Thought I’d give you an update as managed a small window of opportunity today. Managed to join the coolant input and output pipes together at the back of the engine with some hose to bypass the corroded aftermarket heater in the cab. But filled up with water and it’s still leaking out the back...

Just ordered some. Thanks very much !

Need to buy a length of hose now that I can bend back on itself without it kinking and and that fits the v8 coolant connections. John Craddock?

Yes. A new one is definitely on the proiority list. Just want to get it running first without it losing all its coolant.

Hope it's not disoved engine! I'm going to see if this improves the situation. Then I'll go down the new rad route and then deal with the heater.

So, after what seems like a very long time, I managed to get deeper behind the engine. Took the bonnet off (which I'd so light once the spare wheel is removed!). Removed air box to reveal the in and out coolant hoses from/ to the engine and through the bulhead to the funny aftermarket heater...

Ha ha Yes. That's a job for once it holds water! The joining of the weird cabin heater is a good idea. Off to the Isle of man now for the last weekend of the TT so I've got a rover sd1 v8 haynes manual with me. To read at night. Such a sado!

Cheers. Will take a good look. Thanks for all your help so far. Learning so much. Most of my hobby experience has been on air -cooled vehicles, so this is (almost) all new!!

Does anyone know if you can access the rear of a v8 through the cab side of the bulkhead. Need to get to the matrix coolant pipe connections. Not sure if I can get down the back of the engine.

It's the original rad from the 4 cylinder set up. Do you think if it's a working rad that it's OK to use with a v8 or should it be one from the early range rover?

So today, 1 step forward, 2 steps back. Fitted new thermostat and housing gasket. Nipped it up. Reconnected top and bottom hoses with new jubilee clips where necessary. Filled up rad. Let it settle filled up again etc. Started her up. No leaks from the work I had done, but now water leaking...

So here are some photos as requested. I have some sort of after market heating system in the cab. After matket electric cooling fans. Oerated from cailary sensor connected to additional temp guage in cab. Plus piccie of original radiator from original 2.25, 4 cylinder setup.

Ta.

Ah, flush the rad not the whole cooling system, yes?

It's from a range rover classic. 1983. I can't check the rad yet coz I've drained the system but that is a good shout. Going to flush it now with a hose pipe. Do I take the top hose off and flush it through the hose back into the engine or into the top of the rad?

Hello all. I fixed one of the after market fans. Which wasn't working. That didn't stop it getting really hot. So I went to change the thermostat to find there wasn't one in the housing! So a new thermostat won't help. Right? Any suggestions. The water pump isn't noisy? I'm flummoxed.

Ah yes I remember now. Penny has dropped. :)

Great, thanks for that. I’m going to fit a new thermostat this week Hopefully that will cure my overheating V8. Nice to have a back up though. Sounds like you know the area? Cheers again. P.

Looking for a back street garage specialising in series Land rovers, Defenders and classics Range rovers. I live in Brentford West London. Not got out of my depth yet but good to have a garage recommendation if things go badly wrong. Cheers P.