Help....

I have just put a replacement engine in a Range Rover. The old engine was a 46D and the new engine is a 60D. All of the parts have been changed to keep the Lucas ignition system. When the engine is at tick-over and the scanner is connected, it shows the ignition to be advanced to 15.5 degrees, and under load (going up a hill) it increases to between 25 and 35 degrees. The engine overheats very quickly.
I think the problems point to the knock sensors. I have unplugged each sensor in turn and both together and repeated the tests….. With the same results. The other thing is, when the engine reaches 3000 rpm it splutters almost like a rev limiter cutting in.

Has anyone had similar problems, or can anyone point me in the right direction.
I live in Spain, and have priced up 2 new knock sensors, and was shocked to be told they were around £100 each!!!!!

Any assistance would be much appreciated

I'd suspect the crank sensor more than the knock sensors.

I've seen a similar thing before although retarded ignition will cause overheating, over advanced will make it "pink"

Make sure its properly plugged in and its fully home, also, auto and manual engines have a different mounting plate for the crank sensor, make sure you have the correct one installed (they are a different thickness).

On the subject of knock sensors, make sure they are not over tightened or they wont work and could be damaged, no need to torque them up but just "nip" them.