Thread: 3.5L rebuild?

I'd be fist looking for a DEFINITIVE answer as to why it's overheating......and for a new mechanic!.....one who doesn't suggest a $4000 odd dollar engine rebuild!.......has the thermostat been checked?....is it new?....correct type?....is the viscous fan working CORRECTLY-tested?etc....tested for combustion gases in cooling system?.......an engine rebuild is your LAST resort - not your second attempt to fix overheating......the new radiator sounds like it may not have been needed [it didn't cure the overheating, did it?]

Looking at your 1st paragraph again, I'd suggest you thoroughly check the viscous clutch in the fan - if they're ineffective they will cause exactly that.......and FIND A MECHANIC who can TEST stuff, rather than blindly replacing stuff like $600-$1000 radiators, then when that doesn't work want to do a $4000 engine rebuild!

Find a REPUTABLE Land Rover Specialist......ask for recommendations on here.......people know from experience who's good, fair and honest!

The fan isn't the viscous type (if thats the "run when needed type"). The thermostat was checked and ok (but the cooling guys were non-LR specialists). It's me thats thinking of the rebuild. The LR guys want to look at head gaskets etc. Can i check the operation of the water pump easily?

Originally Posted by Bulldog

The fan isn't the viscous type (if thats the "run when needed type"). The thermostat was checked and ok (but the cooling guys were non-LR specialists). It's me thats thinking of the rebuild. The LR guys want to look at head gaskets etc. Can i check the operation of the water pump easily?

If the water pump bearing is OK then pump OK.......check for combustion gases in reservoir tank with a "sniffer".....look for bubbles at least/rapid pressure build up!........Non -original LR thermostats can have too small a cross section for adequate flow.....is this solid fan BIG enough?.......why was the original removed......the original designers knew what they were doing when they specified one!!!........could the fan be too small/not move enough air fast enough.......have you ever heard the noise/amount of air moved by the original VC fans??????

Original VC fans? I thought the early RRs had a direct pulley fan? I'd be interested to know if this is true? It looks standard!?!

mmmm ok
touching on some stuff byron has already said. Not having a Viscous fan could be your problem as i know far too many V8 who have taken off the viscous in the mayor belief that they will save 1 mpg and then find that they have mayor over heating problems.
My first step would be to replace the thermostate with a low temp one. (after all will not cost you more that about $20-30 ) and then see what happens.
As for head gasket, check for the usuall signs. Water in the oil. Oil in the water. Take the oil filler off while the engine is running and see if the engine is chuffing (ie smoking coming out of the oil filler hole like a steam train.)
It does depend on how the engine is over heating as i have know many people in the past that have had a blown head gasket on a V8 and ran around with it for weeks untill they can be asrsed to change it..

Finally there is a true frase for Land Rovers and that is, if it anit broke don't fix it.
Does the engine sound ruff as guts. Does it smoke really bad, does it use more oil than petrol. If the answers to this are no . Then why rebuild the engine.
If it is the head gasket then leave the engine in the car and change the gaskets. Simple easy job to and somthing you can do yourself.

Originally Posted by Bulldog

I hear that the cam wears out. Will it cause probs if i put a non-std cam in?

I have had bad experiences with aftermarket cam in my 3.5. Mine had worn and the mechanic replaced it with a stage 1 something (will look it up if you need to find out) instead of a genuine part. I have since changed mechanics (old one was also supposed to be a LR expert also) and now use Ricks on the Gold Coast. He puts a lot of my current lack of torque and low engine vacume down to the cam. Luckily he said this was one of the better aftermarket cams he has seen in the 3.5 as most of them he cannot even get to idle properly . After my Cam was replaced and the car was not running well the mechanic sent me to Ricks to get them to tune it. It has been going to Ricks ever since. Rick suggests the genuine 3.9 cam in the 3.5 when doing the job.
In saying that i know a few people on this forum with aftermarket cams in their rover engines and are not unhappy with the results.

Originally Posted by Bulldog

Original VC fans? I thought the early RRs had a direct pulley fan? I'd be interested to know if this is true? It looks standard!?!

OOPs sorry......I did have early RR's but not that early......they got rid of the solid 5 bladed fan about 1975 and went to a VC 7 bladed, then 11 bladed VC fan.......why not try fitting a VC fan?......it sure sounds as if the thing can't cool it enough.....is there a shroud fitted?........how big is the electric fan you fitted????......a bad VC fan and fully working dual auxilliary fans on later models STILL result in overheating like you've described.! [after a hard drive and then just idling]