Quote:The V8 was designed by Oldsmobile and used in the 1961-63 Buick Skylark and Olds F-85 and in the Olds Jetfire turbocharged. I never heard they had overheating problems; more likely Rover fit too small of radiator? It was only a 3.5 liter, which was apparently too small for the american market. Buick had the V6 design of the same years in their Skylark. In 1964 they all went with the bigger V8s.

Buick then sold the V6 to Jeep ... and then later during the gas crunch bought it back and have been using it since 1975. This was the famous engine used in the turbo Buick Regal Grand National.

It was the Toyota jeep that used the Chevrolet-design straight-six. A tough but old engine design, but which makes it easy to bolt up a Chevrolet V8.

The early Rover V8 leaks from the rear main seal because of it's primative rope seal.They were redesigned 20 + years ago. If the engine was such a lemon as claimed it would not have been produced for so long. The MGB GT was fitted with the V8 the MGC had the truck like Austin 6 cylinder . I have extensive experience with the Rover/Buick engine and rate them extremely highly. I have fitted them to Dattos as well as MG's. Because it is a GM family design many Chev and Holden parts can be fitted to ensure durability in racing.

i recon the rope seal works better than the rubber one i have had both its all in how ya fit the rope and cut it i have also used the 2 peace rubber replacement for the rope seal there bloody rubbish but yeah there got good torque and power for small size and are light as.. good for conversions in to dattos and corolas ect i have thought of puting one in my bmw many times