Hello, my name is Erik.

The most recent post I see here (V8 Forum) is 2012, I'm hoping someone still watches here.

I'm contemplating stuffing a 3.5 Rover V8 into a 544.

I already have the engine (later model W/ EFI), and a transmission (small case 700R4).

I have seen pictures online of someone that has at least gotten the Rover in there.

I'm curious if anyone has dimensions on the engine bay.

I'm not too worried about the trans tunnel as the 544s in my area that are in my price range need floors anyway.

After all I wouldn't do this to a pristine model, I couldn't afford it. :D

It certainly could happen, but you mentioned Money as a consideration. This type of conversion to be drivable, safe and reliable will require skills or the ability to hire the skills. I am not familiar with the Rover, but if it's still the "little" Buick Nail head design that Rover got years ago, it should slide in. The steering box protrudes enough to interfere. Most folks stick w/ the inline 4 motors, but I did see in Sweden a 454 Big Block stuffed in a 544 w/ a flip front end, etc. Good luck with yours, it sounds Tasty. Keep us informed.

As to your comments on the V8 Brickboard members, we're just out here, driving our dependable, fast, reliable, sleeper bricks up and down the road.
My '84 760 was completed in 1996, before all the hoopla, and prior to Converse Engineering in Maine starting his ford conversion business. She's a mild sleeper with only 275HP, now has 60K mile , and has nailed a few Camaros/Mustangs here and there. I believe the real hot dog V8 Volvo racers chat on the Turbobricks site.

Regards from Kayo in sunny Florida...Now a Balmy 70 on Sat AM

"My '84 760 was completed in 1996, before all the hoopla, and prior to Converse Engineering in Maine starting his ford conversion business."

Converse was in business and had a 3-page spread in the May/June 1990 issue of Rolling, the VCOA magazine. But I didn't get mine on the road until 1996 either.




--
Bruce Young, '93 940-NA (current), 240s (one V8), 140s, 122s, since '63.

Great looking 240/5.0, and for the record, I was not hitting on your guy. We did several conversions for ourselves and friends here in Florida in the 90's. Fabricated several V6's some SBC V8's.The wives loved the V6's.

Converse took it to a science, and also built 2 Hot Rods for Paul Newman and David Letterman, 960/V8 wagons. The Newman wagon was out there for big dollars.

Regards from Sunny Fla, Kayo

What year is your 700R4? the 87 and later where better trans and the first gear ratio of 3.06 is much lower than than the 2.48 of the Aw 70 and 71 unless you find an aw 72 which is 2.84 first. good luck with your swap, hope this helps.

Don't use the GM transmission. Go with either the AW70 or 71 series automatic tranny from the 200 and 700 series. The Aisin Warner transmission is the same as the BW35 and 55 tranny used in the Rover 3500 auto and the TR8. Except it is a 4spd overdrive instead of a 3 speed like the BW35/55. Get the Rover 3500 or TR8 automatic bell housing. Try to use the Torque Converter from the AW 70/71. Remove the AW70/71 bell housing and bolt up the BW35 bell housing from the Rover 3500 / Triumph TR8. You will then have to figure out the motor mounts, etc. if the earlier Volvo uses the BW35 or 55 you can keep it and just change the bell housing as necessary to the Rover's. The one you currently have on the engine may work as well? I don't know as I haven't look at the Range Rover bell housing except I think it uses a ZF auto tranny. You may want to see if the Rangie's auto trans will fit the Volvo directly as it will most likely be geared better to the engine. Hope this helps? Good Luck!

My apologies, I was trying to give you a "thumbs up" for the technical information you provided, but my thumbs are wide and I may have gotten the "thumbs down" by mistake (new to this forum, how do I tell, can I change it if it's wrong?).

I'm hoping it went correctly.

As far as I know the 544 wasn't available (in the US anyway) with an auto.

I would love to use any of the transmissions you mention, but I have this one, all the overhaul components and a good support network for it locally.

I'll look to see if anyone here will fess up to knowing any of the BW autos, or AW autos (I'm expecting all that do to want large amounts of $$$$ for access to what they know).

I've found adapters for the small case unit I have (60* V6 RWD be housing) from two different vendors (I'm planning on using the one from D&D Fabrications).

Thank you for the information on the AW transmission, I'll go research those.