Thread: Dreaded loose liner, would you go 5 liter?

Thank you all for your insights, I've read your comments and also trawled through the forum gleaning information from others who have had similar issues. I've decided against a 5.0 liter engine.

That is because I've found an engineering company that is well regarded, according to comments on several UK forums, who do a 5.4liter Top Hat conversion. The final engine will look like this:

The engine will consist of a 96.5mm top hat linered block, which is fitted with new cam bearings and the whole geometry of the block is checked and machined if necessary, the crankshaft is an sg nodular 92mm stroke which is cross drilled for better oil lubrication and tuffrided for extra strength, the con rods are an h beam section rod which are able to withstand 800bhp and these are bronze bushed for the little ends, and fitted with arp bolts, the pistons are a custom piston we have made in America by a company called diamond, we have used this company for many years now, not the cheapest but IMHO one of the best forged piston manufactures out there, the pistons are also ran flush at the top of the bore to give a better squish pattern and allow a higher compression ratio. all the rotating assembly is fully internally balanced for smooth running, the camshaft would be a chill cast cam again for longevity and would a special grind item to our own specifications. The cylinder heads i would suggest the stage 3 ones, these are fitted with shorter bulleted guides, 2mm oversize valves, the ports are ported and polished to our own specification, all the combustion chambers and reshaped and matched to within .01 of a cc. The heads are bolted down with our completion head bolts and copetion head gaskets. The inlet manifold is again fully ported and polished and matched to the cylinder heads, the trumpet base is fitted with shorter 45mm trumpets and again matched to the inlet manifold, i was thinking about the plenum and to be honest for the extra cost you may as well have one as it will improve power but more importantly throttle response as well. I have also added into the cost the fitting of a reconditioned front cover with new oil pump gears and a new water pump, oil pick up pipe and sump pan, also reconditioned rocker arms and new shafts and rocker covers, this way you will just need to use things like your injectors and flywheel etc....

And now having made the decision, I feel like this:


And I shall also be ordering a Mark Adams chip. I will probably replace the heater matrix, o-rings and any other hoses. Is anyone aware of heater matrixes made out of something more durable than plastic? I understand that there is an heavy duty brass item available for the Discovery and I wondered whether there's one to fit our cars.

I intend to fit a low coolant warning plus a temperature warning, preferably with an audible as well as visible warning.

Many thanks for the interest and guidance, I'm really pleased that I found and joined this forum and look forward to taking part in future discussions.

Well done Sydr. Sounds like a real weapon. Pity I never had the money for one like that when I had my P38. Will be waiting with baited breath on how it goes.

Gary

That sounds like an awesome setup Sydr, I am afraid to ask the price though... assume it is to be shipped from the UK?

Please keep us informed of progress and with your impressions after it is fitted.

Cheers, Paul.

We will have to organise a show and tell day when you get that on the road

Originally Posted by RR P38

We will have to organise a show and tell day when you get that on the road

Be glad to;
in answer to some questions preceding this post:

The engine is coming from the UK, I am unaware of the protocols with other commercial interests that may be on this forum so have chosen not to mention who will build it for me

And yes, it is quite expensive. I visited two local companies and very much liked what they are doing. However, I wanted some of the options in this particular build. The difference in overall cost was not that great and to my mind, justified.

On the question of cost, here's my thinking. I bought my Rangie new, out of the box. I suffered greatly in two ways. Firstly, it was pretty ordinary to begin with. Gradually, with the help of my service provider, (after I took it away from the distributor) we sorted out its idiosyncrasies and it became the car it always should have been.

Secondly, the depreciation was mind boggling. My $120k motor car is now worth maybe $5k or $10k . I don't much like the disposable society, the way we throw things away. Council tip collection days are amazing to me. Maybe I'm old school.

Anyway, I could basically ditch this car and buy another new or lightly used Rangie (I would love it) but I resent the thought of simply chucking a perfectly good vehicle out, and then going thru the same depreciation that I've already enjoyed (Not). Expensive as the new engine may be, it is markedly less than the depreciation for the first 3 months.

My thinking is that a newish Range Rover will cost a mile more money, and yet only provide 10 yards more value than what I've got. And I don't wish to park around $160k in the street the way I leave mine, anywhere.

Finally, when I'm finished I will have a one off unique Rangie that just may be more saleable than just another P38. Perhaps, being rather different it will be able to command a better price and I may then recover some of what I've spent. In the mean time, I will drive it with a smile enjoying the extra torques and horsepowers with the satisfaction that I did not simply put it on a tip.

Long story, hope it explains it all satisfactorily.

I like your thinking syd!

Will be watching this thread!

I've always wondered why the yanks got 4.6's and we didnt

as for 5.4
maybe now it will go "as required"
will follow with interest

Originally Posted by Sydr

I don't much like the disposable society, the way we throw things away. Council tip collection days are amazing to me. Maybe I'm old school.

Me neither, it amazes me too, perhaps I'm old school as well.