Thread: 2nd Hand Heads for 4.6l P38

Our Range Rover has broken the crankshaft timing sprocket, putting one half of it through the timing case, spitting the chain and destroying the camshaft sprocket.

I thought perhaps this wouldn't be so bad internally as I thought they were a free running motor, but upon investigation it has compression on three cylinders only, so it looks like a bunch of bent valves at the very least.

I was thinking of just tipping the whole car or perhaps replacing the donk, but I got to thinking that given the sad history of the bottom ends of the 4.6, there must be thousands of good heads out there somewhere in second hand land.

Has anyone ever heard of a Rangie spitting a crank sprocket before? Has anyone got some advice of where we might start looking for second hand heads? We are down on the Bellarine Peninsula. Merry Christmas to everyone on this Forum

All the composite gasket heads from about 94 onwards are functionally the same, so you can get 3.9, 4.0, or 4.6 heads. Maybe also check the bolt holes for the rocker pedestals, as it sounds like a big bang.

BUT check them out first as if you just have a few bent valves, it may be cheaper to just buy new valves and have the heads serviced.

I have never heard of a RV8 splitting the crank sprocket, so you are almost unique.
Regards Philip A