Not sure what to do... please advise about my 4.6 Engine

[Kalincho]

Hi All, as this is my first post I thought I had better write a few things down first.

I am in Perth, Western Australia. I am almost 32 years old and I don't earn a huge sum of money.

About six months ago I purchased a white 1995 HSE P38a for $8000.00 (186000km on the clock) from a client at work. I believed it had a good service record etc etc.

Converted it over to gas and ran like a dream, had a few niggling issues some cosmetic, some engine, (front cover gasket had a small oil leak) but generally speaking it ran well, had taken in north and inland on day trips etc, car had no flashing lights on dash, all airbags ok etc.

Had a few things change on it, general maintenance etc, changed leads and spark plugs etc, before conversion. Had done everything possible for a trip down south.

20km out of Denmark The car overheated and I had the car towed back home to Perth. (coolant in cylinder #4)

My friend and I had been working on the car (he is a experienced motor bike mechanic with a RAVE CD and what we could find online!) and Faced (and hot pressure tested) and changed both gaskets on the heads, started the engine and all ran well.

Next day, thinking all is ok, we started the engine and there was coolant in the #4 cylinder again.

Low and behold it looks like a block problem (slipped liner or porous block? )and this is where I need help.

As I asked a trusted dealer first, his best 'advice' was to put a new engine in at $9000. I definitively can not afford this amount, I was hoping that some one could offer some advice in other options around Perth?

In an attempt to fix the car I have bought new hoses/starter motor/ water pump battery etc.

I am looking for the best realistic choice (i know it will cost me something!)

Any help would be appreciated,

otherwise there will be parts available..:no2::no2:

Cheers

Kalincho

[mike 90 RR]

Hi to you .... Kalincho

One thing that a Rover hates, is to be overheated, as you have found out :(



All may not be lost ... Have a read of this thread that is located in the "Discovery" forum

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/discovery/72474-pinning-slipped-liner-d2-v8-thoughts.html

I would advise you send a PM to russV82a and discuss how it was done


The other way is to grab a motor from a Disco and install it


This link will get you to wreckers ... http://www.aulro.com/afvb/verandah/53833-new-land-rover-wrecker-wa-kewdale.html .. I have heard no complaints

Regards
Mike

:)

[Kalincho]

Mike 90 RR thank you for the quick post! from inspection it looks like it could be a cracked liner, could be the culprit... I didn't know much about engines (overheating) :wasntme:until I bought a Range Rover! ... still don't!

[Rupert Prior]

it`s a bodge, but when the owner has been desperate and the only option has been a new block, i have used a system sealer called Cargo Sealup (Repco stock it) and it has worked very well. you must follow the instructions on the bottle exactly and the only problem with cooling system must be the block (no blocked radiators, worn pumps or worn viscous fan couplings) on some vehicles it lasted over 2 years, but you must remember it will let go one day.

[big guy]

Hey mate
Very sorry to hear your demise.

I just been to TRS in adelaide, they have a almost new high compression 4.6 engine complete just sitting there.
It will slip right in.
Motor is complete and has done 30,oookm.
That would be my choice.
On the other hand, RPI UK has a new block made by someone else and the weak link the thin walls, block cracking and overall strength been taken care off.
Take a look in past posts on new blocks.
The motor from TRS is $5900.

Best of luck, but fix it right first time, the car was cheap and could give you a long service life.

[mike 90 RR]

The motor sounds terminally dead :(

BigGuy suggestion is a good choice for a replacement motor

Clicky here (http://www.triumphroverspares.com.au/page.asp?parentid=5&parent2id=15)


Failing that ... a visit to the wrecker that I put a link to is also worthwhile

Mike

[81stubee]

Hi Kalincho,

I feel your pain, I brought a P38 may last year, from a reputable person. Mine came with a cracked block but it was hidden very well with bars leaks.

I tried Chemiweld, and followed instructions exactly, and it worked for a couple of days. I didn't realise that it had blocked my radiator 60% which then caused another liner to come loose. I have had the car off the road since October. I am waiting for a phone call this week from TRS to say that my engine has been finished. For a little 5600, I will have my block completely rebuilt with High Comp pistons and a High performance cam etc....

Check out my threads here:
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/range-rover/66180-p38-4-6-what-would-you-do.html

and on www.rangerovers.net/forum (The RRnet is not working at the mo, so I can't give you a direct link to my post)

I could go on for hours about what I have had done, but it would be easier just read through other threads, and do a search.

Hang in there mate I feel you pain, your not the only one that this has happened to. I too also have been very cash strapped.

You could also PM andrew_e on here, as he is wrecking a few P38's at the moment.


Stu

[andrew e]

How quickly do you want it? i have wrecked a few P38s lately, and will be starting to strip another this week. I wont have the engine out for a few weeks though, but it is definately a good one (i spent several hours stuck in sydney traffic last week, and it didnt go above half).

I am also in the process of getting another 4.6 checked and freshened up by my local landover mechanic.

Being a private bloke, not a big wrecker, I'd ask less than half the prices quoted above.

Andy 0404372693

[Traco]

Don't bother putting another used 4.6 in, same problem may arise (about a 60% chance but better than the D2 V8's 75%). Sealants are a bit hit or miss and only a temporary fix.

A new Coscast block may be available from Rover Tec in Perth. Most of the UK RV8 suppliers are offering these now as replacements. They are reputed to have cured the cracking problem with a new casting, but it's early days yet.

The other option is to get your 4.6 rebuilt with top hat liners - this will fix the problem permanently. TRS here in Adelaide charge $3.5k for that service, not inculding removal and replacement of the engine in the vehicle.

[Kalincho]

Thank you for all of the responses, its been appreciated and good to know that others feel my pain too. :twisted:

After much deliberation I have decided to do a full motor swap with a 4.0L that I have sourced from the guys at Linn Rover, over in Kewdale. They were a great help and were happy to take the time with my thoughts and questions, and gave me a variety of options. I would say that they should be you first point of call if you need to source a part. plug. plug.

I have read that the that the 4.0L motors are not as sucepptable to the problems that my 4.6L has had... it is from another P38 (1996):confused:
I don't believe that I will need to have the BCM reprogrammed? :confused:
It seems to be a common thing to do over in the UK?

This was by far the cheapest option ($5000 cheaper) with the whole motor arriving in the next few weeks.:) (unfortunatley without an air con compressor :(if anyone has one for sale?)but with a bumper and a radiator to boot!

We have decided to do the job ourselves and any advice on doing this would be further appreciated.

Ps. If anyone knows a good way to remove the HSE 4.6 off the back of the truck please let me know!:)

[big guy]

Glad to hear you are happy, I do believe you are going backwards though.
the 4L has same problems.
as we said to you, do it right once.
TRS has a complete motor there, I saw it this morning for $5900, Its as new 30k km's and high comp.

Best of luck with your choice and hope all goes well.
remember take pics as you remove and label all hoses and wires.

[Scouse]

I have read that the that the 4.0L motors are not as sucepptable to the problems that my 4.6L has had... it is from another P38 (1996):confused:It's the same block, the 4.6 just has a different stroke.

You could transfer your crank, rods & pistons to the 4.0 to make it a 4.6 :).

[p38arover]

It's the same block, the 4.6 just has a different stroke.

You could transfer your crank, rods & pistons to the 4.0 to make it a 4.6 :).


According to Des Hammill, LR selected the thicker-walled blocks for the 4.6 engine.

How to Power Tune Rover V8 Engines ... - Google Book Search (http://books.google.com.au/books?id=gmSavy1RPxEC&pg=PA26&lpg=PA26&dq=hammill+rover+wall+thickness&source=bl&ots=nf2B4w9orT&sig=qwpgGLbo8KzIXPZFLHSmQ10PU78&hl=en&ei=GjLfSeOvMI7o6gOe9siMDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4)

[rofosixone]

hi ronald ,great info on p38 blocks that crack. more so on 4.6 motors were rover had a brain wave and made the thermostat open (so late ) at 96c (quote from above page 30). as they say at top gear ,what were rover thinking.good thing my simple crimping of yellow wires make thermo fans work ah ,cheers.

[Kalincho]

Thanks again for all of the advice.

The 4.0L motor has now been installed and is running well. We changed everything that we could including the font cover gasket, oil seals front + back, head gaskets, radiator, hoses, fuel filter, and the automatic transmission filter.

When we had the motor apart, looked inside the valley and it had a red mark on it, looking at the previous post link from Ron B, i interpreted it to mean that it has the 'best cast block' so fingers crossed.

Next in line is four new Dunlop bellows from the airbag man and a new air conditioner compressor, thanks for the advice from Mike 90 RR, his advice has saved me a few hundred bucks.

Will be taking it soon to a Landrover specialist to have it all tested out on the comp.

Thanks again to John and Sarah for their part in this adventure.

Feel much better now:D

Go Bombers! what a game! :o:D