Hi all

Range Rover P38 (X Reg) Auto Vogue 4.6Litre Petrol

Disater has finally struck! I recently had 3 major overheats culminating in a ride in a recovery lorry back to my house.

Skimmed, pressure tested the heads and new valve stem seals. Valves were good to go.

One mishapp though. Dropped a steel spacer from the Rocker cover gasket down the valley into the crank shaft area. I had a towel covering the gaps but it still went down the gap!!!!!!

Well I refitted everything and hoped for the best. Started the engin and I had a big knocking noise! Metal to metal.

Dismantled again. No marks on the pistons, con rods ok so I am now at a loss. Unless the steel spacer from the rocker cover gasket is just in the wrong place!!

So here is where I am at. I have done some research and a company called "reconditioned-engines.co.uk" will recon my engine for £1750. From what I can see they are saying that they will do all the right things plus a guarantee.

Advice please - Has anyone had dealings with this company and what feedback would you give to the job they have done?

Also any other recomendations for a recon engine?

Thanks all

Bison

sounds cheap, I would check the quality via google searches but if they are good its good deal, is that fitted?

I wonder where that spacer ended up? you could have taked the sump off to try and find it but a bit late now

Hi all

If the spacer was in the bottom of the sump I would be happy with that! I cant get underneath now because the suspension is on the bump stops!

Did some more reasearch on "reconditioned-engines.co.uk". Dear me they have some seriously bad reviews. I wont go into detail but would recommend anyone thinking of using them to google their company name first!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Any other advice regarding recon engine suppliers would be helpfull.

Thanks all

Bison

all of the ones on here particuarly the big ones have had bad stuff said about them etc.

I would look locally to you and get a few recommendations from garages you trust too.

at least then its close by to take it back if there are problems.

Ive reached the point where I dont trust anyone with my cars anymore!

It might be worth having a crack yourself! could save you a packet!

Hi fett

Other than the head skimming and testing which I had done by a local engineering firm I have done everything I am capable of. I am quite handy with a spanner etc, however I have run out of ideas and can not see anything obviously wrong.

Currently I have got both cylinder heads off and looking to somehow remove the sump as you have suggested in an earlier post. Then just for fun I might take the crank shaft out to find the dam metal spacer from the rocker cover gasket.

The loss of compression in cylinder 3 is my biggest problem. I know the cylinder head is ok because it has been tested. The head gasket is new. I have tightened the head down as per a genuine Range Rover manual. 20nm then 90 degrees and 90 degrees again.

Maybe its the cylinder sleeve in the block but I dont have the facilities to check that.

Not sure what to do next!

Thanks for listening.

Regards

Bison

if you have had the heads done and you have it that far in bits already (assuming the heads are ok and the loss of compression is not valve related,not seating correctly for example)and it sounds as if your good with the spanners but may have slipped a liner I would ignor all these rebuild cowboys and got to lr direct (you may need to call em as there site only deals with part numbers) and get a short engine . you could try rimmers too but they are quite pricey.

just had a look for you , not sure what engine you have exactly but:

Land Rover Parts from the Online Land Rover Parts Shop - LRDirect


bit pricey but at least it should work lol

if its slipped a liner wouldnt that be obvious with head off ,lr direct have you seen those prices what the fu-k do parts men know about building engines ,you shouldnt give advice ,if block is cracked either another used engine that isnt cracked or top hat linered block for a £1000 plus rebuild

well he said he was worried about going further on a rebuild so if he gets the bottom end complete then he will only have a mechano set to put together. plus the block will be known good.

if he gets a used one or tophatted one he will have to work on the bottom end plus there is no way of it being known good.

you cant trust the re-builders, I have heard stories of top hat liners still not sorting the prob and irontite ebing use on newly rebuilt engines to avoid failiure after a couple of thousand miles.

as for where to buy , I wouldnt go to paddocks my self as they sell cheap bits, rimmers bit too pricey and all the other sell you ****epart too and/or pricey. at least at lr direct you know what your getting.

sorry james as I know what you do- but you just cant trust mechanics/rebuilders- so many horror stories and plenty of my own. better if he does it himself with new bits in my opinion!

oh btw wammers is exempt form that statement as he is too old :hysterically_laughi

but who else is going to do it do you know how to measure piston clearance etc, v8 block cracking came about with 3.9 which meant 200 thou off parent aluminum bore leaving it thin and prone ti inaccurate boring with some parts left thinner than others ,the only cure i know is new block ,used proved hast cracked oe top hat liner,with anything in life there are good and bad get somebody you feel is honest and not a bull****ter,top hat liners will cure as in effect the block becomes wet linered ,but not if not done right

mechanically your right but I have found my self and through here you cant get anyone you can trust to do it. with a new short engine he will know its good , and if there was a problem (unlikely on a new one) he can take it back and get a new one, there wont be any excuses like the old favourite " you didnt ask me to do that bit, it wasnt part of the job" or blaming the parts ,if he has done it himself he will know its right with the right bits too!

to much of a chance with other peoples work or 2nd hand ebay bits in my opinion unless he doesnt mind a cheaper chance on an ebay 2nd hander, then slap in in for a few hundred but you will never know it might be a giant waste of effort or it might be a peach (unlikley with a 15 year old plus 4.6 though lol )

Hope it goes trouble free for him anyway!