thinking of giving up on the damn thing

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springershotgun

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P38 4.0 in garage tomorrow to evaluate head gasket. Packed up today. Its done nearly 160k. How much am I looking at to do both heads and is it worth it?. Dont want to give up but advice welcome.
thanks
 
Range Rover ownership is a lifestyle choice, they are unreliable, expensive to run and will empty a healthy bank balance quicker than anything else on earth.

But they are awesome machines to own, and ownership is not for everyone....

Cost is down to what is wrong...simple HGF could be a few hundred at a garage (couple of days work) but if it is slipped liners or a cracked block, then you may need to replace the engine block....a top hatted block from the likes of Turner Engineering or RPi could be upwards of £2500 to purchase, and then it has to be fitted...so you could budget £3kfor that....

Get two inspections done at two seperate garages....two you trust.....as most garages see a P38 come along and they see this as an opportunity to wrench the feck outta you for unneeded work.

Don't just take a single (and the first) garages word for it....

Often times, HGF can cause rock hard hoses, oily water, mayonnaise like oil, lumpy running, lack of power, water loss, low cylinder compression etc....

Slipped liners can cause similar symptoms and may even be heard as a metallic ticking noise as the liner moves up and down with the piston....only a strip down and inspection can properly diagnose a slipped liner or cracked block...

Best of luck and let us know how you get on.
 
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I'm not sure how much it costs to get the HG's done. I'd attempt it myself if mine ever went. It's not hard, just be methodical and take your time and follow the manual.

If you've got more problems than just a failed HG (like a cracked block) a new remanufactured engine with top hat liners from Turner engineering is £2700 plus the VAT! I got a quote from them last week as a matter of interest after mine overheated. I think I'd still do it though.

Of course you can buy an untested engine from a scrappy for eBay for about £500 or so.
 
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I got my block top hatted from hallbeckengineering for 1000+ vat,top job,just a case of rebuilding the rest of the engine around it.
 
dove said:
I got my block top hatted from hallbeckengineering for 1000+ vat,top job,just a case of rebuilding the rest of the engine around it.
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Do you have to remove and strip down your engine prior to sending it to Hallbeck?

£1000 is a good price, but I like the idea of just removing one and putting a new one back in with all new seals and bearings etc.

How long did it take you to rebuild your engine?
 
Well still in the garage and no report yet. Got in touch with guy who sold and confirms both head gaskets were done less than 5k ago. Gonna be interesting to see whether they have gone again. If they have I'll be selling and being as honest as possible with new potential owner. If I didnt have to rely on it for an everyday motor it could stay but the jury is out on this one. Gutted!!!
 
Like I said before, have been in your shoes, got the heads done and was still having overheating, eventually traced to cracked block. But it was sorted and has given no trouble in five years. But i had the benefit of a warranty fix. Hope they come back with better news.
 
Well it's home with confirmed head gaskets gone. Unfortunately I can't afford to have it off the road or get it fixed so will have to go. I'm gutted but not defeated. Let the fun of advertising and tyre kickers begin.
 
springershotgun said:
Well still in the garage and no report yet. Got in touch with guy who sold and confirms both head gaskets were done less than 5k ago. Gonna be interesting to see whether they have gone again. If they have I'll be selling and being as honest as possible with new potential owner. If I didnt have to rely on it for an everyday motor it could stay but the jury is out on this one. Gutted!!!
Click to expand...

springershotgun said:
Well it's home with confirmed head gaskets gone. Unfortunately I can't afford to have it off the road or get it fixed so will have to go. I'm gutted but not defeated. Let the fun of advertising and tyre kickers begin.
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Find out who did the HG's in the first place and ask them what they are willing to do about it....if you a receipt for the original works and they have failed 5K later and within a reasonable time frame...you may have some form of redress....

Read Fanatics 'Crock of ****' thread, you may have some recourse of action!
 
Thanks for the advice. I took this range on totally blindfolded so have made a major mistake. No paperwork, proof or anything. Lesson most definately learnt.
 
springershotgun said:
Thanks for the advice. I took this range on totally blindfolded so have made a major mistake. No paperwork, proof or anything. Lesson most definately learnt.
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regretfully a P38 with bust HG's are worth naff all, a few hundred and def. sub £900 I am afraid.

And it may well take you an age to flog it on....have you thought of doing the job yourself??

I did my 3.5 EFi Classic (admittedly the P38 is a tad more complex but it is still the same base engine) over 4 days with nowt more than a fairly comprehensive home tool kit and some patience!
 
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