Rover V8 engine

[Alfa Ric]

Hi all
Just bought a Rover V8 engine for my project and i have a question;
I striped the engine for rebuild and written down the engine number to look for some data and nothing I spend the last couple of hours searching the net and can't find a single answer.
On the engine block were the engine number should be/is are 2 aluminium plate glued over the original engine number that read DRM200 3822
I know that is a ROVER engine
I was told that it is a 3.5L unit
I found out that this engine was rebuild some were in the past because one of the pistons has a diferent marking than the other 7
Apart from that the engine is in very good nick but I decided to rebuild it anyway
Can someone out there give me idea about these numbers (DRM200 3822)

Thanks
Ric

['Mendip Wurzel']

I don't recognise these engine numbers. As far as I know that are not the normal numbers that you would expect to see on a Rover V8. Do you know what vehicle the engine came from.

[Alfa Ric]

Hi
No I don't know were it came from I bought it from a land Rover specialist and he told me that e bought a batch of V8 engines some years ago be he can't tell me from witch car this engine came from originally.
Going to remove the 2 ally plates to see the original number

Ric

[Hairy Santa]

Give a go with the off roader or landrover clubs, you might have some luck there

[Alfa Ric]

Just removed the 2 ally plates glued over the numbers on the engine block and guess what ?
The only numbers there are 1 08 80 
(?)

Ric

['Mendip Wurzel']

Very strange, basically I haven't a clue.... most of the Rover V8 numbers start with two numbers and then a letter. Some of the Rover SD1s start with a 1 etc.

I wonder if this engine came from a batch that had an alternative use ... ie, the military or from abroad.   

[Alfa Ric]

Bugger, I thing I was looking in the wrong place for the engine number...
The DRM200 3822 and the 1 08 80 numbers are were the CR number should be (engine block by the dip stick hole)
Can someone tell me were the engine number is located ?

Ric

['Mendip Wurzel']

The engine number is on the same side as the dip stick. I need to take a photo and send you if you can't find it. It should be fairly large and obvious. As an example a typical SD1 Rover could read 11A00001A, this sort of layout of numbers and letters is what you are looking for... or without the last letter.

[Alfa Ric]

Well gave up on identifying the engine...
I know now that is a early model because of the water pump and that it is a 3.5L   
I'm now looking for a bell housing for this engine to mate a LT77 5 speed gearbox, Any one ?
I have lots of diffs to choose from but any suggestions on a good reliable one ?
I'm thinking on one from a 5 pot diesel Merc (LSD ?)

Ric

[foggy]

Reference engine number. My mate is into military vehicles, they ran a lot of V8's/V6's in a vehicle called a 1 ton forward facing cab built between 1970-1975. At the moment he is on holiday,if any one knows about engine numbers he will, he's been all through this with his engines. I will give him a call when he is back, perhaps he can shed some light on it for you.

['Mendip Wurzel']

Well gave up on identifying the engine...
I know now that is a early model because of the water pump and that it is a 3.5L   
I'm now looking for a bell housing for this engine to mate a LT77 5 speed gearbox, Any one ?
I have lots of diffs to choose from but any suggestions on a good reliable one ?
I'm thinking on one from a 5 pot diesel Merc (LSD ?)

Ric

I think the 3.5 was up until 1990 on the Discovery

[Alfa Ric]

Thanks foggy
I will take all the numbers in my engine block and let you know.
For MendipWursel
Yes I know it started life in the Rover P5 in 65 them on to P6 later on the Rover SD1.
In 78(?) it went in to Land Rover defender 90/100/110 and in some military LRs.
Also in many small production cars like the MGB V8/ Triumph TR7/8 and many others....
My problem is my engine doesn't have the usual number like 10A/20A and so on (not even the CR rate is there) only 2 ally plates glued were the number should be.
On the plates is DRM200 3822 when I removed them I could read 1 08 80 stamped on the engine block.
I was cleaning the engine the block and found some numbers (cast numbers ?) and another stamped in the top LH side its a round stamp with the letters/numbers PT20.

Ric

[Richard]

date stamp ?

[foggy]

I found this information out about ex-military V8's.If you take the top off the engine block (which you might have already done,as you are rebuilding it) and looks if there is no channels for the coolant to circulate in the top block, it is a military one. The military ones did'nt have the same top block as the civilian version and they regulary burned out. Later models rectified this. I hope you understand all that, this information came from a guy in the Royal Logistics Corps and I don't understand any of it myself!  He does not recognise the engine number.

[Alfa Ric]

Thanks foggy
Looks like I have the later one because there is a water channel in the front and back of the block and a water channel running from front to back on the exhaust side of the cylinder head.

Ric

['Mendip Wurzel']

Ric, Your engine isn't listed but I thought this may be of interest..... 

Factory 3.5 Litre Engines

Engine Number   Application   Approximate Year
84000001A   P5 3500 10.5:1cr   
84100001A   P5 3500 10.5:1cr   
84300001A   P5 3500 10.5:1cr   
42500001A   P6 3500 auto 10.5:1cr   1967-1976
42700001A   P6 3500 auto 8.5:1:cr   1967-1976
43000001A   P6 3500S auto 10.5:1:cr   1967-1976
43200001A   P6 3500S auto 8.5:1:cr   1967-1976
45100001A   P6 3500 auto 10.5:1cr   1967-1976
45300001A   P6 3500 auto 8.5:1:cr   1967-1976
45500001A   P6 3500 auto 10.5:1cr   1967-1976
46600001A   P6 3500S auto USA   1967-1976
48100001A   P6 3500S manual 10.5:1:cr   1967-1976
48500001A   P6 3500S manual 10.5:1:cr   1967-1976
10A00001A   SD1 manual 9.35:1cr   1976-1987
11A00001A   SD1 auto 9.35:1cr   1976-1987
12A00001A   SD1 manual 8.13:1cr USA efi   1979-1980
13A00001A   SD1 auto 8.13:1cr USA efi   1979-1980
14A000001A   SD1 auto 8.13:1cr Sweden   1976-1987
15A00001A   SD1 auto 8.13:1cr Australia   1976-1987
16A00001A   SD1 auto 8.13:1cr Japan   1976-1987
17A00001A   SD1 V8S manual 9.35:1cr   1979-1980 (VDP 1981 on)
18A00001A   SD1 V8S auto 9.35:1cr   1979-1980 (VDP 1981 on)
19A00001A   SD1 manual 8.13:1cr Australia   1976 onwards
20A00001A   SD1 Australia 8.13:1cr efi   1982 onwards
21A00001A   SD1 Australia 8.13:1cr efi   1982 onwards
23A00001A   SD1 manual 8.13:1cr SE/VDP   1982-1987
24A00001A   SD1 auto, air con 8.13:1cr SE/VDP   1982-1987
25A00001A   SD1 manual 8.13:1cr SE/VDP   1982-1987
26A00001A   SD1 auto 8.13:1cr SE/VDP   1982-1987
27A00001A   SD1 manual, air con 8.13:1cr SE   1982-1987 hot climate
28A00001A   SD1 auto, air con 8.13:1cr SE   1982-1987 hot climate
30A00001A   SD1 Vitesse manual 9.75:1c   1982-1987
31A00001A   SD1 efi auto 9.75:1cr   1982-1987
32A00001A   SD1 Vitesse manual, air con 9.75:1   1982-1987
33A00001A   SD1 efi auto, air con 9.75:1   1982-1987
34A00001A   SD1 Switzerland 9.35:1cr   1982-1987
36A00001A   SD1 Switzerland 9.35:1cr   1982-1987
38A00001A   SD1 factory recon 9.35:1cr   1982-1987
39A00001A   SD1 factory recon 9.35:1cr   1982-1987
10E000001A   TR8 manual 8.13:1cr   1980
11E000001A   TR8 auto 8.13:1cr   1980
12E000001A   TR8 federal efi manual 8.13:1cr   1980
13E000001A   TR8 federal efi auto 8.13.:1cr   1980
14E000001A   TR8 manual 8.13:1cr   1980
15E000001A   TR8 auto 8.13:1c   1980
30A0000   Morgan +8 9.75:1cr efi   
37A0000   Morgan +8 9.75:1cr efi   
48600133A   Morgan +8 9.35:1cr carb   
37A0000   TVR 350i 9.75:1cr efi   
10G00001   Land Rover Stage 1 V8 8.13:1cr   1982
11G00001   Land Rover Stage 1 V8 8.13:1c   1982
12G00001   Land Rover Stage 1 V8 8.13:1cr   1982
14G00001   Land Rover 90/110 8.13:1cr   1983 on
15G00001   Land Rover 90/110 8.13:1cr   1983 on
19G00001   Land Rover 90/110 Saudi   1983 on
20G00001   Land Rover 90/110 8.13:1cr   1983 on
21G00001   Land Rover 90/110 8.13:1cr   1983 on
22G00001   Land Rover 90/110 Australia   1983 on
24G00001   Land Rover 90/110 8.13:1cr   1983 on
27G00001   Discovery manual, carb 8.13:1cr   1989
22D00001   Discovery manual efi 8.13:1cr   1990
23D00001   Discovery auto efi 8.13:1cr   1990
24D00001   Discovery efi 9.35:1   1990
35500001C,D,E   R.Rover carb 8.25:1cr   1970-1983
35500001F   R.Rover carb 8.13:1cr   1970-1983
34100001   R.Rover carb 8.25:1cr   1970-1983
35900001A   R.Rover carb CKD 8.25:1cr   1970-1983
39800001F   R.Rover carb Australia 8.13:1cr   1970-1983
11D00001A   R.Rover carb pulsair 9.35cr   1970-1983
13D00001A/B   R.Rover carb auto 8.13cr   1981-1985
15D00001A/B   R.Rover carb pulsair auto 9.35cr   1981-1985
16D00001A/B   R.Rover carb pulsair auto 9.35cr   1981-1985
17D00001A/B   R.Rover carb pulsair manual 9.35cr   1983-1985
18D00001A/B   R.Rover carb manual 8.13cr   1983-1985
19D00001A/B   R.Rover carb pulsair manual 9.35cr   1983-1985
20D00001B   R.Rover carb pulsair manual 8.13cr   1983-1985
21D00001B   R.Rover carb pulsair auto 8.13cr   1983-1985
22D00001   R.Rover/efi manual 8.13:1cr   1986 onwards
23D00001   R.Rover/efi auto 8.13:1cr   1986 onwards
24D00001   R.Rover/efi manual 9.35:1cr   1986 onwards
25D00001   R.Rover efi auto 9.35:1cr   1986 onwards
26D00001   R.Rover carb manual 9.35:1cr   1986 onwards
27D00001   R.Rover carb auto 8.13:1cr   1986 onwards
28D00001   R.Rover carb manual 8.13:1cr   1986 onwards
29D00001   R.Rover carb auto 8.13:1cr   1986 onwards
30D00001   R.Rover carb manual 8.13:1cr   1986 onwards
31D00001   R.Rover efi 8.13:1cr 8.13:1cr   1986 onwards
S46D0000A   Morgan +8 9.35:1cr efi   
37A50P0000   TVR Griffith/Chimaera 500 10:1cr efi   
47A43P0000   TVR Griffith 4.3 efi    
47A50P0000   TVR Chimaera 500 10:1cr efi   
47G50P0000   Sherpa 3.5   

[Alfa Ric]

Thanks
I have seen that list somewhere on the net but still a good thing for someone like me looking for information.
Can I ask the members of the forum with Rover V8 engines if they can have a look at their engine block and post here the engine number and the one on the round stamp on the left hand cylinder block (front side just under the head gasket) so I can have a idea, mine reads PT20.

Ric

[Alfa Ric]

Bad news on the engine front....
One of the bores is damaged due to water ingress from the carburetor.
Someone can recommend a good engineering shop to do the job in the wiltshire area ?

Ric

[peterw]

Just a thought, have you tried Rimmer Bros or RPI Engineering They seem to know all there is to know about Rover V8's. Maybe if you say that you are going to buy some parts from them they could probably solve your mystery

[peterw]

If I remember tomorrow I will have a look at my numbers for you

[Alfa Ric]

I have read about RPI and they do have a very good reputation but they are a bit far away from Swindon.
About the numbers in the engine I found a couple more.

Ric

[Billy Bob]

Well if there is slight damage to one of the bores you may as well get it machined to the 3.9 bore sizing then fit the shorter piston and have the full (technically) 4.0l engine!! 

[Alfa Ric]

Not a bad idea but the 3.5 is allready a big drinker ... 
Found this engineering firm close to Swindon, South Cerney Engineering Limited and going to give them a call.

Ric

[gingerpaul]

I'd be slightly wary of RPI having had a "well we've always done it this way so it must be right" type of conversation with them. They have a great selection of bits though. Real Steel are good if you know what you're after. Abbey Sportscars (V8Tuner) are good for parts too and Paul knows his stuff.

I'd be tempted to talk to V8 Developments if you need work actually done on the engine. They've got a pretty good reputation.

[gingerpaul]

Ahh, if you're near to Swindon none of those are any use. Ignore me, apart from Abbey Sportscars who are great to use mail order.