Thread: not a liner problem but head gasket?

Considering its already out, I would fix the liner issue now anyway. When the head gasket in mine went, the liners were also an issue. Better to fix now than put back together as is and find that in fact you do have a liner issue and have to do it all again.

Devcon will fix the block pitting.
That is if you are into saving some money.
Or as previously noted go the whole hog and do the liners as well.

The only thing is that I bought another motor that has 250k on it, and I was going to stick that in and run it for a few years and slowly do up the other motor and put top hats etc. The motor with the headgasket/maybe liner issue had been fully rebuilt 10k ago.

mmmmmm, but yes I would hate to have to take it out again in a few months time

I'll remove the other head and inspect it. Can't see that the liners have moved at all though yet.

The other motor I have has the 10 bolt heads. I was thinking of putting these on it and use the composite gasket, they maybe more forgiving than the tin? + an arp stud kit

Can you find out what they did as part of the full rebuild? Maybe the liners were the issue that required the rebuild but they didn't do them thinking it was only the gasket etc. and now its already out again.

If the other motor is complete and was running well, and you're prepared to swap it all over again in a couple of years, just fit it and rebuild the original motor as you've already stated. Personally I'd just fix/rebuild your motor properly and put it back in - at least then you know that part of the car is sorted.

I've looked at the invoices etc and the time stamp.

Apparently the previous owner found coolant on his driveway, took it in and was told it was going to cost an arm and a leg. So he thought he'd get it rebuilt whilst they were at it. New bearings, rings, cam, chain etc + the heads while they were out. Invoice total 5k for the job.

I found another invoice a couple of years later, but just under 5k since rebuilt, "motor has slipped cylinder sleeve, chemiweld treatment, radiator flush etc.

The previous owner who had the car since it was 2 years old looked after it and just spent what was required. I bought it thinking the motor was great (as he didn't tell me about the slipped liner)

It's hydrolocked a few times since the drive from Sydney to Rocky and since the hydrolock, coolant has entered the oil. It's always been that one cylinder though.

It never over heated on the way back but used 6 litres of coolant for the trip. It would run a bit rough until warm, and of course a trail of steam. Never heard any nasty noises though that would indicate a slipped liner.

Perhaps the garage said it was a slipped liner in order to get out of the engine build warranty in the fact that it was just a gasket?

The coolant on the driveway could have been from a leaking Welsch (spelling) plug or a damaged hose. The plugs rust and start to leak - sensible to replace them all, especially the ones at the back of the motor if you're doing the rebuild. Mine didn't make any strange noises with the slipped liner, but did use a lot of coolant.

The welsch plugs have all been done already, as they are the brass ones. The other 3.9 I have has the steel ones, I guess these are the originals.

If I get the top hat liners then I'll need new pistons rings etc. But if it is just the gasket then I'll be saving about 2k...... The liner issue doesn't happen to all of these rv8's? I see on youtube there is a pressure test kit for the block; [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2EyvgxdyRY]YouTube - Land Rover Engine Block Leak Tester[/ame]

I wouldn't mind getting my hands on something like this. I wonder if Aulro.com could set up in buying special tools like this and then members pay a fee for the use of it and then post it back? I think this would be a good idea. Also things like viscous fan wrench etc? Maybe one for the people in charge to think about