OK - Small update - but no further forward, more of a game plan really - well almost,......OK, not so much a game plan, more like a 'what I might do' sort of thing.
The saga continues - from cold, she runs OK, pulls well, no popping pr farting.....once warm, the tick is there and she has a dislike of of revvving up to over take, unless you drop it into 3rd and boot it.....
When, unloaded she'll rev willingly and well all the way to the limiter, no issues, when loaded (had the wheels against a very high curb) and you on a bit of loud pedal, the tick is more pronounced and she will do the odd pop and fart, but will still attempt to climb the curb, so not lacking guts, just seems to be missing on a pot or two every now and then....once unloaded again, see idles with slight unevenness.
So, OK not a problem to take her off the road for a while, I have a spare car (the Baby BMW 3'er) only that is starting now mis-behave - it is an automatic, and now the Torque Converter Lock Up Clutch on that is on its way out, the revs keep fluctuating up and down when driving along - the TQLUC is coming on and off and it has developed what I originally thought was a wheel bearing going south, but she now has a prouncuned drone and rumble from the TQ area at speeds above 45mph - 70mph motorway driving and it is as loud as the 110 with no carpets and roof lining!
Brilliant - so, in order to get to work and still have the Range Rover off the road for investigation work, I have had to re-insure the 110 and take that on the 130 odd mile journey to work and back for the next few weeks as the BMW is not long for this world now (cost £300 odd quid and have had it over a year - to repair the TQLUC would be more than the car is worth and as such my go to the great scrapyard in the sky!).
Anyway, back to the P38.
The plan is to spend some time and do an Oil Pressure check as some of you have noted the seemingly low oil flow to the rockers, then I will begin taking the plenum, intake manifold and valley gasket off and take a look at the camshaft and followers more closely and see what that reveals. if all looks not too bad, then I will no doubt take the heads off just to check the HG's and liners and then drop the sump and check the big end shells.
Basically, it will be a few weeks work as I only get 1 day a weekend to do most of the work, so will be a few weekends to get things underway.....luckily I have the 110 to drive around in in the meantime - until my dad says 'Oi, where's my money' then I will have to sell it quicker than expected to pay him back!
Joy!