Re: Engine Conversions, David Luke

[Wal Thompson and Stephanie Rush <wal.t@domain.elided>]

Hi all

My Stag is very similar to David's - I have the Rover 3.5 conversion,
probably done mid eighties.   The carbs impinged on the bonnet line so
two holes were cut and then covered with a bulge. The exhaust was
originally two *rectangular!* headers leading through a *single!*
downpipe on each bank and on to the exhaust.   I quickly had a set of
flowed headers made for about 250Stg, which improved economy no end.  
It also sounded 100% better, but a friend in Blenheim (NZ) has an
originally engined Stag, and the noise from his is something special.   

David's comments re rather having an original Stag endorsed, but I'm
still more than happy with the power, performance and drivability of the
Rover engine/gearbox combo.   My car is fitted with the Rover 5-speed
and a Jaguar changer, I think the original diff, and I've had it through
120mph,  with a following wind! :-)
 
A quick note on your discussions re numbers of Stags in the US - here in
NZ around 300 were imported new, and even counting for attrition we
should still have 200-ish in some condition.   I would have thought you
had a lot more than just 500 left in the States...

My thanks to Peter Howells, Glenn Merrell et al for their continuing
good advice and expertise.

Wal