THE ROVER SD1 FORUM

tomvz · SD1 User Joined: 19 Mar 2008 Posts: 2 Location: Brussels

i am the proud owner of a '83 sd1 2600S vandenplas. standing in our workshop for months now but never got around to work on it. has only 90000kms on the clock and has been standing still for last ten years.
engine turns now, all hydraulics redone, brakes, M/cyl,..
but now...how do i mod the engine? any tips, advice? exhaust-wise, ...whatever

cheers,
Tom

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chris_derby · Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 12:31 am Post subject:

Aah! Somebody with a 2600 VDP! Is it auto or manual?
I'm told that when the six cylinder engine was developed, it was found to be more powerful & to have more potential then the V8, so it was intentionally detuned & derated, as the V8 was the flagship powerplant...
I used to own a 2600 VDP, it was fitted with a stainless exhaust, which made it very lively & improved the performance no end compared to a standard 2600!
Don't know if there are any performance mods out there for the 6 cylinder engine, but I bet you could get a K&N air filter, & maybe change the carb needles, also, polishing & porting the cylinder head/inlet manifold would help things!
Also maybe replace the belt driven fan with an electric one to release a few horsepower?

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londonbabe · SD1 User Joined: 05 Jul 2006 Posts: 81

You can get K&N filters for them (well they were listed the last time I looked anyway)

Piper used to do a performance camshaft for the sixes. This would be the most effective way to increase the power, as it was by dumbing down the camshaft that the original performance was strangled. I saw a N/OS one on ebay once.

The engine already has really well designed inlet manifolds, hemi heads and big valves, and a decent exhaust manifold.

v8driver · Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 12:21 pm Post subject:

Quote:

I'm told that when the six cylinder engine was developed, it was found to be more powerful & to have more potential then the V8, so it was intentionally detuned & derated, as the V8 was the flagship powerplant...

During development the 2600 was making 150 bhp(with better economy than a V8 ),so other than the 'badge value' why would someone want a 155 bhp V8?,in the end Rover decided to use the same cam as the 2300 to restrict it to 136 bhp @ 5000 (with a decent 152 lbs/ft @3750).

I would make a guess at ported head,decent cam(probably the hardest to find,though some camanufacturers make custom cams),free er flowing exhaust,free flow air filter(K&N or simular),change carb needles to match(maybe even electric fans)....you would be knocking on the 200 bhp area(or close to it) and see you keeping or even seeing off standard(ish) Vitesses.

That 2600 has got a fair bit of potential....Still not enough?? Think super or turbo charged, though you are moving into big money then.

Gareth

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