Re: Range Rover engine ex Buick I believe

[C M Smith <cmsmith@domain.elided>]

Designed and built in the late 50 s or early 60's and abandoned by Buick, 
sold to British Leyland I think. An all aluminum design with a good 
pedigree and tuneable, even though merely a simple  US style ohv V8. (The 
latest Corvette gets some impressive numbers from an iron version of this 
layout, not related to the aluminum Buick, but using that similar layout)

This Aluminum powerplant was built in several states of tune and slung into 
things like Morgan (the Plus 8) the MGB GT, the Rover 3500 TC(now that was 
an impressive car), the later Rover sold over here which was not bad but 
not a patch on the ahead of its time predecessor, the Range Rover as noted, 
the TR8 (after the weak and leaky Stag V8 was ditched (two Dolomite 4 cast 
together essentially, a la Alfa Montreal), and no doubt others (I'd be 
surprised if TVR neglected this lightweight torquey powerplant)...

I dunno if it is still manufactured as BMW put their complex and sweet V8 
into the RR just before Ford bought the brand. Ironic really, the ohv 
engine is so easy to repair in the field, as would be useful for a genuine 
off road vehicle, and develops excellent torque low down, with good weight 
distribution due to light weight. Now there's a highly complex, highly 
strung dohc powerplant in this otherwise extremely competent off road vehicle.

Cheers


Michael Smith
Calgary, Alberta,Canada
91 Alfa 164L
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