Morgan/Rover Head Casting Numbers and Types

Pre 1976 There are few pre-SD1 heads in circulation now. Apart from having more restrictive ports they also had smaller valves like the Buick 215. Standard pre-SD1 valves are 38mm inlet and 33mm exhaust.
ERC 0216 1976-87 SD1 production for twin SUs (carbs in general), all V8s from the introduction of the SD1 took on the new specification cylinder heads. They incorporated larger inlet & exhaust valves as well as revised combustion chambers (36cc), taking a 19mm reach spark plug. Anything with a V8 made between the noted dates should have this spec. The SD1 also introduced inlet valve umbrella oil seals, simply a nitryl washer which is pushed over the valve stem before fitting the spring and retainer. These seals often breakdown under the severe environment inside the engine and disappear altogether!
ERC 0216 Vitesse On introducing fuel injection a small cutout was ground in each inlet port to clear the injectors, with the special Vitesse, the heads also incorporated flowed valves; with a 30° back cut and wasted stems on the inlet valves, very different from the standard SD1 type. As the SD1 was phased out of production, the Range Rover was just going over to Efi, thus all V8s after this date feature virtual vitesse spec Efi cylinder heads, including the first 3.9s.
HRC 2210 Early 90's. Here comes the confusing time period. It seems sure that all V8s now had vitesse valves, as after 1993 Efi became standard. In 1993 or just before, the valve guides changed to the modern cap type (blue), one for each valve, all V8s took on this feature yet the casting remained as per the Vitesse. 4.2 Litre motors however also had factory standard vitesse heads, but during production Rover switched to composite gaskets, whilst retaining vitesse heads. The heads were machined to bring back the required compression, the same thing happened to the then current 3.9; you may also see some 4.2s with only 10 head bolts, the outer 4 holes through the head being plugged, these are the composite gasket units.
HRC 2479 1994 Tempest and Thor With the introduction of the new Range Rover a new head was brought into being, with a revised casting  the head had larger ports than the vitesse heads but retained the same valves and guides which were present from 1993 onwards. The combustion chamber volume (29cc) was also reduced (by simply machining off more material on the face) to compensate for the increased thickness of the composite head gaskets and probably most noticeable, the 14 head bolts were reduced to 10, the 4 outermost being removed. Incase you're told otherwise, 4.0 and 4.6 litre heads are identical.
WILDCAT HEADS There are aftermarket heads..the most popular being Wildcat heads from Wildcat Engineering in the UK These are a completely new casting with much larger, higher ports that have a straighter path to the cylinder. These heads can be fitted with 49mm inlets and 41mm exhausts. Power outputs of 400-450HP are easily achievable with these if the rest of the engine is built correctly.
OTHER HEADS On a periodic basis other performance heads appear. They are invariably expensive and often have casting anomalies. Be very careful.


Plus 8 Timing Covers

The Plus 8  V8 has been under our bonnets for so may years it is not surprising that many components have undergone changes, the timing cover or 'front cover' is one of the most noticeable. Please excuse the dates below as each change had a transition period.

Buick 215 These covers are similar to the pre-1976 covers (see below) except their oil pump casing points in an unusable direction for a Morgan. 

Pre 1976  The cover uses rope oil seals around the front pulley and a short oil pump casing, the water pump is situated above and between the block water inlet passages, with the distributor held down with a clamp and separate bolt.  (N.B. Range Rover.  From it's introduction in 1970 this vehicle had a redesigned cover, the only differences from the saloon cover being the positioning of the larger water pump, above and to the left of the block water ways and an oil seal protector plate.)

Additionally both of the covers gained deeper oil pump casings allowing for greater flow, metric oil filter threads and rubber lip seals for the pulley.

Sd1 1976-1986  both of the covers gained deeper oil pump casings allowing for greater flow, metric oil filter threads and rubber lip seals for the pulley.

1987  The SD1 ceased production and with it died the original saloon timing cover, from this date all covers were those designed for 4x4 vehicles.

1990-1993  The cover gained studs to hold in the distributor rather than a separate bolt.

1993  A new cover was introduced for the 3.9 (and the non-Morgan 4.2) late model engines with long cranks, this is shown at the top of the page and was the best cover to date, using a rotor oil pump of greater capacity than the old type and using a new water pump design with a counter rotating impellor.  However it is not easy to fit to an older 3.5 as the crank nose was lengthened in order to accommodate the oil pump and pulley, 3.5 cranks aren't long enough.  Although the oil filter attaches and points in the same direction as the older cover, there is no separate oil pump base as obviously is is not required.

1994 - 1999 A new cover was introduced which was much thinner than it's forbearers, having no hole for a distributor the cover is very compact, having the oil filter fitting pointing directly downwards. The oil pump is driven by the crankshaft rather than the camshaft and is fully incorporated into the cover, making an oil pump replacement incredibly expensive and tedious. However, it increases oil pressure. It is unsuitable for any V8 owner who wishes to run a distributor. 

WATCHPOINT These later distributerless covers can be replaced if you are lucky enough to find a "INTERIM COVER". These are made to fit with all engines are are driven off the crankshaft as well. However, they are made to run with a distributor. 

WATCHPOINT 2 May 12, 2018 I have noticed that J.E. Developements, a respected supplier, is now offering these dual purposes covers at 1/2 the price than Land Rover was last selling its single pupose Gems covers.

1999 - 2004  Identical except for an extra sender unit boss mounted above the oil filter housing. For replacement, read above. 

N.B. It may be an idea to pick up a spare timing cover if you have a pre-1988.
 

Replacing Valve Seals or Valve Springs (with the heads on)

Valve stem seals can be replaced with the heads in place in the car. Bend up a 450mm piece of 10mm rod into a sharp vee, 50mm from one end. Then bend the rod at right angles next to the vee to form a handle.  The rod can be used to depress the valve spring by hooking the point of the vee over a rocker stud with a nut on it. To hold up  the valve, turn an old spark plug into an air connector and use a compressor, or feed about one metre of small rope into the cylinder and jam it up with the piston.

BACK