SD1 engine and transmission

[Jens Munk]

I have come across an SD1 V8 from 1977. The body is rotted beyond repair but the engine and transmission are supposed to be good (177.000 km). Will they fit in my P5B?

I don't expect the engine to be a problem but what about the transmission? Room for it? Prop shaft? Gear selector? Speedo drive? Else?

Thanks,

Jens.

[eightofthem (Andy)]

I think the SD1 had either the BW65,or the GM180 box, cant tell you much about the GM as I have not handled one, still only a three speed though, if it were the BW65, it should fit, not sure about the rear mounting, the inhibitor switch is different, as is the selector method, the SD1 used a cable shift instead of the rod and linkage on the P5B, and the speedo cable screw head fitting may be different, but that can be overcome.

[harvey]

Aug 12, 2014 17:25:22 GMT eightofthem (Andy) said:

if it were the BW65, it should fit, not sure about the rear mounting, the inhibitor switch is different, as is the selector method, the SD1 used a cable shift instead of the rod and linkage on the P5B, and the speedo cable screw head fitting may be different, but that can be overcome.

SD1 BW65 has a different tailshaft housing to the P6B BW65, which makes it more difficult to fit, but the housings may swap over to make it easier, which would also solve the speedo cable connection problem. P6B BW65 had a cable selector, SD1 reverted to a single rod linkage.

[Jens Munk]

Thanks for your answers,

It is probably not worth the efforts to use this SD1 transmission - in particular since the stock transmission in my P5B is OK. The engine is more interesting since the oil consumption in the stock engine is rather high. Any comments on an SD1 engine upgrade?

Jens.

[petervdvelde]

Jens,

There are a few differences between the SD1 and P5B engine. These i know and Harvey will possible know a few more

1- The Sd1 has modern oil seals on the crankshaft and the early P5B engines have a rope seal which gives a higher chance on oil leaks
2- The SD1 engine has electronic ignition and the P5B has points
3- On the P5B, there is an breather opening which go's to the air filter housing and this opening is blocked on the SD1 engine
4- The compression ration on the P5B engine is 10,5:1 and the Sd1 has 9,35:1 so the Sd1 engine is less prone to pre-ignite the fuel
5- The valves in the SD1c head are a little bigger so it breathes better
6- There are differences in the front cover i believe especially near the oil filter area but i don't know if this causes problems.
7- The waterpump is different and you need to fit an P5B waterpump on the Sd1 engine but it is a straight swap.
8- The SD1 has an electric fuel pump so the hole on the front cover is blocked

In the Rover P5B i am currently restoring, i will fit a Sd1 engine and i also have an MGB which i converted to V8 with the SD1 engine.
I believe the SD1 engines are the best Rover V8's as the 3.9 could give trouble with the cylinder linings.
It is not original but i would go for the Sd1 engine especially if you have a P5B engine with a rope seal.
But this Sd1 engine could also have an oil consumption. With 177000 km it should have had engine work done otherwise your camshaft will not be so good anymore.

Hope this helps you. The Sd1 engines are not so plenty offered anymore. I am looking for a spare engine for quit some time now and i don't see these offered so often anymore

Peter

[enigmas]

The distributor drive is also different where it engages with the oil pump but the gear is the same. You can't just drop in your points distributor. Hopefully you have the electronic distributor that came with the engine.