-free cooling system?

[Pjr]

Now my WP belt has gone slack ive got a pressure free cooling system for free!

I do love a V8 and I was tempted by this car, although realistically i have no chance of getting permission to purchase.

Any ideas what sort of performance goes with each v8 variant? Just a ball-park idea?

[fueltheburn]

The 3.5 excel I rescued and now moved on was circa 175bhp and 245ftlb with quad barrel carb, dual plane inlet manifold, sd1 exhaust manifold but had a restrictive exhaust so should be around 190is after sorting the exhaust.
I would expdcct 4.6s to be around 230-260 bhp with more toque still.

The numbers dont sound much but I can assure you it is a completely different drive!

[Skyedriver]

Coming from someone who has owned a number of Rover V8 engined TVR and an Excel (briefly)
The engine will make it a completely different car to drive. I found my old Excel needed loads of revs to make progress, the TVRs on he other hand will pootle along merrily in a high gear and just GO when required.
On the other hand, my old Wedge had a reasonably good Rover L77 gearbox, the Chimaeras I've had have all had the stronger T5 gearbox which is a bit "clunky". Neither gear change was anything like the Toyota box in the Excel which I still rave about now 3 years on.
With the Rover/TVR engine you get the noise, but in years to come people will want originality so don't expect a Rover Excel to be worth much. (For reference see Triumph Stags with Rover engines and straight 6 Triumph 2.6 engines).
Engine wise based on the TVR (and Peter Wheelers enthusiastic figures (similar calculator to Colin Chapman):

350i (Wedge) = 190bhp
4 litre Chimaera = 240 or 265bhp for the HC
5 litre Chimaera = about 320bhp
in between there are 4.3 & 4.5 motors and the Wedges had a few special 3.9 motors (rare).
But its not all about BHP, the torque from low revs in a Rover V8 is much better than the 2.2 Excel motor.

But I still fancy another Excel just for the gearchange...................

[bash]

went for 4800, a bargain in my view