P38, 4.0 petrol, 2002, Bosch - no start

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The bearings are replaceable but I think need to be line bored. Give Chris at RPI Engineering a call and have a chat, they are good guys and should be able to shed some light for you and give you some options.

Thanks for the lead, I'll do that tomorrow.

Any pictures?!

Yup, no problem. I'll get some clear ones and upload them - might have to be tomorrow though.
 
20200629_081738[1].jpg
20200629_081752[1].jpg
20200629_081647[1].jpg
 
Hopefully, that shows the scarring on the 3rd bearing face with the difference in oil passageway hole orientation. I can only assume it's moved around causing the binding.

P.S. I've also spoken with RPI today. They actually say that replacing that bearing is possible with the engine in place but someone else I spoke to said that if it's done it before it'll probably do it again unless it's rebored with a larger bearing installed. Just waiting for more info to decide what to do next.
 
Last edited:
The cam bearings are supplied undersized fitted and the block then line bored so not something that you can do with the engine in the car...

being it's RPI who are legends in their own lunchtime for their inflated prices and skills in publicising their excellence and slagging off other engine builders, i'd rather V8developements;)
Tel: 01775 750000
 
Last edited:
The cam bearings are supplied undersized fitted and the block then line bored so not something that you can do with the engine in the car...

being it's RPI who are legends in their own lunchtime for their inflated prices and skills in publicising their excellence and slagging off other engine builders, i'd rather V8developements;)
Tel: 01775 750000
Haha, okay. Well I can't comment on that but I'll give them a buzz tomorrow. It does sound like perhaps it's more time and money than its worth but I'll gi'e it a bash.
 
So I think I can conclude that logic is going out the window here and I'm coming round to getting her back on the road, spending more money in it than I'll ever get back. My local specialist reckoned the existing block is goosed now in that if the bearing spun once, it'll probably do it again. I did consider just giving fresh bearings a bash with some loctite and crossing fingers. I then spoke to V8 a few days ago and a real friendly guy chatted and gave me an idea of prices for fitting another. Assuming everything else like heads and valves were fine with the existing, I could have a rebuilt bare engine with replacement block for refit for roughly £2k. RPI could exchange for a fresh engine between 4k & 5k depending on upgrades to 4.6 etc. Or I could swap in a used lump from a local guy for £300-£400 but who knows if it will have issues in a month down the line. I'll be going with one of the options anyway so hopefully she'll live again. I think part of the reason for it is because it seems that P38 prices are actually starting to rise now and there are fewer cheap ones around but maybe that's just me. I just need to gird up my loins and remove the existing engine so hopefully that isn't too hard going. I've only ever removed 80's VW engines in the past. Anyway, just thought you might be interested.
 
P38 thor 2000 plate.
Been laid up for a while but starts and runs well.
Offer me scrap value for it and trailer it away.

Well guys, it's me again. I'm only just now returning my attention to getting her running again and I'm after some advice. A local guy has a Gems lump (60,000mile) available for £300 with no courier costs but I'm not quite sure if I can adapt it with Thor parts to avoid compatibility issues - any ideas?

Wazzajnr, do you still have your Thor available?
 
Well guys, it's me again. I'm only just now returning my attention to getting her running again and I'm after some advice. A local guy has a Gems lump (60,000mile) available for £300 with no courier costs but I'm not quite sure if I can adapt it with Thor parts to avoid compatibility issues - any ideas?

Wazzajnr, do you still have your Thor available?

Wazzajnr `s engine is now sitting in Doo`s motor up in Scotland.
 
Wazzajnr `s engine is now sitting in Doo`s motor up in Scotland.
Pants! Not enough days in the year! Oh well, back to the original question. There doesn't seem to be a huge amount of info out there but if anyone has any info about converting a Gems block it would be much appreciated.
 
Pants! Not enough days in the year! Oh well, back to the original question. There doesn't seem to be a huge amount of info out there but if anyone has any info about converting a Gems block it would be much appreciated.

They're similar but not the same. Not played with a Thor but there are differences in RAVE so you might find bolts are different in places (metric rather than imperial) and maybe some of the ancillaries are slightly different. Of course, if you have the whole engine and ECU it may be plug and play, although what are the chances some of the loom is different?!
 
If you can get the whole engine, wiring harness, radiator, ECU, alternator and the other ancillaries etc, then it shouldn’t be a problem, but trying to adapt one to the other can be a world of hurt if all you have is a bare engine.
 
Back
Top