D2 V8 Auto. Preventative Maintenance?

[Jacko]

Hi Fella's
I have recently purchased a D2 V8 Auto. I am chasing some advice as to some preventitive maintainace measures. When i was reasearching these veichles i came across two major problems with the D2. (1) slipped liners in the engine bore (cause engine to hot ???) (2) auto transmission faliure. (oil temp to hot ???).
My thoughts steer towards aftermarket gauges, what do you think?. I am curious to ask how many people have had these problems and what they did to address them?. Also curious as to other problems that preventitive maintainace will fix? (ie. spend $500 now to save $5000 later).

[Grumbles]

The biggest Landy V8 engine killer is over heating. One over heat and your engine is toast.

1 - Check and/or replace the cooling fan viscous hub.
2 - Remove and have the radiator rodded. Flushing just isn't good enough.
3 - Replace the coolant expansion tank and cap if it is a black tank. Engine heat will have made it brittle by now.
4 - Check and/or replace all coolant hoses and drive belts.
5 - Install a low coolant alarm.

This sounds a lot but it is cheap insurance given the cost of a rebuilt or new short engine.

The ZF auto trannies seem to be long lived if given regular services.

[Jacko]

Thanks for the advice Grumbles. I have veichle booked in to Graeme Cooper to get an addition oil cooler for the transmission. I might get them to fit the low coolant level alarm and replace the expansion tank and check over the rest. Quick question what is rodding the radiator?

[Grumbles]

Rodding is where the cooant circulation "tubes/pipes/ hollow rods" inside the radiator are internally cleaned out to allow the proper and efficient flow of coolant which then allows it be cooled efficiently. They are the long pipes in the radiator with all the metal fins. The radiator will be removed from the car for this. It's like swabbing inside a pipe from end to end with a pipe cleaner.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

The ZF's fail due to
over heating,
no servicing,
and blowing off the connection to the cooler.