Rover 200 & 400 Owners Club

neal · Post by **neal** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 4:37 pm

I have been doing alot of reading about Rover K engines constantly blowing Head Gaskets, whilst Honda engines are reliable.

Is there anyone or anywhere with an overview and detailed description of what needs to be done (step by step guide) to replace a K engine with a Honda engine?
Can someone supply a www link?
Can someone suppy approx cost?

Thanks

Mine is a 1996 Rover 214 si 1.4litre petrol 4 cyl engine.

Smithy · Post by **Smithy** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 4:50 pm

The hondas blow headgaskets as well.

neal · Post by **neal** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 5:26 pm

:shock:

No solution to blowing rover engine head gaskets then?

Red Icon · Post by **Red Icon** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 6:46 pm

Headgaskets blow because of poor maintenace, if you keep the coolant up to the max level, and DON'T rev it from cold, allow 5 mins normal driving, then you can rev it if you must, you will not have any problem unless you are very unlucky

neal · Post by **neal** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 2:10 pm

Thanks for the good advice.

I am still curious about my original question. Is it possible to put a Honda engine into a 1996 214si 200 which is currently a 1.4l Rover K engine?
Where can I find out how?

Smithy · Post by **Smithy** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 5:56 pm

I can't see why not, I haven't heard anyone of doing it though.

whiskeyonesix · Post by **whiskeyonesix** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 6:43 pm

May aswell sell the K-series car, and buy a honda-engined one, probably wont be alot of difference in price.

But going onto price - engine (+gearbox if you like - the 1.4 will have a different box to a honda 1.6 correct me if im wrong) probably pick one up from an autobreakers for around £100 maybe cheaper, you`d have to change all the ancillaries I reckon, plus ecu`s and whatnot, maybe radiator.
If you were going to do it, I`d say try and find a rear-ended 200/25 and swap everything over.

Job wont be too expensive if you do it yourself, hiring an engine hoist will be the dear part, but I`d imagine a garage would charge a coupla hundred quid I reckon.

E_T_V · Post by **E_T_V** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 7:06 pm

Changing the engine is a LOT of work. You'll need to swap the engine, and gearbox at least. Then there is the wiring loom, ecu etc etc etc. All in all it really isn't worth the hassle. For the same price I reckon you could repair 2 or 3 headgaskets on the K series.

If you have a bubble 200 then there are a couple of things you can do to reduce the likleyhood of HGF.

As above don't rev/drive the engine hard from cold.
NEVER drive the car with a low coolant level.
You can retrofit a low coolant level sensor which will give a dash warning light before you cook the engine.
If the gasket blows then replace it with the landrover replacement gasket which is much more reliable than the standard rover one and ensure your car is fitted with metal dowls rather than the later rubbish plastic ones.

Our old 214 did 70k miles (some of them really hard driving), under our ownership without problem. So if they are looked after then they are fairly reliable. What they cannot stand is being overheated and as the coolant capacity is so small this is VERY easy to do.

IanL · Post by **IanL** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 11:06 pm

There is a new head gasket available, as fitted to the Landrover Freelanders which is supposed to completely cure the problem. Try Rimmer Brothers http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/.

Also read the essay "King K" at
http://www.austin-rover.co.uk/essaykseriesf.htm, with regard to the head gasket problems and new type of thermostat which prevents thermal shock during warm-up.

Ian

rover220 · Post by **rover220** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 7:25 pm

thats the stupidest idea ive ever heard.

very very very very very difficult to swap from rover to honda lumps...as good as impossible.

Exchange engine. Honda for Rover (K)

Exchange engine. Honda for Rover (K)

New style head gasket