TVR Rover V8 — Griffith, Chimaera and S Series
The Rover V8 was TVR’s mainstay V8 through the 1990s, fitted to the Griffith, Chimaera and the S Series V8S. The all-aluminium 90° pushrod unit started life as a Buick design; Rover acquired the tooling in the 1960s, and TVR built on the 3.9-litre block, progressively enlarging it to 4.0, 4.3, 4.5 and finally 5.0 litres. All TVR Rover V8s use the Lucas 14CUX engine management system.
This page collects the headline specifications and the parts/cross-references most commonly needed when servicing one.
Architecture at a glance
Section titled “Architecture at a glance”| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Layout | 90° V8, all-aluminium |
| Valvetrain | OHV, pushrod, 2 valves per cylinder |
| Engine management | Lucas 14CUX (all variants) |
| Base block | Rover 3.9 V8, bored/stroked by TVR |
Variant specifications
Section titled “Variant specifications”Power and torque figures are the manufacturer’s published outputs; individual engines vary.
| Variant | Capacity | Power | Torque | Models |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | 3,950 cc | 240 bhp @ 5,250 rpm | 270 lb·ft @ 4,000 rpm | Griffith, Chimaera, S Series V8S |
| 4.0 HC (Hi-Lift cam) | 3,950 cc | 275 bhp | 305 lb·ft | Griffith, Chimaera |
| 4.3 | 4,280 cc | 280 bhp @ 5,250 rpm | 305 lb·ft @ 4,000 rpm | Griffith, Chimaera |
| 4.5 | 4,495 cc | 285 bhp | 310 lb·ft | Chimaera (stand-in while AJP8 development finished) |
| 5.0 | 4,988 cc | 340 bhp @ 5,200 rpm | 350 lb·ft (320 lb·ft with cat) | Griffith 500, Chimaera 500 |
Transmissions
Section titled “Transmissions”| Engine | Gearbox |
|---|---|
| 4.0 / 4.3 | Rover LT77, 5-speed manual |
| 4.5 / 5.0 | BorgWarner T5, 5-speed manual |
Cooling system
Section titled “Cooling system”Overheating is the most common complaint and is usually traceable to a tired water pump, a failed thermostat, or fan/wiring issues rather than head gasket failure — but always investigate properly before drawing conclusions.
| Part | Specification / cross-reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Expansion tank | Audi 100 / A6 — 4A0 121 403 | Corner of the tank needs trimming to clear |
| Expansion tank cap | VW V443 121 321 | |
| Thermostat (original) | Quinton Hazell QTH221 | Opens at 85 °C |
| Thermostat (alternative) | Quinton Hazell QTH134 | Opens at 78 °C — cooler running |
Lucas 14CUX engine management
Section titled “Lucas 14CUX engine management”Common failure modes on these ECUs and sensors:
- Dry solder joints inside the ECU — reflowing the board often cures intermittent running.
- Coolant temperature sensor drift — causes poor cold-start and fuelling issues.
- Throttle potentiometer wear — uneven idle, hesitation off-idle.
- Air flow meter failure — typically presents as over-fuelling.
Fuel system
Section titled “Fuel system”| Part | Cross-reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| In-tank fuel pump | Bosch 0 580 254 957 | 128 l/h at 5 bar (listed for 4.2 Cerbera; verify before fitting to Rover V8 cars) |
| Fuel filter | Coopers FIG 7003 / Bosch 0450-905-084 or 957 / FRAM G3831 |
Fuel-system work is safety-critical — use the correct rated hose and clamps and pressure-test before running.
Oil system
Section titled “Oil system”| Part | Cross-reference |
|---|---|
| Oil cooler | Serck Speed 7019937 |
| Oil filter | Land Rover ERR 3340 / Champion C145 |
Short oil-change intervals (around 3,000 miles) are widely recommended by owners given the engine’s hard-working life in a light car.
Exhaust
Section titled “Exhaust”| Part | Source / cross-reference |
|---|---|
| Rear silencer | Magnex (available direct) |
| Mounting rubbers | Bosal 255-593 / Powerflex EXH 005 |
Steering
Section titled “Steering”| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Power steering rack overhaul | power-steering.co.uk — around £115 with warranty |
| Electric PAS pump swap | Citroën Saxo electric pump — approx. 30 A draw, fit via a suitably rated relay |
| Steering rack gaiter | Ford Granada 1995 / Quinton Hazell QG2300 or QG1062 |
Charging
Section titled “Charging”| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Alternator | Land Rover 3.9 V8 petrol unit — Britpart AMR3107 (around £120) |
| Pulley | Transfer the original TVR pulley onto the replacement alternator |
Chassis health
Section titled “Chassis health”While not strictly an engine topic, the Rover V8 cars share well-known corrosion hot-spots that are worth checking whenever the engine is out:
- Rear outriggers
- Floor pans
- Front lower wishbone mountings
- Brake pipe runs
Specialist chassis restoration is offered by firms such as RT Racing (Sheffield).
Safety note
Section titled “Safety note”Brakes, fuel and suspension work must be carried out to the manufacturer’s torque and specification — if in doubt, consult a TVR specialist before driving the car.
Compiled from community-shared notes and owner forum knowledge — always verify part numbers and figures against the original manufacturer’s data or a TVR specialist before relying on them.