Slowly but yeah, I am hoping to have it running next week. still waiting on a few parts to turn up. I plan on replacing the matrix o rings and blender motors before it goes back on the road as well.

A little more progress today, only a small amount as it's about 4 degrees in my shed!

Managed to get one of the heads back on. Torqued up the O/S bank. Had some playing around with thermostats today. Is there a difference in opening temperatures between a black and white housing? My thermostat works fine (stamped with 1998 so the original) but I thought, seeing as it's apart I'd...

Yeah, It will have a few flushes for a good clean out, sump is coming off tomorrow for a good clean out and a quick check of the bottom end. Then as you say, a good quality engine oil of the 15w40 variety should be good.

Wrapped exhaust manifold.

Success today! Second head is off and first head is back from the engine shop. The head was refaced so is now nice and shiny, quick degrease before it goes back on tomorrow. The heads and rockershaft have been stripped and checked by the engine shop and it has come up looking really good. No...

Interesting.... Same as mine except a 4.6 rather than 4.0. I did find my first 100% imperial bolt today on the back of the O/S Head for the engine lift ring. It was a 1/2" head so would obviously fit nothing else.

Which engine and year is that?

Just had a quick google, seems the head bolts are M10x1.5 metric threads.

Its a metric engine post 1995 from what I've read, either way, I agree, much easier to torque and not worry about slipping off the tops of heads. I've been beaten today by the O/S exhaust manifold bolt and the wind whistling through my lean to garage/ falling down building.

Well the 6 point socket worked! The nearside head is off, the liners look good and the aluminium is in good nick. There is no steam cleaning in any of the bores. Time to take it to the engine shop and give it a good clean out and checked for flatness.

A new bottom end gasket set is on order next I feel, it's got a leak from the sump gasket and it'll give me a chance to clear all the rubbish out of the bottom end and oil pump. I think with the cam, I may just put a standard one in for now. I want a reliable engine first and then maybe more...

Yeah, your not wrong about the flat Tappets! I'm surprised I can't find a roller tappet kit but more moving parts mean more chance of failure! I'm thinking about a fruitier Cam, it'd be rude not to whilst it's apart.... I have looked at new EEPROMs as well, not cheap but it should help release...

Spent most of my spare time this weekend reading up on the Rover V8. I already have new gaskets and seals in the garage ready to go in. I see what you mean about the Tappets and Cam shaft, it makes a lot of sense after seeing the wear they go through.

Have a look on YouTube, plenty of videos online and should give you a great impression of how capable your new car is. Glad to hear you are happy and enjoying it so far.

Ummmm, my P38 moved 10 miles, overheated once, got put in the garage and is half way through it's strip down on the engine. I did buy it as a project for less than a night on the sauce and has kept me occupied for 3 days so it's definitely been worth it! :D

Are you mad? Rangies over here in that kind of condition are rare as hens teeth. Just start a section at a time and get her back together. a few hours a night is enough and within a year, you'll have a lovely rebuilt classic.

I'm working on my own at the moment so just figured I'd disassemble it in the car before I pull the block out. It'll get rebuilt out of the car. Ha, I know that now, first time working on a V8 this small. I'm more used to MTU 4000 and 2000 series engines. I've just had a look at them, they...

I think what people forget is that they are very complicated machines. That being said, do poke it and prod it and find everything that is wrong with it before you buy it. It's a good thing getting LR to do a full check. Evans Halshaw, no matter how they dress it up as a professional outfit...

A bit of an update for today, Started stripping down some more on the N/S engine bank. I've removed the rocker shaft, push rods and exhaust manifold. I tried to see if I could get the head off without removing the exhaust manifold from the head. Nope, I also have damaged the head on the first...