Thread: Rebuilding a Rover V8

If you have a steep driveway make sure someone is filming you lifting the engine out so you can put it on funniest home video's when it goes through the windscreen,just kidding.They aren't a difficult engine to rebuild but a better idea I think would be to buy another one,thier cheap,and rebuild it so your still got wheels and you can take your time and muck around with it.I'd chase a 4.4. Pat

If you go ahead with rebuilding one i would be very interested in a tutorial.
It is something i am thinking of doing,Cam lifters ect.

Khos,
I do not think there is anything greatly wrong with your motor. your compression test suggests that you have a head gasket leak at no 8 cylinder which is pushing some gas into the adjacent waterway.

You can take the heads off and replace the headgasket without taking the engine out, and this is well within the realm of a home DIY and needs no special tools except a torque wrench.
To me your motor sounded great with no tappet noise and no bottom end noises. It certainly did not sound like it needed rebuilding or replacing.
I suggest that you do first things first and replace the head gaskets. If you DIY , it will cost you a couple of hundred for gaskets, aboout 2/4hundred for head mill and reco and about 1-2 days of DIY time.
Regard s Philip A

I've Just come back from seeing DPL , I'm seriously considering a conversion to a 4.6 with high comp piston and changing over to vapour injection LPG set-up, I have considered fixing my motor by putting a new head gasket in on the side with the compression leak but she is not to be a keeper & once this has been done i won't be quite happy with the set up , so it's not what I'm after, ultimately I'm after more power and Torque hence the 3.9 will be coming out, if the full conversion isn't gonna break the bank , but definitely Brett I'll try and do a DIY tutorial on the rebuild and have a 2nd Motor in the garage to play around with and take my time rebuilding it.

Phillip if I can Hold off this conversion I 'm going to have a crack at replacing the headgasket , I know that's definitely within my realm of a DIY mechanicising.

Originally Posted by V8Landy

If you go ahead with rebuilding one i would be very interested in a tutorial.
It is something i am thinking of doing,Cam lifters ect.

Bring the bugger around here and i'll show you how to rebuild it . I have the engine stand and all the tools to do so . So pull your finger out and we can get-er-done .

Originally Posted by Disco_owner

I have a few questions regarding re-building a rover V8 , I know someone is going to say if it aint broke don't mess with it

How hard would it be for a someone with half a mechanical apptitude to rebuild one on a steep drive way ?

Are there any special tools required to measure tollarances ?

Is it better to send the block away to get pressure tested for peace of mind ?

If I want to put in a different cam , will head work be required , valve seats etc.

can I hire an engine jack to pull the motor out ?

I'd want a lot more power from that motor and the idea of force induction sounds very tempting to increase VE . what is a suitable Turbo or supercharger for a Rover V8?

What parts in rebuild is usually salvageable ? Pistons , Conrods , Crankshaft

Any other thoughts or ideas are welcome ?

You can do it Khosi . if you can spin a spanner you should be able to rebuild a donk . Just have an overhaul book with you and set off on an oily adventure .

A standard 4.6 will transform your Discovery, even more especially if you fit a high torque camshaft at the same time.

I have a custom ground high torque camshaft in my 4.6,...torque about pull!!

Ron.

Right,I have called and ordered thru BMI head Gaskets for both sides of the motor , don't know which side was replaced previously so I'll replace them both , That way I'll know the history of the motor from here on , I've taken the advice of the wise ones here and have decided against a rebuild until I've decided what I'm going to do , but The headgaskets seem awefully cheap $25 ea, and I also ordered the rocker cover gasket seal , as both sides are shagged .

could anyone please tell me what size is the Cross head Bolt for the Rocker Cover , I can't seem to find a socket to fit it in 3/8" drive

thanks in advance.