Thread: 3.9 complete rebuild any tips, tricks, things to look out for?

Yup, I'm so paranoid about machine shops that I was looking at how others have made cam bearing installation tools out of old camshafts and done the job themselves!

A good machine shop is worth its weight in gold. (No, literally.)

Well that was entertaining.

They tried to say that the alignment was fine and the barely 1mm diameter aperture would not cause any long term problems. I queried why then were all the others so perfectly aligned and this one was not, and how did they manage to damage it so badly putting it in. They wouldn't address the damage issue beyond saying that they're soft bearings and they scratch easily. I'm damn sure that they'd not trash them on a personal job they were doing one their own engines. They've agreed to replace them but made it clear they think I'm being pedantic. Poor attitude on their part. I expect the new ones to be in far better condition.

I was sorely tempted to do the same with my old cam but decided I haven't paid them that amount of money to have to do it myself.

Superquaggy
The Holden engine will be heavier, which may be an issue in sand. -Matter of balance F to Rear.
What Garbage !
Just how much does a ARB bar, with Winch and dual batteries,spotlights etc etc weigh anyway ? (at double the leverage angle as well)So its only a problem in Sand is it , is this some Speshul sand ?
Lucky if there is 50Kg difference between fully dressed RV8s and a Holden or Windsor block.Fit alloy heads and there goes another 20Kg
To get the same level of Power/torque fuel consumption as a decent Holden/LS1/windsor the rover V8 will cost you more and be about 10% as reliable.
Be far smarter to stick a diesel in it (Now much do they weigh ?)

Originally Posted by MacMan

Well that was entertaining.

They tried to say that the alignment was fine and the barely 1mm diameter aperture would not cause any long term problems. I queried why then were all the others so perfectly aligned and this one was not, and how did they manage to damage it so badly putting it in. They wouldn't address the damage issue beyond saying that they're soft bearings and they scratch easily. I'm damn sure that they'd not trash them on a personal job they were doing one their own engines. They've agreed to replace them but made it clear they think I'm being pedantic. Poor attitude on their part. I expect the new ones to be in far better condition.

I was sorely tempted to do the same with my old cam but decided I haven't paid them that amount of money to have to do it myself.

Yup, join the club. (It's a bit crowded in here!). It's an engine - either it's done right, or it isn't. I had K-Line inserts put in a 2&1/4 head once and was told that it's okay if one or two cracked!

I actually do have a real paranoia about going to these places now. I want to buy one, or all the equipment.

Anyway Vanderz, not to put you off, but you may as well learn about what you're getting yourself into!

Originally Posted by MacMan

On closer inspection they've pretty much bashed the stuffing out of that bearing and all of them are scratched. About to go in and front them about it. Yet more delays...

Still, that should happen faster than the 10 week wait for the ARP stud kit proposed by the local stockist.

10 weeks? What a crock!

I had a similar situation so contacted ARP directly, told them there was no local stock and little local interest, please would they supply me directly, which they did and I had what I needed in about a week.

Thanks Sydr - I'll keep that in mind but give Fabre the first chance to supply me. In this day and age a 10 week wait is a stretch.

Does anyone know what the camshaft to bearing clearances should be? I still have a nagging doubt that my new cam bearings have been fitted as well as possible because the second lot had been honed after I'd complained about the damage done to the first set. It's pointless asking the machinists why they did it or whether they did anything else I should know about since they got their noses out of joint when I returned the block the first time.

A dial guage fitted to measure the clearance shows 0.09mm at the front of the cam when fitted (carefully) dry. I can't find any verifiable tolerance anywhere in my WSM since at time of publishing Rover deemed the block to be a throw-away if the bearings were compromised.

Any pointers appreciated.

Originally Posted by 400HPONGAS

Superquaggy
The Holden engine will be heavier, which may be an issue in sand. -Matter of balance F to Rear.
What Garbage !
Just how much does a ARB bar, with Winch and dual batteries,spotlights etc etc weigh anyway ? (at double the leverage angle as well)So its only a problem in Sand is it , is this some Speshul sand ?
Lucky if there is 50Kg difference between fully dressed RV8s and a Holden or Windsor block.Fit alloy heads and there goes another 20Kg
To get the same level of Power/torque fuel consumption as a decent Holden/LS1/windsor the rover V8 will cost you more and be about 10% as reliable.
Be far smarter to stick a diesel in it (Now much do they weigh ?)

.... which may be an issue in sand...

"May" does not mean "must" or "Absolutely without a doubt WILL be huge problem"

Could very well be speshul sand, some really soft, easily displaced lightweight sand that almost stops another (standard engine) LR,,,, might make the Holden engined LR work Very Very Hard to barely get through... or not.

Was going on what a (qualified and RRC owning) LR mechanic told me about his 3.9 to 5 point something GMH conversion... that it IS heavier on the front.

Add a full steel Bull-bar, plus winch, plus the ubiquitous big steel truck-spotties (none of those poncy placky ones!) and yes, it would be even heavier on the front... Add a bigger battery....to drive the winch...and it "may" get interesting in some conditions. Or not, if you're a better driver.
I'm told by an ex D4 owner that the latest NisYotas with the above extras now tend to nosedive INto the sand that D3/D4's float over. They mostly get through, but have to work at it.




Sorry to do this to you.... but I find it easy to agree with you on the 'reliability' issue.

I have a low opinion of my 3.9 V-8, it's the least inspiring of ANY engine I've owned OR driven in over 50 years. That includes 'brand-new' to average 2nd & 3rd hand, to beyond its sane use-by date.

IMHO, the only thing that saves LR from the fate it richly deserves, is Forums like this one, supported by generously helpful Masochists !