Jongould · May 29, 2013

I am looking at dropping a 3.9 RV8 into a Manta B I should be picking up next week, there are a few reasons I have gone this way, the original engine is knackered, the RV8 is lighter than the original engine, I can get a complete RV8 for decent money and I have never had a V8 car so this should satisfy that little bug...

BUT!!!

The 3.9 is only 180bhp as standard so that simply wont do. I shall be keeping the EFi on it so I am thinking of remaps, cams, plenum chambers, exhausts e.t.c.

Juyst after some advice really on what to expect from what mods, I am realistic and would be happy at about 220-230bhp, I am hoping with the correct mods I can reach this without breaking the bank, if its going to be silly money I may look at the Omega 3.2 V6 although I do want that V8 burble!!

loudandproud205 · May 29, 2013

Go with the Omega TBH, extracting power out of the old V8 is expensive.

Have you thought about the 32v Lexus V8?

Jongould · May 29, 2013

loudandproud205 said:
Go with the Omega TBH, extracting power out of the old V8 is expensive.

Have you thought about the 32v Lexus V8?

Yeah was looking into that but its a heavy engine compared to the RV8, I do keep wondering about the Omega one, just need to find a doner car really, that could be the killer...

200tdi ayre · May 29, 2013

The RV8 is a rough engine and very hard to get power out of compared to some other makes my mate has spent over 4000 on his 4.6 and is only getting about 250 hp for the same money you could get a 600 hp small block Chevy

Jongould · May 29, 2013

American engines are out the question, too heavy in every way, I want to retain driveability so need to stay somewhere near the original weight...

MPfive · May 29, 2013

Megasquirt might be an option for the rover lump. Mates got it fitted to his and the improvement was like night and day after he got the ecu map fiddled with.

Jongould · May 29, 2013

I have done a bit more digging and I think I am leaning towards giving up on the RV8 engine, I have found someone with an XE engine (redtop Vauxhall) which with a few mods will out power the V8... not got the sound but guess that will have to wait for the hot rod I build in a few years (hopefully)

SnowmanV8 · May 29, 2013

Jongould said:
I have done a bit more digging and I think I am leaning towards giving up on the RV8 engine, I have found someone with an XE engine (redtop Vauxhall) which with a few mods will out power the V8... not got the sound but guess that will have to wait for the hot rod I build in a few years (hopefully)

Go for the omega engine it is a beast and still rumbles along.

Jongould · May 29, 2013

SnowmanV8 said:
Go for the omega engine it is a beast and still rumbles along.

The redtop is lighter and more tunable than the Omega one plus it bolts straight in and a set of carbs will give it the 200bhp im looking for, I may then throttle body it or force induction for that 250bhp figure...

SnowmanV8 · May 29, 2013

Jongould said:
The redtop is lighter and more tunable than the Omega one plus it bolts straight in and a set of carbs will give it the 200bhp im looking for, I may then throttle body it or force induction for that 250bhp figure...

My 3.2 in my vec had g cams blue tip injectors remap Courtney pump and k&n cold feed = 230. Out the box on an omega you have 200bhp. The 2.5 gsi vec engine is 192. And they have the V rumble.

ruffday · May 29, 2013

Jongould said:
The redtop is lighter and more tunable than the Omega one plus it bolts straight in and a set of carbs will give it the 200bhp im looking for, I may then throttle body it or force induction for that 250bhp figure...

The redtop is a good engine but they need to be revved hard to get the best out of them.

Dr_evil · May 30, 2013

BMW V12 or V8, I've been talked into using one of them next year for me hotrod build

Steve_R1979 · May 30, 2013

Dr_evil said:
BMW V12 or V8, I've been talked into using one of them next year for me hotrod build

Giving up on the Landy then??

Dr_evil · May 30, 2013

Nah landy is running now, just finishing it off this month and planning the next build

GINGE · May 30, 2013

Red top all the way, very lively engine, easy to fix, and easy BHP gains.

I was looking to get one in my mini i had years ago. Twin webber 45's mmmmh

They sound good as well.

As has been said, performs better at top end of the rev range though.

Jongould · May 30, 2013

BIG_GINGA_BEARD said:
Red top all the way, very lively engine, easy to fix, and easy BHP gains.

I was looking to get one in my mini i had years ago. Twin webber 45's mmmmh They sound good as well.

As has been said, performs better at top end of the rev range though.

Yeah Redtop is sounding like the better option, its an engine I love, have had a few now, had a 16V GTE (one of my all time fav cars) and a Cav SRi 16V. I would go twin 45's as well but nowdays you can get a set of bike carbs for less than £200 so will prob go that way, they are a bit smaller at 38-42mm but its still more airflow than the standard throttle body...

Spunka · May 30, 2013

Any pics of the Manta
I had a 2L GLS cavalier hatchback , the insurance was cheeper than a1.9 manta
Later on i got a 1.8 manta (hatch) great fun in the snow
I joind a Manta v8 owner club and got as far as shoe horning a SD1 in on home made mounts
Then ended up scaping the shell and useing the engine in a series 1

the pillerless doors on a Manta are tops,I iused the front spoiler off the cavalier and cut down the Manta dumper to a bumper, it looked ace.

Like all cars back then they root like funk

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