International Roverz of Mystery (2300/2600 launch vid)

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

The inner Shiter in me didn't do the sensible thing in 1988 and buy one of the many cheap as chips 3500's.

No.

I bought an ex police 2600 manual in pendelican white. CYW579V iirc, four pot calipers and magnesium Minilites. Being ex met, it was 2300 based so no Nivomat (pity), basic trim etc. But fuck me, it went well and it would be some 3500 that got past with any authority.

Roundly recognised as shit, the PE166 engine with a bit of care was in fact a very good engine. The 2300 was smooth but fartless, the 2600 obviously strangled to keep power down resulting in impressive mid range shove.

Discuss, if you please.

[LynehamHerc]

Apparently there were plans to make it 3 litres with a 4 valves per cylinder head, I believe using the Dolly Sprint type of mechanism, but this was canned as it would have easily out performed the 3500.
It would have made a lot of sense for markets where the tax rose a lot for cars over 3 litres or to do a 2.8 litre for Germany, I think their tax break was at this level.
LJKS did a good article on it in Car at the time.

[AutoshiteBoy]

For me, the sixes are where its at on the SD1. My gaffa -who sold literally hundreds of them- says the same.

Its amazing how strangled the PE166 was when you look at them. Amazing too how fundamentally strong they were. Theres a rumour the TD5 and the K-series shared some pioneering features of that engine.

[Hooli]

I seem to recall Breadvan preferred the six as well, hence owning one and saying much the same about it.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

The cam was used to operate both inlets and exhausts, and had a duration of around 230 degrees. Incredibly tame - it ought to have been 250-260 degrees.
The Rover V8 was OK, but it was no prize. It was a very old OHV design and Ze Germanz were making 2.5 litre sixes with the same power. Sounded nice though.

[AutoshiteBoy]

The V8s drank the fuel, regardless of load. The sixes didn't.