The V62V engine
Hi everyone, I wonder if I could pick your collective brains please? You may remember a Clubman 6R4 coming up for sale on Ebay a while back,fitted with a development V62V engine. I seem to remember discussing the history and rarity (or not) of these engines on 6R4.net but can't remember just what info we discovered! My reason for asking is that I'm currently considering buying a similar Metro,again fitted with the 12 valve development engine. Up until recently I thought that there were only a handful of these engines produced,just enough to carry out the development work in the early cars,but it now appears that there were far more V62V's produced. Does anyone know roughly how many? And are they all of a similar design and spec? Did I hear that some are "cut down" V8 blocks and some are cast as V6? Any info on these early engines would be very much appreciated. A 6R4 minus it's glorious V64V seems to be the only way I'll ever be able to afford a 6R4 unless anyone knows of a suitable car for sale. If I had £35,000 spare I'd be spoilt for choice at the moment but that's out of my reach,I'm afraid,so will have to settle for something rather less exotic! All the best, Gary :)

Did that Irish one sell does anyone know? What about getting one and putting a V8 in it?

Speak to Ian Rowlance. He's got one ( a 3.0 l cast one I believe ) plus loads of bits. He rates them as an engine. Good luck with your "purchase" Garreth

Hi Mark, I'm not sure if the Irish car sold or not but I'd certainly have been very interested in that one if the price was right. Last I heard,the owner was holding out for £25,000 and that seemed rather a lot for a Club car without the V64V. A V8 sounds like a logical solution to the engine dilemma 'cos they are readily available and give plenty of power and torque for relatively little money. I remember watching a 6R4 with a V8 Rover engine on an event years ago and it certainly went well! I just wish it could replicate the wonderful sound the V64V makes... :P I'd certainly be happy to fit a V8 lump if it helps me to finally get hold of a 6R4. There was a Renault Clio 3 litre V6 24v engine and box for sale on Ebay recently and I gave serious consideration to buying it with a view to seeing if it could be made to fit in a 6R4 shell,but the thought of all the fiddly mountings and linkages put me off in the end! Plus it'd have had to stay RWD. It would have provided a reliable 230 bhp so would have been an interesting alternative,while sticking with the original capacity and configuration of engine for a Metro. Ian's Jaguar V6 conversion is also a fascinating proposition and has proved itself to be very competitive so that's something I can look at as well. All I need now is the rolling shell for whatever engine to slot into... Cheers, Gary.

Gary the V8 is the best alternative to the V64V as the rover v8 will go straight in and onto evrything no probs, apparently. The Jag V6 is another very good option to consider though, no doubt about it. As Mark has siad you would be best to speak to Ian Rowlance at 6R4.com to find out more. Please keep us updated Gary would love to see another 6r4 part of the forum :D

If ou are putting Rover V8 in the car you need to adapt the sump unless you have a diff like Andy Burton did and run the shafts from that then a shaft to a transfer box. Ian is your best bet and it will be a good advertisement for his business too. He has a car I think thats a rolling shell if not i will keep a look out or i'm sure someone will sell you one less engine as they would be ideal to get in a Darrian. I remember a Rothmans liveried car F604 WBV 8R4 JOHN DIXON

I'll certainly keep you up-to-date with any developments,Nicky...I'm just keeping my fingers crossed at the moment because there are an awful lot of "ifs" and "buts" in the way! Plus I want to be sure that I'm aware of everything that's available at the moment...I'm sure I'll only ever be able to afford the one car,so I need to make sure it's the right one! Thanks for the advice,Garreth...I'll keep an eye on Ian's site and consult him if I choose the V62V or Jaguar route. I notice that he's no longer listing the 12v engine on 6R4.com? And that rather nice shell seems to have been sold,too. Thanks again fellas, Gary :D

I know of a bare shell that could be still about or theres always Jon Burn's car failing that if you pm me what you are looking for price wise i know a guy that might let one of his go

Thanks for that,Mark. I've enquired about one bare shell which is still available (or was,just before Christmas) and it sounds a great price but I'm rather hoping I could get one of the 200-odd factory-built cars/shells complete with ID and 6R4 chassis number. The car I'm currently hoping becomes available is a chap's "spares car" - a standard Club car that has been stripped down and is now minus a few bits. It would require complete reassembly and the missing bits replacing and that's how it has come within my financial reach (but only just!). I love the idea of a project car - especially if it can save me a bit of money - which I'll no doubt need to run the thing! We're discussing various sale options (complete package or just the bits with no shell) but all of them depend upon the chap's rally car finding a buyer,so it may all yet fall through. I'm in no rush to buy,and my partner will kill me for getting one,but I'm more optimistic than ever before :shock: Thanks again for your kind offer of help in my search. Gary :D