P38 White smoke, 3 slipped liners !

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javars

javars

Active Member
Posts
296
Location
Somerset
My 95 P38 with only 60k has been white smoking on start up. Its never overheated but was heavily pressurising the cooling system and in the last couple of days has even hydraulic locked on starting due to water in the bores. The heads have been removed to find 3 slipped liners ! :eek:
The cars worthless (reletively) without repair although its in superb condition due to its first 12 years living in Hong Kong. So Im going up the top hat liner route along with a re ring for good measure. Will keep this updated as I get fed up with threads with no conclusion.
 
javars said:
My 95 P38 with only 60k has been white smoking on start up. Its never overheated but was heavily pressurising the cooling system and in the last couple of days has even hydraulic locked on starting due to water in the bores. The heads have been removed to find 3 slipped liners ! :eek:
The cars worthless (reletively) without repair although its in superb condition due to its first 12 years living in Hong Kong. So Im going up the top hat liner route along with a re ring for good measure. Will keep this updated as I get fed up with threads with no conclusion.
Click to expand...

thats great bud,please keep us updated on how it all goes.:D;)
 
JE Engineering, RPI Engineering, V8 Developements, theres lots of engineering services for these have a good look around. Good luck with it and dont loose faith, these are superb machines.
 
Have worked out the parts prices to be around £1500 inc, should be ordering it all tomorrow

That will include

Block with top hat liners
Full set of gaskets
Head bolts
Shells (mains and big ends)
Rings
Waterpump
Oil & filter
Anti freeze
 
javars said:
Have worked out the parts prices to be around £1500 inc, should be ordering it all tomorrow

That will include

Block with top hat liners
Full set of gaskets
Head bolts
Shells (mains and big ends)
Rings
Waterpump
Oil & filter
Anti freeze
Click to expand...
Pics of the rebuild wud be good
 
javars said:
Have worked out the parts prices to be around £1500 inc, should be ordering it all tomorrow

That will include

Block with top hat liners
Full set of gaskets
Head bolts
Shells (mains and big ends)
Rings
Waterpump
Oil & filter
Anti freeze
Click to expand...

That seems like a good price for all those parts, I'm thinking I may be going down the same road as you before long with mine :( would you mind telling where you have sourced the parts for those prices? Also is that with you sending your existing block to be relinered or exchange or just complete outrite block?

Will be watching this thread, I'm the same as you about threads with no conclusion, get's frustrating when you make the effort use the search read the thread then no answer or conclusion to the problems at the end!!

Steve
 

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Considering the cheap price of pistons , Id go with them rather than mess on with rings as they snap scratch and take ages to bed in, plus they come with a new pin. Just my 2p worth
 
Willos said:
Considering the cheap price of pistons , Id go with them rather than mess on with rings as they snap scratch and take ages to bed in, plus they come with a new pin. Just my 2p worth
Click to expand...

I know what youre saying but you have to draw the line at some point, engines only done 60k and the price difference between rings and pistons is £185, the pistons dont need to come of the rods, the rings are only being changed because of the new liners.
Just my 18500p worth ;) :biggrin1:
 
javars said:
Yeah well said, I dont know how many time Ive read loads of threads that end in "I'll give that a go" :doh:

All parts are coming from Island 4x4 (excellent service) Petrol V8 4.0 / 4.6 - Island 4x4 - Specialists in Land Rover and Range Rover Parts and accessories for all models. UK and worldwide mail order. the block from ACR Remanufactured Land Rover Engines, Rover V8 Engines- Range Rover V8 Engines which is exchange.

Hopefully this pic shows why its worth the effort !;)
Click to expand...

Thanks javars, out of interest is there any special reason you have chosen that company for the block? I've not come across them before and they could be quite handy for me as I have a mate up that way and often pass there to visit family in Manchester, only thing is though that they only give 12mths warranty but unlimited mileage, one here has 2 yrs but 25k miles, fine for me as my mileage is split over 5 vehicles so wont do that much anyway, I've seen others ..... I think Turner engineering ... with 3 years!!

oh you need the link to the 1st one:doh: eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace

The other thing to consider is head bolts, there is a lot of discussion on these and various options, I've seen bad reports on the cheap ebay ones, ARP seem to be the best but lots of ££££££'s I think the next best prefered option seems to be early gen LR ones, short on time now but I will look the threads up on some other forums for you later.

I agree with you on the pistons and rings thing, we gotta be realistic about how long the car is going to last and how much mileage we need from these engines, and then where you stop with the cost of 'while you are in there jobs' but my thinking is that with the head bolts and the head gasket/water problems these engines give, bolts are not something to skimp on.

If you are not carefull the cost could run away, I've been thinking cams and followers, timming gear, ported heads etc........ but then sat back and added all the parts up then gone back to basics like you.... much better idea!!!

Steve
 
gulfbluersr said:
The other thing to consider is head bolts, there is a lot of discussion on these and various options, I've seen bad reports on the cheap ebay ones, ARP seem to be the best but lots of ££££££'s I think the next best prefered option seems to be early gen LR ones, short on time now but I will look the threads up on some other forums for you later.
Click to expand...

Thread for the head bolts is 3/8ths UNC.
I went the ARP route for mine (RPi, £155 inc postage), just to add a little bit of reliability (fingers crossed).
 
gulfbluersr said:
Thanks javars, out of interest is there any special reason you have chosen that company for the block? I've not come across them before and they could be quite handy for me as I have a mate up that way and often pass there to visit family in Manchester, only thing is though that they only give 12mths warranty but unlimited mileage, one here has 2 yrs but 25k miles, fine for me as my mileage is split over 5 vehicles so wont do that much anyway, I've seen others ..... I think Turner engineering ... with 3 years!!

oh you need the link to the 1st one:doh: eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace

The other thing to consider is head bolts, there is a lot of discussion on these and various options, I've seen bad reports on the cheap ebay ones, ARP seem to be the best but lots of ££££££'s I think the next best prefered option seems to be early gen LR ones, short on time now but I will look the threads up on some other forums for you later.

I agree with you on the pistons and rings thing, we gotta be realistic about how long the car is going to last and how much mileage we need from these engines, and then where you stop with the cost of 'while you are in there jobs' but my thinking is that with the head bolts and the head gasket/water problems these engines give, bolts are not something to skimp on.

If you are not carefull the cost could run away, I've been thinking cams and followers, timming gear, ported heads etc........ but then sat back and added all the parts up then gone back to basics like you.... much better idea!!!

Steve
Click to expand...

I chose ACR as they had the blocks on the shelf and were very helpful with advice they also have a good V8 motorsport pedigree which I think a good benchmark. Im not that convinced about the headbolts, as I think the real problem is the original liner fit process. Ive always found Island are good to deal with and its not in their interest to sell something thats not up to the job, and along with the top hat liners I really think this will be the end of my troubles :rolleyes:.
 
WSLR said:
Any reason for not going the Turner Engineering route?
Click to expand...

I had good advice from ACR and they had the blocks ready to go, also a good pedigree in motorsport. Also price was/is a consideration

Is that you Rich ? ;)

Bit of wear found on the cam today, so a new one is going in as well.
 
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Just a small detail, you say you are having top hat liners and new rings, wouldn't this be a false economy, should have new pistons too, I would get more info if this has been recommended by the garage doing the work. And did you say that the engine was hydraulicly locked because of water in the bores, this could have damaged the con rods and small ends. Water wont compress so the pressure has to go somewhere.
 
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